Electrical - High Voltage

[Carlos_Susan]

Hello Friends,
My name is Carlos and my wife's name is Susan. We are new to the Open Roads Forum so we hope we have reached the correct topic.

We have a 35' Cardinal Fifth Wheel (The Lodge) equipped for 50 AMP service. Since we are not full time campers, I like to keep the fifth wheel plugged in to residential power so that we can keep it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Since we live on 50 acres, sometimes we like to sleep in the Lodge and make sure everything works fine.

This is our issue:

The Lodge is parked next to a barn that is a ways from the main house. We had an electrician review the layout with the purpose of installing a 50 AMP plug inside the barn so we could hook up. The electrician informed us that there was not sufficient power going into the barn for a 50 AMP plug, but that he could set up a 30 AMP plug. We understood and agreed to this since it is unlikely that we will need the full 50 AMP service while parked at the property.

The electrician installed the 30 AMP plug and we plugged in the Lodge, but my Good Governor showed that only 104 AMPS were coming into the Lodge. We then had the electrician install a power booster and now the Good Governor reads 138 AMPS when the AC is not operating. When the AC operates, the Good Governor reads 127-129. We know that a steady supply of 138 AMPS is not good. We have been all over the Internet looking for a surge protector or a voltage regulator, but are afraid that in either case these appliances will shut off the power to the Lodge due to the steady high voltage coming in. We have already invested over $800 for the 30 AMP plug plus the power booster installation.

Can someone give us some advice as to how we can neutralize the voltage coming into the Lodge?

Many thanks,

Carlos & Susan

[time2roll]

If all is good and still have the voltage drop the wire is probably inadequate even for 30 amp.

[enblethen]

Sounds to me like the circuit feeding the barn was existing. Minimal wire was used to feed the barn.
The OP asked the electrician to check the system. he found that the line loss was excessive and suggested installing a bucking transformer.
Everything the OP's electrician suggested is correct. Problem lies though in the system check. He should have verified the output voltage both under load and without any load. Not a big issue if the transformer he used has input and output taps. Output taps maybe enough to adjust voltages.

[Gdetrailer]

2oldman wrote:

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
.. autoformers ...can they also DECREASE voltage when needed?

Nothing that I can find indicates they can.

Tripplite makes a line conditioner which DOES decrease the voltage if it is to high..

Tripplite LC2400

Output is 120V with 89-147V input..

The downside is they seem to only make up to 2400W..

[time2roll]

Hughes Autoformer is boost only. 2% or 10%

Tripplite LC2400 will do buck/boost but limited to 20 amps.

LC2400

[2oldman]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
.. autoformers ...can they also DECREASE voltage when needed?

Nothing that I can find indicates they can.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Again I shall ask this a different way...

The autoformers can INCREASE voltage when needed

Can they also DECREASE voltage when needed?

[time2roll]

Welcome to the forum. Yes, you are in the right place :B

Couple things to ask on the set up...
What is the voltage at the main house where the circuit connects?
With no load the voltage at the lodge and the house should be the same.

What size wire connects the house to barn? What size from barn to lodge? How long are the distances? What size breaker is at the house to feed the barn? Is this feeder to the barn 120 volts or 120/240 volt service?

If this is 120/240 volt service (fed by a double breaker) please measure the voltage on each side in the barn.

Otherwise I think you would have been better with a 30 amp Hughes Autoformer over the voltage booster.

[Old-Biscuit]

Unfortunately your electrician did you no favors.

Wiring from house to barn is too small hence the large voltage drop.
The power booster is increasing voltage too high----should only boost 10% so with 104V incoming should boost to 114V. Your booster is doing over 30% (104V to 138V)

YES that is too high of voltage. Surge protection will trip at 132V.

What brand/model of booster is being used???????

To resolve issue........
New proper sized wiring should be pulled from service panel to barn. THIS IS THE CORRECT WAY.

Otherwise you could replace the voltage booster (Unless it has just been set up incorrectly.....does not have variable boosting) with a Hughes Autoformer which just plugs into your 30A receptacle then you plug your RV power cord into it.
Boost voltage 10% when under 116V and only 2% when over 118V so that you get stable correct safe voltage

Hughes

[enblethen]

Many of the booster transformer setups have different taps to adjust the input or output voltage.
Locate the make and model of the unit the electrician installed and post it.

[Carlos_Susan]

You are all correct. It's volts, not amps. Sorry for that, and thanks for your replies...

[WyoTraveler]

$800 is a lot of $$$. I put in a 50 amp in my shop. Including outlet, wire and conduit think I spent a little over $50. I did the labor.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

The Hughes BUCKS and boosts?

[2oldman]

That's a lot of amps.

[ScottG]

I think you mean volts when you say amps?

[pianotuna]

Hi,

The electrician did not put in wire with a sufficient thickness. I think you mean volts not amps.

Replace the booster with a Hughes Autoformer.

What make of booster was installed.