Autoformers - do I need one?

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Power posts can range from 5' up in the air to 6" (yikes !!!!) off the ground. They might be out in the open or in the middle of a bunch of vegetation (yikes !!). I have yet to run into one in the middle of a pond, but I have run into the other two sets of issues pretty often. Coming up with a "universal" way to handle the "out in the rain" issue is a challenge.

Fun

Bob

Here you go.(well, flooded from burst pipe)

[CBWELL]

I have a digital voltage meter that I bought from Amazon a few years ago. It's plugged in to one of the kitchen outlets at all times. It is interesting to watch the voltage changes during the day. At night it serves as a great nightlight. In some campgrounds (older town and city ones especially) the voltage is not good, and if A/C is required the Autoformer could save the day. I carry one, but have never needed it yet. Fits in the side compartment and not a lot of room needed.

[SuperTrouper]

We carry an autoformer but have only used it at one county park we visit around thanksgiving to be near family. The power there swings wildly in all sites and last year several campers came up to chat about my autoformer through the weekend as many were experiencing brownouts. The power drops to the low 100's in the morning and the autoformer held it at 109. VAC. This is the one I have. it's heavy @ 21 lbs. https://hughesautoformers.com/produc...er-with-surge/

[uncle_bob]

Hi

How much you need something like this depends a *lot* on just where you happen to be. If you happen to be coming back from Alaska in September or October, your choice of campsites might be a bit limited. Your "desire" to have electric might be a bit high as well.

Many of the places you might stop are "off grid" they run a generator. Just how well that generator is doing at the end of the season ..... maybe not so well. There are enough of these sort of places that you just *might* hit two in a row.

Does everybody go there and do it at that time of year? Nope, but some crazy folks do.

We've also hit a variety of small campgrounds in a really hot week. They are packed and everybody has the A/C running full blast. At best, the voltage is around 110V. it dips from there .... Is that a once a year sort of thing? Probably not, we try to avoid the heat.

Just for the record, no I don't have an Autoformer and with their limited correction range likely will not be getting one any time soon.

I *do* have a full up autotransformer that was destined for a buddies boat. (The boat folks have a lot of "low voltage" trouble ....). It has a wider range than the Autoformer.. It just sits there on the shelf in the garage waiting for a project to come along.

Fun !

Bob