Quote:
Have you WORKED WITH actual - live RV'ers in Mexico?
No
Have you WORKED WITH actual - live RV'ers in Mexico?
No
YES - I have - more than a few RV parks - many RVers - I have taught park employees correct wiring and showed them why - I have drawn up plans and help do the wiring - I have worked on at least 4 RV parks to help re-wire to get it done correctly.
Another example - I go to a very popular park in Matehuala - Las Palmas - and I use my simple basic meter I have recommended many times on this forum as I did above in this thread a couple times - something anyone can do in a matter of seconds - and I find incorrectly wired outlets - so I go from outlet to outlet until I find an available space that is properly wired and that is where I park. That is all I am suggesting other RVers do - no matter where they RV.
I am also well aware of the costs of having power brought to an RV park in Mexico - I have been shown how much CFE charges to install a transformer - and I know that many parks opt for smaller transformers to save money - but then they put in more spaces than they have power to provide for and use wire that is not adequate to supply that many spaces. I have seen real flames shooting out of meter boxes in Mexico twice - and been there to help do some rewiring after the fire.
YES - I have actually been in parks in Mexico that have meters and charge guests based on how much power they use.
Yes - I have been in parks that are wire properly in Mexico - just as I have been in parks in the USA that are not wired properly.
Quote:
This year's commercial rate is TWENTY SEVEN CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR plus 16% IVA plus DAP. Have you ANY IDEA AT ALL of how much power the "average" RV draws with hot water heater, refrigerator, converter, and just one air conditioner running.
OF course you don't.
This year's commercial rate is TWENTY SEVEN CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR plus 16% IVA plus DAP. Have you ANY IDEA AT ALL of how much power the "average" RV draws with hot water heater, refrigerator, converter, and just one air conditioner running.
OF course you don't.
YES - I most certainly do!!! You continue to put words in my mouth and suggest you know what goes on in my mind when you actually know nothing about me. You just blabber on with whatever agenda it is you seem to have making no sense whatever and making up your mind who people are and what they mean when you really have no idea - you are clueless. I HAVE BEEN SHOWN ELECTRICAL BILLS BY PARK OWNERS ON MORE THAN FEW OCCASIONS!
I POSTED THE ORIGINAL POST TO ALERT PEOPLE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN RV PARKS IN BOTH THE USA AND MEXICO - THAT WAS ALL I DID - I DO NOT SUGGEST THAT ANYONE WHO IS NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE AND SKILLED ATTEMPT TO DIG INTO ELECTRICAL OUTLETS - I POSTED THE WIRING CODES AND DIAGRAMS AS INFORMATIONAL ONLY.
When in Mexico we continually monitor both our electric and water and we adjust accordingly as each situation dictates. We do not use our air conditioners if we do not have the power for them to operate properly because we know it will be bad for the equipment and could ruin the equipment if we do not have the proper electrical supply - we live with it - we accept it - we are aware of it - we try to make others aware of it. We also know that many parks do not have proper wiring and we know that wiring is not going to support the number of RV spaces they have so we reduce our power accordingly - sometimes running only our battery charger to provide power to our all LED lighting. AND YOU WILL NOT FIND ONE RV PARK OWNER ANYWHERE IN MEXICO TO WHOM WE HAVE EVER EVER EVER COMPLAINED!!
PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL IN MEXICO NEED TO BE AWARE OF THIS STUFF AND THE ONLY REASON FOR STARTING THIS THREAD WAS TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF JUST A LITTLE BIT OF IT.
http://www.briansue2.blogspot.com
Polarity check and voltage output and your done. Unless you have a voltage corrector which I do and recommend to every RV traveling in Mexico don't hook up if it doesn't check out!
I would say more places in Mexico are not up to standards than are. It would take pages of post to tell all the electrical issues I have encountered and seen in my years of travel in Mexico. That being said it is NOT a reason to skip travel in Mexico.
I have been to big cities in Mexico, visiting family, but our RV travels are to more rural, small town destinations. I can say for sure in my experience contrary to what qtla posted electrical issues abound through out Mexico. But getting better.
Stay thirsty my friends!
![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/cool.gif "cool")
* This post was edited 09/03/17 11:09am by iguana07 *
Chuck n Sandy
Roxy the Kelpie and Kiki the cat.
We have experienced "dirty power" in US and Mexico. Burned out microwaves in Baja and Yucatan. Nearly destroyed an airconditioner at a state park in Colorado. Friends we met in Yucatan and again at Hotel San Ramon (San Miguel) plugged into a post somewhere and it was 220 V. Burned out almost everything.
Our son (who has been in solar for 25 years and is a licensed master electrician) designed and fabricated the solar systems on our 34' fifth wheel and our 19' (2002) Roadtrek.
He designed both systems so that we can either use line power directly or have line power run through battery chargers (1.5 kW for 5th wheel and 1.0 kW for Roadtrek). We tossed the 50 amp cord for the 5th wheel and just keep a heavy duty 15 amp cord in the front bay of 5th wheel where battery suite, PSWI, et reside. We kept the integral 30 amp cord for the Roadtrek. But it goes through the battery charger now (we can change back with a simple switch but choose note to).
This mitigates "dirty power" effects on the electronics but probably does not prevent "hot" skin. We did find clean power at a few places but hot skin elsewhere. We have sufficient solar to run everything during day and fridge on propane at night.
Had thought of grounding the rig and think we may just do this even if the power appears to be clean. Will discuss this with son today since we are mootchdocking at his place of 40 acres in mountains of northern NM (he has put in propane, sewer and water for us).
As noted by a poster above, Hotel San Ramon is a requisite stop for us. Believe we met BrianSue there a few years ago. We stayed at El Pozo RV park in Patzuaro in February this year and it was open and quite nice. Power seemed to be good.
Reed and Elaine
The voltage needs to be checked under load. I use a 1500 watt heater.
Which voltage corrector do you have?
iguana07 wrote:
Polarity check and voltage output and your done. Unless you have a voltage corrector which I do and recommend to every RV traveling in Mexico don't hook up if it doesn't check out!
Polarity check and voltage output and your done. Unless you have a voltage corrector which I do and recommend to every RV traveling in Mexico don't hook up if it doesn't check out!
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.
moisheh wrote:
I would like to know where Chris gets his rose colored glasses. Even in Fonavit homes there are many building code violations. Propane explosions are commonplace as they will use garden hose from the outside tank to the kitchen! If the house was built without a minisplit the added wiring us a joke. Tinacos are installed with no check valves. The plastic water pipes are not schedule 40. Just cheap cr---y thin Mexican pipe. It's Mexico not Nirvana.
Moisheh
I would like to know where Chris gets his rose colored glasses. Even in Fonavit homes there are many building code violations. Propane explosions are commonplace as they will use garden hose from the outside tank to the kitchen! If the house was built without a minisplit the added wiring us a joke. Tinacos are installed with no check valves. The plastic water pipes are not schedule 40. Just cheap cr---y thin Mexican pipe. It's Mexico not Nirvana.
Moisheh
Pacific Coast Original KD's Biker Sunglasses (Black Frame/Rose Colored Lens)
Now that the foolishness is out of the way, I can respond to your interesting yet extremely exaggerated post. Yes, those things you have listed have happened in Mexico just like they have in the U.S. and Canada. But what is your point?
The things you have listed are not being done by the builder, not unregulated or oversight by building codes or governmental agencies like the CFE. Those things are caused and done by the foolish owner who attempts to do things on the cheap.
Why on Earth would you introduce a 220V minisplit into a house that has 15/20 amp service?
Why would a foolish owner not have a check valve on a tinaco and if the house came that way why wouldn't he use his warranty with the builder to correct it? Yes, my innocent friend, each home comes with a warranty.
Did you check the poll that Brian posted on Rv.Travel. That's rv pedestals in the U.S., Canada and maybe Mexico. The story isn't any different. People try to get away with stuff all the time, it isn't a Mexican thing.
"Cheap crappy Mexican pipe". Wow, your love of Mexico really shows in your ability to express it. Do they use schedule 40 or 80 pipe in Canada? If they do, would they put it into a house that cost $10,000 dollars? I doubt it.
Have you not checked the internet, YouTube, etc. that show people in both northern neighboring countries that do exactly what you are criticizing people in Mexico for doing? Stealing electricity, using LP tanks illegally, not following building codes?
Unfortunately, I don't recall any of your posts every presenting any factual documents on line, links, videos, of the things you criticize Mexicans for.
Today I had a get together here at the house with friends (all Mexicans). Most were indignant with your post which I read them and couldn't believe that anyone would be so ignorant about a country that is one of the largest world economies. Others found your post funny and a bit off wondering why someone from Canada would be so ignorant about Mexico. My friends have incomes from 1000 pesos a week to 5000 pesos a week. Not what anyone would call rich so they don't have their noses up their behinds.
One of them even commented, "he must be working for a president (name withheld) that is wanting to build a wall along the border".
Your post sounds about as crazy as another poster here.
2005 Dodge Durango Hemi
2008 Funfinder 230DS
Living and Boondocking Mexico Blog
1. Ground the vehicle frame
2. Use an electric plug tester
or just use solar/batteries when you can. Church & Church pretty much said as much in their book of six years ago or so.
Reed and Elaine
It is a 30amp model I purchased last winter in Hermosillo. Cost was under $200 U.S. I have a 50Amp system but figured in Mexico pretty much all I see is 15,20,30 amp connections.
The store is an electric outlet and I called and had them have one ready for me when my friend was in town. They normally don't carry stock. They get them from factory which I believe one is Hermosillo.
Unlike the 50amp voltage booster I purchased for $500 years ago this lowers and raises voltage. Big demand in Mexico households because of voltage irregularities.
I can get name of store and phone number if you like. We are picking up another for a friend on way down this winter.
* This post was edited 09/04/17 12:21pm by iguana07 *
Thanks for the offer.
I do have the Sola Basic and love it.
It boosts at 110 (10%), 100 (20%), and 90 (30%) volts. It bucks at 135 (but I have no way to test that).
I have used it to run my roof air on a weak 15 amp circuit (96 volts).
iguana07 wrote:
I have an ISB Solar Voltage Corrector 4000 made in Mexico
It is a 30amp model I purchased last winter in Hermosillo. Cost was under $200 U.S. I have a 50Amp system but figured in Mexico pretty much all I see is 15,20,30 amp connections.
The store is an electric outlet and I called and had them have one ready for me when my friend was in town. They normally don't carry stock. They get them from factory which I believe one is Hermosillo.
Unlike the 50amp voltage booster I purchased for $500 years ago this lowers and raises voltage. Big demand in Mexico households because of voltage irregularities.
I can get name of store and phone number if you like. We are picking up another for a friend on way down this winter.
I have an ISB Solar Voltage Corrector 4000 made in Mexico
It is a 30amp model I purchased last winter in Hermosillo. Cost was under $200 U.S. I have a 50Amp system but figured in Mexico pretty much all I see is 15,20,30 amp connections.
The store is an electric outlet and I called and had them have one ready for me when my friend was in town. They normally don't carry stock. They get them from factory which I believe one is Hermosillo.
Unlike the 50amp voltage booster I purchased for $500 years ago this lowers and raises voltage. Big demand in Mexico households because of voltage irregularities.
I can get name of store and phone number if you like. We are picking up another for a friend on way down this winter.
navegator
When we do plug in, even in US, we merely plug a 15 amp cord to a 15 amp outlet and use that to charge the LFP battery bank (in both Roadtrek and 5th wheel). The power then goes to cabin via 4.0 kW PSWI for AC and 12 V from battery (Roadtrek) or 48 V to 12 V converter on 5th wheel.
This does not mitigate ungrounded pedestals. Older son agrees with idea of grounding the frame of RV. We shall be emplacing a cable onto the frame in one of the bays so that we will then just pull out cable and pound in stake. He suggests an insulated cable so that ground does not occur elsewhere, such as through our hands.
Reed and Elaine