Volts and Sillcone
Thank goodness were going camping soon..:) Some things to ask..I have a Dork plug in digital volt meter in my TT now. When I'm at lets say 120 volts with no load and I turn on my air cond exc what is ...
Forum Discussion
While the standard "nominal" voltage throughout north america is 120 volts and most things are designed to run optimally at 120, some equipment & appliances (motors are a good ex.) are designed to run at lower voltages because it allows for lower voltage at the point of use. RV AC units are rated for operation at 115 volts. The different RV AC unit manufacturers will have specs for operating voltage. AirXcel for ex. says:
However, the voltage will vary and the air conditioning system will perform satisfactorily within plus or minus 10% of the rated (115) voltage (domestic USA). Therefore, the voltage has to be
between 103.5 volts and 126.5 volts.
Low voltage is a common problem in CGs, esp. in older ones. The Progressive Industries EMS will cut you off at 104 volts while the TRC SurgeGuard cuts off at 102 volts which is lower than what AirXcel specifies. Some, like me, use 105 volts as a safe min. The SurgeGuard voltage of 102 is too low IMO.
If voltage is low at an RV AC unit, it is hard on it both under running and startup conditions. If voltage is too low, it's hard on the motor windings and over time, can lead to motor failure. During the momentary startup, the inrush current can be 60+ amps (depending on make & model). You can be just above the low voltage threshold and the motor can struggle to start and damage the winding. The damage is cumulative and one day the AC unit can fail for no apparent reason.
Checking the voltage without load is not a good method for deciding if the voltage is adequate. If you have a permanent voltmeter inside, you should monitor periodically throughout the day.
However, the voltage will vary and the air conditioning system will perform satisfactorily within plus or minus 10% of the rated (115) voltage (domestic USA). Therefore, the voltage has to be
between 103.5 volts and 126.5 volts.
Low voltage is a common problem in CGs, esp. in older ones. The Progressive Industries EMS will cut you off at 104 volts while the TRC SurgeGuard cuts off at 102 volts which is lower than what AirXcel specifies. Some, like me, use 105 volts as a safe min. The SurgeGuard voltage of 102 is too low IMO.
If voltage is low at an RV AC unit, it is hard on it both under running and startup conditions. If voltage is too low, it's hard on the motor windings and over time, can lead to motor failure. During the momentary startup, the inrush current can be 60+ amps (depending on make & model). You can be just above the low voltage threshold and the motor can struggle to start and damage the winding. The damage is cumulative and one day the AC unit can fail for no apparent reason.
Checking the voltage without load is not a good method for deciding if the voltage is adequate. If you have a permanent voltmeter inside, you should monitor periodically throughout the day.
