How low is too low?

[Mrs. Bale]

I have been considering a voltage regulator for my 2008 Safari but would like some input. We stayed at our first RV park last week and I used a TRC monitor that you plug in to the AC outlet. The voltage mostly stayed in the 115-117 range, but dropped to 110 a couple of times. Only got up to 120 about 10% of the time. How low does it have to get before it can damage the appliances?

[bassfiddler]

110v is within an acceptable range without damaging any electrical components. I wouldn't worry unless it is consistently below 110v.

[azflycaster]

The air conditioner is the item that you should be most concerned about. My Carrier is rated at 120 +/- 10%. That would make the lower operating limit 108 volts. The meter I have in my trailer is fairly accurate and I use 110 as my lower limit for operating the air.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Bale

I have been considering a voltage regulator for my 2008 Safari but would like some input. We stayed at our first RV park last week and I used a TRC monitor that you plug in to the AC outlet. The voltage mostly stayed in the 115-117 range, but dropped to 110 a couple of times. Only got up to 120 about 10% of the time. How low does it have to get before it can damage the appliances?

The only appliance that can be damaged, by low line voltage, is the AC.

The compressor will destroy itself on low line voltage.

A microwave will not work as well on low line voltage, but it won't be ruined.

Andy

[Mrs. Bale]

Thanks, guys! Appreciate the responses.

[HiHoAgRV]

My '91's Dometic Airconditoner has a 'low voltage' light that seems to come on below 108 volts....if that helps any at all....

[Wingeezer]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

The only appliance that can be damaged, by low line voltage, is the AC.

The compressor will destroy itself on low line voltage.

A microwave will not work as well on low line voltage, but it won't be ruined.

Andy

With one of our first trailers - and Award - we had the voltage dip very low at a campground while we were away from the trailer. It was an extremely hot day in Maine.

When we returned we found the AC stopped, the trailer very hot, and the voltage (I had a voltmeter installed reading barely over 100v.)

I switched the AC off - even though it wasn't running - and was pretty well convinced it was toast.

A couple of hours later in the evening, the voltage had come up and just to see what might happen I switched the AC on - it ran fine and continued eo work perfectly for several years, we then sold the trailer.


I don't know what happened, but my guess was that the AC had some sort of self-resetting thermal overload in it. Not sure if that is the case, but in any event it was just fine.


Brian