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05-14-2022, 02:26 PM
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#1
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Member
Grand Design Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 35
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Hughes Autoformer
I just purchased a used Hughes 50 amp Autoformer (not the current SP model) and it seems to work just fine. I have a question that I hope that someone with an electrical background can help me with. The power cord to our trailer is 50 amp but at our house, we have a standard 30 amp receptacle for our use. We have been using a dog-bone connector so that our 50 amp cord will work on our 30 amp service and have had no problems.
My question is would the Hughes 50 amp Autoformer work if we plugged it into the 30 amp service using the dog-bone, and then plugged our 50 amp cord into it? Would it boost the power as it's designed to do? Would it damage the 50 amp Autoformer by having it hooked up to 30 amp service?
Thanks in advance for your help.
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05-14-2022, 02:48 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Posts: 66
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I posed this question to Hughes back in Sept 21. They assured me it would work as normal.
__________________
2022 Rockwood 2109S
Previous 2608WS, 2608BSD
2006 Durango Hemi, Equalizer 4 point
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05-14-2022, 02:53 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,817
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Yes!
I probably use my 50A Hughes on 30A sites, more often than I do at 50A sites!
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Ben & Sharon
2008 43' Holiday Rambler Scepter PDQ
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05-14-2022, 04:02 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 7,652
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Texas Sooner
I just purchased a used Hughes 50 amp Autoformer (not the current SP model) and it seems to work just fine. I have a question that I hope that someone with an electrical background can help me with. The power cord to our trailer is 50 amp but at our house, we have a standard 30 amp receptacle for our use. We have been using a dog-bone connector so that our 50 amp cord will work on our 30 amp service and have had no problems.
My question is would the Hughes 50 amp Autoformer work if we plugged it into the 30 amp service using the dog-bone, and then plugged our 50 amp cord into it? Would it boost the power as it's designed to do? Would it damage the 50 amp Autoformer by having it hooked up to 30 amp service?
Thanks in advance for your help.
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Don’t see how it could, a 50 amp service is (2) 50 amp hot lines, 1 neutral, 1 ground. A 30 amp is (1) 30 amp hot , 1 neutral, 1 ground.
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2007 Fleetwood Revolution LE 40V
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05-14-2022, 05:06 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 316
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tha_Rooster
Don’t see how it could, a 50 amp service is (2) 50 amp hot lines, 1 neutral, 1 ground. A 30 amp is (1) 30 amp hot , 1 neutral, 1 ground.
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It works fine. The output of a 30-50A dogbone has two hots a neutral and a ground. The hots are the same, but that’s irrelevant when you aren’t using 240V.
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05-14-2022, 07:15 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 21,638
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30A to 50A adapter jumpers the ONE hot in 30A to Both Hots in 50A
Hence BOTH Hots in 50A have 120VAC and up to 30A capacity Total
Works fine.........
__________________
I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor & NUWA 5vr
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
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05-15-2022, 06:21 AM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 60
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A little clarification and someone may correct me if I am wrong about this; the Autoformer will provide the correct a low voltage when working on a 30 amp circuit. It will not make the circuit into a 50 amp circuit. The available power will be limited to 30 amps at 120 volts.
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05-15-2022, 07:19 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 7,652
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jkwilson1989
It works fine. The output of a 30-50A dogbone has two hots a neutral and a ground. The hots are the same, but that’s irrelevant when you aren’t using 240V.
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OP was asking if it would boost his power. Who uses 240V? Although you have (2) 50 amp lines you don’t have 240.
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2007 Fleetwood Revolution LE 40V
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05-15-2022, 08:21 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,336
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That's correct. It will also boost up to 10% if needed with a constant 2% in non boost mode.
__________________
2008 Winnebago Sightseer 35-J
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05-15-2022, 08:30 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake County, IL
Posts: 1,584
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It may just be a question of sloppy terminology, but an autoformer does not boost power. It boosts voltage. Actually, due to losses, the power out will be less than the power in.
__________________
Retired electronics engineer. Avid paddler & birder.
2011 Silverado 2500HD, diesel, 4x4,crew cab, 8' bed
Palomino Puma 253FBS (27' 5er) & '94 19' Class B
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05-15-2022, 09:04 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 316
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tha_Rooster
OP was asking if it would boost his power. Who uses 240V? Although you have (2) 50 amp lines you don’t have 240.
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You absolutely have 240V with two 50A lines. And there are RVs that use it. Finally, I wasn’t directly answering the OP, I was responding to your post which said there would only be one hot line with a dogbone adapter and saying you have two hots with the adapter but they are from the same leg of the transformer.
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05-15-2022, 09:17 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,712
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Yes. The 50a unit works just fine with an adapter to 30a pedustal. This is the setup i have and most often usage senario.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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05-15-2022, 09:23 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 7,652
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Quote:
Originally Posted by puttin
That's correct. It will also boost up to 10% if needed with a constant 2% in non boost mode.
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No way it can boost from 30 amps to a combined 50 to 100 amps.
__________________
2007 Fleetwood Revolution LE 40V
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05-15-2022, 09:24 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 7,652
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jkwilson1989
You absolutely have 240V with two 50A lines. And there are RVs that use it. Finally, I wasn’t directly answering the OP, I was responding to your post which said there would only be one hot line with a dogbone adapter and saying you have two hots with the adapter but they are from the same leg of the transformer.
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Where in your Rv do you have 240 volts?
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2007 Fleetwood Revolution LE 40V
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