Voltage Booster...needed or not?

[Gusshr]

53 MY 1972, I found this voltage booster raising the 120 V to 136V from the port side deck connection or the added front one. I think they were used in the old days where marinas use to give 108 volts to their visitors/residents. This ACME unit is old and makes a humming noise.

Would you recommend to completely remove it or wire in a switch to isolate it and keep it as a backup? Would I ever use it nowadays?

Thanks
Gus

[jim rosenthal]

Probably not, and as it raises the voltage, it lowers the amps. Nothing's free.

[Hat52MY]

I would find a way to isolate it with a switch so you can use when needed. I still run into a lot of marinas where the dock pedestal voltage coming out is 208 (booster) and not the 220 needed.

[SKYCHENEY]

I would find a way to isolate it with a switch so you can use when needed. I still run into a lot of marinas where the dock pedestal voltage coming out is 208 (booster) and not the 220 needed.

This is not the same thing. It sounds like it only boosts a single hot 120v line. If that's the case, then a 208v source will still produce 120v between any two of the three hot legs, so the boost would not be needed. It sounds like its on an older boat without 240v service.

[Gusshr]

The boat while it is old does have 240 v service. I disconnected the system for now but will create a switch to have it ready just in case I go to a marina that does not have 240.The options I will end up with include:1- no boost 240 volts total 120 each2-low boost will add 16 v to one of the two lines making the total= line 1+ line 2+ 16 volts3- high boost will add 32 volts to one of the lines making the total= line 1+ line 2+ 32 voltsAny one who needs the drawings on how to wire the booster with the switches then let me know.One interesting thing I noticed is that before I got the boat it was parked in a Fort Lauderdale marina and the power there was 110 for each line with one boosted to 126.When I got the boat in Boca, my dock is 120 for each line with one boosted to 136 that's why I was alarmed to disconnect it.Gus