In large settlements in Russia, the voltage in the household network is usually quite stable. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about remote settlements and villages. The voltage in the networks in such settlements in the Russian Federation, unfortunately, quite often jumps very strongly. And this, in turn, of course, has the most negative effect on the operation of various kinds of household appliances. To avoid surges, owners of country houses usually purchase special equipment - voltage stabilizers. Connection schemes in private homes for such devices can be used differently.
Main varieties
In household networks of private houses, the following types of voltage stabilizers are currently mainly used:
- servo;
- relay;
- triac.
All these types of devices are efficient and popular with consumers. However, for all thesevoltage stabilizers, the connection schemes in private homes are almost the same.
What is a servo stabilizer
The advantages of devices of this variety include, first of all, simplicity of design and low cost. In our country, for example, Energia stabilizers of this group are quite popular. The main structural element in devices of this type is a transformer with a servo drive. The latter is controlled by a very simple electronic circuit for comparing input and output voltages.
When the difference of the latter, a positive or negative signal is applied to the DC servo of the device. After that, the stabilizer servo turns on and rotates the current collector equipped with a graphite brush until the output voltage is 220 V.
Pros and cons
In addition to low cost, the advantages of the "Energy" stabilizers and other models of the same design, the owners of private houses include, first of all, the fact that the voltage in them is regulated without jumps. However, such devices have one significant drawback. The devices of this variety regulate the voltage over time for quite a long time.
Also, a big disadvantage of stabilizers of this design is not a very high degree of fire safety. With a strong drop in voltage or a very high rise in it, the servo drive of such a device brings the brush to its extreme positions, after which it simply jams. In this case, whenwhen the voltage at the input is restored to normal parameters, at the output its indicator can reach as much as 300 V. And this, in turn, can cause both a fire and failure of household appliances.
Relay Stabilizers
The main design elements of devices of this type are:
- transformers;
- relay.
When switching the windings of the relay transformers, the output voltage in the house changes to the required jumps. At each stage, in this case, it can increase, for example, by 20 V. The number of switched windings in stabilizers of this type of different models varies from 5 to 10.
The advantages of devices of this design include, first of all, the fact that, unlike servo-driven ones, they can be used in those settlements where the voltage drops very strongly. It is allowed to operate such devices with network parameters from 150 to 250 V. Also, their not too high cost is considered an unconditional advantage of devices of this type.
The main disadvantage of relay voltage regulators for input to the house is precisely the fact that changes in indicators in them occur in jumps. This does not affect the operation of household appliances. However, the bulbs in the house, when using a relay stabilizer, can blink strongly. Noise is also considered a disadvantage of such devices. Each stage of voltage increase in the stabilizers of this variety is accompanied by a rather loud click. Thus, install appliancesthis type directly in living rooms is not recommended.
Triac stabilizers
Devices of this variety work in much the same way as relay ones. However, it is not the relay that is responsible for switching the windings in such devices, but powerful triacs or thyristors. This type of control differs primarily in that it has no contacts. Therefore, when the voltage is gradually changed, such devices do not click.
Installation of a triac voltage stabilizer in a private house will most likely not be too cheap. Devices of this variety are more expensive than relay ones. But at the same time, they can be used in networks with an even greater range of power surges. It is allowed to use devices of this type when the latter is from 90 V to 300 V.
The disadvantages of this type of stabilizers, in addition to high cost, include the fact that they are devices with severe temperature conditions. In order for such equipment to work stably, in a private house it must be used in combination with a cooling fan.
Necessary installation
Property owners in remote settlements usually do not ask themselves whether a voltage stabilizer is needed in a private house. In remote towns and villages, it is usually simply impossible to use any kind of equipment - centrifugal and water pumps, washing machines, refrigerators, etc. - without such a device.
However, experts advise installing a voltage stabilizer even in the house,located, for example, in the suburbs. In such areas, the network is usually quite stable. But unfortunately, even houses located near the city are not immune from power surges. In particular, a stabilizer will be necessary if any expensive equipment is used in the home. Even one power surge can disable, for example, a computer or an expensive electric stove.
Which device to buy?
So what kind of stabilizer can you choose for a private house built in a remote village or in the suburbs? As we found out:
- servo stabilizers are distinguished primarily by their low cost and quiet operation, but unfortunately they do not reliably protect household appliances from breakdowns;
- relay devices are also inexpensive, able to protect equipment reliably, but are noisy;
- triac stabilizers have all the advantages of relay ones, while they are not noisy, but they are expensive and require the use of additional equipment.
Thus, for all kinds of outbuildings, owners of suburban real estate, it may be worth buying a cheap servo stabilizer. Indeed, in such buildings, no expensive equipment is usually installed.
The best voltage stabilizer for a private house will most likely be a relay or triac device. When using such devices, the owners of a residential building do not have to worryabout the safety of their washing machines, centrifugal pumps, computers, refrigerators, etc. If it is possible to install a stabilizer in a heated non-residential, well-soundproof room, it is better, of course, to purchase an inexpensive relay device. If there is no such room in the house, its owners will most likely have to buy triac equipment. The clicking of relay stabilizers is actually very loud and annoying.
What else can differ
What are the voltage stabilizers for private houses and apartments by design, we thus found out. But devices of this type can also differ in terms of use.
According to the current legislation, in private houses today it is allowed to install both single-phase and three-phase electrical networks. The first type of communications is usually equipped in buildings up to 100 m2 2 with not too many powerful household appliances. Three-phase networks are often installed in cottages over 100 m22, equipped, for example, with such appliances as modern washing machines, dishwashers, electric heating equipment, etc.
Of course, the voltage stabilizer should be selected taking into account, among other things, the type of network in the house. On the market today there is such electrical equipment as three-phase and single-phase. For a small house, simple 220 V stabilizers are usually chosen. In a large cottage, either 380 V three-phase models or three 220 V devices are installedsingle-phase. The second option is considered more convenient and efficient.
Where to install a voltage stabilizer in a private house
According to current regulations, voltage stabilizers are supposed to be installed:
- in dry, ventilated areas;
- in the niches of walls or directly on their surface, in the event that the device does not come into contact with combustible finishing materials;
- the gap between the wall or niche ends and the stabilizer must be at least 10 cm.
Of course, you can only hang stabilizers on walls built from materials that can support their weight. It is also believed that such devices in the house should be located as close as possible to the shield.
Scheme for single-phase equipment
How to connect this type of voltage stabilizer in a private house? Mounting such a device to the home electrical network is not difficult. To perform this procedure, the single-phase stabilizer must first be turned with the back side towards you. On the rear panel of such devices there is a block with terminals for five connectors and a diagram displaying them. Most often, the wires in the stabilizer alternate like this:
- phase and zero;
- grounding;
- load phase and zero.
Next, when connecting the stabilizer, you need to figure out the order of the corresponding terminals in the shield. You will also have to choose the right cables (depending on the powerstabilizer and loads connected to it). Most often, when installing single-phase devices in country houses, the occasion VVG 3x1.5 (2, 5) is used. These cables are rated for medium power loads.
Actually, the connection of a single-phase transformer is usually made according to this scheme.
Used in suburban low-rise buildings, depending on the network load, devices of this type of different capacities can. For example, voltage stabilizers for private houses of 15 kW or, for example, 20 and 10 kW are quite popular in Russia. But on sale today there are much less powerful devices of this type. For example, models used to protect just one device are quite popular with owners of private houses. Such stabilizers usually have a power of up to 5 kW. Their peculiarity, among other things, is that they can be connected to a household network simply through an outlet.
Installation of a three-phase appliance
For such voltage stabilizers, connection schemes in private homes can be used differently. According to the installation method of three-phase devices, there are two types:
- with three modules for three terminals;
- with three modules each with four terminals.
In the first case, the input and output of the phase wire, as well as zero, which is common to the input, modules and load power circuits, are simply connected to the terminals. Below, the reader is presented with a connection diagram for a stabilizer in a private house.three-phase voltage.
In stabilizers of the second type, in addition to the input and output of the phase wires, the input and output of zero are connected to the modules. That is, the zero power input cable in such circuits is not connected to the zero of the stabilized network. In the diagram below, phase wires are marked in red, and zero wires in blue.
What rules should be followed when installing
The purchased stabilizer before installation, among other things, must be carefully inspected in order to check for mechanical damage. In the event that the device was brought from the store in winter, it must also be kept at room temperature for some time before connecting it.
Immediately before installation, the home network, of course, must be de-energized. Further, the device is suspended in the place chosen for it on the brackets. The input power circuits through which voltage is supplied, when connecting the stabilizer, must be carried out through a circuit breaker with a rated current corresponding to the load current. Such a device will subsequently provide protection against short circuits and overloads.
