The state of electrical networks and transformer substations in private sectors leaves much to be desired. If in big cities they are being updated, albeit slowly, in rural areas this can not be expected for a long time. Due to the wear and tear and "careless" work of electricians, one of the phases is often overloaded, while the other two are practically free. This leads to distortion and, as a result, failure of electric motors and other similar equipment. Yes, and ordinary household appliances with a drop in current have a hard time. In today's article, we will talk about how to connect a voltage regulator and how it can save you from phase imbalance.
Consequences of overloading transformer substations
Many, fearing power surges, do not attach importance to drops at all, which is a serious mistake. Downgrading can cause quite serious damage to electronics and home appliances. And ifjumps are usually short-term, then falls often have a long time. Why is this happening?
If the power consumption is too high on one of the phases and much less on the other two, distortion may occur. This is especially noticeable if the transformer substation is worn out. In this case, the voltage on the overloaded phase is significantly reduced. It is clear that this situation is not reflected in the best way on electric motors, but how does it affect household electrical appliances? As it turned out, for such equipment, a sharp decrease in the voltage in the network is also fatal. The main thing that can be seriously affected is the washing machine and refrigerator. It is worth dwelling on these household appliances in more detail.
Effects of voltage drop on washing machine and refrigerator
Any hostess turns on such an "assistant" when a certain amount of laundry accumulates. The machine erases the usual amount of things without any difficulty. But now, there is a voltage drop and the network is not 220-230V, but only 150-160V. In this case, the engine, with its last strength, tries to execute the command to rotate the drum received from the electronic control unit. As a result, it heats up and its winding burns out. Repairs in such cases can cost a pretty penny.
The situation is even more complicated with the refrigerator. At low voltage, the compressor is simply unable to start, the engine hums, trying to crank it, but cannot - there is not enough power. At the same time, the temperature sensorcontinues to signal an insufficiently low temperature inside. 10-15 minutes of such attempts are enough for the electric motor to fail.
It is from such situations that the voltage stabilizer saves. And how to properly connect such a device and what types of such devices exist, you should understand in detail.
Some features of stabilizers
Before you understand how to connect a voltage stabilizer, you should understand the varieties of such devices. Such devices can be designed for a voltage of 220V or 380V. Here you will have to choose based on the type of power network of an apartment or a private house. Often people purchase such appliances separately for a certain amount of household appliances, which have a higher cost. There is a rational grain in this decision - such a purchase will cost less than installing a stabilizer on the entire home electrical network.
The 220V voltage regulators offered by the manufacturer for summer cottages have proven themselves quite well in apartment buildings. But 380V devices are purchased only when absolutely necessary. Their problem is in a small stabilization range during instant tripping in the event of a phase imbalance, which is rather inconvenient.
Variations for connecting different devices
Stabilizers may differ in the number of terminals, which affects the way they are connected. To understand how to connect a voltage regulator to the whole house or toa separate group of household appliances, this issue should be carefully studied. If we talk about devices designed for 220V, then there are 2 types of their connection:
- There are 5 terminals on the rear panel. In this case, the neutral and phase conductors come to the inputs, the other two contacts are intended for the output of the line. Between them there is a junction with a grounding conductor.
- Three contacts. Here, the input of the vase is switched to the first, the third - its output. The middle terminal is for the neutral conductor.
Three-phase stabilizing devices have more contacts, but the essence of switching does not change from this - there are always input and output terminals that are necessarily marked.
220V voltage stabilizer for giving: connection features
For such purposes, low-power models are often purchased, designed for 2-3 household appliances. They are installed on a stand or table in the immediate vicinity of the equipment. However, it should be noted that moisture on the device, as well as direct sunlight, is not allowed - this can significantly reduce the service life. The question of how to connect a voltage stabilizer in the country does not arise - the bulk of low-power devices are simply plugged into an outlet. This is quite convenient, especially if the owner spends only summer time on the site. For the winter, such a stabilizer is easy to take to a city apartment.
There are sockets on the device for connecting household appliances, soswitching with a refrigerator, microwave oven or washing machine will not be difficult.
Criteria for selecting a stabilizing device
Before you connect a voltage stabilizer for the whole house, you should calculate whether its cost will be lifting for the family budget. For each individual case, an accurate calculation of the power consumption is required, with an increase in which the price of the device also increases. In order to determine the values, you should write out the characteristics of all household appliances, not forgetting to add lighting. The resulting value must be increased by 25-30%.
Helpful advice! Those who believe that all household appliances will not work at the same time and that a discount can be made on this will have to be upset. It is necessary to proceed from the full load on the stabilizer transformer.
In order for the dear reader to have a rough idea of what the price of a voltage stabilizer might be, let's consider several options.
Average cost of similar devices on the Russian market
Prices below are indicative and may vary by region. They are indicated in rubles as of the end of 2018.
- "Calm IS550", 400W - 6400.
- RESANTA ACH-5000/1-C, 5kW – 6100.
- RESANTA LUX ASN-10000N/1-Ts, 10kW – 11 500.
- “Energy Classic 12000”, 12kW – 36,000.
- RUCELF SRWII-9000-L, 7kW – 13,000.
Low-power stabilizers can be purchased for selected household appliances. For example, modelAPC by Schneider Electric Line-R LS1000-RS with a power of 500W costs only 1700 rubles. Such devices will not hit the family budget much. In addition, there is no question of how to connect an automatic voltage stabilizer - these devices are simply connected to the outlet using a plug.
RESANTA device: connection and use of a single-phase device in 380V networks
It is much more convenient to analyze switching using the example of a certain stabilizer. For this purpose, the model "RESANTA LUX ASN-12000N / 1-C" was chosen today, costing 14,400 rubles. This is a relay single-phase device with a power of 12 kW, which protects household appliances from short circuits, overheating, power surges and various interferences. On the front panel there is a display on which the readings of the voltmeter are displayed. So, how to connect the voltage regulator "RESANTA LUX ASN-12000N / 1-Ts".
There are 5 terminals on the back of the device. Their purpose (from left to right): 1/2 - phase / zero input, 4/5 - stabilized power output, 3 - ground contact. If you think about it, the whole switching is quite simple and does not require any skills or experience. Such a connection is within the power of any novice master. The considered device is designed for wall placement, and its power is quite enough for a large number of household appliances. However, experts do not recommend its use for computers, televisions and music centers, limiting the scope of application to pumps, electric heaters and kitchen appliances.equipment. This should be taken into account before connecting the voltage regulator to the whole house.
Advantages and disadvantages of "RESANTA LUX ASN-12000N / 1-C"
For the convenience of perception of information by the Dear Reader, it will be provided in tabular form.
| Dignity | Flaws |
| Such stabilizers are quite reliable due to the lack of mechanical components. | The device cannot boast of high stabilization accuracy. It is 8%. |
| Performance at a high level, which allows you not to worry about power surges. | The output voltage is regulated in steps, which negatively affects complex electronic devices. |
| Convenient wall-mounted location that saves usable space. | The relay makes a distinct click when activated, so installing in a bedroom would not be the best option. |
Of course, the disadvantages are significant, but they are covered by the price of a voltage stabilizer. If you do not plan to use it for complex electronics, then the purchase of this model is quite justified.
Three-phase devices and their switching
Devices operating in a 380 volt network practically do not differ from those described above. But one nuance should be taken into account. Before answering the question of how to connect a three-phasevoltage stabilizer, you should think about whether it is needed at all. It is much more profitable to purchase three 220V devices. In this case, when one of them fails, a separate node changes. If a device with three phases is installed, if the transformer burns out, any of them will have to purchase a new stabilizer as a whole.
Switching, in such a case, is not difficult to perform. Each device is connected to a separate phase, while the neutral wire goes common, through all the contacts intended for it. Thus, it turns out 3 stabilizers combined into one system, which will successfully replace the device operating in 380V networks.
Device Placement: Which Place to Choose
The difficulty of installing the stabilizer will depend on its type. There are devices that require a niche, floor or wall placement. Having figured out how to connect a voltage regulator, you should think about where to install it.
Outdoor version is the most convenient. If we talk about installation in a niche, there may be a ventilation problem - during operation, the device heats up quite a lot, which requires high-quality cooling. If the holes through which air enters the stabilizer are blocked, it will fail rather quickly.
But even a device installed on the floor requires a certain attitude. Before connecting the voltage stabilizer to the network, you should make sure that a lot of dust will not form at its location and thatwater. Moreover, not only direct exposure is dangerous for the device, but also an increased percentage of ambient air humidity.
A few words to conclude the topic
The purchase of such a device with increased power is not a cheap pleasure. However, sometimes there is no other way out. After all, it is easier to buy it than to periodically change expensive household appliances. Moreover, having figured out how to connect a voltage stabilizer with your own hands, you can save a little on paying for the services of specialists. The main thing is to make the right choice, taking into account all the required characteristics and install the device in a ventilated dry room. Only in this case, you can be sure that it will serve faithfully for a long time, protecting household appliances from power surges and drops.
