Electrical Test Gear I Have Aboard the RV

[@thomaslevy2119]

A useful item for me (not exactly a tool) has been a voltage booster. The type I have is made by Huges Autoformers (there are other brands). It is a special AC transformer connected between the park outlet and your trailer. If the voltage to your trailer drops below 112 volts, the transformer automatically steps up the voltage by 10%, back to about 120 volts. High-current AC motors, like the ones in air conditioner compressors, can bog down, run too slowly, and overheat if their voltage is too low. (A hot motor will also draw much higher amps.) The result can be a damaged compressor and a big repair or replacement bill. The boosted voltage prevents the compressor from running too slowly and overheating. When the park's voltage goes back up to over 115 volts, the booster shuts down automatically. The booster works by taking one amp of incoming power and converting it to the step-up voltage. (No magic needed.) The device has saved my AC unit from damage several times when the incoming voltage was too low because too many people were running their AC units at the same time. (The utility company has since installed a new main power transformer that has reduced the low voltage problem.) The voltage booster is not cheap -- around $300 new. I found a good used one for half price. They are made for 30 and 50 amp RV's. (Lots cheaper than buying a new air conditioner!) The temperature in an RV (like a car) can easily go over 100 degrees in the summer without ventilation or air conditioning. A power line monitor would just shut down the power to your RV if the voltage goes too low. The result could be the death of your pets from heat stroke if the AC goes off for a long time on a very hot day if you are not there to do something about it. A voltage booster is relatively cheap insurance against these problems.

[@LoveYourRV]

Good tip, I've heard of those but since we are lucky enough to migrate to cooler weather in the summer, haven't needed one. I guess though if a number of people are using them it would draw away power from those that don't have them further lowering the overall voltage on a string. Good for folks using them but bad for others not running the autotransformers. Have you ever had any static from park management for running it?

[@thomaslevy2119]

The transformer consumes only a few watts more power than you would use without it (normal transformer loss). According to the instructions, it simply converts a maximum of one amp you would be using anyway into a voltage increase and adds it to the incoming power. It may even save power since the AC will draw fewer amps when running at full voltage than lower voltage. I've not heard or read of anyone having a problem with any park who was using one. (To be a problem, everyone in the park would have to use one.) In my case voltage drop is even more of a problem since my rig is connected to its power source via two 100 foot, 10 gauge extension cords (two cords wired in parallel) and I am limited to 20 amps instead of 30. I permanently mounted a cheap LED 120 volt/amp display in my entertainment center so I always know what I am drawing to avoid blowing the breaker. I have so far survived three Colorado summers (90+ degrees) and the AC worked very well despite the voltage fluctuations.

[@LoveYourRV]

NIce, I can see how it would be helpful in that situation.

[@garycampbell8663]

A good demo Ray.Thanks

[@harold5594]

Ac or DC tester's though are useful. Great info

[@richeastmain4031]

I ALWAYS make sure I check my continudity.

[@jadd6810]

I have been looking for an inexpensive clamp meter that will read DC amps. Just bought it, thanks!

[@jd03hd42]

You are in the same spot and campground we were at in June

[@LoveYourRV]

haha, small world :)

[@MikeSalsgiver]

Thanks, Ray -- I learn something from you every time I watch your videos. Oh -- by the way -- hope you guys enjoyed Oregon! Great stuff! Safe travels, my friend!

[@LoveYourRV]

Yes, always enjoy the coast, spending a little extra time this fall even with the bad weather, still awesome! nice thing is, no crowds, have many beaches and pullouts almost to all to ourselves. Cheers!

[@harold5594]

Great information Ray...but we don't need to waste money on monitor equipment to tell us what we won't go beyond our solar charge capabilities we have anyway....

[@TheBuddy1939]

Thank you Ray. Good info!

[@LoveYourRV]

You're welcome, Buddy. Cheers!

[@legaleagleandpaws8198]

Excellent vdeo:)

[@harleyd500]

Victron is excellent. The new unit has bluetooth so easy to access monitor/program right from the sofa. ;)

[@LoveYourRV]

Cool!

[@harleyd500]

Thanks for the info on the clamp meter. I was looking for a decent unit and that clamps both ac and dc but didn't cost too much. Ordered through you link. Love Amazon :)

[@richardhubert1346]

Thanks Ray - Another very informative, useful video. Love it!

[@LoveYourRV]

You're welcome. Cheers!

[@stagghorn22]

Ray, thanks so much for doing this video! All the info in one video is so helpful. Happy Trails.

[@LoveYourRV]

You're welcome, happy you found it useful. Cheers! Ray

[@ScotWalt858]

Very nice video. Nicely done. Thanks for posting :)

[@LoveYourRV]

Thanks

[@frystephenw]

Have you ever found a park pedestal with reversed polarity? I found one in Calgary but did not use it

[@LoveYourRV]

Not so far, knock o wood, but some of the things I've had to plug into over the years have looked pretty scary. Kinda patch together by whole knows who.

[@GaryBoyd02]

Hey Ray thanks for this. I have some test equipment and a multimeter but have always been intimidated by them. Looks like hyroglyphics to me. I may pull mine back out next trip south and look again. Next time I see you I will make sure to have it with me!

[@LoveYourRV]

You bet. :)

[@Malcolmrobinson55]

Like the video, interesting that the inner courtyard looked so nice but the room so small. What was the rate for the hotel, assuming not check despite been small as you are in Paris. All the best and keep up the great vids

[@LoveYourRV]

haha, I think you commented on the wrong video

[@hermes6587]

Another great & helpful video. I am very familiar with and use multi meters, but was not fully versed on the clamp meters and now I have a better understanding of them, so thanks. Peace & happy travels.

[@coho3260]

Good info, thank you. I like the Klein Tool, simple for me to use.

[@raybbj]

We have the same FLUKE. I got mine in 1995, I think. I probably use it 80 % of the time on BEEP mode to check for open and closed paths. I need to get a clamp meter. Super handy and easy to measure current. KLEIN voltage tester is also very handy. I wish I had one the first 2 months I was an electrical apprentice. I got stung by the electrical gods a few times thinking the power was turned off. :(

[@LoveYourRV]

Oldies but goodies. :)

[@allan6021]

Thanks for another helpful video, Ray. That Fluke multimeter you linked to in your comments is very expensive! Can you recommend something that a home handyman can use that’s a lot less expensive but still reliable and good quality? Can you get something decent in the $50-$60 range?

[@LoveYourRV]

I've always liked Klein tools, they have a auto-ranging multimeter that looks pretty decent judging by the reviews - amzn.to/2zJSl2f

[@allan6021]

Love Your RV Thanks, Ray.

[@pj9731]

Great vid Ray! Do you check your generator output the same way? I heard that you can install an EasyStart soft starter on your roof air conditioner and run it with a 2k watt generator. The EasyStart is around $300 USD. A tad bit pricey I think, I'm contemplating on purchasing one of these...what do you think?

[@LoveYourRV]

Thank PJ! Yes, I can see the generator output, I do have to use what's called an Edison Plug to get the PI surge protector to not think there is an error with a floating neutral from the generator. More explanation here - noshockzone.org/generator-ground-neutral-bonding/ That Easy Start looks pretty neat but for us as snowbirds, we avoid hot places so not really worth the money. I'd be inclined to spend the money on a higher wattage generator or two that can parallel, then you have the overhead to run other things at the same time, like the battery charge converter which can draw a fair bit of amps if the batteries are depleted.

[@pj9731]

Great tip on the Edison Plug! 👍