Despite the myths that voltage stabilizers are for homes with unpredictable power outages, every home needs one to keep all electronics functioning at their best. A voltage stabilizer’s main essence is to ensure there is a constant flow of electricity to your appliances in case of a power surge.
While it sounds unnecessary, it is vital to every household as it keeps all electronics from problems caused by overheating.
Why Should You Have A Stabilizer?
There are various benefits of having a voltage stabilizer installed with your appliances, including:
Keeping Household Appliances From Malfunctioning
Every gadget has a voltage limit that, if exceeded, can cause malfunction through overheating or short-circuiting, resulting in permanent damage to the device.
The voltage stabilizer keeps the voltage at the required level neutralizing the chances of electrical burnout from sudden voltage spikes.
Extending The Life Of Appliances
Usually, voltage stabilizers ensure that power flows smoothly and with the right voltage to the appliances, keeping the devices running as they should, which keeps them in good condition, prolonging the life of the appliance.
Being Cost Effective
Buying a voltage stabilizer may be initially expensive, but it eventually reduces overhead costs for repairing a malfunctioned appliance as well as increases the lifespan, saving you the money you could have used to improve, repair, or replace the devices.
Safeguarding Life and Preventing Electric Malfunctions
Electrical malfunctioning is often ignored, possibly due to not knowing how to deal with it or due to cost issues, but can cause irreversible harm and, in some cases, death. So, it should always be taken seriously.
These malfunctions are one of the leading sources of fires in Denver, so installing a voltage stabilizer and minimizing the risk of electrical malfunctions can keep you safe from potential fires.
How To Choose A Voltage Stabilizer
Choosing the best voltage stabilizer depends on factors such as the input and output voltages, type of load, and capacity. Here are some things to consider when choosing the best voltage stabilizer for your appliance.
Determine The Voltage Input Range
The voltage stabilizer should be able to handle the minimum and maximum voltage fluctuations within the input voltage range of your appliance, so be sure to check the voltage range for the various devices that will be served by the stabilizer.
Check The Output Voltage
You don’t want a situation where the output voltage from the stabilizer is too high or too low for the device’s requirements. You must, therefore, check that the output voltage of your stabilizer matches the expected voltage for your electronic appliance.
Consider The Load Application
Different loads have different requirements for voltage stabilization. Whether you have a motor, fridge, computer, audio system, or TV, each of these devices has a specified load limit, so you must ensure they are all within the voltage range of the stabilizer.
Type Of Voltage Stabilizer
There are two major types of voltage stabilizers: static stabilizers and servo-controlled units. Static stabilizers are cheap to acquire and are quite compact, while servo-controlled stabilizers are more reliable for heavy loads.
Which Appliances Need Voltage Stabilizers?
Here are a few appliances that require the use of stabilizers:
ACs
AC stabilizers come in different ranges, from heavy to light loads, depending on your room size. Ideally, air conditioners have components that make them voltage sensitive, so you must constantly protect them from voltage instabilities by installing a stabilizer. However, this is most important for areas that have frequent voltage fluctuations.
Televisions and Refrigerators
Although fridges have a high voltage capacity, excess voltage is enough to permanently cause malfunction, so they need a voltage stabilizer to function properly.
Televisions, on the other hand, have minimal capacity, which makes them very sensitive to any excess voltage. Therefore, ensure your television has an operational stabilizer at all times.
What Causes Voltage Fluctuations
According to Denver-licensed electricians, there are many causes of voltage fluctuations. Some can be resolved with measures to reduce their impact, while others are beyond human control. These causes include:
Grid Load Differences
Different locations across the US and the world at large have varying electricity demands that can cause grid variations, leading to unexpected fluctuations. Other factors, including weather, the time of the year, industrial activity, and special events, also bring about varying demands for electricity.
These may increase the electricity demand based on factors such as demand for cooling or heating with weather changes when people are likely to use more electricity for their AC or heating appliances.
In this case, the best solution is to install voltage regulators on individual main circuits, which is the responsibility of the grid supplier.
Faulty Wiring
Damaged and worn-out electrical cables are a specific problem in older buildings with unreliable power supplies. For example, improper wiring can increase resistance, causing a voltage drop. The best solution here is regular inspection and maintenance of electrical equipment in order to can spot specific issues that a local electrician can handle. You also need to be sure your house has proper wiring and grounding, tested and certified by a professional electrician. This will reduce voltage drops brought about by improper wiring.
Power Surges
This often occurs due to lightning, earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters that tamper with the electrical equipment, causing sudden changes in the grid voltage and possible voltage spikes.
Electrical Equipment
Some electronics, such as motors and compressors, can cause voltage fluctuations during their start-up and shut-down processes. The best way to curb this is to ensure regular maintenance of electrical equipment.
Fluctuating Voltages From The Power Supply
Voltage surges brought about by this factor can be caused by different issues such as the quality of power infrastructure, distance from the power source, and capacity of the load on the grid. The only way to curb this is by improving power infrastructure by investing in upgraded transformers and power lines.
What Are The Key Components In A Voltage Stabilizer
Mounting Element
Like every other electronic, the voltage stabilizer can be damaged if it gets wet or is placed on an unsafe surface. It can also harm children or any other person unaware of the risks of such situations, therefore, before buying any stabilizer, check that it has a mounting element so that you can place it away from daily-use places to avoid electric shock
Indicators
Recent models are now being bought with LED gauges to show the voltage released to the appliances and the one being regulated.
Time Delay Systems
This feature is especially common in fridge compressors and ACs. When a short power outage happens, the timer system immediately activates so that the voltage flow balances the device in the shortest time possible.
Digitized Systems
This feature best applies when moving the stabilizer from one appliance to another. When this happens, the appliance readjusts and adapts to a new gadget and continues operating immediately.
Overload Protection
The overload protection component shuts down the stabilizer when a short circuit occurs or if anything burns due to a circuit overload.
When Does Overvoltage Occur
Overvoltage occurs when the voltage reaches higher than 15% of what is noted on the device. Usually, before anything, overvoltage hits circuits and motherboards of appliances, which then overheats the apparatus. Overheating occurs when the extra heat is being converted instead of the device operating as it should. The heat continues to rise, which can to destroying the appliance.
When Does Undervoltage Occur?
Undervoltage occurs when power running through the circuit of a device goes below the recommended amount, which can lead to the degradation of a product.
Conclusion
Every home in Denver has been a victim of a power outage or burnout of electrical appliances. So, if your house lacks a voltage stabilizer, consider purchasing one from your local electrical store or ask your residential electrician in the Denver metro area to help install the device.