Voltage report using a Sola Basic autoformer
Hi, First test of a Sola Basic autoformer on August 5th, 2016 starting at 2:30 p.m. The unit cost was $232.50 Canadian dollars. I added a #10 shore power cord, a 30 amp RV outlet, a 15 amp femal...
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Hi SMK,
It has three levels of boost and one of buck. I don't know the percentage of boost for each level. In testing I took it down to 60 volts--it didn't do much at that level, but at 90 volts input it was doing 110 output. There was no load on the output during this testing. I did test it up as high as 133 (top voltage of the isolation transformer I was using) and it bucked that down to 125. Since 108 and above is my comfort zone I'm quite happy.
During real life testing I only got to the first level of boost, except when I deliberately turned on the water heater. With the water heater on I was demanding 28 amps from a 30 amp circuit which is quite a bit above my 80% target. I have no easy way to introduce lower shore power with a heavy load except by adding cords.
After operating for three hours the temperature of the case was 30 C and the interior was 31 C. I covered the unit over night with a large plastic box. This morning the top surface was warm to the touch. I uncovered it and in under an hour it was cool to the touch.
I am noticing that if voltage is higher (say 117 as it was late tonight) that the sola basic goes into boost mode during the initial surge from the air conditioner, then a few seconds later, drops back to pass through mode.
The unit says 4000 VA but on the case there is a notification that it may draw 4320 watts. I don't have a way to verify those numbers. 4320 works out to 36 amps @ 120 volts.
I will say the unit has 1/8 inch steel in the case and appears to be nicely made. There were no cooling holes of any kind which is why I drilled several 1/2 inch holes.
Does the Franks act fast enough to deal with surges from the air conditioner? Or did you ever think to check it?
It has three levels of boost and one of buck. I don't know the percentage of boost for each level. In testing I took it down to 60 volts--it didn't do much at that level, but at 90 volts input it was doing 110 output. There was no load on the output during this testing. I did test it up as high as 133 (top voltage of the isolation transformer I was using) and it bucked that down to 125. Since 108 and above is my comfort zone I'm quite happy.
During real life testing I only got to the first level of boost, except when I deliberately turned on the water heater. With the water heater on I was demanding 28 amps from a 30 amp circuit which is quite a bit above my 80% target. I have no easy way to introduce lower shore power with a heavy load except by adding cords.
After operating for three hours the temperature of the case was 30 C and the interior was 31 C. I covered the unit over night with a large plastic box. This morning the top surface was warm to the touch. I uncovered it and in under an hour it was cool to the touch.
I am noticing that if voltage is higher (say 117 as it was late tonight) that the sola basic goes into boost mode during the initial surge from the air conditioner, then a few seconds later, drops back to pass through mode.
The unit says 4000 VA but on the case there is a notification that it may draw 4320 watts. I don't have a way to verify those numbers. 4320 works out to 36 amps @ 120 volts.
I will say the unit has 1/8 inch steel in the case and appears to be nicely made. There were no cooling holes of any kind which is why I drilled several 1/2 inch holes.
Does the Franks act fast enough to deal with surges from the air conditioner? Or did you ever think to check it?
