Automatic voltage regulators

[Heinie_V]

Hi guys

We have customers that are using big photocopiers but we have issues with electricity in all surrounding towns and this causes problems on the photocopiers.

I was thinking about installing automatic voltage regulators on the machines but was told this would not work. We want to keep the voltage stable on 220V but sometimes the electricity drops as low as 180V.

Would a AVR do the job that I want it to do or what would be the best option?

I was also thinking about ups but also not so sure about that.

Thank in advance

 

[AstroTurf]

Decent UPS likely a much better option.

 

[FNfal]

Inline UPS .

 

[mister]

Decent UPS likely a much better option.

It will have to be pure sine for a photocopier

 

[Heinie_V]

Thanks guys

So a line interactive ups would be the answer?

 

[Ianf1]

We put in an AVR on our laser engraver, the tube just lasts now. Before the AVR we had to replace 2 tubes in 2 years.
Maybe look at something like a simetamer that also helps with our copiers.

 

[Gnome]

Firstly a line interactive UPS is an AVR.

Take this item: http://www.wootware.co.za/apc-line-r-le1200i-1200va-line-conditioner-voltage-regulator.html

It is EXACTLY the same as the APC UPS AVR without a battery backup.

It has a transformer primary with multiple taps and it selects the right tap based on incoming line voltage using a relay.
Output power is supplied by the secondary (ie. it is an isolation transformer)

This is also EXACTLY the same way an APC UPS and pretty much every cheapo UPS does it.

Questions I would ask before even considering it:
1) What is the rated power of the photo copier?
2) What is the surge power of the photo copier?
3) Have you measured your voltage at the distribution board of the premises?

1 and 2 is significant because you need a UPS or AVR rated to handle that much power. With a photocopier this can be significant. Especially the surge current.
If you exceed that rating, worst case your AVR will blow a fuse or trip an internal breaker. Cheaper kinds won't have that protection and overheat and catch fire.
Do not underestimate this, transformers can and will catch fire in a violent way.

3 is important because you say the voltage drop is due to Eskom but this may not be the case.
There is a SANS requirement that your installation not have more than 5% voltage drop through the cables.
However if you are using a building that doesn't have suitable wiring for the amount of power you use, you could easily have exceeded this 5%

You should test 3 by removing the load and testing the voltage at the main breaker.

If your equipment is causing a significant voltage drop installing an AVR will only make things worse and you are actually in violation of SANS regulations.
The simple solution for 3 is to upgrade the wiring of the premises and it will cost less than a bunch of AVRs, save you electricity and make your general power situation much, much safer.

Note that you can also report voltage that is out of specification to your local municipality, which is where you should begin.