A quick guide to find the perfect voltage stabilizer for your home
Voltage stabilizers offer protection against voltage fluctuation woes. But how do you select one? Here is Himel’s quick guide to find the perfect voltage stabilizer.
Poor quality power that sags and swells unannounced is a real problem, especially in suburbs and rural areas. A fluctuating power supply often manifests as flickering lights, bulbs blowing way before their expected expiry, or reduced performance of sophisticated electronic equipment. Your phone’s battery life could be compromised because of voltage fluctuation. Think about that.
The reasons for power surges and spikes are plenty. It could be lightning or winds causing lines to mess up (nature is not very electronic equipment friendly), power switching on the lines, or your cleanliness enthusiast neighbor’s longer vacuuming sessions. These are causes you can do little about.
Voltage fluctuation is a risk that you would not want your appliances to face. Especially when it is common and unpredictable. A voltage stabilizer can solve most of your voltage woes if you know what kind of stabilizer you need for the best life for your beloved appliances.
What is a Voltage Stabilizer? What does it do?
Stabilizers, also known as Automatic and Safe Voltage Regulator (AVR) is a device that stabilizes the utility voltage before it goes to the connected equipment. It not only recognizes the voltage fluctuations but also tones it up or down internally to deliver a consistent range of output voltage, i.e., it brings the voltage supply within a safe range whenever it is not. How simple, yet clever mechanism.
A stabilizer can also provide additional protection like overload and phase failure depending on the specification from the manufacturer.
Which is the right stabilizer for my application?
With a voltage stabilizer, you are assured of trouble-free operations, longer life, and consistent equipment performance. Hence it is worth investing time and thought in selecting the right device.
The key specifications to be considered are,
a. Nominal line voltage and frequency
b. Power consumption range of your setup
c. Level of voltage fluctuations that you often experience
d. Voltage, current, and power rating of the device (these ratings are usually mentioned as KW, KVA, or in Amps — easily found on the sticker by manufacturer or the user manual)
e. Type of load, whether it is inductive (high starting current) or resistive type
f. Output voltage correction time
g. Installation type: Wall/Desktop/Floor mounting
h. Installation condition: Indoor/Outdoor
i. IP rating
The voltage maths
Like other electrical devices, the stabilizer comes with different specifications or working ranges. You must check the voltage range in which the stabilizer will operate at its best performance. For example, you will need a stabilizer with a wider working range, if extremely low or high voltage fluctuations are common in your locality of setup. It is recommended to ask an expert for the right stabilizer for your setup. But here is that maths if you wish to know.
a. To know the maximum power, multiply ‘standard service voltage’ with ‘maximum rated current of all the equipment’ that are to be connected to the stabilizer.
b. Add a safety margin of 20-25% to find the stabilizer rating. The more devices you wish to add, the greater is the safety margin. An expert can tell you the optimum number of devices to couple with the stabilizer.
c. If the voltage stabilizer has a rating in watt, assume a power factor of 0.8 (W=V*A*pf)
d. Calculate the nature of the load to be connected to the stabilizer. The sum total of the power consumption for all the appliances (or Watts) will give you the load on the stabilizer.
e. For inductive load calculation, multiply the load by 2.5-3 (depending on the manufacturer)
f. You will notice that most stabilizer sizes are in VA (Volt Ampere) or kVA (kilo Volt Ampere which is 1000 Volt Ampere). To calculate the actual VA (or Volt Ampere) from Watts (W), a rough approximation is increasing the Watts value by 20%.
g. For example, if the sum of Watts to be connected to the stabilizer is 1000 then a 1200 VA or 1.2 kVA stabilizer will be alright. (Please note, this whole maths is a good approximation for residential setups and is not recommended for commercial or industrial facilities).
What to look for in a voltage stabilizer?
If you are looking to make a purchase, be sure to check what are the features that your voltage stabilizer must have:
- Wall Mounting
It is not recommended to place a voltage stabilizer on the ground. There is a risk of contact with water. Wall-mounted stabilizers are easily placed at a higher level, not only prolonging their life but also protecting humans from the possible risk of electric shock. Also, wall mounting of stabilizer helps in saving space in living rooms if installed for the equipment like the air conditioner or television.
- LED Indicators
LED indicators show the status of the stabilizer working. Usually, the green means voltage is good red means otherwise. Indicators help to assess the working of the stabilizer in a quick look.
III. Time Delay Systems
During power cut, the time delay function in some voltage stabilizers assists the compressor in a refrigerator or AC to get sufficient time to balance the current flow. This ensures the proper safety of the connected equipment when a short-duration power cut occurs.
- Digitized
A digital display which can be LED/LCD shows input and output voltage, the temperature inside the stabilizer, current, status & the fault (if any) making the function of a stabilizer more reliable.
- Overload Protection
The overload protection feature allows the stabilizer to turn off the output completely in case of a short circuit or over the limit load.
What if my device comes with voltage stabilization?
Several modern appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners assure a wider voltage range of operation. They come with inbuilt high and low voltage cut off but still, it doesn’t mean that they have in-built voltage stabilization. For such appliances, you may not require a voltage stabilizer if your home or facility usually has consistent voltage output. In cases otherwise, a voltage stabilizer will be necessary. A voltage stabilizer prolongs equipment’s life by providing optimum operating voltage.
Are there different stabilizers for different appliances?
Like equipment, the voltage stabilizers come in a variety. One stabilizer that serves well for an appliance may not be the best for another. Stabilizers are often classified based on the energy limit and the specifications of a particular appliance, such as
a. Stabilizers for gym equipment
b. Stabilizer for TV and Music systems
c. Stabilizer for Refrigerators
d. Stabilizer for air conditioner
e. Stabilizers for dishwasher and washing machine
f.Stabilizers for microwave and oven
g. Mainline Stabilizers, etc.
h. Stabilizer for lighting & power
Explore our range of Voltage Stabilizers suitable for different usage patterns and range of equipment.
Himel has experience of more than three decades in the voltage stabilizer offer, that caters to different requirements in household and commercial setups. Designed and manufactured with cutting-edge technology, followed by stringent quality measures—our stabilizers safeguard every electrical appliance.
We offer different types of stabilizers—including servo-motor and relay type to cater to diverse requirements. If you have questions on how to select the best fit voltage stabilizer for your home, office, or industry, please visit our FAQs section on voltage stabilizers. For further queries, please feel free to write us or chat with our representative.