Hughes Autoformer?

[Darkspeed]

Anyone use a Hughes Autoformer?

Is it a worthwhile item to have?

Seems to be very popular with the RV crowd, i saw a number of them on my GA trip last week and it got me thinking..

https://hughesautoformers.com/product/50-amp-12000-watt-booster-and-surge/

[Darkspeed]

and while we are at it any input on this (Surge Only)> https://progressiveindustries.myshopify.com/products/ems-hw50c-pid#

[Oonrahnjay]

Anyone use a Hughes Autoformer?

Is it a worthwhile item to have? ...

      It's not clear *exactly* what it is?  Is it correct that it plugs into the 50Amp Service into the bus and if there is a voltage slump, it boosts the voltage back up.  Only used on 50Amp/240Volt service?

[Darkspeed]

Yes im guessing it is a multitap 1:1 / 1:1.1 with a relay that selects the 1:1.1 if voltage drops below a set voltage.

Also looks like it has a Mov bank in front of it but i would guess no Hf inductors.

No specs if it is  isolation or non isolated

I am suspicious that a 12kw weighs 34lb

[Oonrahnjay]

Yes im guessing it is a multitap 1:1 / 1:1.1 with a relay that selects the 1:1.1 if voltage drops below a set voltage.

Also looks like it has a Mov bank in front of it but i would guess no Hf inductors.

No specs if it is  isolation or non isolated

I am suspicious that a 12kw weighs 34lb 

        It appears to me (no experience with either unit and not much knowledge of how them little electrictrons run around and sometimes push smoke out) that the two units are similar but have differences that vary quite a bit in detail.  The second unit seems to offer lots of diagnostic and protective features but doens't seem to have the voltage regulating/supplementation that the first one has.
        So it's sort of like apples and oranges.  Do you need both, even though their core surge protection functions seem similar?  Can you even put the two together and make them "talk to each other"?  I dunno, both appear to be good as what they do.

[bevans6]

The main issue with a Hughes type unit is they boost the voltage inside the RV, so the RV's equipment is happy (a good thing) and in doing so they also boost the current being drawn (at a lower than normal voltage) in the pedestal.  That can take normal RV loads like air conditioners, etc, and make them cause breaker popping issues at the pedestal because you've take what would be a supportable load and made it an over-load.  There is a theory that if you are at the end of a long run in the RV park and there are a couple of other RV sharing a marginal supply the guy with the autotransformer is "stealing" extra power, which is actually true, but how often is that going to happen, and the other guy could just counter with a transformer of his own.  It's nice that they also do surge protection, identify bad wiring, etc.  I carry a little plug in thing that identifies no neutral bond or a bad ground, whole-panel surge protectors are becoming very common in house wiring, all good things.

[chessie4905]

Here's some discussion on it.

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f101/surge-guard-and-auto-former-26779.html