Stabilizer for AC and other Appliance

[srinihome]

Hello Everyone,

How should one plan for Stabilizer for Home Appliance?

I am concerned about having a stabilizer on the wall next to Split AC Unit.
Is there a way it can be planned to have in a centralized location?

Regards,
Srini

[msn1270]

For todays new generation Split AC or Refrigerators having Inverter Based power supply, there is no need of a separate Stabilizer for protection, as they've inbuilt protection mechanism for a wide range of Input Voltage fluctuations, unless your area is having a frequent voltage fluctuations in the BESCOM supplied power.

[srinihome]

Thanks for the input MSN1270.

[Visualizer]

You should get an AC SPD ( surge protection device) with cuttoff voltage at 270V apart from MCB and RCCB at mains.

Usually overvoltage situation happens because of two reasons.
1. Electrical surges like lightning falling on lines or transient surge created by faulty heavyload equipment

2. Neutral is created at transformer by earthing the common point of the three phases Sometimes people do not return the neutral to same earth point and create neutral elsewhere by connecting to earth there could be potential difference in two points abd this creates a disbalance and over voltage and neighbors on same transformer suffer.

SPD should be first cutoff circuit placed after meter in mains it will have 3 poles (for single phase) line and neutral are connected in parallel and 3rd pole is directly connected to earth. It is important to have a good earthing for SPD to work.

Unfortunately SPD are not popular in retail market and difficult to source. Many shopkeepers sell 320V SPD which again is not much use as high cuttoff doesn't protect between 270 and 320.
SPD doesn't trip like mcb or rccb it has a cartridge which needs replacement. So buy couple of cartridges as well while buying spd.

About voltage stablizer : it is not recommended for whole house as it is going to be extremely costly a CVT is a saturation core transformer so for whole house it will be prohibitively expensive.
You can put stabilizer for particular sensitive equipment.

[sholla]

Thanks Visualizer, that is very helpful.

My house is situated very close to the BESCOM transformer. Last year
this transformer replaced the old one. From then onwards I am
noticing a disturbing situation. Sometimes the transformer trips
with a loud noise. At those times I am seeing a high voltage
between the earth and neutral of some of my powerstrips which
blows the MOVs (varistor) inside. Is this similar to what you have
described ?

Regards
sholla

[Visualizer]

Yes, good quality powerstrips have SPD as you described.
A dedicated SPD for whole house is also available which you can use.

[sholla]

For the whole house can you suggest some models ? Does one mount
this in the outside panel board or inside the distribution box ?

thanks
sholla

[srinihome]

Thanks, Visualizer.

Yes AC SPD is planned.