View Poll Results: Autotransformer use: Good or Bad?
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Good
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80.00% |
Bad
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20.00% |
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11-11-2015, 08:09 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Port Orchard
Posts: 2,064
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Autotransformers: Good or Bad?
I'm considering getting an autotransformer to protect my A/C in campgrounds with inadequate wiring/low voltage at the post. This is a good thing for my A/C but not such a good thing for my neighbors on the same circuit. So, what's your opinion of autotransformer use?
Here's a link to one opinion Autotransformer Use: "Stealing Power?"
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Don
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11-11-2015, 08:37 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,857
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Autotransformers: Good or Bad?
I have been in CG's that had posted signs prohibiting them.
I have never been in a CG where I needed one and my EMS would shut off the supply of the voltage got to low.
Un necessary expense IMO.
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11-11-2015, 08:49 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: MD
Posts: 3,856
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Yep a Progressive Industries EMS would shut the power off in a low voltage situation and protect your AC.
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2014 JayFlight Swift 264BH (Sold)
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11-11-2015, 08:56 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Port Orchard
Posts: 2,064
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Actually what I'm interested in is not an EMS but an autotransformer. An autotransformer will kick your voltage up by 10% when the post voltage drops below 117VAC. However, because it steps your voltage up and you draw more current, the other posts on the same circuit will lose a small amount of voltage due to line loss from the campground feed for that circuit.
An autotransformer would allow me to keep using my A/C in a low voltage situation whereas an EMS would not. I've been in campgrounds where I've seen the voltage drop to 106VAC and I was really concerned about my A/C.
__________________
Don
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11-11-2015, 09:21 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Florien, LA
Posts: 1,872
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I have one. Frank's autoformer for 50 amp. I pretty much never use it. Hadn't in a few years. BUT, you bet I would if I needed to. Lost an AC In our first rig due to low voltage, so never again. Auoformer is cheaper than AC. I have the EMS also, but your dead in the water if low voltage, unless you have an autoformer.
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John and Rebecca Dickson
Emma-13 / Little John-10 / Iva-7
2013 Ford F-350 Lariat FX4, CC LB PSD, DRW
2015 Jayco Jay Flight 28BHBE (#8)
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11-11-2015, 09:46 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Port Orchard
Posts: 2,064
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BigJohn, that's interesting that you haven't had to use it for years. I was in several this June (cross country trip using quite a few KOAs) and also a couple the year before that had low voltage. Perhaps I just need to use better campgrounds.
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Don
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11-11-2015, 10:04 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Florien, LA
Posts: 1,872
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hoppers4, not sure. Oddly enough, both the parks we experienced low voltage in were in the same area. Lost the AC in one of them. We've used it a few times here and there, but in the last few years all has been well between voltage monitors and ems. Run of luck I guess.
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John and Rebecca Dickson
Emma-13 / Little John-10 / Iva-7
2013 Ford F-350 Lariat FX4, CC LB PSD, DRW
2015 Jayco Jay Flight 28BHBE (#8)
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11-12-2015, 03:53 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sparta, TN
Posts: 1,174
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They are GOOD!
I have one. I have used it once. I am glad I have it and will use it whenever necessary.
Stealing power? That is a statement made by people who do not understand electricity. The electric distribution system has regulators at the substations and throughout the system. They ARE, in fact, auto-formers. Big ones!
Yes, you will draw slightly more power from the pedestal after including your auto-former but at the same time your air conditioner is running more efficiently on the increased voltage. Almost a wash. But you are NOT "stealing power". Read the last paragraph in the OP's article link.
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Chuck - Sparta, TN
2012 Jay Flight 22FB, 2 x Honda EU2000i
2013 GMC Yukon XL Denali AWD
EDUCATION is what you get when you read the fine print.....
EXPERIENCE is what you get when you don't.
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11-12-2015, 09:37 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Port Orchard
Posts: 2,064
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That's kinda the way I was thinking Chuck. I have a pretty good grip on the I/V/P relationship and have a hard time viewing it as stealing. I have an even harder time shutting off my A/C when it's really hot out or worse yet burning it up because of inadequate infrastructure.
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Don
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11-13-2015, 09:14 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 517
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Curious.
I'm familiar with autotransformers and step transformers in power distribution. I'm not at all familiar with autotransformers intended for RV use. Are most units a fixed 10% or is it common to have non-load tap changing to closer trim in the voltage? I suspect multiple taps would add cost to the manufacturer so they aren't common.
An aside. The article cited above declared that most RV loads are resisitve. I disagree in that the large percentage of power used is for air conditioning, fans, refrigeration compressors, inverter/chargers, etc. I wouldn't consider those loads resistive. Even though the traditional 12 volt interior lamps are resisitve, when connected to shore power they are powered by the inverter/charger.
FWIW. vic
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11-13-2015, 09:27 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Port Orchard
Posts: 2,064
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Vics, I've been able to find about three different autotransformers. Besides Hughes (one 10% step), there's Frank's (an 8% and 16% step but more expensive than Hughes), and one other brand that I don't remember.
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Don
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11-13-2015, 09:40 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sparta, TN
Posts: 1,174
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Vic, these work just like the regulators with tap changers. Just not quite as sophisticated. Most are automatic boost/no boost.
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Chuck - Sparta, TN
2012 Jay Flight 22FB, 2 x Honda EU2000i
2013 GMC Yukon XL Denali AWD
EDUCATION is what you get when you read the fine print.....
EXPERIENCE is what you get when you don't.
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11-14-2015, 08:46 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 517
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Thanks all for the replies and info. vic
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