How Low is Too Low (Voltage)

The most likely damage from low voltage is to the AC. From the website of my AC unit:

1. Measure Line Voltage To The A/C
Line voltage should be checked at the
unit where the coach wiring connects to the
air conditioner while the air conditioner is
running. The correct operating range is
between 103.5 and 126.5 VAC.

You should find what the specs are for your unit.

I too was concerned about the 104v point at which my Progressive EMS would turn off the voltage to my 5'er. I figured this number must be there for some reason so I decided to check the design voltage of my most major components that also had an electric motor involved - my a/c's. It seems my Coleman Mach units (2) are designed to operate on 115v not 120v as I had assumed. So 115v less 10% is 103.5v. Since my EMS turns off my power at 104, I am covered.

Now I had rather the voltage not be this low, but it is I'm not too concerned now that I know the design operating voltage of my a/c's.

Thanks for the quick replies.Even the additional information about surge protection.
So far the voltage has not dropped to less than 108vac,so I guess we squeeked by.Fortunatly we will be leaving in the AM and the next stop has 50amp hookups,
which is what we usually get.

Hi,

At 108 volts I shut off the air conditioner. I do not use the microwave below that voltage, either.

At 100 volts I transfer over to running most the RV from an inverter and keep only the converter plugged in.

At 95 volts I disconnect the converter from shore power.

Surge protection on 30 amps is not too necessary, if the RV'er is willing to check polarity and voltage before plugging in.

50 amp rv's may benefit and a full blown system from Progressive Industries is the "way to go". Unfortunately the unit will not cut out until 104 volts--and that is, in my opinion, far too low.

otrfun wrote:
My whole motivation for this discussion is to prevent someone from purchasing a Progressive Industries, SSP-30 ($89) or SSP-50 ($132) "surge protector" (a real, genuine surge protector, by the way) under the assumption that it will provide complete electrical protection such as CONTINUOUS low and high voltage protection. IT WILL NOT!!

We obviously have a failure to communicate.

My whole motivation for this discussion is to prevent someone from purchasing a Progressive Industries, SSP-30 ($89) or SSP-50 ($132) "surge protector" (a real, genuine surge protector, by the way) under the assumption that it will provide complete electrical protection such as CONTINUOUS low and high voltage protection. IT WILL NOT!!

Old-Biscuit wrote:

JesLookin wrote:

otrfun wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
108V is my minimum even though my surge protector doesn't shut power down until 104V

I'm sure you're referring to an EMS (electrical management system).

Just to enlighten folks that may not know, surge protectors do not provide any protection against continuous low or high voltage. Surge protectors only provide protection against momentary high voltage surge or spikes from lightening strikes or other momentary electrical anomalies.

Some surge protectors DO protect from low & high voltage conditions.

My portable 50A surge protector does.......shuts off power at 104V or 132V...auto resets, checks for open neutral, reversed polarity, mis-wiring.
Just depends on how much you which to spend...some don't shut down on voltage levels

Simply put, you're choosing to call an Electrical Management System a "surge protector". A "surge protector" does not provide continuous low or high voltage protection. If a "real" surge protector provided all this protection, why would anybody (including you and I) spend all the extra money for an EMS (electrical management system)??? Progressive Industries sells a real, genuine "surge protector" for less than $l00. Whey do folks buy the more expensive EMS for $300??? Both the Progressive Industries Electrical Management System and the less expensive Progressive Industries "surge protector" provide "surge protection".

108 is as low as I care to see. :)

otrfun wrote:

JesLookin wrote:

otrfun wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
108V is my minimum even though my surge protector doesn't shut power down until 104V

I'm sure you're referring to an EMS (electrical management system).

Just to enlighten folks that may not know, surge protectors do not provide any protection against continuous low or high voltage. Surge protectors only provide protection against momentary high voltage surge or spikes from lightening strikes or other momentary electrical anomalies.

Some surge protectors DO protect from low & high voltage conditions.

By definition, strictly speaking, surge protectors only provide "surge" (momentary) high-voltage protection. Again, surge, by definition means forward or upward movement, not reverse, downward, or as you claim, low (voltage). Yes, there are some products advertised as surge protectors that do provide additional protection. Unfortunately, the term surge protector has now become a generalized term used by the general public (and marketing companies) as anything that provides electrical protection.

My point is not to debate semantics. My point is to make some folks aware that a "real" surge protector only provides protection against momentary high-voltage surge or spikes and nothing else.

I'm not making statements claiming to be Mr surge protector expert.

I'm saying my surge protector, protects from surges and low and high voltage.

JesLookin wrote:

otrfun wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
108V is my minimum even though my surge protector doesn't shut power down until 104V

I'm sure you're referring to an EMS (electrical management system).

Just to enlighten folks that may not know, surge protectors do not provide any protection against continuous low or high voltage. Surge protectors only provide protection against momentary high voltage surge or spikes from lightening strikes or other momentary electrical anomalies.

Some surge protectors DO protect from low & high voltage conditions.

My portable 50A surge protector does.......shuts off power at 104V or 132V...auto resets, checks for open neutral, reversed polarity, mis-wiring.
Just depends on how much you which to spend...some don't shut down on voltage levels

JesLookin wrote:

otrfun wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
108V is my minimum even though my surge protector doesn't shut power down until 104V

I'm sure you're referring to an EMS (electrical management system).

Just to enlighten folks that may not know, surge protectors do not provide any protection against continuous low or high voltage. Surge protectors only provide protection against momentary high voltage surge or spikes from lightening strikes or other momentary electrical anomalies.

Some surge protectors DO protect from low & high voltage conditions.

By definition, strictly speaking, surge protectors only provide "surge" (momentary) high-voltage protection. Again, surge, by definition means forward or upward movement, not reverse, downward, or as you claim, low (voltage). Yes, there are some products advertised as surge protectors that do provide additional protection. Unfortunately, the term surge protector has now become a generalized term used by the general public (and marketing companies) as anything that provides electrical protection.

My point is not to debate semantics. My point is to make some folks aware that a "real" surge protector only provides protection against momentary high-voltage surge or spikes and nothing else.