Installing Hughes Autoformer

[Pusherman]

I have one too, but use it at the pedestal. No concerns from heat. I have a bike lock for it, so it doesn't walk away. NealC's experience is a good lesson. I do cover mine with a plastic bag in rainy weather, but keeping it up from puddles is a good learning!

[NealC]

I have a clip on umbrella. But I didn’t expect rain much less torrential downpour. Now I don’t have to worry about it. It did not pass the common sense test to me to put a plastic bag over a heat generator.

Would I buy one again? I don’t know. I don’t know how often it really is of value. However on my recent trip to a CG near Ft Myers the AF told me line 1 was bad. As did the progressive. The receptacle in the pedestal was bad. But we all know how great some CG’s are maintained and this is a small cost to protect and expensive coach. Surge protection is a must. Under voltage I don’t know.

[DrPhil]

Here is my install which left room for dog bones, etc. No venting per se, but plenty of air movement in that cabinet normally.

[MNawman]

Thanks Phil. I like the shelf too. I plan to install the PI unit as well with tha ability to bypass either/both the Hugh’s and PI. Does everyone leave the Hugh’s plugged in all the time or just when it’s needed?

Mark

[NealC]

You won’t know when you need it. Always inline for me.

[96 Wideglide]

Originally Posted by NealC

You won’t know when you need it. Always inline for me.

One of my reasons for not hardwire'ing it.
Since it has to be ahead of the surge protector, it's always vulnerable when in use. I usually only need it in about 1 in 8 park's.

[Buly]

We stayed at a very busy RV resort in FL last month. Power was fine until one day a cold front passed with cold and rain. Suddenly we started loosing power. My surge protector at the pedestal was showing 108V and cut the power to the coach. Looks like everyone was using electrical heat [emoji23].
Now I have autoformer just for that reason.
My question is, do I still have to use the old surge protector?

[96 Wideglide]

Believe the 'new' Hughes Autoformer comes with decent surge protection.

[Buly]

That’s what I thought.. Thanks.

[325BH]

Originally Posted by 96 Wideglide

One of my reasons for not hardwire'ing it.

Since it has to be ahead of the surge protector, it's always vulnerable when in use. I usually only need it in about 1 in 8 park's.

I prefer not to have my EMS shut everything down before I use the Autoformer. I always have it plugged in. Low voltage may not be apparent until the park is under a heavy load.

[TJ]

Not sure "decent surge suppression" is good enough for me. The surge suppression in the Progressive unit is considerably better than "decent" and also provides a readout of pedestal conditions, along with a low-voltage/over voltage lockout. YMMV

TJ

[96 Wideglide]

Originally Posted by 325BH

I prefer not to have my EMS shut everything down before I use the Autoformer. I always have it plugged in. Low voltage may not be apparent until the park is under a heavy load.

After hooking up I'll turn on the AH, then one AC/ heatpump, then check the voltage on the surge protector. If still good, I'll fire up another HP, and check again.
I can usually tell whether I'll need it or not.

[georgeaz]

Originally Posted by NealC

I installed in my cord reel bay. Didn't do anything to add ventilation, I imagine it's sufficiently ventilated with the ATS in there and it's not really a sealed bay, you can reach over the walls right and left side to those bays if you needed to run wires, etc. I don't see an issue, autoformer does fine in there.

Did you get the Autoformer with the surge protector? Just wondering if you use that model as well as the Progressive industry.

Thx

G

[DrPhil]

While I did get the AF with surge protector, I use another standard one in front of it at the pole.