Power issues with Frank's Voltage Booster

[time2roll]

Voltage in the trailer is moving from 115 to 122 sounds good right? Pedestal is closer to 100+- and Franks booster is in 16 percent boost best I can tell. Trouble is the PI EMS seems to randomly cut power. PE is usually 0 (no issue) or have seen 4 (low voltage). I keep thinking Franks might be swapping between 8 and 16 percent boost and PI cuts power periodically when this happens.

Any other ideas?
Anyone have a PI and booster with similar symptoms?

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Good info senor time2roll
I assume you arrived at a logical sequence for ordinal of pot adjustments?

[time2roll]

Tested the PI today to verify operations. Comparing with my Fluke meter the PI reads about 1 volt on the high side. Low voltage cut-off is right about 103.0 volts.

This confirms that it was the Frank's Booster that was cutting power too soon. Booster has now been adjusted to keep power on.

I know some think 103 is a bit low for cut-off however at this level things are fluctuating quite a bit and the voltage is not going to sit here for long. Will either pop up a bit or will trigger the cut-off and time delay. I like the way the PI works. JMHO

[time2roll]

Easy as pie. High cut-off 135, low cut-off 80 (pedestal). Voltage drops to 110 and first boost pops voltage back to 118. Again as voltage continues dropping to 110 the second boost brings it back to 118 again.

The PI EMS will be the primary cut-off for high and low voltages.

Now it will probably be five years before I get stuck several days in a low voltage situation like I was a couple weeks ago.

If someone needs to calibrate an old Frank's booster send a message.

[BFL13]

I don't have one of those and have no clue. However, IMO if you can fix the thing as planned, you should archive the fix somehow like with a youtube video or whatever might last, that can will show up as a hit on Goggle for folks with that same problem.

Maybe there is a "legacy" website for that gizmo that you could have it do a link to your fix? Sorry, I am not up to speed on all this new- tech way of doing things, but- whatever I am trying to say. 🙂

[time2roll]

Yes, just to get some corrected settings for boost and cut-off.
Already moved the pots a bit... going to be a snap.
Should have done this years ago. Just have not run into such consistent issues until now.

[MrWizard]

time2roll wrote:
Found this one for $55 shipped. I think I will keep it.

https://www.circuitspecialists.com/variac-variable-ac-ps05kva.html

thats 500va, 500watts, 4.8 amps

going going to use it for testing and adjusting Franks ?

can't use it for the RV

[time2roll]

wa8yxm wrote:
How are you wired

Post---Pi--Franks--RV (Wrong)

Post---Franks---PI--RV (Right)

Yes it is connected in the right sequence.

The PI was not cutting power for low voltage. Franks Superautomatic was cutting power and the PI would then delay power from coming back on as normal. Franks would immediately turn power back on once the load was removed and voltage popped up a bit. This is actually a bad design issue with Franks as there is no delay to restore power and no spread between cut and reconnect.

Just read a post from Forest River forum that Frank Izbinski has passed away at least a year ago 😞

I had bought mine direct from him about a decade ago. Picked it up at his home in the Los Angeles area.

[time2roll]

Found this one for $55 shipped. I think I will keep it.

https://www.circuitspecialists.com/variac-variable-ac-ps05kva.html

[MEXICOWANDERER]

time2roll wrote:
Opened the booster lid today. There are four adjustment pots with easy top access.

I assume these are to adjust the set points for High Cut-off, Low Cut-off, Low Boost and High Boost.
Looks simple if I knew which was which. And I need a variable AC voltage supply to dial it in.

I see this Philmore 48-1205 $70 at Frys that I think will serve the purpose.

Any other ideas? Variac seems high priced for this project.

OTHER IDEA DEPT ?

Rent it. Make me an offer I would have a hard time refusing. Ship to point is near San Diego. If you live close it may be an idea for me to drive and buy. PM me.

[wa8yxm]

How are you wired

Post---Pi--Franks--RV (Wrong)

Post---Franks---PI--RV (Right)

[time2roll]

Opened the booster lid today. There are four adjustment pots with easy top access.

I assume these are to adjust the set points for High Cut-off, Low Cut-off, Low Boost and High Boost.
Looks simple if I knew which was which. And I need a variable AC voltage supply to dial it in.

I see this Philmore 48-1205 $70 at Frys that I think will serve the purpose.

Any other ideas? Variac seems high priced for this project.

[time2roll]

I was only running the air and for a few minutes DW with a hair dryer.
The pedestal was hitting 100 with no load from my trailer.

Red Eagle Motel and RV at East Glacier National Park. Sad part is it looks like the utilities were just put in this year. All 30 amp sites, my trailer is also 30 amp.

[BFL13]

ASSuming the hook-ups is to get air conditioning, remember that you can operate everything else off the big inverter and just put the converter and air conditioner on shore power. (By clever use of extension cords)

Perhaps that would allow the lame shore power to still be able to run the air conditioner, by only operating the converter on shore power when the batts get down (you still have all that solar)leaving the air conditioner as the only shore power load most of the time?

[time2roll]

Frank's appears to be out of business.

IIRC it was www.voltagebooster.com