Voltage Regulator

cakey

cakey

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When we were in Morocco earlier this year quite a few French vans had what was described as a voltage regulator. This was connected to the supply cable before being connected to the van. Quite often it was just sat under the van. Apparently it compensates for low voltage, which we encountered on quite a few sites. This was a big problem because it seemed to messed with the memory in our fridge.

Does anyone know what the correct name for this bit of kit is. I have made a few enquires and as soon as I mention that it’s for a motor home nobody seems to know what I am talking about.
 
The fact that it's for a m/home is irrelevant.
Various devices are available - mostly to cut off supply when voltage exceeds or is below an appropriate level. You'd need an inverter to cater for low voltage but fridge probs are common.
Have a look at this (merely one example)
www.sollatek.com

AVS15 Over & Under Voltage Protection - Sollatek

Voltshield AVS15 complete power protection for over voltage, under voltage, power-back surges and spikes/surge protection.
www.sollatek.com www.sollatek.com
 
maxi77 That looks very much like the peace of kit that the French were using.
I am beginning to think that there was some misunderstanding re the price the French were paying as I was told by one guy that he had paid 40euro for his. So when I was quoted £200+. I just assumed it was a different piece of kit that I was being quoted for. I suspect he had probably paid nearer 400euro but just got mixed up with his translation
 
We bought ours in Morocco for about €50.
It stabilises the voltage cos many of the 3 way fridges cut out if the electricity drops below about 200V. Did not want to switch to gas as there is no refillable in Morocco.
They are readily available and I suggest you wait until you are there again.
Never found it to be a problem anywhere in Europe

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That's not quiet the thing needed for this thread.Its more like THIS ONE which boosts and keeps a steady 240 v even if the input drops to 200v (when fridges cut out)

Hey we hope to be using it again in Morocco next year.........Insh'allah.

TerryL would normally have got the Morocco thread running by now.
I say normally but that word now has a different meaning.
 
maxi77 said:
Is this what you mean

98215015 | Sollatek Voltage Stabiliser 230V ac 15A Over Voltage and Under Voltage, 3450VA, Desktop | RS

uk.rs-online.com uk.rs-online.com
Click to expand...
I have one of these. When my van was in a friends barn he had serious electrical issues which caused wild voltage fluctuations some of which were violent enough to cause my Victron to shut down. So I bought one of these and an isolation transformer. That resulted in a steady 230vac and also eliminated any residual ground faults.
 
That Sollatek one is a lot more expensive.
Then again I see the one I linked to had a minimum order of 500 pieces.
Morocco is the only place I have needed one and they were a lot cheaper there.

In fact.........the first night the voltage dropped and the fridge switched off,I googled the explanation and what was needed. I got a picture and a link to the Voltage stabiliser.
The next morning a local Moroccan electrician was standing outside the van with exactly that same item...............almost as if he knew the voltage on that pitch was a little "variable"

There's no battery...........180 to 220 volts in and steady 240 out.
I think its called a buck transformer (other technical expressions are available.
Or just a voltage regulator/stabiliser

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I have absolutely no idea but it works from as low as 160 something to up circa 300 all back to 230.
 
Sundowners said:
How does that increase the voltage?? Does it have a battery inside???
Click to expand...
The better ones do and are often used on big server installations, but the more modern ones use a natty inverter set up
Very good unless the supply is quite limited because as the supply voltage drops they start to draw higher current to compensate
 
Thanks for that John---- it seems a very worthwhile bit of kit--we stopped on a campsite in spain and the occupants of the Vans around us were out with voltmeters because their fridges were switching on and off. For us, we so rarely use campsites we will continue without one!!!
 
Jaws said:
The better ones do and are often used on big server installations, but the more modern ones use a natty inverter set up
Click to expand...
There's another type that uses a variable transformer. It has a slider that is moved by a servo motor. For those not familiar with them, a transformer has an input coil and an output coil. If the number of turns on the output coil is the same as the input coil, the input voltage and output voltage are equal. If the output coil has 10% more turns than the input coil, the output voltage is 10% higher than the input voltage.

The servo motor varies the number of active turns, so it can vary the output voltage up and down. Or in this case, keep the output voltage the same when the input voltage goes up and down. The device mentioned by webby1 has a servo motor inside it.

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autorouter said:
There's another type that uses a variable transformer. It has a slider that is moved by a servo motor. For those not familiar with them, a transformer has an input coil and an output coil. If the number of turns on the output coil is the same as the input coil, the input voltage and output voltage are equal. If the output coil has 10% more turns than the input coil, the output voltage is 10% higher than the input voltage.

The servo motor varies the number of active turns, so it can vary the output voltage up and down. Or in this case, keep the output voltage the same when the input voltage goes up and down. The device mentioned by webby1 has a servo motor inside it.
Click to expand...
Blimy ! I did not know they are still about !
 
What your looking for is a CVT (constant voltage transformer)

Lots used in industrial environments to ensure the output voltage remains constant. They also prevent spikes and drop outs.
 
sallylillian said:
I have one of these. When my van was in a friends barn he had serious electrical issues which caused wild voltage fluctuations some of which were violent enough to cause my Victron to shut down. So I bought one of these and an isolation transformer. That resulted in a steady 230vac and also eliminated any residual ground fault
Click to expand...
If I thought there was the slightest chance we could go to Morocco in January I would gladly pay £200+ for that piece of kit even though I believe they are available over there for 40/50 euros
 
cakey said:
If I thought there was the slightest chance we could go to Morocco in January I would gladly pay £200+ for that piece of kit even though I believe they are available over there for 40/50 euros
Click to expand...
Is that an offer :giggle:
 

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