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Autoformer for low power campsites

Yahoo Message Number: 106431
Is a Hughes Autoformer worthwhile to have for those low voltage parks? How often do you guys need it? Does the 50 Amp do the job as advertised? It looks big and bulky, hate to take up valuable storage space with it, but if it is worthwhile to have I would. If not using A/C, I guess I could work around it with Brian Morrow method of using batteries/inverters during day, and just running the charger off the low volt power at night... I really would like simplicity though.

Greg

06 Magna 6642
2006 Magna Rembrandt C13
2016 Jeep GC toad

Re: Autoformer for low power campsites

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106432
I'm on my second unit, after the 1st one gave it's life to save out coach in a campground that had generator power that had a surge in power.

I bought both of my second hand, after watching on different forums and Craigslist.

My 1st one I had mounted in the coach, in the same electrical cabinet that contains the TRC EMS Surge Protector. I had it in line first between the shore power, followed by the TRC. (Two schools of thoughts on this. I went this way, because the Hughes will work with a slighter greater range of lower power, stepping it up. But, it would have been less of a financial hit, if I had had the TRC inline first, and then maybe had a few times where it's lightly higher lowest voltage allowance would have kept us from having power to the coach.) No right or wrong on this just choices to make...

We needed ours just last week in a State Park South of Springfield, IL. I just lugged it from the lower basement to the pole, and I do use a bike lock to secure it when needed.

I suspect I'll go ahead and remount it back in the cabinet again, and just keep in inline at all times. This time, I'll probably have the TRC be first in line from the Shore Power.

Are they worth it? Well when it's 90 degrees with close to 70% humidity, and you can run your AC while others can not.... so to me, they're worth it:)!

Their is another unit that is I feel a bit better built then the current Hughes model (The one I have now. My 1st unit was the previous model, that I feel was much closer to the other brand as far as functionality and build.) I believe it is the Franks, but memory may be off on that, so worth researching...

Best of luck to you,

Smitty

04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: Autoformer for low power campsites

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106457
I am not familiar with the Hughes Autoformer, but last summer I was staying at a park for an extended stay which had terrible low voltage. I was recommended to buy a Surge Guard Voltage Regulator which costs a good bit (available amazon prime) but has performed flawlessly in the now three times I have needed it.. When voltage drops below 110 on either leg of 50A, the transformer kicks in and boosts it to 120 +/-. I am actually at a park in Lexington KY using it now.

Joseph Burkle

2010 Tiffin Allegro Bus 43QRP

43' quad slide tag axle ISL 425 HP pusher
formerly:

2008 Country Coach Inspire 360 Founders Edition
Wind-seeker.com
As an Amazon Associate Country Coach Owners Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Autoformer for low power campsites

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106461
Greg you must have super psychic powers! One of the things I mentioned I was going to tell you about is the Hughs autoformer. I thought I would wait a little bit to let you get rest and fill your pocketbook back up. I just bought the autoformer and Built mine into my coach. By the way, it's not that big. It does increase voltage to about a hundred and twenty five volts and reducing amperage somewhat to perform the task. I have run into many parks in my 8 years of travel that have low voltage and will take out an air conditioner With voltage as low as 95 volts in some cases. The surge protector has to be turned off to even get power into the coach. I bought my autoformer through Tweetys.com at less than $500 and it comes with a free plug-in voltage meter. I plan to use it at the power plug-in box when I connect up, to see what the voltages going into my coach would be. I have usually found if I go into a park with low voltage I check another site to see if the voltage is better indicating a bad circuit breaker at my sight. I would then change sights, but many sites get low voltage during the evening hours or air conditioning Day times when there's so much demand The autoformer will save your electrical components. It is a standalone unit and you can leave it outside pluged into the electrical post and hook your coach into it. Trouble is it might get stolen, so I built mine into the coach. Tweeties sells a build-in kit if you want to build it into your coach. I bought the kit and do definitely think it's worth while if you don't want to be paying for air conditioners or TV Electronics Etc. Greg I told you I wanted to give you a break from spending money, but you just keep on and there's more that I can tell you, but it all costs money. I do have to say I'm having trouble staying ahead of you ha ha!😂 Bottom line, The Hugh's Autoformer is definitely worth the money! By the way the Autoformer is installed before the surge protector and therefore expected to take any surge first and take itself out to save the electronics. Hughes knows that and says you will need to return the unit for repair, which they do. This will give you double protection for your electrical system should you get a lightning or surge in power.

Re: Autoformer for low power campsites

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106464
Wow, sounds like these low volt power situations and autoformers are the “elephant in the room”…  These coaches are so complex electrically and electronically I sure don’t want to hurt it.  It’s not the money so much, but rather where to mount the autoformer in the coach. I would like it permanently mounted, upstream of the surge protector, sacrifice the autoformer in a power surge. Since I already have 2 inverters, space in the electrical bay is tight, and I have been “reserving” some nice space there for 2 sets of road bike wheels… Oh well, I will make room somehow. I also read somewhere, some parks don’t like you using them, so probably it is best if it is hidden -- don’t ask, don’t tell…
 
I did do a little research on the various types of autoformers and it still seems Hughes gets the highest marks. Some of the others have gone out of business.
 
Thank you for all the help guys, notwithstanding my pocketbook…
 
Greg
06 Magna 6642
2006 Magna Rembrandt C13
2016 Jeep GC toad

Re: Autoformer for low power campsites

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106470
I have bookmarked the Hughes Autoformer as a future possible alternative but I don't see anything in the literature that makes me think it is better than the Surge Guard Voltage Regulator. First of all The SG has LED lights on the unit which shows if there is an open ground or open neutral... plus it TELLS you if it is in boost mode - if the green is lit it is in bypass mode and if red then it is boosting. Although I can glance at my Magnum Inverter control panel and see what the voltage is in L1 and L2, like Brian says "many sites get low voltage during the evening hours or air conditioning Day times when there's so much demand". Where I am right now it is early morning and both legs are getting 118 volts... I walked out and looked at my SG and both lights were green indicating bypass mode. So the park voltage is fine at the moment... but without the LED's I wouldn't know that. So frankly, I would prefer the SG with the LED's. But if price is a consideration I see the Hughes is a bit cheaper on Amazon... and it has free shipping but is NOT prime, whereas the SG is available prime, which means free shipping and returns with no questions asked and no fees.

Furthermore the specs shows the SG is 14 pounds heavier than the Hughes which might translate to a more heavy duty transformer... not sure but I know with speakers, for example, more weight means a heavier magnet and is more expensive. The Amazon total weight is 36 pounds and the SG specs list 42 lbs just for the unit without packaging which on amazon adds another 8 pounds. I would say heavier is better in a transformer. And Surge Guard is a big name in surge protectors... I don't know who makes the Hughes.

And finally if the Hughes includes a surge protector, for my money that is no advantage. In my experience products which are single focus like the SG are usually better at the core function... I already have a high end builtin Surge Guard surge protector... I don't need or want a second one built into my Voltage Regulator. My Surge Guard Voltage Regulator does one job and does it exceptionally well. Again I have not tried or used the Hughes Autoformer and it is somewhat less expensive so it might be worth consideration, but ultimately I am very happy with my SG. In important items like this which are protecting tens of thousands of dollars worth of on board equipment, I would rather spend a little more and get the best.

Joseph Burkle

2010 Tiffin Allegro Bus 43QRP

43' quad slide tag axle ISL 425 HP pusher
formerly:

2008 Country Coach Inspire 360 Founders Edition
Wind-seeker.com

Re: Autoformer for low power campsites

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106473
Can you give us the name of the park you are having trouble with in Lexington ? CCI is having a rally in Lexington, Ky in October at the Horse Farm.
Thanks

Buddy Bordes 08 Allure 31597  37 ft.

Re: Autoformer for low power campsites

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106481
It is not the Kentucky Horse Park... That looks like a great place to stay for a short stay as they don''t have sewer connections. I don't really want to taint this park's reputation where I am staying and they are bringing out an electrician to look into the problem.. the owner is very conscientious so I won't give out the name in a bad light on the forum jb