|
|
Voltage
Stabilisers
–
A Buyers Guide to AC Voltage
Stabilizers & Regulators
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
Advice and guidance on how to ensure you select the most
appropriate power protection system at a cost efficient price. |
|
|
|
|
If
you are not familiar with choosing the right Power Protection
system for your needs it can be a daunting and at times
frustrating task. Over engineer the solution and it can be very
expensive. Select a system that does not address all your
identified power problems, or consider locally available
resources, and you can so easily waste money. |
|
|
|
|
|
For those unfamiliar in the selection
process it is essential that you: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
● |
Know clearly your own requirements. |
|
| |
|
|
|
● |
Know the right questions to ask of a potential supplier |
|
| |
|
|
|
● |
Know the advantages and disadvantages of the various
design types |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
assist in ensuring that you are ‘in the Know’, and as a
result are able to choose the most appropriate and cost
efficient solution to solve your power quality problems, we
offer advice and guidance on ten of the most frequently asked
questions. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kick Jump to the Ten Questions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sound Advice
from Ashley Edison |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
1.
Why is
Power Quality important? |
|
|
| |
For electrical systems to function
properly it is necessary to make sure that the quality
of the power feeding them is of a sufficient quality to
ensure that performance is not impaired or system life
expectancy reduced. |
|
|
| |
Without the proper power, an
electrical device or load may malfunction, fail
prematurely or not operate at all. There are many ways
in which electric power can be of poor quality and many
more causes of such poor quality. |
|
|
|
Back to Top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. |
1.
Do you actually know the mains supply problems you
are experiencing? |
|
|
| |
To indentify the most appropriate solution it is always
recommended that you first identify exactly the problems
you are experiencing. You may of course already have a
good idea as to the problems being encountered. If not,
it will be necessary to monitor the supply over a period
of time to identify the types, duration and magnitude of
power problems experienced. |
|
|
| |
Power supply problems are caused by various sources, for
example distribution network faults, system switching,
weather and environmental conditions, heavy plant and
equipment, or simply faulty hardware. |
|
|
| |
Regardless of the cause of
the problem, the resulting power quality issue will
include one, or more, of the following power problems
–
checkout -
Mains Voltage
Supply Problems - Symptoms, Causes & Solutions |
|
|
|
Back to Top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. |
1.
How do you determine the power sizing of the equipment
you wish to protect? |
|
|
| |
You will need to check the rating of the equipment to be
protected. Such ratings are normally quoted in Amps or
kVA, and whether single or three phase. You will also
need to determine the nominal voltage line to neutral
and line to line if three phase, plus the frequency and
power factor. |
|
|
| |
Such information is usually shown on the rating plate
attached to the equipment, otherwise you will need to
consult the manufacturers of the equipment or take
measurements. It is always recommended that you measure
the loads true RMS value. |
|
|
| |
When determining the total power rating for the solution
you require do not forget to allow for possible future
expansion of the load you wish to protect over the
medium to long term. |
|
|
|
Back to Top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4. |
1.
What
is the best solution for you? |
|
|
| |
If you have a good idea as to the mains problems you are
experiencing and the power requirements of the equipment
you wish to protect you are in a very strong position to
identify clearly the best and most cost efficient
solution. |
|
|
| |
If you are experiencing all of the Power Quality
issues identified in
Question 2 an online UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) will
often be viewed as the obvious choice. But be warned
these are usually expensive to buy and have high ongoing
maintenance and support costs. In many less developed
countries the high technology skill sets required to
maintain such systems are not readily and inexpensively
available. |
|
|
| |
For most applications where the loss of mains is not
really a critical issue, or can be accommodated by the
use of a standby generator, the deployment of an
Automatic Voltage Stabiliser / Regulator or
AC Power
Conditioner will be a far more cost efficient solution
both in terms of initial outlay, ongoing maintenance, support costs and the required local skill sets required
to install, maintain and support the solution.
|
|
|
| |
Be Warned
- Over engineering a solution due to a lack of
understanding on the power quality issues being
experienced is an all too common mistake that can
deeply impact your wallet! |
|
|
|
Back to Top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5. |
1. What
exactly is the difference between a Voltage Stabilizer
and Power Conditioner? |
|
|
| |
One of the most common questions we get asked is what
exactly is the difference between a Voltage Stabiliser
and an AC Power Conditioner. In essence both protect
against voltage transients, spikes, sags and brownouts,
but an AC Power Conditioner also offers additional
protection against Electrical Noise and higher level
defence against transients and spikes. |
|
|
| |
In most cases an AC Power Conditioner (Power Line
Conditioner) is simply a Voltage Stabiliser with the
inclusion of an isolation transformer. |
|
|
| |
When a good earth cannot be provided ‘Common Mode’ Noise
(E to L and E to N) can be a problem. With the
inclusion of a shielded isolating transformer in a Power
Conditioner, this interference will be suppressed to
harmless levels. The output of an AC Power Conditioner
is commonly referred to as a ‘Clean’ supply. |
|
|
| |
As you would expect an AC Power Conditioner is normally
more expensive than a Voltage Stabilizer / Regulator. |
|
|
|
Back to Top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6. |
1. Why
is determining the input voltage variation you are
experiencing and output voltage accuracy required
important? |
|
|
| |
Choosing a stabiliser with the right input variation
capability is important because if its input voltage
range is exceeded, then its output will increase or
decrease by the same amount by which it has gone "out of
limit". |
|
|
| |
In situations where there is a good mains supply, a
stabiliser offering an input variation swing of ±15%
(Our S15 models) will usually be more than acceptable,
but in more remote locations, or countries where the
national supply infrastructure is less developed,
variations of ±20% or greater may be needed to be
accommodated by the stabiliser. |
|
|
| |
As a general rule the greater the input voltage swing
the stabiliser / conditioner needs to correct the
greater the price. |
|
|
| |
An output voltage to within ± 1% / ±1.5% of the preset
output voltage is the norm when specifying a Voltage
Stabiliser or Power Conditioner. However if a lower
output voltage accuracy can be accommodated by the load
equipment, then the input voltage range can be extended
proportionally. As the cost of the stabiliser is linked
to the input voltage range it has to handle, accepting a
lower output accuracy may prove to be a more economical
solution. |
|
|
|
Back to Top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7. |
1.
Is Supply
Frequency Important? |
|
|
| |
With most supplies operating on 50 or 60 Hz, your normal
mains supply frequency is unlikely to vary more than +/-
2%, and this is well within the capability of most
stabilisers and conditioners. But if the supply is from
a local generator it is possible that the frequency
could deviate beyond this range and suitable protection
should be considered to protect both the load and the
power protection system. |
|
|
|
Back to Top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8. |
1. Are
there any other factors you should consider when
choosing a Voltage Stabiliser / Power Conditioner?
|
|
|
| |
Input Output Circuit Breaker: We recommend the
specifying of an input or output Circuit breaker which,
in addition to giving over current protection, will trip
if the output / input deviates above or below a preset
level. Certain models in our ranges are supplied as
standard with input circuit breakers and on others the
facility is available as an option. |
|
|
| |
Bypass Facility: You may also wish to consider
fitting a bypass switch that will facilitate the
inspection and maintenance by isolating the stabiliser
and connecting your load directly to the mains supply.
Certain models in our ranges are supplied as standard
with an inbuilt bypass facility and on others we can
supply suitable inbuilt or wall mountable external
switches to requirements. |
|
|
|
Back to Top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10. |
1. Why
select a Voltage Stabiliser or AC Power Conditioner from
Ashley-Edison? |
|
|
| |
With our strong and wide manufacturing base, Ashley
Edison is able to meet the requirements of most Clients
from our own in-house professional resources.
|
|
|
| |
The sheer span of capability available from
Ashley-Edison tells its own story. Every power
protection solution we offer is backed by the unrivalled
experience we have gained in world markets over the last
25 years or so. In that time, our unique design
innovations have set new performance levels and the
breadth of our offering has broadened to accommodate the
needs and ever demanding requirements of our growing
Client base. |
|
|
| |
Our success is based
entirely on our ability to meet the requirements of our
Customers dependably and cost-effectively. Today, where
performance is everything , whatever your AC mains
supply problem Ashley-Edison have the ability to offer a
solution from our extensive range of standard and custom
built products. |
|
|
| |
Back to Top |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Any further questions? |
|
Don’t hesitate to ask…. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
