In large settlements in Russia, the voltage in the household network is usually quite stable. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about remote villages and villages. Unfortunately, the voltage in the networks in such settlements in the Russian Federation quite often jumps very much. And this, in turn, of course, most negatively affects the work of various kinds of household appliances. To avoid surges, owners of country houses usually purchase special equipment - voltage stabilizers. Connection schemes in private homes of such devices can be used different.
Main varieties
Currently, the following types of voltage stabilizers are mainly operated in household networks of private houses:
servo-driven;
relay;
triac.
All these types of devices are efficient and are popular among consumers. At the same time, for all these voltage stabilizers, the connection schemes in private homes are practically the same.
What is a servo stabilizer
The advantages of devices of this variety include primarily the simplicity of design and low cost. In our country, for example, the Energy 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 comparing the input and output voltages.
If there is a difference in the latter, a positive or negative signal is supplied to the DC servo drive of the device. After that, the stabilizer servo is switched on and rotates the current collector equipped with a graphite brush until the output voltage is 220 V.
Pros and cons
In addition to cheapness, the advantages of the Energia stabilizers and other models of the same design are primarily attributed to the owners of private houses by the fact that the voltage in them is regulated without surges. However, such devices have one significant drawback. Regulate the voltage over time of the device of this variety for quite some time.
Also a big minus of the stabilizers of this design is not too high a degree of fire safety. With a strong voltage drop or a very high rise, the servo drive of such a device takes the brush to its extreme positions, after which it simply jams. In this case, when restoring the input voltage to normal parameters, the output value 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 structural elements of devices of this type are:
When switching the windings of the transformers of the relay, the output voltage in the house changes to the required one in jumps. At each stage, 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 primarily the fact that, unlike servo-drives, they can be used in those settlements where the voltage drops very much. Such devices can be operated with network parameters from 150 to 250 V. Also, the unconditional advantage of devices of this variety is considered to be their not too high cost.
The main disadvantage of relay voltage stabilizers at the entrance to the house is that the changes in the indicators in them occur irregularly. This does not affect the operation of household appliances. However, the bulbs in the house when using a relay stabilizer can blink very much. Also a minus of such devices is noise. Each stage of increasing voltage in the stabilizers of this variety is accompanied by a rather loud click. Thus, it is not recommended to install devices of this type directly in living rooms.
Triac stabilizers
Devices of this kind work almost the same as relay ones. However, it is not the relay that is responsible for switching the windings in such devices, but powerful triacs or thyristors. Management of this type differs primarily in that it has no contacts. Therefore, with a phased change in voltage, such devices do not click.
Installation in a private house of a triac voltage stabilizer will cost, most likely, not 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 larger range of voltage surges. Use of devices of this type is allowed with the latter indicators from 90 V to 300 V.
The disadvantages of stabilizers of this type, in addition to the high cost, include the fact that they relate to devices with heavy temperature conditions. In order for such equipment to work stably, in a private house it must be used in combination with a cooling fan.
Mounting need
Owners of real estate in remote settlements do not usually ask whether a voltage regulator is needed in a private house. In remote villages and villages to use any technique - centrifugal and water pumps, washing machines, refrigerators, etc. - it is usually simply impossible without such an appliance.
However, experts advise installing a voltage stabilizer even in a 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-drive stabilizers are primarily distinguished by low cost and quiet operation, but unfortunately, they do not protect reliable household appliances from breakdowns;
relay devices are also inexpensive, able to protect equipment reliably, but differ in noise;
Triac stabilizers have all the advantages of relay, while they do not differ in noise, but they are expensive and require the use of additional equipment.
Thus, for various kinds of outbuildings, owners of suburban real estate may need to purchase a servo-driven cheap stabilizer. Indeed, in such buildings, any expensive equipment is usually not 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 will not have to worry about 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-soundproofed 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 relay stabilizers click in fact 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 may vary in terms of use.
According to the current legislation, in private homes today it is allowed to mount both single-phase and three-phase power networks. The first type of communications is usually equipped in buildings with an area of up to 100 m 2 with not too many powerful household appliances. Three-phase networks are often installed in cottages over 100 m2, equipped, for example, with devices such as modern washing machines, dishwashers, electric heating equipment, etc.
Of course, you should choose a voltage stabilizer taking into account, including the type of network in the house. On the market today there is such electrical equipment as a three-phase, and single-phase. For a small house, usually simple 220 V stabilizers are chosen. In a large cottage, either 380 V three-phase models or three devices for 220 V single-phase are installed. In this case, the second option is considered more convenient and effective.
Where to install a voltage regulator in a private house
According to current standards, voltage stabilizers are supposed to be installed:
in dry, ventilated rooms;
in wall niches or directly on their surface, in the event that the device does not contact with combustible finishing materials;
the gap between the wall or ends of the niche and the stabilizer should be at least 10 cm.
Of course, stabilizers can only be hung on walls built from materials that can support their weight. It is also believed that such devices should be located in the house as close to the shield as possible.
Diagram for single phase equipment
How to connect a voltage regulator of this type in a private house? Install such a device to a home electrical network is not difficult. To perform this procedure, a single-phase stabilizer must first be deployed with the back side toward you. On the rear panel of such devices there is a block with terminals for five connectors and a diagram showing them. Most often, the wires in the stabilizer alternate as follows:
phase and zero;
grounding
load phase and zero.
Next, when connecting the stabilizer, you need to figure out the order of location of the corresponding terminals in the shield. You will also have to choose the right cables (depending on the power of the stabilizer and the loads connected to it). Most often, when mounting single-phase devices in country houses, the VVG 3x1.5 (2.5) motive is used. Such cables are designed for medium power loads.
The actual connection of a single-phase transformer is usually made according to this scheme.
Devices of this type of different capacities can be operated in suburban low-rise buildings, depending on the network load. 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, the models used to protect only one device are quite popular among owners of private houses. Such stabilizers usually have a power of up to 5 kW. Their feature, among other things, is that they can be connected to the household network simply through an outlet.
Installation of a three-phase device
For such voltage stabilizers, the connection schemes in private houses can be used different. There are two types of installation methods for three-phase devices:
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 supply circuits, are simply connected to the terminals. Below, the reader is presented with a connection diagram of a three-phase voltage stabilizer in a private house.
In stabilizers of the second type, in addition to the input and output of 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, the phase wires are marked in red, and the neutral wires are blue.
What rules should be observed during installation
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 the winter, before connecting it, it is also necessary to withstand it for some time at room temperature until heated.
Immediately before installation, the home network, of course, needs to be de-energized. Next, the device is suspended in the place chosen for it on the brackets. When the stabilizer is connected, the input power supply circuits through which the voltage is supplied 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.