Voltage fluctuations are easy to ignore until you realize the harm they may do to your gadgets. This explains why voltage stabilizers and regulators are so interesting. But are these devices really as efficient as they claim to be? Will they increase power consumption and raise electricity bills?
What is a Voltage Stabilizer?
Voltage stabilizers are devices that keep an appliance’s power supply stable. They are placed between the appliance and the electrical supply. When the voltage unexpectedly rises or falls, the stabilizer detects this anomaly.
It then activates internal systems that ensure the output voltage remains steady. The stabilizer will enhance the voltage if it is low. The stabilizer will lower the voltage if it is too high. As a result, it protects your equipment from power fluctuations.
Voltage stabilizers are frequently used in conjunction with expensive hardware such as printing machines and medical instruments that must not fail.
How to Choose the Right Voltage Stabilizer and Regulator?
Choosing a voltage stabilizer and regulator can be a challenging and involved process. The power rating of your apparatus is the most crucial consideration for you to make at this point. You will require a stabilizer that is capable of meeting the voltage requirements of your various equipment.
Your knowledge of Electrical Technology is expected to include the fact that stabilizers and regulators have a kVA rating. You must compute your required energy while keeping the unit in mind. You should add a buffer of 20–25 percent to any number you come up with as a safety measure.
In addition to the power rating, you will need to decide which kind of stabilizer and regulator you wish to use. The IMA has determined that there are three potential solutions, and these include servo motor, static, and relay.
Your decision will be influenced by the requirements you have. Each alternative presents its own set of benefits.
Stabilizers for servo motors are durable, accurate, and suitable for various applications. Static stabilizers have lightning-fast responses when confronted with shifting voltage levels.
Relay stabilizers do not have the highest degree of accuracy. Nevertheless, they are highly cost-effective, which is one of the primary reasons their usage for personal purposes is promoted.
What Is The Difference Between Voltage Stabilizer And Voltage Regulator?
The voltage regulators will compensate if there is a difference between the two voltages. If the power supply fluctuates for any reason, a voltage stabilizer is used in the home to output a constant voltage. See our complete guide on the Difference Between AC Voltage Stabilizer and Regulator.
Do Voltage Stabilizers and Regulators Increase Electricity Bills?
Voltage stabilizers and regulators use electricity. They use different amounts of power. The most problematic models are the least expensive. Your electric bill will soar as a result of them. Models that cost more are more effective. The worst-case scenario is that they will use 5% of the maximum load. They will consume more the more time you spend utilizing them.
Therefore, yes, a voltage stabilizer or regulator will raise your electric cost.
Voltage fluctuations are a problem in the majority of developing nations. Developed countries aren’t entirely immune to this issue. However, areas of the world with inadequate electrical infrastructure and growing economies experience voltage variations the most frequently.
How dangerous are voltage fluctuations, and why?
A certain voltage supply is required to operate electrical appliances. Your appliances will suffer if the voltage varies significantly, either increasing dangerously high or falling below tolerable limits.
Some of them may become too hot. Others will sustain long-term harm. They might have a significantly shorter lifespan if they keep working. Your equipment’s efficiency will decline if the voltage variations continue.
Voltage fluctuations are far worse than a power outage. Most appliances perform at their peak when subjected to a consistent, filtered power source. This is why voltage stabilizers are so crucial, especially in areas where the power supply is unstable.
Can voltage fluctuations increase your electricity bill?
Voltage fluctuations will raise your power consumption because your appliances will take steps to compensate for the voltage loss.
Voltage drops are most likely your most serious threat to your electricity bill. A voltage increase is also risky. It has the potential to ruin your equipment. A voltage decrease, on the other hand, has far-reaching consequences.
Some believe that when there is a brownout, all appliances stop operating. But that is not the case. Incandescent lamps, for example, can still operate on a low voltage. They will, however, become heated since the bulb consumes much more power to compensate for the voltage decrease.
A refrigerator may provide the same function. Because the device works harder than usual to fulfill its goals, its motors will overheat. The more electricity an appliance consumes in regular operation, the more power it consumes during a brownout. This will dramatically boost your utility costs.
Energy Consumption of Domestic Appliances – Facts You Should Know
| APPLIANCE | TYPE | APPLIANCES POWER RATING (WATT) | APPLIANCES RATED CURRENT | NUMBER OF HRS TO CONSUME 1 UNIT (1KWH) OF ELECTRICITY |
| (Watts) | (Amperes) | (Hours) | ||
| Pressing Iron | Dry Iron | 1200W | 5.22 | 0.83 |
| Pressing Iron | Steam Iron | 2000W | 8.70 | 0.50 |
| Toaster | Small | 750W | 3.26 | 1.33 |
| Toaster | Medium | 1000W | 4.35 | 1.00 |
| Toaster | Large | 1400W | 6.09 | 0.71 |
| Kettle | Small | 1850W | 8.04 | 0.54 |
| Kettle | Medium | 2200W | 9.57 | 0.45 |
| Blender | Medium | 450W | 1.96 | 2.22 |
| Microwave | Medium | 900W | 3.91 | 1.11 |
| Water Dispenser | Normal (Common) | 700W | 3.04 | 1.43 |
| Water Heater | 50 litre | 1500W | 6.52 | 0.67 |
| Water Heater | 100 litre | 3000W | 13.04 | 0.33 |
| Cooker | 1 Plate | 1500W | 6.52 | 0.67 |
| Cooker | 2 Plate | 2500W | 10.87 | 0.40 |
| Cooker | 4 Plate | 4500W | 19.57 | 0.22 |
| Cooker | 2 Plate + Oven | 3300W | 14.35 | 0.30 |
| Fan | Table | 40W | 0.17 | 25.00 |
| Fan | Standing | 70W | 0.30 | 14.29 |
| Fan | Ceiling | 85W | 0.37 | 11.76 |
| Refrigerator | Small | 80W | 0.35 | 12.50 |
| Refrigerator | Medium | 100W | 0.43 | 10.00 |
| Refrigerator | Large | 140W | 0.61 | 7.14 |
| Air-Conditioner | Small (1HP) | 746W | 3.24 | 1.34 |
| Air-Conditioner | Small (1.5HP) | 1119W | 4.87 | 0.89 |
| Air-Conditioner | Medium (2HP) | 1492W | 6.49 | 0.67 |
| Air-Conditioner | Large (4HP) | 2984W | 12.97 | 0.34 |
| Television | 100W | 0.43 | 10.00 | |
| Television | 300W | 1.30 | 3.33 | |
| Water Pump | Small (1HP) | 746W | 3.24 | 1.34 |
| Water Pump | Medium(1.5HP) | 1119W | 4.87 | 0.89 |
| Washing Machine | With spinning | 600W | 2.61 | 1.67 |
| Washing Machine | With spinning, dryer & OTHERS | 2100W | 9.13 | 0.48 |
| Lighting Bulb – Tungsten Filament | 60W | 0.26 | 16.67 | |
| Lighting Bulb -Energy Saving | 15W | 0.07 | 66.67 |
IMPORTANT NOTE: The basic unit of electricity is the KilowattHour (KWH). In simple terms, 1 kwh (=1000wh) is the amount of energy used by an electrical appliance rated 1kw (=1000 watt, e.g. a 1000watt electric heater) used for 1 hour. Another example is ten 100-watt light bulbs used for 1 hour. This means that such electrical appliance/s used for 30 minutes will consume half unit because 1hour consumption gives 1000Wh (=1KWh). Therefore If used for 2 hours, same appliance will consume double unit
How Do Power Suppliers Protect Consumers?
Voltage fluctuations are a risk that your electricity provider is aware of. They will implement rolling blackouts if the voltage abruptly surges or falls. For example, they will cut off power in specific regions, only to resume it later when the situation has stabilized.
Load shedding is typically employed when an area’s electricity needs exceed its power production.
Of course, you can’t always rely on your power provider to keep your equipment safe. Load shedding does not occur rapidly enough in many circumstances. The voltage is permitted to vary for a long enough period of time to damage your equipment. This is why voltage stabilizers or regulators are required.
Conclusion
Most individuals act hastily to purchase an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) when a power outage occurs. This makes sense. In the event of a power outage, a UPS will keep your gadget operational. However, if you are concerned about swings in voltage, your best alternative is to get a voltage stabilizer or regulator.
There is a good chance that the appliance will cause an increase in the cost of your monthly electricity bill. However, the rise can be less significant than you think it is. However, even if the problem is more substantial, investing in voltage stabilizers or voltage regulators will save you a lot of money because they will safeguard your electronic devices against brownouts and voltage spikes.
If you have the proper voltage stabilizer, you won’t have to stress about the expense of repairing or replacing any broken items. The devices will maintain the most consistent power supply for your hardware as much as practicable. They are equipped with internal systems that can adapt to increases or decreases in voltage.
Doing so will protect your appliances from overheating due to a drop in voltage or straining under the weight of a drop in voltage that a rise in voltage has caused.
