AutoFormer Issue

MakinSmoke · 12-29-2007, 03:00 PM

Last night I lost a the set of outlets around the entertainment center including the fireplace. It was baffling because ALL circuit breakers were OK and the fuses are all fine. Finally out of desparation, I went outside and took the autoformer out of line and guess what, everything worked normally.

Today I got a meter and got 125 and 128 volts from each side of the 50amp circuit at the pedestal. I hooked up the autoformer again and check each side on the autoformer and they were fine. HOWEVER, this evening we started to use the TV and the same set of outlets were out were out again. Again, I took the autoformer out of line and everything works fine.

When I went out tonight, only one side of the autoformer was lit (meaning I had the normal orange light and one red)

Any ideas?

MakinSmoke · 12-29-2007, 03:00 PM

Last night I lost a the set of outlets around the entertainment center including the fireplace. It was baffling because ALL circuit breakers were OK and the fuses are all fine. Finally out of desparation, I went outside and took the autoformer out of line and guess what, everything worked normally.

Today I got a meter and got 125 and 128 volts from each side of the 50amp circuit at the pedestal. I hooked up the autoformer again and check each side on the autoformer and they were fine. HOWEVER, this evening we started to use the TV and the same set of outlets were out were out again. Again, I took the autoformer out of line and everything works fine.

When I went out tonight, only one side of the autoformer was lit (meaning I had the normal orange light and one red)

Any ideas?

ChiefJohn · 12-29-2007, 03:30 PM

Virg,
I'm not smart enough on electrical issues to help you -- I've linked your topic to "RV Systems & Appliances" for more exposure. Good luck.
John

Workshop · 12-29-2007, 04:26 PM

Virg, Who is the mfg.of your AutoFormer.

When you were taking the AutoFormer off circuit, to connect normal shore power cord, do you turn off the 50 amp breaker first. Reason I ask, with your last power loss, I would try removing it without turning the breaker off and read the voltages on the pedestal. Wonder if its possible that you have a low voltage into the Autoformer on one leg when this happens?

Or check the breaker to see if it has tripped one leg? I've seen this happen on 30 and 40 amp breakers where one side will trip and the connector doesn't pull the other side back. Something to look at.

Edited: to use the term Autoformer

Butch50 · 12-29-2007, 06:24 PM

Another thing to check when you unplug the autoformer from the pedestal. Look at the blades on the plug and make sure they are clean and it is a good idea after cleaning them to use a dielectric grease on the blades. It can also be a problem with the female side of the plug not making a good connection with the male side of the autoformer. Just something else to look at.

Workshop · 12-29-2007, 06:30 PM

After reading the users guide for the Hughes Autoformer, can understand where my earlier post might not apply. Understand the lights now. My knowledge was with autotransformer, for motors and pump, not autoformer. Simular but different.

**RV Wizard** · 12-30-2007, 03:19 AM

Virgil, if you find the pedastal power is not at fault, you could have enough of an unbalaced load that the autoformer is shutting down on one leg due to heat. Something else to check.

ChiefJohn · 12-30-2007, 06:19 AM

The only time we have experienced a problem that may have been associated with our AutoFormer was at Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham, AL. Nice park, but like many state parks, in dire need of upgrading. We only had 30amp available and I was using my 50amp AutoFormer with a 30amp adapter to the 30amp park receptacle. I noticed during one of my "Rockin'" moments, I was inspecting the exterior of the RV and noticed distinct smell of a hot electrical connection around the park power box. My 30amp adapter had gotten so hot it melted around the male end -- the box receptacle was also very hot. There doesn't appear to be any damage to the Excel or AutoFormer.

rockintom · 12-30-2007, 06:30 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I noticed during one of my "Rockin'" moments </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I caught that Chief! We all possess at least a little bit of "an** retentive" obsessions! Every once in a while they are worth listening to!

We were in a primitive park in PA this summer and our surge protector/volt meter was going crazy with electricity off and on within a split second. The "park attendant" said he checked the breaker less than a month ago and all is OK. He hooked up a DVOM with no load and read the voltage and then told me the problem was with my rig. Discussion with him was out of the question, so when he left I got out my extension and plugged into the pedestal in the site next to us. Worked fine.

In our short tenure of FTing (almost 3 years) I think we've seen it all with electrical connections (water connection, too) High/low voltage and intermittent connection. Water pressure from 26 psi to 97 psi.

One of these days the RVing industry will get caught up with the customer's demands/expectations. I just know it will....someday. I believe there are alot of folks out there are more concern with a cheap price than RV park performance and this continues to hold back progress in that area.
I like a good price/value relationship, but willing to pay a reasonable fee for nice park facilities. We enjoy the amenities (ie hot tub, pool, fitness center, and etc.) End of my Sunday sermon....Can I get a witness??? Pass the hat for a poor old country boy IQ 14 on a fixed income!

Tom

MakinSmoke · 12-30-2007, 07:36 AM

Chief,

Tom is preaching on my thread again!

The more you all write, the more I'm thinking that I have an electrical supply variance problem...Maybe the electrical supply is OK sometimes and sometimes it isn't.

MAybe I should use the meter DURING the next problem occurence.

rockintom · 12-30-2007, 08:36 AM

"MAybe I should use the meter DURING the next problem occurence."

IMHO.....the only way to check it. Without a load you probably won't see it, unless the circuit was so darn near open (super high resistance). You didn't know I could be so serious! Chief sent me a PM and threatened to cancel his monthly pledge to the Rockintom Fund if I didn't straighten up!

MakinSmoke · 12-30-2007, 01:04 PM

Thanks for the confirmation....
"""Chief sent me a PM and threatened to cancel his monthly pledge to the Rockintom Fund if I didn't straighten up! """

Sorry I ain't buying it. Everyone knows you are teacher's pet. He's not gonna dust YOUR britches. I'm the one who gets all the PM's about behavior.