Stabilizers are used for the normal functioning of various electrical devices with significant drops in mains voltage. Naturally, such devices are most in demand among owners of private houses or cottages located in rural areas. This problem concerns owners of apartments in megacities much less frequently (although they often use such products to be sure of the stability of the voltage value and the extension of the “life” of expensive household appliances). In our article, we will talk about the varieties of such devices, as well as give ratings of voltage stabilizers, compiled separately for the most popular power groups.
Purpose and principle of operation
With significant power surges, some household appliances may “refuse” to work at such moments, while for others this may cause premature failure forever. To avoid this, you need to install a stabilizer. The voltage supplied to the input of such a device can vary over a fairly wide range. The built-in electronics will automatically maintain standard 220 V at the output. Depending on the power, a certain group of the most “sensitive” devices or the entire house (office, apartment, shop or small business) can be powered through the device.
Varieties
Mains voltage stabilizers today are represented by five main varieties:
- Relay (or stepped). To maintain the output voltage in a given range, a special transformer is used, the windings of which are switched (depending on changes in the parameters of the electrical network) using a relay in automatic mode. Voltage regulation can only be maintained in discrete mode (that is, "stepped").
- Electronic (thyristor or triac). The principle of operation is similar to relay stabilizers. The difference is that powerful semiconductor elements are used to switch the transformer windings.
- Electromechanical (or servo driven). When the input voltage changes, the signal from the control module goes to a special motor that moves the current-collecting brush along the stripped transformer winding. This achieves smooth adjustment and high stabilization accuracy.
- Hybrid, using both principles at the same time to stabilize the voltage: electromechanical and relay.
- Inverter. In such devices, a double voltage conversion occurs: firstvariable to constant, and then vice versa. To date, these are the most effective devices for stabilizing mains voltage, however, they are also the most expensive.
Specifications
Mains voltage stabilizers are characterized by:
- input voltage range: from 140-260 (for simple relay models) to 90-310 V (for inverter stabilizers);
- load power (that is, the total rated power of simultaneously connected devices): from 250 to 30000 W.
For information! The most demanded by consumers are products with a power of 5000 W, so they will be the main focus in the ratings of voltage stabilizers below. They are different:
- accuracy of output voltage stabilization: from ±8 to ±2%;
- Efficiency: 95 to 98%;
- class of protection of the housing against external influences: IP20 or IP21;
- cooling system: natural or forced (using built-in fan);
- range of operating ambient temperatures: from 0 to +40 °С (for top models from -25 °С to +45 °С);
- allowable relative air humidity for normal operation: as a rule, no more than 80% (for products of the upper price range - up to 90%);
- dimensions;
- mass.
Producers
The most famous manufacturers whose products regularly top the ratings of voltage regulators for the home:
- Russian: Iek, Elitech, Rucelf, Resanta,Energotech, Energia, Drummer, Caliber, Teplocom, TDM, Wester and Calm;
- Italian: Quattro Elementi and Ortea;
- Chinese: Uniel, Vinon and Suntek;
- South Korean Daewoo.
5000W Popular Relay Regulators
All three relay models included in the rating of 5 kW voltage stabilizers have the same accuracy of the level of maintaining the output voltage - ± 8%. Permissible deviations from the standard value of 220 V according to GOST are ± 10%. Therefore, even these quite budget devices will be able to provide decent equalization of the mains voltage, which sometimes varies significantly.
Users put Quattro Elementi Stabilia 5000 worth 6500-6800 rubles on the first line. The input voltage range is quite standard for devices of this type and is 140-270 V. Moreover, 100% output of the declared power is provided only at 190-270 V. When the input voltage decreases from 190 to 140 V, the power gradually decreases to 40%.
The second place in the rating of voltage stabilizers is Elitech ASN 5000RN (6100-6500 rubles). A distinctive feature of the model is a very wide input voltage range - 100-260 V. Naturally, the Russian manufacturer does not talk about what "know-how" was used to achieve such a good indicator.
Closes the top three "Resanta ASN-5000 N / 1-C" (6200-6700 rubles). The wall-mounted device is designed for round-the-clock operation. The automatic built-in fan prevents the transformer from overheating. The input and output voltage values are displayed on a digital screen.
10000W relay models
Among relay models with a power of 10 kW, the rating of voltage stabilizers for the home is headed by Rucelf SRW II-12000-L worth 15,700-16,100 rubles. The Russian manufacturer managed to achieve a stabilization accuracy that is simply phenomenal for this type of device - ± 3.5%.
Chinese stabilizer Vinon FDR-10000 worth 12600-13500 rubles confidently settled in second place. The "average" has the highest efficiency compared to competitors - 98%.
The South Korean model Daewoo DW-TM10 users (which their reviews clearly indicate) was put in third place only because of their commitment to the brand and, of course, the expected reliability and durability. The price is quite high and today is 18,000-18,500 rubles. The multifunctional display shows not only the input and output voltage values, but also the load level and protection operation indication.
Top 3 5000W Thyristor Regulators
Among 5000 W thyristor devices, the rating of voltage stabilizers for the home is headed by "Energy 5000 Classic" with 12 adjustment steps and a degree of accuracy of ± 5%. The cost today is 22500-23500 rubles. Input rangevoltage - from 125 to 254 V.
"Energotech Norma 5000" worth 18700-19100 rubles confidently takes the second line. Possessing a more modest 9 steps of auto-regulation and an accuracy of ±7%, this model has a wider input voltage range - 121-259 V. In addition, the device provides double protection against short circuits. The three-year warranty speaks volumes about the build quality and reliability of the device.
On the third "step of the pedestal" users put Teplocom Skat STM-5000 with an original round case in the form of a "tower" worth 19800-20500 rubles. The degree of stabilization accuracy is the same as that of the leader - ± 5%, but there are only 7 adjustment steps (with a fairly wide range of input voltages - 125-290 V).
The rating of 10 kW voltage stabilizers (with thyristor switching of windings) includes products from the same Russian manufacturers: Energia, Energotech, Teplocom. Naturally, more powerful models are more expensive. For example, Teplocom Skat STM-10000 will cost 31,000-32,000 rubles, Energotech Norma Exclusive - 34,000-34,500 rubles.
5000W Electromechanical Stabilizers
The rating of voltage stabilizers 220 V among electromechanical models is headed by Sunter SNET-5000-EM worth 12900-13500 rubles. For devices with this principle of operation, the input operating voltage range is one of the best: 120-285 V. The technological feature of the design is thatthe movable brush of the servomotor simultaneously covers two turns of the transformer winding, which eliminates the possibility of breaking the electrical circuit at the output of the stabilizer and prevents unwanted sparking. The case is made in a universal floor/wall version. The manufacturer provides a three-year warranty for this product.
A confident second place (especially in terms of price / quality ratio) is occupied by "Resanta ASN-5000/1-EM" worth 10,000-10,500 rubles. Yielding to the leader in the range of input voltages (140-260 V), the "middle peasant" surpasses it in stabilization accuracy - ± 2% (in Sunter - ± 3%).
Closes the top three in the rating of voltage stabilizers Rucelf SDW II-6000-L worth 12300-13000 rubles. The model is equipped with a multifunctional liquid crystal display that displays the network parameters and operating modes of the device itself. The stabilization accuracy is somewhat lower than that of the two models described above, and is ±3%. The body of the product is designed for desktop or wall use.
Ortea Electromechanical Stabilizers
When creating electromechanical voltage stabilizers, the famous Italian manufacturer Ortea used the most advanced technologies. The latest generation microprocessors are used in the automatic control system. The speed of tracking changes in the input voltage is simply phenomenal - 2000 times / sec. This allows for fast, accurate and smooth regulation of the output voltage with an accuracy of 0.5 to 3%. When creating transformers, a unique vacuum impregnation method is used,which, in combination with the applied frost-resistant components, ensures uninterrupted operation of the device even at a temperature of -25 ° С.
Input voltage range at which stabilization is provided 141-266 V. Built-in protection reliably protects all connected household appliances even from peak voltage surges in the mains.
Why are Ortea products not included in the ranking of the best voltage stabilizers? Yes, because the price of such devices exceeds analogues by 4-5 times. So a 5000-watt Ortea Atlas 5-10/20 today costs 45,800-51,000 rubles. A more powerful (7000 W) Atlas 7-10 / 20 model will cost 56,000-57,000 rubles already. This technique can only be recommended for lovers of premium devices with confidence.
Hybrid devices from the Russian manufacturer Energia
Among products with a hybrid principle of operation, the leading places in the ratings of voltage stabilizers for summer cottages, houses, apartments or offices are regularly occupied by devices from the well-known Russian manufacturer Energia. This is due to their high technical characteristics:
- wide input voltage range: 105 to 280V;
- high-speed response to changes in power grid parameters: no more than 10 ms;
- choice of stabilization accuracy: from ±3% to ±5%;
- high efficiency: 98%;
- reinforced servo brush assembly design.
The range of hybrid stabilizers produced by Energia is quite wide. For information, prices arethe most popular models: Hybrid 5000 (14200-14500 rubles), Hybrid 8000 (18400-18800 rubles), Hybrid 10000 (21900-22300 rubles). The numerical index in the name of the device corresponds to the maximum power.
Inverter stabilizers from Shtil
Among the inverter devices, the undisputed leaders in the ratings of the best voltage stabilizers for the home have been and remain the products of the Russian manufacturer Shtil. Unique technical solutions for double voltage conversion without the use of transformers and the use of the most modern element base (for example, IGBT transistors) allowed developers to achieve truly impressive technical performance:
- Today's widest input voltage range: 90 to 310V;
- instant response to changes in input parameters (0 ms);
- high precision output voltage stabilization - no less than ±2%;
- maintaining load power during a short-term (up to 200 ms) power outage.
All manufactured products are equipped with electronic protection systems (both the stabilizer itself and devices connected to it) against short circuits and overloads. In addition, double conversion provides effective filtering of high-frequency interference from the primary power supply (which can be quite important for owners of Hi-Fi and Hi-End audio equipment).
The company offers a line of power stabilizers from 350 to 20,000 watts. Price for the most popular models: IS1000 (1000 W) - 11000rubles; IS3500 (3500 W) - 22600-23000 rubles; IS1110RT (6000 W) - 38300-39000 rubles; IS1110RT (10000 W) - 57200-58000 rubles.
The company provides a two-year warranty for all products.
What to look for when choosing
Having read the above ratings of 220 V voltage stabilizers for the home, you already have a general idea of some models and their characteristics. Now let's talk about what to look for when choosing:
- First of all, we determine whether there are problems with electricity or not. To do this, we acquire the simplest multimeter and regularly measure the mains voltage (in a house or apartment) for at least one week (every day in the morning and in the evening, when power consumption is maximum). The evidence must be recorded. Having calculated the minimum and maximum values, we determine the input voltage range in which the stabilizer will have to work.
- Then we determine the load power. For a private house or apartment (if we want to power all consumers of electricity through a stabilizer), everything is extremely simple. We look at what maximum current the input "machine" is designed for. We multiply this value by 220 V, add 20-30% to the obtained value (recommendations from "electrical" gurus) and get the required power. If we want to save money, we make an accurate calculation by summing up the power of all the appliances available in the house.
- Next, select the type of stabilizer. If you have regular power surges (and in both directions: and increases,and lowering), it is better to choose a relay, electronic or hybrid stabilizer. If the network "sags" (usually in the evening), and there are no sharp jumps, then it is wiser to purchase an electromechanical device. For adherents of obtaining the highest stabilization rates, we recommend inverter fixtures.
In conclusion
The final choice of a particular model, of course, will largely depend on your personal preferences and financial capabilities. In any case, if there are problems with mains voltage drops, then no matter what type of stabilizer you have purchased, all electrical appliances will only thank you. Yes, and you yourself will feel that the bulbs shine brightly, the drill drills at the right speed, and the refrigerator freezes at the right temperature.
