Quite often, owners of private houses are faced with the fact that the voltage in the network is significantly different from that which is necessary for the operation of household appliances. Moreover, such jumps happen several times a day, which leads to the failure of equipment. Therefore, experts recommend using a thyristor voltage regulator , which will provide the state of the mains necessary for safe operation.
Why exactly thyristor?
In the modern market for such products, three models of stabilizers prevail. They differ in their characteristics and have a completely different principle of action. Therefore, before you buy a thyristor voltage regulator, you need to consider other types of designs to be sure of your own choice.
General device
The main element of the stabilizer is an autotransformer. This product can be made of copper or aluminum. The term of operation and the total cost depend on this.
The control circuit is an element of the device that allows you to set the necessary parameters, monitor and commute all the details among themselves.
Locking keys are exactly what a particular design depends on. If they use triacs, then they get a thyristor voltage regulator, and in the case of using a relay, the device is called a relay. Also, latr can be set as keys. Such stabilizers are called electromechanical or servo-driven.
It is the keys that should be considered first of all, since the main characteristics of the device depend on them.
Relay designs
If we compare thyristor triac voltage stabilizers with relay devices, then the latter are primarily low cost and easy to post-warranty. However, their reliability leaves much to be desired, and the accuracy of stabilization is much inferior to other models.
Consumers also note a very noisy design. At the same time, this drawback is easily eliminated using special insulating materials.
Previously, it was believed that relay systems have a low adjustment speed, but modern details have almost completely eliminated this problem. New units are practically not inferior to thyristors in speed.
Systems using latr
Some users, by the criterion of reliability, compare the thyristor type voltage regulator with designs, for which keys are used latr. However, such statements have no basis. The fact is that servo-drive products have a special motor, which quite often and quickly fails.
Also, such designs have a number of small flaws, which together can become a real problem. They make noise, lose power, require regular maintenance, are very sensitive to large overloads and have large dimensions.
However, these products have their own advantages. They are expressed in a small cost and a wide range of adjustment.
Thyristors (triacs)
It should be noted right away that electronic thyristor voltage regulators are quite expensive. However, they practically combined all the advantages of previous designs and brought products of this type to a completely different level. Such stabilizers can be called one of the most reliable and durable.
Products of this type have a minimum adjustment time, which makes the protection of household appliances the most effective. Power in the stabilization process is practically not lost, which is also important for some equipment. In this case, the device is characterized by high precision adjustment.
Among the disadvantages of such designs, distortion of the output signal and the formation of interference are noted. However, this defect in the new models is eliminated during manufacture, as well as other minor flaws. The main factor that repels buyers is considered an exorbitant price, although some experts argue that such costs are justified.
Given that in the life of a modern person it is almost impossible to do without expensive household appliances, it is best to invest in thyristor voltage regulators for the home than to carry a TV or a refrigerator for repair. These are reasonable savings and the right approach to security.
Thyristor or triac?
Some consumers often cannot understand that both of these terms are considered similar in the context of the story of voltage regulators. The fact is that a triac is one of the varieties of a thyristor. However, unlike the latter, it has no separation into cathodes and anodes. In these semiconductor devices, all conclusions can be both at the same time.
Therefore, it is generally accepted that stabilizers assembled on triacs can be arbitrarily called thyristor ones. However, for ease of understanding of the principle of operation and abbreviation of the name, most manufacturers do not use this term. They simply say that these are electronic stabilizers, although their design also presupposes the presence of a mechanical component.
What to consider when choosing
Before choosing thyristor voltage regulators for the home, you need to understand what problems arise in the network. It is also important to measure the voltage and take into account the frequency of differences. This may take some time and appropriate equipment. Therefore, it is much easier to invite a specialist to perform such manipulations.
Power
This parameter is very important because it determines the degree of load on the product. It is immediately worth noting that it is not advisable to buy a stabilizer of this type for a particular equipment, which means that the consumption of all devices should be calculated. To do this, you need to find a plate on the equipment indicating the parameters, where power is usually indicated. Further, all the data obtained are added up and 20% is added to them. This stock is simply necessary because it will ensure smooth operation, allow you to connect additional equipment and increase the life of the device. It is important to remember that electric motors and refrigerators at their start-up significantly exceed the rated power, which is also better to take into account.
Number of phases
For private homes, three-phase thyristor voltage stabilizers are usually used. They are several times more expensive, their performance in some manufacturers is significantly different. In general, this parameter directly depends on the technical conditions of the building, to which the electric network is suitable.
Minimum and maximum voltage
This parameter is the main one, since the thyristor voltage regulator simply turns off when the minimum value in the network is reached. This is due to the fact that the device needs to take voltage to align, and it begins to load the line, which further reduces its voltage. Given this, experts advise taking the lower limit for this parameter with a significant margin. However, this also affects the cost of the product.
The maximum voltage parameter is also important. However, it can be limited to an approximate value. The margin of voltage in this direction will lead to unjustified costs and may not even be used for the entire duration of operation.
Additions
Even the most common thyristor single-phase voltage regulator can have a lot of different add-ons that simplify its operation and maintenance. Many manufacturers equip their products with a variety of electronic circuits, control and monitoring systems. It comes to the fact that there are models that can connect to a computer and display diagrams of their work.
At this stage, everyone has the right to choose what he needs. However, experts believe that having your own processor or complex control system only increases the cost of the structure and its repair. Therefore, they prefer to opt for products with a high-quality transformer and a minimum package of additions.
Product selection based on a specific problem
If frequent fluctuations occur with slight deviations from the norm, then for such cases you can purchase a typical thyristor voltage regulator “Energy” or buy a product based on a relay. In the second case, you can save a little, although a quality design will always be quite expensive. Both of these devices quickly respond to changes in the network and ensure the safe operation of all household appliances even with the intensity of surges.
When the voltage rises or falls for a long time and at this value the jump is too large (30-60 volts), then a 220 V thyristor voltage regulator can be used, in which the parameters of such drops are taken into account. Also for such situations, a servo-drive design is suitable. However, it is worth remembering that a high-quality key of this type can sometimes cost more than a transformer, and cheap products fail too quickly. Given this, professionals almost completely refuse to use electromechanical systems. They are used only in everyday life.
If the consumer is faced with the fact that he has all the problems that were listed above, then he only needs a thyristor stabilizer. The fact is that it can be called universal and able to cope with almost any task included in the list of its functions. It has the speed, accuracy and at the same time is the most reliable.
General protection without specific network problems
Very often, people purchase a thyristor voltage regulator in order to protect their equipment from possible extremes. However, they are not going to spend significant amounts and they are not interested in high-quality products of high reliability. This approach can be called absolutely wrong, because it not only leads to unnecessary costs, but also can not provide the necessary level of protection.
The fact is that if you do not have large drops or sudden surges in the network, then the stabilizer is simply not needed. Its purchase will only lead to additional costs, and if you want to save, there is a chance to purchase a design that itself can cause a circuit.
For such cases, it is worth using special relays that simply turn off the power in the network when a difference occurs. Moreover, they have a certain delay, which is very good with several jumps in a row.
Some manufacturers offer to purchase household stabilizers that can be connected to a specific technique. Such a technical solution fits perfectly in combination with a relay and is considered optimal.
Recommendations of specialists
You can assemble your own thyristor voltage regulator. However, it is worth remembering that the factory device passes a series of tests at a special stand, where its reliability and quality are checked. Also, such constructions need adjustment of parameters so that they meet specific technical conditions. Therefore, home-made products are not in demand, since the protection of expensive household appliances depends on their operation.
Using a voltage stabilizer is not a panacea for all problems in the network associated with the operation of various household appliances. Experts say that only comprehensive protection can give a certain guarantee. Therefore, it is worthwhile to additionally purchase other devices that respond both to differences and to circuit.
You cannot save on such a technique, but this does not mean that you should pay extra for certain brands or additional functions that you will never have to use. Experts opt for reputable manufacturers and try to acquire models that do not have a large number of electronic control systems. It is better to spend more on a quality product with a good transformer than to buy a fashionable stabilizer with a bunch of new options that will fail in a few months.
When purchasing such products, it is very important to find out about the availability of a warranty period and a service center in your city. Sometimes a failed product is simply thrown away, since spare parts for it are unrealistic to find. Also, for these reasons, you should not take too complex models with a lot of electronics or control equipment.
Conclusion
When purchasing a thyristor voltage regulator, you need to consider a number of factors that will subsequently affect the operation of the product. Based on the text presented above, we can conclude that in order to increase the level of comfort and safety, one should not save money by choosing cheap designs with optimal characteristics. All parameters that the stabilizer must have must correspond to the real state of the serviced network.