Why do you need a voltage stabilizer? Voltage stabilizers: types, advantages, choice Why do we need stabilizers

For many consumers, a voltage stabilizer is still associated with a noisy, rattling box installed near a Soviet-era tube TV, which, among other things, could also successfully serve as a heater for a small room. And even when an expensive device fails during a thunderstorm, not everyone understands that if a good stabilizer was used, this would not have happened.

The voltage stabilizer will protect electrical equipment from mains voltage fluctuations, which will allow:

● extend the service life of expensive equipment and equipment;

● prevent premature failure of household appliances and electronics;

● save energy, since electrical appliances begin to consume more power at lower voltages.

What household electrical appliances require stabilizers?

According to GOST, in Russian electrical networks deviations in the network of up to 10% are permissible. This is in theory. In reality, in our country, GOST remains a purely theoretical concept, and deviations of only 10% can only be in large cities, and then in the central regions. For the private sector, remote neighborhoods, and especially for rural areas, deviations of 10% are a luxury. This is all to blame for the never modernized electric highways, designed for the needs of citizens of the 80s.

As a result, in practice it turns out that with the slightest storm or welding work nearby, even the most modern models of household appliances in houses burn out, and the popularly known “pilots” cannot save them. In addition, in Russian realities, a direct consequence of unstable voltage in the network is a reduction in the service life of electrical appliances and electronics compared to those declared by the manufacturer.

Considering the real situation with Russian electricity, we can confidently say that 90% of household appliances and electronics require voltage stabilization, namely:

● TVs, since the input range of their built-in switching power supplies is in most cases narrower than the voltage range in home network, as a result of which neither the power supply nor the fuses protect the device from short-term but critical power surges;

● refrigerators, since they have one to two built-in compressors running on asynchronous motors, the windings of which heat up and then burn out at a voltage below 210 V;

● air conditioners, microwave ovens, washing machines, pumps - they heat up and burn for the same reason as refrigerators, plus when the voltage is low or high, their electronic units malfunction;

● electrical appliances equipped with heating elements - heaters, modern electric stoves and ovens, water heaters - at low voltage they try to increase the current consumption, and therefore consume more power, but emit less thermal energy;

● computer equipment - freezes at low voltage and breaks down at high voltage.

It turns out to be quite an impressive list of home devices that really need a high-quality voltage stabilizer.

Which voltage stabilizer should you choose?

Currently on the market there is big choice stabilizers that differ in the type of output voltage regulation: electromechanical, relay, thyristor or triac, as well as inverter. All of them have different values ​​of such parameters as regulation speed, maximum input voltage range, stabilization accuracy, noise level during operation, but any of them is able to adjust the voltage to the range in which Appliances and at least the electronics will not burn out. However, when selecting a device in each specific case, you need to determine in advance the required values ​​of these parameters and select the device that best suits them. This will allow you to both ensure an appropriate level of protection for the equipment connected to the stabilizer, and also save money by not purchasing a solution with best characteristics than required. If you want to purchase the most modern model, with which you can forget about any problems with voltage quality, then you should obviously opt for inverter voltage stabilizers, which are characterized by instantaneous speed, high accuracy and the widest range of permissible input voltage. These devices are naturally a little more expensive than older generation solutions, but such a generally small investment in a good stabilizer will guarantee the preservation of more serious investments in expensive equipment.

Why do you need a voltage stabilizer?

Useful information about voltage stabilizers

The growth rate of energy supply in our everyday life has reached impressive heights - from light bulbs and irons in the 50s, to personal computers, home theaters and all sorts of combines these days. The growth of electricity consumption in industry is even more significant. Recently, the situation with the quality of power supply has worsened with the advent of energy-intensive equipment and technologies, the control of which is based on the switching principle (using relays, contactors, thyristors and personal computers). This caused power disturbances such as high-frequency pulses and distortion of the sinusoidal voltage and current waveforms.

Unfortunately, the efforts of electricity supply companies not only cannot guarantee consumers a stable voltage, but they themselves aggravate the problem. Thus, electricity suppliers, and this is no secret, often raise the voltage in low-voltage networks from 220-380 V (±5%) to 230/400 V (±10%). As a result, all connected electrical equipment designed for 220 V will consume (and will be paid for) 9.3% more energy than necessary. These and other disturbances in the quality of power supply can lead not only to equipment failure, process failures and data loss, but also to human casualties (if life support and fire extinguishing equipment fails).

As an example, let's look at different electrical devices and the effect that excess and insufficient voltage in the network has on them.

In electric motors, the starting torque varies depending on the voltage as follows. If the voltage is 10% below the rated voltage, the torque drops by 20% and the heating of the windings increases by approximately 7 degrees. If the voltage is 10% higher than the nominal value, the current increases by 12%, heating by 10 degrees and energy consumption by 21%.

In lighting systems, a 10% increase in voltage increases the luminous flux by 30% and reduces the lamp life by an average of 40%. Energy consumption increases by 21%. Reducing the voltage by this amount in gas-filled lamps results in a loss of emitted light of approximately 42%.

In equipment that includes heating elements, insufficient voltage (-10%) leads to the fact that processes that should take, for example, 4 hours will last 5 hours, since the amount of heat generated changes in proportion to the square of the voltage.

Since the problem is not new and all of the above is well known, specialists at various levels are making significant efforts towards a more rational use of energy resources. And the most effective energy saving measure with a minimum of capital investments is voltage stabilization.

A voltage stabilizer is a device that guarantees a stabilized voltage of 220 volts, regardless of its value in the supply network.

The simplest stabilizers are electromechanical ones based on an autotransformer, where the brushes are driven along the secondary winding by a reversible motor. The motor receives control voltage based on the output voltage measurement.

This system is fully operational during the warranty period, however, during further operation, especially in our Russian conditions with frequent voltage drops, there is a danger of failure of the mechanical drive of the brushes and inter-turn short circuit of the windings due to their abrasion. Therefore, such properties of this stabilizer as an increased fire hazard with increasing power and greater inertia are a significant “contraindication” for powering equipment that is demanding on the quality of power supply.

Electronic stabilizers based on electronic switches (thyristors) respond much faster to changes in voltage in the network and are equipped with protection systems for both the load and the stabilizer itself.

Using a voltage stabilizer allows you to:

• ensure not only energy savings due to the elimination of voltage deficiencies in the network, but also an increase in the resource and productivity of equipment due to the fact that it is not subject to unexpected changes in supply voltage and operates at the voltage for which it is designed;
• reduction in maintenance costs, because the service life of the equipment increases - the period of replacement of individual components or equipment as a whole is extended due to their long-term preservation of functionality. The number of breakdowns and failures is also reduced due to the elimination of the risk factor;
• adaptation of equipment designed for a 220/380 volt network when switching to a 230/400 volt network without additional capital investments. A modern stabilizer will always provide the required voltage, and therefore the predicted characteristics of the equipment and energy consumption.

Therefore, the use of voltage stabilization is the most affordable and effective energy saving measure, especially in conditions where energy management is a key issue in energy consumption.

The generation of voltage stabilizers developed by NPP INTEPS is the optimal solution in terms of price/quality ratio, and the uniqueness of the series technical characteristics And functionality stabilizers are able to meet the specific power requirements of equipment.

How to choose the right Lider voltage stabilizer

Every day we live a full life, at work and at home, and in this we are helped by all kinds of electrical equipment that have become an integral part of our lives.

We know that the best way to protect electrical appliances is a stabilizer. The question no longer arises: to buy or not to buy a stabilizer, the question arises - which one to choose? This is where this reminder comes in handy. We will not now go into lengthy explanations on each specific case. We will just give a number useful tips, which should guide you when choosing a Lider stabilizer.

1. First you need to decide which stabilizer is needed - single-phase or three-phase.

If your network has three-phase consumers (motors, pumps), then the choice is obvious - a three-phase stabilizer is needed. Also, its choice is possible if the total load exceeds 7-10 kVA (for single-phase household, office and other equipment). In this case, it is very important that the load on each phase does not exceed the permissible power value for the voltage stabilizer in this phase.

2. At the next stage of choosing a voltage stabilizer, it is necessary to determine the total power consumed by all electrical receivers.

For example: computer + TV + heater = 400 W + 300 W + 1500 W = 2200 W.

The power consumed by a specific device can be found in the data sheet or operating instructions. Typically, this indicator, together with the supply voltage and network frequency, is indicated on the back wall of the device or device.

It is important to remember that the power consumed by electrical receivers consists of active and reactive components. In the case of a reactive component = 0, the load can be called active. Active loads include electrical receivers in which all consumed energy is converted into other types of energy. Such devices include: incandescent lamps, irons, electric stoves, heaters, etc. Their total and active (useful) power are equal.

All other types of loads are reactive.

There are cases when only the voltage in volts (V) and current in amperes (A) are indicated in the passport or on the back wall of the device/device. In this case, you should resort to simple arithmetic: multiply the voltage (V) by the current (A) and divide by the power factor COS(?) (if it is not specified, then you should take COS(?) = 0.7). The result is total power, measured in VA.

If in the passport data the load power is given in W, then to determine the total power it is necessary to divide the data in W by COS(?) (for an active load COS(?) = 1).

For example: the rating data indicates the power washing machine equal to 1500 W, COS(?) – not specified. Your actions: divide the specified power of the washing machine (1500 W) by COS(?) = 0.7. As a result, you get a reactive load power of 2143 VA. Therefore, the Lider PS 3000 W or Lider PS 3000 SQ stabilizer is suitable for this case.

A separate point worth considering is the calculation of the total power of the electric motor. Any electric motor at the moment of switching on consumes 3-3.5 times more energy than in normal mode. To ensure starting currents for motors, a stabilizer with a power of at least 3 times greater than the rated power of the electric motor will be required. For example: an electric motor of a ventilation system with a power of 3000 VA at the time of start-up consumes 3 times more. Therefore, it will need 9000 VA, so this factor must be taken into account when choosing a stabilizer.

Well, as a general recommendation, we can advise giving at least a small (10%, for example) power reserve in case of connecting one or more devices, and also to ensure that the stabilizer does not work in extreme mode, at the limit of its rated characteristics.

3. At the final stage, the accuracy of the selected stabilizer is assessed. It is determined by the permissible range of the equipment supply voltage. Usually this parameter is given in the operating instructions or data sheet for the electrical device. For example, to power laboratory or research equipment (medicine, metrology, etc.), home theater or home security systems, a voltage stability of at least 1% is required. Such precision is provided by stabilizers of the Lider SQ series. A similar situation is observed with lighting systems: the physiology of the human eye is such that it perceives a change in illumination when the supply voltage of the lamps changes within 1%!. For most household and office equipment, supply voltage stability is optimal within 5%. This stability will be provided to you by the Lider W series of stabilizers.

Many people have heard of voltage stabilizers at least once. But not all people have an idea of ​​what a stabilizer is. In this material we will tell you where the bypass is used, why it is needed and the principle of its operation.

Nowadays, every house or apartment has a lot of imported equipment that is sensitive to voltage changes. These are primarily computers, refrigerators, electronic boards for autonomous heating systems, televisions, and other electrical appliances. For such equipment, it is recommended to install additional protective devices: voltage stabilizers.

Bypass purpose

A feature of any power system is periodic surges or smoother voltage fluctuations. This indicator is influenced by many factors: the number of consumers on the line, cable wear, and more. As a result, the consumer, in addition to reduced voltage, receives periodic power surges (especially during peak loads). Sensitive electronic boards are very demanding of this indicator and often fail precisely because of voltage drops or sudden surges.

This is why a bypass is needed - it stabilizes the voltage, smoothes out sudden surges and brings its performance to acceptable values.

Types of protective devices

Depending on the purpose and type of design, the operating principle of the stabilizer may differ significantly. Let's consider the types of devices used.

Electromechanical

The operating principle of this stabilizer is relatively simple: graphite brushes move along the transformer winding when the input voltage changes. In this simple way, the output value also changes.

The photo shows a round control transformer with contact pads and a rotating brush

Early models used a manual method (using a switch) to move the brush. This obliged users to constantly monitor the voltmeter readings.

In modern models, this process is automated using a small electric motor, which, when the input value changes, moves the brush along the transformer coil.

Among the advantages that this bypass has, it is worth noting the reliability and simplicity of design, high efficiency. The disadvantages include the low speed of response to changes in input parameters. In addition, mechanical parts wear out quickly, so this stabilizer requires periodic maintenance.

Electronic

This bypass is fully automated, and the operating principle of the device is based on switching between windings using thyristors or triacs. In an electronic stabilizer, a microprocessor monitors the input voltage, and when parameters change, it gives a command to close one stage and open another. Thus, the number of transformer turns involved is adjusted, which affects the output voltage.

Among the advantages of electronic stabilizers are speed, low noise level, and compact dimensions of the device. Among the disadvantages, it is worth noting the stepwise regulation and the low load capacity of the electronic bypass.

Ferroresonant

The operating principle of ferroresonant devices is based on the magnetic effect on the ferromagnetic cores of a stabilizing transformer. The first bypass, the operating principle of which is based on ferroresonant voltage stabilization, was released back in the mid-1960s. Since then, these devices have been constantly improved and improved. Modern ferroresonant stabilizers have the highest operating speed (only 15–20 milliseconds), high control accuracy - about 1%, and a long service life.

In addition, special filters are installed in powerful devices to minimize electromagnetic interference. However, such bypasses have not been widely used for domestic purposes due to their high cost, large housing size and the continuous hum that the operating device produces.

Note! According to the installation method, a local or local bypass is distinguished for connecting an individual consumer. To connect to electrical wiring and protect the entire apartment, stationary stabilizers are used, characterized by high power and performance.

Having dealt with the definition of a stabilizer, here are some recommendations on what you need to pay attention to when choosing this device:

• Device power. You should take into account not only the power of the connected electrical appliance, but also the small power reserve that a properly selected stabilizer should have. If the bypass is installed for the entire apartment, the power reserve should be about 30%;
• Precision stabilization. Although this parameter largely depends on the input indicators, choose devices with minimal passport data (within 1–3%);
• Installation method: can be wall-mounted with vertical or horizontal mounting (for stationary models), as well as directly next to a separate electrical appliance;
• You should also pay attention to the compact size and quiet operation of the device;
• Price. Experts do not recommend purchasing cheap Chinese models. This is the case when you should not save. A good and reliable protective device cannot be cheap. Give preference to domestic or proven European manufacturers;
• Warranty is an important aspect of choosing any electrical equipment. Chinese products are not covered by the warranty, while devices purchased in a specialized store can be exchanged if a defect is detected or repaired free of charge (during the warranty period).

Important! Most bypasses have a single-phase connection. They are designed to connect to a 220V network directly in the apartment. For three-phase connections, special stabilizers are used, designed to protect the entire cottage or industrial sites.

Now you know what a bypass is, what it is needed for, and you have learned the operating principle of all types of voltage stabilizers.

In discussions electrical diagrams The terms “voltage stabilizer” and “current stabilizer” are often used. But what's the difference between them? How do these stabilizers work? Which circuit requires an expensive voltage stabilizer, and where a simple regulator is enough? You will find answers to these questions in this article.

Let's look at a voltage stabilizer using the LM7805 device as an example. Its characteristics indicate: 5V 1.5A. This means it stabilizes the voltage and precisely up to 5V. 1.5A is the maximum current that the stabilizer can conduct. Peak current. That is, it can deliver 3 milliamps, 0.5 amperes, and 1 ampere. As much current as the load requires. But no more than one and a half. This is the main difference between a voltage stabilizer and a current stabilizer.

Types of voltage stabilizers

There are only 2 main types of voltage stabilizers:

• linear
• pulse

Linear voltage stabilizers

For example, microcircuits BANK or , LM1117, LM350.

By the way, KREN is not an abbreviation, as many people think. This is a reduction. A Soviet stabilizer chip similar to the LM7805 was designated KR142EN5A. Well, there is also KR1157EN12V, KR1157EN502, KR1157EN24A and a bunch of others. For brevity, the entire family of microcircuits began to be called “KREN”. KR142EN5A then turns into KREN142.

Soviet stabilizer KR142EN5A. Analogous to LM7805.

Stabilizer LM7805

The most common type. Their disadvantage is that they cannot operate at a voltage lower than the declared output voltage. If the voltage stabilizes at 5 volts, then it needs to be supplied at least one and a half volts more to the input. If we apply less than 6.5 V, then the output voltage will “sag” and we will no longer receive 5 V. Another disadvantage of linear stabilizers is strong heating under load. Actually, this is the principle of their operation - everything above the stabilized voltage simply turns into heat. If we supply 12 V to the input, then 7 V will be spent on heating the case, and 5 will go to the consumer. In this case, the case will heat up so much that without a heatsink the microcircuit will simply burn out. All this leads to another serious drawback - a linear stabilizer should not be used in battery-powered devices. The energy of the batteries will be spent on heating the stabilizer. Pulse stabilizers do not have all these disadvantages.

Switching voltage stabilizers

Switching stabilizers- do not have the disadvantages of linear ones, but are also more expensive. This is no longer just a chip with three pins. They look like a board with parts.

One of the options for the implementation of a pulse stabilizer.

Switching stabilizers There are three types: step-down, step-up and omnivorous. The most interesting ones are omnivores. Regardless of the input voltage, the output will be exactly what we need. An omnivorous pulse generator doesn’t care if the input voltage is lower or higher than required. It automatically switches to the mode of increasing or decreasing the voltage and maintains the set output. If the specifications state that the stabilizer can be supplied with 1 to 15 volts at the input and the output will be stable at 5, then it will be so. In addition, heating pulse stabilizers so insignificant that in most cases it can be neglected. If your circuit will be powered by batteries or placed in a closed case, where strong heating of the linear stabilizer is unacceptable, use a pulsed one. I use custom switching voltage stabilizers for pennies, which I order from Aliexpress. You can buy it.

Fine. What about the current stabilizer?

I won't discover America if I say that current stabilizer stabilizes the current.
Current stabilizers are also sometimes called LED driver. Externally, they are similar to pulse voltage stabilizers. Although the stabilizer itself is a small microcircuit, everything else is needed to ensure the correct operating mode. But usually the entire circuit is called a driver at once.

This is what a current stabilizer looks like. Circled in red is the same circuit that is the stabilizer. Everything else on the board is wiring.

So. The driver sets the current. Stable! If it is written that the output current will be 350mA, then it will be exactly 350mA. But the output voltage may vary depending on the voltage required by the consumer. Let's not get into the wilds of theories about that. how it all works. Let's just remember that you don't regulate the voltage, the driver will do everything for you based on the consumer.

Well, why is all this necessary?

Now you know how a voltage stabilizer differs from a current stabilizer and you can navigate their diversity. Perhaps you still don’t understand why these things are needed.

Example: you want to power 3 LEDs from the car's on-board power supply. As you can learn from, for an LED it is important to control the current strength. We use the most common option for connecting LEDs: 3 LEDs and a resistor are connected in series. Supply voltage - 12 volts.

We limit the current to the LEDs with a resistor so that they do not burn out. Let the voltage drop across the LED be 3.4 volts.
After the first LED, 12-3.4 = 8.6 volts remains.
We have enough for now.
On the second, another 3.4 volts will be lost, that is, 8.6-3.4 = 5.2 volts will remain.
And there will be enough for the third LED too.
And after the third there will be 5.2-3.4 = 1.8 volts.
If you want to add a fourth LED, it won’t be enough.
If the supply voltage is raised to 15V, then it will be enough. But then the resistor will also need to be recalculated. A resistor is the simplest current stabilizer (limiter). They are often placed on the same tapes and modules. It has a minus - the lower the voltage, the less current on the LED will be (Ohm’s law, you can’t argue with it). This means that if the input voltage is unstable (this is usually the case in cars), then you first need to stabilize the voltage, and then you can limit the current with a resistor to the required values. If we use a resistor as a current limiter where the voltage is not stable, we need to stabilize the voltage.

It is worth remembering that it makes sense to install resistors only up to a certain current strength. After a certain threshold, the resistors begin to get very hot and you have to install more powerful resistors (why a resistor needs power is described in the article about this device). Heat generation increases, efficiency decreases.

Also called an LED driver. Often, those who are not well versed in this, a voltage stabilizer is simply called an LED driver, and a pulse current stabilizer is called good LED driver. It immediately produces stable voltage and current. And it hardly gets hot. This is what it looks like: