Community Forums

mikenmo · 04-09-2012, 07:29 PM

So we're heading out to CA for the summer to work. The site we work at has very limited power and often the Progressive unit I have would shut down the power totally when it got to low, Thank goodness!

I have read about power boosters, 'PowerMaster' and 'SurgeGuard'. this sounds like a great solution. I'd like some actual feed back from you folks, not testimonials from a manufacturer.

Do they work?

There are 3 RVs on the same power line, different posts but same main line. We all have low voltage, will one for each post work for each RV?

Our Winn Tour is a 50 amp rig but the post has a 30 amp receptacle. would I need a 50 amp booster or a 30 amp

The owner will buy them if he is sure they will do the job, so ANY information would be greatly appreciated.

SUMDALUS · 04-10-2012, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikenmo

So we're heading out to CA for the summer to work. The site we work at has very limited power and often the Progressive unit I have would shut down the power totally when it got to low, Thank goodness!

I have read about power boosters, 'PowerMaster' and 'SurgeGuard'. this sounds like a great solution. I'd like some actual feed back from you folks, not testimonials from a manufacturer.

Do they work? They only have the capability of raising low voltage approximately 10 to 12 %. Also, they do not provide electrical protection like your Progressive unit. Make sure the 'booster' is mounted BEFORE your Progressive unit.

There are 3 RVs on the same power line, different posts but same main line. We all have low voltage, will one for each post work for each RV? Each RV attached to a low voltage 'feeder' line will need one.

Our Winn Tour is a 50 amp rig but the post has a 30 amp receptacle. would I need a 50 amp booster or a 30 amp Definitely 50 Amp! Don't recommend mixing apples and oranges.

The owner will buy them if he is sure they will do the job, so ANY information would be greatly appreciated.

Hope this helps.

mikenmo · 04-10-2012, 06:58 AM

Thanks, that does help. 10-12% would keep me above shut down unless the cabins on the line where at full usage. at that point we would drop down to 95 volts! incoming. I hard wired my progressive in so it continues to read the incoming voltage, that was how we determined the problems the other rigs where haveing.
If I use the 50 amp unit, (it has 50 amp plugs) I guess I would go to the booster unit from the post with a 30 to 50 pigtail?
BTW, good site you have, I bookmarked it to explore when we get to a stop over for a day or so.

wa8yxm · 04-10-2012, 09:28 AM

First, I think by "power booster" you are talking about what we call Autoformers (Which is really someone's trademark) an automatic boost or buck/boost transformer

Surge guards, or power guards as they should in my opinion be called, are something else.

The autoformer, depending on brand (Mine is a Hughes) monitors VOLTAGE, nothing more, if the voltage goes low it will kick in and boost it.. Some have 2 or 3 different boost settings and at least one manufacturer will also "Buck" (reduce) high voltage for you.. Very simple transformer, these do make a big difference.. I pulled into a park last summer (or was it the summer before) and picked a site, Wife, who is also known as "Miss Doom And Gloom" told me I'd have no end of trouble on this site since the power box is shared among I think 4 sites and on one of the others "Her voltmeter has been in the red all week".. I had no problem.. The Hughes performed as advertised.

Surge Guards, monitor voltage, and occasionally some other things. A SPIKE (Very brief increase in voltage) is clipped by Metal Oxide Varisistors (NOTE: Most autoformers do this too but m ore protection in this area is a good thing).. But if there is a true Surge (Long term increase in voltage) or if the voltage goes too low they cut you off to protect your electronics and electrical stuff (Like air conditioners).

Some also monitor frequency and there is no reason they can not monitor waveform.

These boxes can save you several hundred dollars in damages if you either plug into the WRONG outlet (many 30 amp outlets are NOT meant for RV use) or if there is a power "Glitch" like Detroit Edison delivered to my home once (Those MOV's I mentioned that take out spikes, Well when you get a surge they sound like firecrackers, and once you let the magic noise out ... they don't work so good (or at all)).