Our Place
Southwest Ohio
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I camp in my 5th wheel about 3 times a year at this one campgroung and I have noticed that during the peak "hot" times of the day my AC line voltage is running around 105v to 108v. I have looked into a voltage regulator from Surge Guard but don't really know if its nessary. Does anybody run a AC line voltage regulator or is it not needed? I've mostly read horror stories about fried air conditioners from low park voltage.
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ExRocketScientist
Laurel, MD
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There are some devices that can up the voltage. When they do, they draw more current off of the park power pedestal. And yes . . . running them at low voltage is not good for them and can destroy them. I have observed the same voltages as you. If people would run their fridge and hot water heater on propane it would help a lot. Electric heating elements draw down the voltage.
I solved the problem by not camping on the weekends.
ERS
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
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I would say the campground has low voltage.
Are you using an adapter?
Is your rig 30 or 50 ampere?
If you are thirty ampere rig, use the 50 ampere receptacle and go through an adapter.
I would check the voltage at the pedestal.
Bud
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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108v is considered the lower safe voltage for typical 120v devices. + or - 10% from 120v or 108v-132v is what they are designed to tolerate.
Jim
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Our Place
Southwest Ohio
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enblethen wrote:I would say the campground has low voltage.
Are you using an adapter?
Is your rig 30 or 50 ampere?
If you are thirty ampere rig, use the 50 ampere receptacle and go through an adapter.
I would check the voltage at the pedestal.
My unit is 30 amp and the campground is a small place that only has 11 campsites with that they only have 30 amp power poles. My concern is if a regulator is really nessary. I have not ever had a problem even down to 105 volts. Everything in my camper works without hesitation. The good thing is that this campground is on a lake and most everbody is on the water during the day when demand is the highest. I have seen some "surge guards" that actually shut off your power when the voltage drops to 105 but I would really rather not have my power drop out during the heat of the day.
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mbrule
Massachusetts
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ExRocketScientist wrote:There are some devices that can up the voltage. When they do, they draw more current off of the park power pedestal. And yes . . . running them at low voltage is not good for them and can destroy them. I have observed the same voltages as you. If people would run their fridge and hot water heater on propane it would help a lot. Electric heating elements draw down the voltage.
I solved the problem by not camping on the weekends.
If one pays for hookups it should be expected that there is enough power to run 30 or 50 Amps as required.
Besides the hot water heater electric element uses a lot of power, but fridge uses something like 2.5 Amps, very little....
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bpounds
Whittier CA
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Our Place wrote:...I have not ever had a problem even down to 105 volts. Everything in my camper works without hesitation...
If your AC starts crisply, then I wouldn't worry about it. Sluggish starts are the worst for your AC. Definitely turn off your own water heater electric. Maybe talk to your neighbors about the low voltage you observed, and you might sweet talk them into turning their WH off too.
Also, you should be checking the voltage before you start your AC. Some drop is normal if your own applicances are running.
Bill and Carol
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
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I would not be concerned until it falls below the 105 mark.
The campground should be notiied about the low voltage. They can request the utility verify voltage level and adjust their transformer accordingly if it is their problem.
You could get a bucking and boosting power transformer setup to raise the power. Could be pricey but may save you some expenses. My luck is the low voltage would happen while I was not around.
A power surge protector may shut down the system and automatically resets can cause itself to self destruct if it cycles repeatable.
http://www.rv.net/forum/Index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23055362/gotomsg/23055684.cfm
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ExRocketScientist
Laurel, MD
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enblethen wrote:I would say the campground has low voltage.
Are you using an adapter?
Is your rig 30 or 50 ampere?
If you are thirty ampere rig, use the 50 ampere receptacle and go through an adapter.
I would check the voltage at the pedestal.
When I had this problem, I checked both the 30 amp and 50 amp receptacle. The voltage was the same.
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jjj
Lancaster,Ca.U.S.A.
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I belong to Thousand trails and in the Soledad park electric is poor and I always use my Franks Voltage booster with no ill effect. I never leave home without it.
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