<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by BigTrace:
Hey Ichn,
Thanks for the input. Have you found the need for the autoformer? I know the surge guard only allows voltages down to 102 where it will then cut off, but 102 is a very dangerous area for any appliances to live in. With the autoformer or Frank's booster, you would be assured of a minimum of 112 volts (10% increase)in the autoformers case, slightly more in the Franks Booster case (16% increase). Have you found any problems at any park resulting in a loss of power, or surge situation? Has anyone installed a park power line monitor to see what the incoming voltage is?? Thanks </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Trace - I actually have a couple of ways of getting a good idea about park power problems.
First way is the UPS I use for my PC tower; when I get voltage sags, it beeps at me.
Secondly my Xantrex display will tell me what the incoming AC voltage is, and even the line frequency.
My feeling is the surge guard will protect you from transient events which would be the most damaging and is the least predictable. The autoformer will help keep your voltage up in sagging situations, but you can do self-management by switching the EMS to 20 amps, and/or shutting AC-powered equipment off manually until you stablize the voltage.
It is important to remember that the autoformer is not 'creating' energy - it is raising voltage at the expense of the current. You might have 110 V after the autoformer does its thing, but you won't have the full 20 or 30 amps available.
Having said all of that, if I had the space to permanantly mount an autoformer, I probably would buy one. Since I essentially had to choose between a surge guard or an autoformer, I wanted the surge guard. If you can do both, go for both.
Oh - a word about damage due to low voltage. Not everything that is plugged into the AC outlet will be harmed by low voltage. As a rule of thumb if it is mostly a resistive load, i.e., hairdryer, toaster, they will not be harmed by low voltage, they just won't work as well. Inductive loads (motors) would not do well with low voltage over an extended period of time. Some electronics might not even work if the input voltage drops too much, however they might not be permanantly affected (damaged) - it is hard to say.
Some electronics and other products are designed to operate over a wide variance of input voltage - in other parts of the world you might or might not get 115V (or 220v in Europe) at the mains, especially in the evening when everybody is watching the telly
), I am looking at putting in my own Surge Guard and possibly an Autoformer. The Franks booster and Hughes Autoformer come to mind. Also, the surge guard permanently installed would be good too. Given the space issues in the electrical bay, has anyone mounted these permanently?
