Autoformers for low pedestal voltage
Posted: July 7th, 2017, 6:05 pm
So, after getting a scare with my roof AC not wanting to start, I've done some Googling. (Btw, with the hard start kit, the compressor now starts instantly with no straining sound whatsoever.)
Watching the new AC volt and amp meters that I installed a few weeks ago, I noticed that the power from my garage hookup was dropping to the minimum necessary to keep compressors happy. Sometimes it drops as low as 108 volts, which is right on the edge of real problems.
While reading about how low voltage causes motors to pull more amps and heat up and fail, I ran across lots of references to RV autoformers, which are multi-tap transformers electronically switched to boost pedestal voltage by anywhere from 8 to 16% depending on make and model. Basically at 10% boost, my 108 volts would jump to 119 volts, thus safe guarding my AC and microwave.
A major supplier is Hughes, with both 30 amp and 50 amp models. See their explanatory video at the bottom of this page:
https://hughesautoformers.com/
Has anybody here any experience with an autoformer? Has anyone installed one permanently in their RV with a kit?
Thanks in advance! I'm really leaning towards getting one to help prevent expensive appliance damage.
Watching the new AC volt and amp meters that I installed a few weeks ago, I noticed that the power from my garage hookup was dropping to the minimum necessary to keep compressors happy. Sometimes it drops as low as 108 volts, which is right on the edge of real problems.
While reading about how low voltage causes motors to pull more amps and heat up and fail, I ran across lots of references to RV autoformers, which are multi-tap transformers electronically switched to boost pedestal voltage by anywhere from 8 to 16% depending on make and model. Basically at 10% boost, my 108 volts would jump to 119 volts, thus safe guarding my AC and microwave.
A major supplier is Hughes, with both 30 amp and 50 amp models. See their explanatory video at the bottom of this page:
https://hughesautoformers.com/
Has anybody here any experience with an autoformer? Has anyone installed one permanently in their RV with a kit?
Thanks in advance! I'm really leaning towards getting one to help prevent expensive appliance damage.