The unstable situation in the energy infrastructure of Ukraine leads to the fact that the voltage in the network often deviates from the norm. This can lead to the decommissioning of sensitive household appliances. Some types of equipment are afraid of sudden voltage drops and need good protection.

Let’s consider the simplest ways to protect your equipment, your nerves and yourself from sudden changes in voltage in the electrical network. From free disciplinary methods for the most economical, but attentive users to reliable systems that will extend the life of all household appliances powered by a 220V network.

Plug and socket

When the electricity is turned off, it is enough to remove important household appliances from the network. Removed the plug from the 220V socket and you can calmly go about your business in the dark with lanterns or other portable lighting.

When the power supply is restored, the user can confidently connect a refrigerator, boiler, electric convector, oil radiator or other appliances. As long as a person does this, the voltage in the network will stabilize. The biggest fluctuations occur precisely at the moment of restoration of light.

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It would seem that this is an ideal method that does not require any investments and guarantees the protection of the equipment. But there is a big flaw. This method covers only part of the cases. Most often, voltage fluctuations occur at the moment of connecting the street after a forced pause.

But sometimes a jump can happen an hour or two (or at any other time) after the power supply is restored. If the owner is not at home at the time when there is a sudden surge in the network voltage, it can lead to a breakdown. Therefore, it does not give 100% guarantees of disconnecting devices from the outlet.

Voltage relay

This is an inexpensive and easy way to secure your equipment. The voltage relay has a built-in microcontroller and an electromagnetic type relay. As soon as the device registers a significant deviation from the voltage, the electromagnetic relay is activated. It turns off all household appliances. After the voltage has normalized, the signal to turn on is given and the devices start working as before.

Prices for relays of this type start at 600 hryvnias. There are models that are installed in the electrical panel. They must be connected by a qualified electrician. And there are “casual” models that plug into an outlet. This type of voltage relay is suitable for those who are afraid to call a specialist for installation and prefer to solve all problems on their own.

The cheapest models can withstand a current of 10-16A. It is enough if you connect the equipment individually. Powerful 40-100A voltage relays are able to protect equipment throughout the house. Buying such a device and paying a master for installation is money well spent.

Voltage stabilizer

Stabilizers equalize the voltage using clever semiconductor circuits. This and the device will save even low-quality and sensitive Chinese household appliances from AliExpress. The fact is that the more expensive the equipment, the less its owner needs to take care of his conventional refrigerator, which may turn out to be more expensive than Daewoo Lanos. Manufacturers of elite equipment take good care of its protection at the factory.

And, being honest, no device (even Luxury class) is 100% insured. The stabilizer will definitely not be superfluous at this time. Then how to choose a voltage stabilizer? What parameters should you pay attention to first? In the characteristics of stabilizers, the power VA (volt ampere) is usually indicated, and not W (watt). Active power is measured in watts and total power is measured in VA.

Translating these values ​​is quite easy. It is enough to multiply the full power by the power factor (cos φ). In most models of stabilizers, this coefficient is at the level of 0.7-0.9. You need to find out the exact value from the seller or by looking at the technical specification. Individually for each model.

For example: EXPAND iEK stabilizer with a capacity of 10 kVA * 0.8 = 8 kW. This means that devices with a capacity of up to 8 kW can be safely connected to it. But it is better to leave a margin of 1-2 kW (10-20%) so that the stabilizer does not work at the limit of its capabilities.

Uninterruptible power supply

Uninterruptible power supplies are also a kind of stabilizers. They usually have less power, but support for internal or external batteries makes them very useful. Some household appliances can be connected to the UPS Pro BR 1300VA UPS on a regular basis. UPS for cauldrons are in particular demand.

They became surprisingly expensive after the country’s power system suffered. And finding them is not so easy. But it’s still a great option to protect your tech. The Tecnoware ERA PLUS 800 SCHUKO uninterruptible power supply can replace an inverter, a charging station and is much more versatile than all other types of equipment listed in the material.

We connect a 50-100 Ah traction battery to a powerful UPS (if it supports external ones) and the cheap “Eco Flow Handmade” is ready. It is especially good when the uninterruptible power supply has 2-4 standard 220V sockets.

Conclusions

Cheap Chinese household appliances and electronics often fail with significant voltage drops. But elite, branded models are also not insured, although they have a much better level of protection. Manufacturers that spare fuses and voltage regulators are more attractive to low-cost buyers. The majority of the population has vulnerable equipment in their homes, which must be protected.

You need to get used to turning off appliances after temporary shutdowns. This is the easiest and most relevant method for those who spend most of their time at home, or who know the exact schedules of outages.

Voltage stabilizers, relays and uninterruptible power supplies – nothing prevents you from combining these methods. A UPS can be used for the boiler so that it heats the house, and the pump pumps water. Uninterruptible power supplies can also be connected to other representatives of the household electronic fauna. Nothing prevents you from installing a voltage relay, which in such conditions can pay for itself in one unfortunate day. Repair or replacement of household appliances will cost much more.