Autoformer with Surge Protection

Pelledan · 03-03-2017, 01:23 PM

Last season I was at a campground near Memphis and for the third time in the last 4 years I had issue with campground voltage. It was between 109 and 110 (checked with digital meter at the pylon) without any load from my unit. I spoke with the campground owners and they said their voltage met code with the low end of code at 108 volts. Never heard of that code, but I'm not from Tennessee either. Nonetheless I didn't want to chance turning on my basement air so I toughed out the 86* day temp and left the next day. I don't want to be in that situation again, so I'm considering the Autoformer. The new ones have a built in surge protector, but my coach already has a hard wired Progressive Industries EMS50 surge guard system. I called Hughes and was told that the Autoformer with Surge Protection can be daisy-chained to another surge protector without any problems. Then I read this which dictates otherwise: http://www.prairielectric.com/blog/1...urge-protector

What say All??

Thanks, Dan

Steve Ownby · 03-03-2017, 01:34 PM

Dan,

I'm not a professional electrician or electrical engineer. I'm a full timer with about 5 years of experience using a Hughes Autoformer and a Progressive EMS in that order. No issues & great protection. If you go with the Hughes, be sure to get the current production. The Hughes has had surge/spike protection for a long time but was redesigned not long ago to make the surge part easy to replace if it soaks up a big surge. The older one had to be returned for a rebuild.

Pelledan · 03-16-2017, 08:01 AM

Hi Steve,

I ended up calling the folks at Progressive Industries and they too told me there would be no concerns with the two protection systems in series. The Autoformer with the new updated replaceable surge protector is on its way to me now. Hopefully this purchase will mitigate any future voltage issues I may encounter.

Thanks, Dan

Floridakamper · 03-16-2017, 08:31 AM

I'm not a electrician either but I would NOT have a problem with 109 volts AC. If it got down to 104 or less with load I would be concerned. I'm not even sure an autoformer would kick in at 109V.

Steve Ownby · 03-16-2017, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floridakamper

I'm not a electrician either but I would NOT have a problem with 109 volts AC. If it got down to 104 or less with load I would be concerned. I'm not even sure an autoformer would kick in at 109V.

Current production Hughes boost 10% at a nominal 116VAC and below input voltage.

Pelledan · 03-24-2017, 02:44 PM

Steve,

I recently received my Autoformer and am now in a bit of a quandary. My intent is to use this device only when the campground voltage is low enough to warrant it. My electrical compartment is small to begin with and could not house anything this size as a permanent installation and still get the 30' cable wound up and stored, let alone trying to close the compartment door. I was also aware of the weight of the Autoformer when I bought it and I am concerned about where I will place it while on the road. All that said, if your unit is not in a permanent installation, where do you store it while on the road? I have visions of going over a bump sufficient to have a bit of a "lift-off" then having 35 lbs of dead weight inertia landing in the compartment and redesigning its flat floor into something more concave. The box it came in is double the size of the unit itself and I would really have to shed some items I normally bring with me to free up enough real estate to accommodate the unit wrapped in shock-proof packing inside the shipping box.
Any advice is appreciated.
Dan

96 Wideglide · 03-24-2017, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floridakamper

I'm not a electrician either but I would NOT have a problem with 109 volts AC. If it got down to 104 or less with load I would be concerned. I'm not even sure an autoformer would kick in at 109V.

If the OP is seeing 109V at the pedestal with no load, just plug in and turn on a AC, and you will see your 104V real quick!
Autoformer will most definately be running at 109V.

Steve Ownby · 03-24-2017, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelledan

Steve,

I recently received my Autoformer and am now in a bit of a quandary. My intent is to use this device only when the campground voltage is low enough to warrant it. My electrical compartment is small to begin with and could not house anything this size as a permanent installation and still get the 30' cable wound up and stored, let alone trying to close the compartment door. I was also aware of the weight of the Autoformer when I bought it and I am concerned about where I will place it while on the road. All that said, if your unit is not in a permanent installation, where do you store it while on the road? I have visions of going over a bump sufficient to have a bit of a "lift-off" then having 35 lbs of dead weight inertia landing in the compartment and redesigning its flat floor into something more concave. The box it came in is double the size of the unit itself and I would really have to shed some items I normally bring with me to free up enough real estate to accommodate the unit wrapped in shock-proof packing inside the shipping box.

Any advice is appreciated.

Dan

I feel your pain. The Hughes is certainly not a light weight. Before I wired mine in, I had room in the compartment with my transfer switch for the Hughes to sit on the floor. I love having it wired in.

If you have adequate room in a good spot, you might think about adding some eye bolts & bungie cord it snugly. If the weight is a little much for the floor strength, you could add a reinforcing piece of plywood.