Author Topic: Low voltage on Alladin  (Read 3005 times)

jeffprupis

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Low voltage on Alladin
« on: August 04, 2018, 02:16:20 PM »
Help me understand. 2nd time happening. Twice in Canada at older CGs w/30amp only service full to capacity.
We check-in, check voltage at post, hook-up, turn on AC and voltage INTERMINTINALY drops to as low as 102V. SurgeGard shows POWER DELAY ACTIVE then no AC DETECTED and shuts down power as it should. Power returns and all is fine for a while. Is this our coach or I assume something at the CG? TIA

Steve Huber Co-Admin

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Re: Low voltage on Alladin
« Reply #1 on: August 04, 2018, 03:39:48 PM »
Jeff,
If your Surge guard is between the power pedestal and the coach, it is most likely the campground power. To verify, check the voltage at the input to the Surge guard with a meter.
Steve
Steve
2015-          07 Contessa Bayshore C9,  400 hp
2013-2015: 00 Marquis Tourmaline, C12, 425 hp
2005-2013: 01 Contessa Naples, 3126B, 330 hp

jeffprupis

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Re: Low voltage on Alladin
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2018, 03:56:12 PM »
117v-119v at pedestal.

Steve Huber Co-Admin

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Re: Low voltage on Alladin
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2018, 04:24:23 PM »
Jeff,
If you are getting that reading on both legs of the 50A connection, then I'd check the output of the surge guard. If it's OK check the input and output of the transfer switch. There may be a corroded/faulty connection at the shore power input to the switch (assuming this problem doesn't occur when on generator power).
Steve
Steve
2015-          07 Contessa Bayshore C9,  400 hp
2013-2015: 00 Marquis Tourmaline, C12, 425 hp
2005-2013: 01 Contessa Naples, 3126B, 330 hp

jeffprupis

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Re: Low voltage on Alladin
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2018, 04:38:01 PM »
Further the drop seems to accompany turning on the AC.
Switching to 50amp tomorrow will see if the problem occurs then.

Larry Moore

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Re: Low voltage on Alladin
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2018, 09:29:58 PM »
If you are using a single 30amp circuit, then you will need to turn the fridge to gas, electric hot water heater off, and only run 1 Air unit.  I did buy a double 30 amp to 50 amp adapter and using two 30 amp plugs we can can run both air units but again only with the fridge and electric water heater off.  When you pull too many amps the voltage will drop, that may explain the reading with no load being good and the reading with load not so good. Chances are that when you get to your next 50 amp connection, all will be well! 

PS: 1- 50 amp connection really equals 2 x 50 amps or 100 amps to run equipment on. 1-30 amp connection equals only 30 amp total available.

Joel Ashley

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Re: Low voltage on Alladin
« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2018, 07:42:11 AM »
Yeah, I think Larry is right.  A number of times, particularly with older parks and more so older Canadian or Montana ones, we’ve had issues with either the seemingly new but bargain-basement outlet at the post, an overloaded master breaker for an entire section of a park, or a simply no longer adequate entire park system - even with 50amp posts. 

So yup, more likely with 30’s.  You may see nearly 120v for awhile, then enough motors throughout your park section suddenly hit congruently and cyclically enough to drop your supply, and your coach self-survival kicks in.  If I were betting, based on my personal experience I’d put money on the issue being your Park, not the coach system.

Joel
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Keith Cooper

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Re: Low voltage on Alladin
« Reply #7 on: August 06, 2018, 01:53:52 PM »
Most surge protectors have an operating range somewhere between 102v and 132v. Obviously, when the voltage drops below that level at the pedestal the surge protector does it's job and opens the circuit. Last year, while touring the Canadian Maritimes we stopped at 37 campgrounds/ RV parks and several of  them had low or marginal voltage when we entered with 16 coaches.
Prior to the start of the trip, I installed a Hughes AutoFormer  (Variable tap transformer)with a built in surge protector. Its purpose is to step the input voltage from the pedestal up by 10% within the Autoformer's operating range (95v - 115v). the wider operating range of the Autoformer is why we were able to have power to our coach while some others without some form of voltage regulation, lost power. What this device is designed to do is increase the voltage which in turn lowers the amperage. At a full 100 amp load the loss is approximately one percent.

jeffprupis

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Re: Low voltage on Alladin
« Reply #8 on: August 08, 2018, 10:22:05 PM »
Keith, thanks. We are currently on Gaspee Pinn following your route from last year. Do you have a 30amp or 50 amp Voltage regulator? 50amp svs has never presented a problem for us. We, of course, have a 50amp coach. TIA

Keith Cooper

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Re: Low voltage on Alladin
« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2018, 02:55:19 PM »
50 amp . the Autoformer is sized for the coach, not for the shore power limitations
« Last Edit: August 12, 2018, 02:16:28 PM by Keith Cooper »