What hardware lowers high voltage?

Frank's does NOT reduce voltage. The Superautomatic will cut power from high voltage or too low to boost.
I guess that does reduce voltage.... to zero ;)

wa8yxm wrote:
The major issue with ferroresonat transformers in my book is waste, they are not all that efficient.

There are a few different Autoformer companies... Hughes, Franks and I think one other.. ONE of them offers "Buck/Boost" that is it can REDUCE high voltage.. Alas, I think it's the other one but it might be Franks.

My recall also (without actually checking)

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

I emailed Sola. The 60 va unit which would be wonderful for a 30 amp RV is about $411.00 plus shipping.

So, if I'm reading what you typed right, that is a 60 VA unit, that means 60 Volt-Amps.

Assuming that's true, that would mean that the MAX rating is 60 watts (simplifying off the difference between watts and Volt-Amps and Power-Factor)

Hi,

removed because I can't read (or write?)

OP specifically said "continuously regulates" not limit. I would take this to mean that he wants to maintain voltage inside his RV within a certain range despite what the input voltage could be. A surge protector/EMS does not do that and cuts power off at a specific high (or low) voltage.

It sounds like what he may need is a constant voltage transformer along the lines of this one: constant voltage transformer This will regulate both high and low incoming line voltage. If this is what the OP wants, I would suggest go talk to an electrical wholesaler and see what's available. I don't think it will be cheap.

There are RV "autoformers" that regulate voltage, but they only boost low supply voltage. Hughes and Franks both make autoformers.

If the incoming voltage was always on the high side, in theory, it could be possible to use a standard autotransformer with fixed settings that would drop it to an desired level. Not likely to be practical in reality tho.

A problem is that sometimes a utility will set the taps on a distribution transformer at a higher than nominal voltage so that when demand on the system gets high, like in the summer with everyone running AC units, the voltage will not drop below a certain voltage. More common in rural or remote areas.

A PI EMS unit will cut the power off when it reaches 132 volts. If it's just occasional high voltage levels that the OP wants to protect against, then an EMS would be the easiest and cheapest way to go. But if it happens frequently for long periods, then I would look at constant voltage transformer (depending on cost).

pt, I don't think it would help much if the generator is marginal. SW vs MSW would be a good question for the manufacturer. I think they will recommend not using on inverter power at all. Voltage measurement and boost could be an issue with MSW.

Very interesting to use just on the air conditioner circuit.... had not thought of that. I do believe the air is the primary concern for bad voltage.

If worried, I'd get a Progressive EMS and call it done. As an alternative, if one is really worried about spotty voltages over time, one can go with a Victron or Magnum Energy "hybrid" inverter/charger system coupled with a decent battery bank. This way, no matter what is coming in from the outside, everything using power in the rig is getting clean 120VAC.

Hi,

The web site claims 89 volts to 140 volts.

So, could this be used with a generator to "support" the start up surge for an air conditioner?

It would be a great item to hard wire to the air conditioner. Nothing else in my RV needs to be protected from low voltage.

Would it work with a modified sine wave inverter?

smkettner wrote:
Triplite Line Conditioner LC2400 will correct voltage from about 95 to 145.
Although it is only 20 amps it would keep the RV at the right voltage for conservative use.

Get a DMM that reads "True RMS" AC voltages. Most any will be close to accurate with DC but there is a difference when measuring AC especially where generators are involved.

I suspect your VOM which usually means analog is inaccurate. For a few dollars you can get a DVM. But either way 130V is OK - as in 120V +- 10%.