Low Shore Voltage
Last week we ran into an issue where the campground shore power for our site was only coming in at 104 volts(30 amps). We have a Progressive surge protector and it would not let the power flow. Report...
Forum Discussion
Low voltage is probably enemy no. 1 for RV-ers because it can cause appliances & components to under-perform and in some cases cause damage. Learning about it and knowing what you can do about it is a very good idea.
If you don't carry "protection" in the form of an autoformer, good call to find another CG or site it at all possible. Not easy during the high season. Having a permanently installed voltmeter inside an RV is highly recommended. Note that using a voltmeter at a pedestal before plugging will not ensure voltage is okay because it can drop substantially once you have loads running. If you come across a pedestal in really sad shape like the one below, don't even think about it - go elsewhere, even if it means another CG.
If you get around much to various CGs and esp. to older ones, you will sooner or later find low voltage that is low enough to be a concern. Voltage below 105 volts can in particular, damage AC units. EMS units (PI & TRC) will cut power off at 104 & 102 volts respectively.
There are 2 major things that affect how low voltage is allowed to get:
- power companies are required to meet voltage tolerance boundaries of ANSI C84.1
- the NEC has min. wire sizes, demand factors and numbers of 50 & 30 amp pedestals that can significantly contribute to low voltage
Between the two of these, voltage can be as low as 100 volts at the point of use and still comply with codes & standards. Poorly maintained electrical systems in CGs can also contribute to voltage problems and damage.
Using an autoformer is a good solution to boost voltage. Sometimes reducing your loads can help, but not always. If you can find a 50 amp pedestal and use a 50-30 amp adapter can often help. Finding a site close to a pad-mounted transformer may help instead of being at the end of a long run of pedestals on the same feeder cable.
If you don't carry "protection" in the form of an autoformer, good call to find another CG or site it at all possible. Not easy during the high season. Having a permanently installed voltmeter inside an RV is highly recommended. Note that using a voltmeter at a pedestal before plugging will not ensure voltage is okay because it can drop substantially once you have loads running. If you come across a pedestal in really sad shape like the one below, don't even think about it - go elsewhere, even if it means another CG.
If you get around much to various CGs and esp. to older ones, you will sooner or later find low voltage that is low enough to be a concern. Voltage below 105 volts can in particular, damage AC units. EMS units (PI & TRC) will cut power off at 104 & 102 volts respectively.
There are 2 major things that affect how low voltage is allowed to get:
- power companies are required to meet voltage tolerance boundaries of ANSI C84.1
- the NEC has min. wire sizes, demand factors and numbers of 50 & 30 amp pedestals that can significantly contribute to low voltage
Between the two of these, voltage can be as low as 100 volts at the point of use and still comply with codes & standards. Poorly maintained electrical systems in CGs can also contribute to voltage problems and damage.
Using an autoformer is a good solution to boost voltage. Sometimes reducing your loads can help, but not always. If you can find a 50 amp pedestal and use a 50-30 amp adapter can often help. Finding a site close to a pad-mounted transformer may help instead of being at the end of a long run of pedestals on the same feeder cable.
