Hughes Autoformer

This past weekend after getting everything up and running in the cat, i noticed a brown out condition starting. It was like something was sucking the power from our cat.
Last year around this time my wife purchased a Hughes Autoformer for my B-Day, i tried it once or twice but it wasnt needed and it never kicked on.
Well i shut the air unit down and went out and hooked it up, and i must say to my suprise something works as advertised.
As soon as i plugged it in it kicked on and not another problem all weekend.
Ive seen pictures of some here hardwiring it into the cats, im thinking this fall it will be a project for me.
As usual some great information on the site.
Happy Camping to all.

Ours is hooked up all the time - checked it on ours last campout (FCRV Regional) where the CG was full and it was pretty hot, and sure enough, the Autoformer was in boost mode.

I've used mine every time since I bought it. You'll be surprised to find that it will kick on when you wouldn't think it would. Money well spent and satisfied. I haven't hardwired mine but haven't had a problem with plugging it in and being able to place it under the camper somewhere thats not noticeable and out of the rain. I keep one of the plug in meters inside of the camper within easy site to keep an eye on the power level. You can see it kick on with the small plug in meter.

Im going to pick up a plug in meter just to keep an eye on it.

Mine was in boost mode at the house the other day; first time I've seen that.

While at the same campground this weekend a fellow camper two or three sites away was on his roof looking at his a/c. I spoke with him a bit later and he said the local power company had just left, replaced the breakers on his servce at the site and at the main meter area.
He then stated that they messured the power at 103 volts.
He went on to say that the electric co said they were shorting this part of the grid to supliment other bigger areas, in the evenings when local business closed the power would go up.
My autoformer hasnt shut off since i hooked it up.
I am going to get a plug in meter this week to watch the voltage and begin complaining to the campground and electric company.
Has anyone herd of this shorting the grid in areas for the benifit of other areas?

Has anyone had experiences with " Frank's" voltagebooster? (http://www.voltagebooster.com/) I've been looking for a autotransformer and was wondering about the differences.

I didn't know you could "short" a grid. I thought it would be full power to the lines or nothing.

But within the campground wiring ,,,, other things could pull it down drastically. Like pumps, large a/c units for the lodge/office, plus everyone else plugged in and running a/c's. Wiring not up to par etc............


I've got a friend thats a nuclear engineer with the southern company, " Ga Power ",,,,, I'll send him the question of shorting a grid.

[b]Too small of service from the grid (500 amp service when a 800 amp service is needed)

[/b]


I would think that is the main culprit especially at older campgrounds.

I've seen the autoformer kick on at newer campgrounds but its usually just for a few minutes.

Is it ok to leave the auto former in boost mode for long periods?

The fellow camper i spoke with said the repairman from the electric company stated that they can send as much or as little electric into areas just buy changing settings at their command center.

As far as I've heard and read, I think it can go as long as you need it. Mine has stayed on all day at some campgrounds , it generally will click off late in the evenings.

I don't think I'd mount it inside with out some type of cooling fan though.

Does it act as a surge protector also?

I think that it has limited surge protection.
I have been mounting it with a chain and hanging it from one of the slide out rails with a lock on it. It seems to keep it out of the weather, i just need to be sure the BH doesnt close the slides with it on there.

I think that it has limited surge protection

It does act as a surge protector and if it gets hit really hard you can send it back to them to be rebuilt. Not sure of the charge. May even be something you could replace yourself ?

I'll have to check into that.