Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Power Pedestal Connections

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Topic: Power Pedestal Connections

Posted By: briansue on 08/24/17 08:54am

Quote:

Prepare by purchasing like a Hughes Autoformer or similar

Devices like the Hughes only correct voltage in one direction - up or down. The only one I have ever seen that corrects both up and down is the Sola Basic I mentioned in my original post - we find places we have to use it in the US as well.

Quote:

We bought one of the ISB Solar Basic Voltage Regulators a few years ago in Mexico. I find I have to use ours in the US as well. You would have to use two of them to regulate both legs of a 50 amp connection. I know there have been any number of products mentioned over the years on this forum but this is the only one I have ever seen which can correct both high and low voltage. They work. I have never been able to find one in the US for a decent price.

Corrector of Voltage 8 and 4 KVA

http://www.isbmex.com/productos/corrector-de-voltaje-8-y-4-kva

Rated capacity: 4 KVA and 8 KVA
Operating range: 85 V ~ - 147 V ~
Rated voltage: 127 V ~ 60 Hz
Maximum current: 30 A (4 KVA), 60 A (8 KVA)

http://www.briansue2.blogspot.com

Posted By: pianotuna on 08/24/17 10:29am

Hi,

The boost on the Sola Basic has three "switch points"

at 110 it boosts approximately 10%
At 100 it boosts approximately 20%
at 90 it boosts approximately 30%

The buck is listed to come on at 134 volts. I am not able to test for voltage that high and have never encountered it "in the wild".

I have used the Sola on a 94 volt (under load) 15 amp shore power plug to run the roof air conditioner. The amperage did eventually cause the shore power breaker to trip after about 2 hours. At that point I switched the fridge to gas and was able to continue to use the roof air.

Wattage demand on the roof air conditioners does change. Mine goes from about 1300 to over 1900 watts as the ambient temperature goes up.

Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.

Posted By: Tequila on 08/24/17 10:36am

We ran a caravan 2 years ago. I had prewarned people to buy protectors, some di not. At one spot, a satelite receiver and a convertor were blown. Neither rig had purchased protection.

Posted By: briansue on 08/24/17 11:49am

Yes - protection is also important - we have an older model Surge Guard . . . . http://trci.net/products/surge-guard-rv . . . and there are a couple other companies that make them. Be aware the Sola Basic is NOT a protector - it is a corrector. Anyone who plugs into a pedestal anywhere without first checking for polarity, ground, voltage, is asking for trouble. Electricity out in the "wilds" can get quite messy.

Posted By: almcc on 08/24/17 12:00pm

When we traveled in Mexico we used a Tripp Lite lc 2400 computer power conditioner, only 20 amps but that's all that was available in a lot of parks. Voltage range of correction was about 80 to 147V and it also protects against spikes. It's an indoor unit but it worked well in a Tupperware box outside.

https://www.tripplite.com/2400w-120v-power-conditioner-automatic-voltage-regulation-avr-ac-surge-protection-6-outlets~LC2400/

Posted By: MEXICOWANDERER on 08/24/17 04:55pm

Forgive me I am going to keep harping on this...

Without an actual working earth ground about 95% of the protective devices, even in the Sola, or autoformer are connected to nothing. Today I opened up a Tripp Lite Iso Bar 5000 to find out why the red LED warning light was on. Incoming Line Neutral Earth power had one MOV connected between line and neutral and it was exploded. The device was supposed to protect a Dish Network receiver. It didn't. I've already checked the house. Modern outlets, ground circuit unconnected. Easiest earthing is within the outlet hole, to a piece of exposed rebar. Scrape, sand bright and solder. The Isobar has four outlets and another two that are not protected. Enough to feed their TV, satellite and sound system.

Yes I am increasing the protection inside the device about 1000%. More and larger MOVs, plus Transient Voltage Suppressors. It's to make the components live longer not merely to absorb worse transients & bad power.

Posted By: qtla9111 on 08/24/17 06:08pm

We just avoid the issue and boondock. With solar and LP we do just fine without any worries. But then again, we have a lowly 24ft travel trailer that doesn't have any bells or whistles.

2005 Dodge Durango Hemi
2008 Funfinder 230DS
Living and Boondocking Mexico Blog

Posted By: briansue on 08/24/17 11:46pm

Unfortunately, we have one of those big honkin' motorhomes with a couple air conditioners on the roof and a full size residential refrigerator not to mention computers and TVs and all that other stuff. It is our full-time house so we live with it and take it with us wherever we go. Besides the ISB Sola Basic we also have a UPS with AVR to protect our electronic stuff. We also have the whole unit surge protector. We also check pedestals and create ground when needed. We gotta go with what we've got I guess. If we can't get enough power we don't use the stuff that require power. But we have the ISB and the surge protectors etc. for when we get enough power to run extra stuff. We aren't campers - we are travelers. An electronic device conditioner does not meet our needs much of the time - but we do have one for when all we can run is some electronic stuff. Main thing is to check pedestals for polarity etc - ground. Rebar will work for ground if nothing else - pound it in and leave it - a couple/few 2 foot pieces are better than nothing - if no solder use small house clamps and make sure lots of wire contact.

Posted By: MEXICOWANDERER on 08/25/17 01:07am

briansue, the stuff you have is light-years better protection level than what most RVers show up with. A biggie is to blow out the microwave control board, that is probably the number one complaint I see. I don't work on them. Cities have dedicated businesses that repair everything from appliances to refrigerators to hand drills, all with factory parts. Cost is very reasonable. Converter control circuitry is another PITA and I am unaware of anyone down here even in Mexico DF that repairs RV converters.

Many of these problems could have been avoided. I probably mentioned it on this forum but in the 1980's I was parked 100' from a large 5th wheel. I heard yelling, and looked outside to see a dozen people at the rig or running toward it. A woman had gotten electrocuted off a hot skin. I continued my journey a few hours later - I must confess it shook me up.

Posted By: pianotuna on 08/25/17 07:47am

briansue,

Any idea how often you have to pound in the rebar for a ground?

I was planning a massive upgrade to my solar but that is now on hold as I may only full time for about another 24 months. I have replaced the generator that grew wings in the fall of 2016. Between the solar, hybrid inverter/charger and the generator I have my power needs totally taken care of. I now have an hour meter on the generator and after 5 weeks it shows only 7.2 hours. As I have a remote start, I'll turn on the generator when I'm cooking a meal. I have three friends who allow me to park and plug at their homes.

I can survive from May 1 until October 15 on a single 15 amp shore power supply. If I had a residential fridge my propane use would drop to essentially zero. As it is now, I use perhaps one tank per year--mostly for running the fridge when I have no shore power. I am able to heat 100% electrically down to the mid -30 temperature, provided that I have enough shore power available. Three 15 amp circuits take care of all my needs.

I'll be doing Walmart parking for about the next month. Hopefully it will not be too hot.

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