Girevik
Dayton Tn
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I am sure this has been covered but I searched and could not find the answers that I am looking for.
My wife and my self are full timers. About three weeks ago we pulled in to a camp ground in Dayton TN planning on staying for the summer. When we hooked up and turned the ac on my wife noticed the voltage was below 110. I talked to the manager about our problem and he called an electrician to check it. He check it at the outlet and one leg read 113 volts the other read 118 volts. I ask him to check it inside the trailer, it read 113 volts, my voltmeter read 110 volts. The electrician told my it would be fine to run the ac. I bought a new digital plug in voltmeter but it reads the same as the other voltmeter that already have. So which one is right the electricians the two that I own?
Does one leg go to the ac's, we have two, and the other leg go to everything else?
108 volts is the lowest that one should run the ac, is that with the ac running or before the ac is running? There is about a 5 volt drop when the ac kicks on.
Will the breaker trip before the ac over heat and melt down? That is the reason for circuit breakers to protect equipment?
Any help will be appreciated.
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wolfe10
Texas
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Not sure any of us can comment on whose meter is more accurate.
Do agree that 108 VAC is the lowest you want to run any appliance such as an A/C.
What does your voltmeter read at the pedestal vs in the coach? Any drop is DANGER, as it would indicate resistance which equates to heat.
And, no, on 50 amp shore power, it is unlikely that a breaker would protect your A/C from damage caused by low voltage.
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smkettner
Southern California
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For accuracy I recommend a Fluke brand true RMS meter. But that will not fix voltage.
I believe the compressor is fine to 103.5v but that is right at the motor. 106-108 in the RV with the air running is right on the edge of barely OK.
I honestly think you are a good candidate for a voltage booster. This should get you about 12 percent boost.
http://tweetys.com/powermaster-vc-50.aspx
Not exactly cheep but neither is a new air conditioner. Not to mention the down time.
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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A quick dip below 108v when the AC compressor is starting is not going to hurt anything. If your voltage stays at or above 108v measured with a accurate meter while its running you will be fine.
Jim
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Girevik
Dayton Tn
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wolfe10 wrote:Not sure any of us can comment on whose meter is more accurate.
Do agree that 108 VAC is the lowest you want to run any appliance such as an A/C.
What does your voltmeter read at the pedestal vs in the coach? Any drop is DANGER, as it would indicate resistance which equates to heat.
And, no, on 50 amp shore power, it is unlikely that a breaker would protect your A/C from damage caused by low voltage.
There is no voltage drop from the pedestal to the inside of the trailer.
Low voltage is a problem that I have had in East TN. Strange because of all the power plants around here. Although it has been really low the past few days. I am the farthest away from the transformer.
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Girevik
Dayton Tn
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smkettner wrote:For accuracy I recommend a Fluke brand true RMS meter. But that will not fix voltage.
I believe the compressor is fine to 103.5v but that is right at the motor. 106-108 in the RV with the air running is right on the edge of barely OK.
I honestly think you are a good candidate for a voltage booster. This should get you about 12 percent boost.
http://tweetys.com/powermaster-vc-50.aspx
Not exactly cheep but neither is a new air conditioner. Not to mention the down time.
I think I will just look for a different camp ground.
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Girevik
Dayton Tn
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smkettner wrote:For accuracy I recommend a Fluke brand true RMS meter. But that will not fix voltage.
I believe the compressor is fine to 103.5v but that is right at the motor. 106-108 in the RV with the air running is right on the edge of barely OK.
I honestly think you are a good candidate for a voltage booster. This should get you about 12 percent boost.
http://tweetys.com/powermaster-vc-50.aspx
Not exactly cheep but neither is a new air conditioner. Not to mention the down time.
So if I use a voltage booster and the voltage is below 110 can I use both ac's?
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dougrainer
Carrolton, Texas
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The CG is NOT adequately wired. On TRUE 50 amp service BOTH hot legs should read within 1 volt of each other. If NOT, Then the CG has NOT installed the correct wire gauge for 50 amp service. It has NOTHING to do with how close you are to any power plant. You are paying for a service, that is not being supplied. It costs a LOT of money for CG's to upgrade and/or install true 50 amp service and this CG has not, but it is a shame they still charge for the service. You need to check other sites at this CG, and the closer to the transformer the better. There may be sites at this CG that ARE correctly wired. Find them or I would move. On 50 amp service, EACH leg will supply each AC. Doug
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Yes, as long as running voltage on each leg is AT LEAST 110 VAC. It may dip for a second when compressor kicks on, that is ok.
According to ANSI C84.1-1995 (R2001) any voltage below 110 volts for long term, or 106 volts for short term, may very well damage things in your RV (most commonly air conditioners, but anything could be damaged).
We are 30 amp, and need to use our Autoformer at about 20% of the CG's we visit.
Chuck
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smkettner
Southern California
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Girevik wrote:So if I use a voltage booster and the voltage is below 110 can I use both ac's?
Even if the voltage comes in at 100 on each leg the booster puts you up to 112 on both legs and you are good to go all summer with dual air units running continuous.
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