Best way to learn about your Campground's electrical grid

[Neemer]

That is probably the dimensions of the box it is shipped in.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

Thanks. I didn't think I had an issue. It was a pretty bad storm, so I wouldn't doubt that the electric company had problems.

NOTE: For anyone, who read my other electrical issue, this one was a separate electric happening at Elkhorn Ridge that occurred at my new site and had nothing to do with the very real electrical problem the park had in the sites I mentioned in my other post. ?

We stayed at Elkhorn Ridge 3 weeks ago and had low voltage multiple times. I made certain my AGS was set each time we left for the day. I talked to the park manager and he of course said my EMS was most likely the problem as they never had any low voltage issues. Nice park however.

 

[sheridany]

I am really considering the Hughes autoformer to carry along and I would not install in the electric bay as I would want to carry it to the next coach.
I believe I have read somewhere that some parks don’t allow them. True or False? I would chain it to the pedestal. Can the box withstand rain or water? I can’t imagine it can, but I’ll let the experts give their opinions.

 

[Buly]

I am really considering the Hughes autoformer to carry along and I would not install in the electric bay as I would want to carry it to the next coach.
I believe I have read somewhere that some parks don’t allow them. True or False? I would chain it to the pedestal. Can the box withstand rain or water? I can’t imagine it can, but I’ll let the experts give their opinions.

For my Autoformer, I made a cover from a plastic office waste basket. Cut slots for the wires on both sides, and small went holes for the heat. It goes upside down on top of the AF.
Also I usually have something underneath the AF so it does not sit on the ground in case of rain.
It does not catch the eye of a person walking by, as a bare AF $$ would .

 

[ARD]

When we experience a serious thunderstorm in our area, we unplug from the power pedestal until the storm is gone. And, we always have a Progressive Industries EMS PT-50X in the circuit. Lightning strikes up to several miles away can put a serious surge on the power lines serving a fairly large area. No need to waste a good surge suppressor when the likelihood of a surge is known in advance.

TJ

Thanks TJ. I will do that next time! South Dakota has crazy weather. Got hit with mini golf ball sized hail, lightening everywhere and sirens keep going off on my phone. I'm glad to have the Progressive SP on the pedestal, but I will disconnect on the next severe thunderstorm.

 

[AbdRahim]

Probably getting brownouts. I have the hughes autoformer internally mounted but the progressive industries surge protector on the pole may be triggering before the autoformer can do its thing. The maintenance guy did see a red light on it when he showed up. So I wonder if having it on the pedestal is good or bad but I certainly don't want to fry a cord reel which is why I got this after @ARD's situation in Tucson I think it was.
[/QUOTE]

Usually the autoformer should go directly to the pole, so it can make the changes to prevent the EMS from shutting everything down due to low voltage.

 

[Neal]

Probably getting brownouts. I have the hughes autoformer internally mounted but the progressive industries surge protector on the pole may be triggering before the autoformer can do its thing. The maintenance guy did see a red light on it when he showed up. So I wonder if having it on the pedestal is good or bad but I certainly don't want to fry a cord reel which is why I got this after @ARD's situation in Tucson I think it was.

Usually the autoformer should go directly to the pole, so it can make the changes to prevent the EMS from shutting everything down due to low voltage.

I tried that by removing the pole surge protector putting the AF first and that didn’t help. Just poor electricity on par for too many campgrounds.

 

[AbdRahim]

Time to pack up and go somewhere else. I never saw it so bad that the autoformer could not give reasonable voltage.

 

[Neal]

I think the scarier part is that it appears to have been an overvoltage and I think the ATS was catching that. I'm not sure which component in line actually shuts down for a voltage too high other than the ATS.

 

[whereRVapp]

Timely discussion since we are experiencing numerous brownouts. Needless to say, the Autoformer shows up Wednesday! And at least the Progressive Industries EMS is working correctly.

 

[Chuggs]

I am having a great time and the power goes out. Go outside and the breaker had tripped. Park Ranger comes and promptly replaced the breaker...we’re back on.

I notice a huge disparity between L1 and L2 voltage. They called Georgia Power in to look. He arrived about 10pm...wow that’s service!!!. They saw normal voltages.
Next, I looked at the remote display on my PI surge protector. Hmmm...normal voltages. So, following the course I removed the cover from the load center and measured voltages...normal voltages. So, it comes down to my PCS Control Panel is flakey. Reboot didn’t seem to work. I went to generator, and it seemed to even out there. For some reason shore power is displayed completely wacko.
Hopefully, when we plug back in at home...the voltage will normalize. Or, I’ll be getting a new control panel or load center to fix the anomaly. Probably try replacing the data cable terminations first.

I wish these things would happen when its NOT 95 degrees outside...in blistering sun.

 

[Buly]

I am having a great time and the power goes out. Go outside and the breaker had tripped. Park Ranger comes and promptly replaced the breaker...we’re back on.

I notice a huge disparity between L1 and L2 voltage. They called Georgia Power in to look. He arrived about 10pm...wow that’s service!!!. They saw normal voltages.
Next, I looked at the remote display on my PI surge protector. Hmmm...normal voltages. So, following the course I removed the cover from the load center and measured voltages...normal voltages. So, it comes down to my PCS Control Panel is flakey. Reboot didn’t seem to work. I went to generator, and it seemed to even out there. For some reason shore power is displayed completely wacko.
Hopefully, when we plug back in at home...the voltage will normalize. Or, I’ll be getting a new control panel or load center to fix the anomaly. Probably try replacing the data cable terminations first.

I wish these things would happen when its NOT 95 degrees outside...in blistering sun.

Chugs,
Try moving the power cord reel. I had a similar situation, and turned out the reel contacts were getting corroded.
I threw the whole reel out and connected the wire directly into the transfer box. Don’t miss it one bit.

 

[Chuggs]

Bully,

Thanks...

It seems I have a problem I haven’t worked thru before. It’s a bad ground somewhere. Might be the cord reel...or I’ll check the pole again.

 

[Buly]

Bully,

Thanks...

It seems I have a problem I haven’t worked thru before. It’s a bad ground somewhere. Might be the cord reel...or I’ll check the pole again.

Chugs,
Here is what I found after taking the reel apart. All your power is transmitted through these 4 sliding contacts at the center of the reel.

 

[Neemer]

Buly, how involved was it to take apart? That looks like an item that should become subject to periodical PM. I have always wondered how those things worked, now I know.