BajaNomad - Low voltage problems

Low voltage problems

Pescador - 2-11-2009 at 08:40 AM

Seems that there is a lot of fluctuation in the power supply voltage from CFE Electric. We have toasted the microwave, blew up two surge protectors as well, and fried something in my 2 volt power supply that I use or VHF radio. Our neighbor had the same problem with his microwave, TV, Refrigerator, and oven controls. I think (in my very limited electrical knowledge) that we get a low voltage supply and then the cycles increases to make up for the problem and then the problems happen. I guess I can buy extra surge protectors , and just replace them when the power fluctuates but figured that someone out there in Nomad Land will know what to do with this.

Phil S - 2-11-2009 at 09:26 AM

Perhaps your surge protectors are not high capacity protectors. Have you checked the market for what ranges are available? In Nopolo we fought this all the time for eight years. didn't use any protectors except on the electronic stuff. No problems. They weren't anything special. Just the usual off the shelf type at Radio Shack.

Al G - 2-11-2009 at 09:48 AM

There is something in the RV industry that may be the answer. Don,t remember what it is called....maybe voltage step op transformer? Many places have them including Camp world, though I don't recommend them as I have been stuck with a lot of junk there. I will try to find a link.

Hook - 2-11-2009 at 10:29 AM

The RV ones are called autoformers. They have internal voltage transformers for high and low situations. Might be adaptable. The big names in 50 amp ones are Frank's, Hughes and RV Electrical. Provide an 8-16 % boost in low voltage, then cut out completely below a specific threshold.

Low voltage is slow death for appliances.

BTW, I have heard that surge protectors often cant work fast enough if you experience a lightning strike on your premises or even one into the grid nearby. Best to unplug things and ride it out.

Jack Swords - 2-11-2009 at 11:01 AM

Is it LOW voltage? Have you measured it? In La Paz we have experienced high voltage consistently (137 - 140 AC voltage). We were told it is high to make up for poor wiring and connection resistance and therefore deliver a nominal voltage to outlying areas. High, low, severe fluxuations are all not kind to electronic devices. Is the change constant, at times of high usage, or simply random?

Hook - 2-11-2009 at 01:16 PM

Jack, ours is more often high than not over here. We are only about 15-20miles from the major generating station in the area. Probably there is one in La Paz, too. Pescador is possibly near the end of the line, literally, and his voltage may suffer.

I have always heard low voltage is worse on appliances than high voltage.

LarryK - 2-11-2009 at 06:22 PM

You have a bad ground connection between your service pole to the transformer. A bad or partial ground will cause fluxation of voltage across 120-volt appliances. You can check this by checking with a voltmeter with no load on a socket. Put a heavy load on the circuit, with the voltmeter you will find the voltage very low or very high. With no ground or a partial ground the voltage will fluctuate. You say your neighbor has the same problem, that puts it before your service entrance.
With out the ground, you will have 240v trying to run the 120v item

Don Alley - 2-11-2009 at 06:29 PM

We had a low voltage problem a while back. Too low to run the microwave, then a surge fried a surge protector, which gave its life to save my computer.

The problem was our connection to the powerline. The wires are only twisted together and taped, and they got loose in the wind. Re-wrapped and everything worked fine, for now.

Woooosh - 2-11-2009 at 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador
Seems that there is a lot of fluctuation in the power supply voltage from CFE Electric. We have toasted the microwave, blew up two surge protectors as well, and fried something in my 2 volt power supply that I use or VHF radio. Our neighbor had the same problem with his microwave, TV, Refrigerator, and oven controls. I think (in my very limited electrical knowledge) that we get a low voltage supply and then the cycles increases to make up for the problem and then the problems happen. I guess I can buy extra surge protectors , and just replace them when the power fluctuates but figured that someone out there in Nomad Land will know what to do with this.

I run my electronics and fridge at the house through UPS Battery Back-up Boxes. Ours has a digital readout that shows current voltage. We have LOW voltage problems here. As I type it is 111 volts. The UPS adds power to bringit up to 120 or reduces the power if incoming is too high (never here). We had a bad "Brown Out" once that caused damage, called CFE who verified the problem- and CFE even offerred to pay for everything- including spoiled food. We were very pleasantly surprised by how accomodating they were.

Bob and Susan - 2-11-2009 at 07:19 PM

what whoosh uses is what you need

they run about $100 each

these things are sold at best buy

you do have to shut off the machine if the voltage drops though

your ONLY solution is to buy your own transformer
$10k will do it
lots of homeowners in baja buy their own if they want better electrical service

Pescador - 2-11-2009 at 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jack Swords
Is it LOW voltage? Have you measured it? In La Paz we have experienced high voltage consistently (137 - 140 AC voltage). We were told it is high to make up for poor wiring and connection resistance and therefore deliver a nominal voltage to outlying areas. High, low, severe fluxuations are all not kind to electronic devices. Is the change constant, at times of high usage, or simply random?

Now I am going to get a scientific approach to the whole issue. I have not really used a voltage meter, but have observed the lights which go from bright to dim and then back again. Sometimes they stay dim for quite a bit of time and then come on stronger than normal. So good point, I am going to plug in one of those voltage meters and start watching it.

BajaNuts - 2-11-2009 at 10:01 PM

"The problem was our connection to the powerline. The wires are only twisted together and taped, and they got loose in the wind. Re-wrapped and everything worked fine, for now. "

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your main power lines are twisted and taped?!?!?!?!??!

Get a CRIMP!!!!!!!!!

it will solve 63.8% of your power problems-

ps- don't do this yourself, get an electrical lineman to re-do your main power connections.

It should be crimped or "curnied" (technical term meaning "big crimp with a bracket and screws")---------

omg----------- twisted and taped...........................THAT is a CRIME>>>>>>>>>>>

Kearny Nuts

estebanis - 2-11-2009 at 10:07 PM

Are the way to go for sure. I have a box of them in my service truck. Better not try this your self unless you want a new hairdoo!

BajaNuts - 2-11-2009 at 10:17 PM

hey estebanis from "smell-a"

are you a sparky?

estebanis - 2-11-2009 at 10:20 PM

I work for the Electric Utility as a Tech on the Smart Grid. I used to be a Marine Electronics Tech and had a bussiness in Cabo for 5 years during the '80's.

BajaNuts - 2-11-2009 at 10:27 PM

right on-estebanis-

thanks for the proper terms. Hubby is an IBEW brother of 20+ years and he knows all the parts, pieces and stuff. I'm a rezzy jw..... I know that twisting and taping is not a good thing outside a bedroom.............

I'll send you a u2u,

CFE Baja Utilities - Voltage Issues Part 1

ElFaro - 2-11-2009 at 10:50 PM

Since I have been in the electric utility business for 35 years specifically in the high voltage transmission grid area and was acquainted with CFE I'd like to provide you all with some insights regarding what might be going on with your voltage and "appliance" issues.

The problems you are experiencing are what we regard as "power quality" issues in the utility industry. We here in the US generally receive high quality power into our homes, businesses, and farms. Most of the time we don't even give it a thought of how "clean" electric power comes into our homes. But go to a third world country like Mexico and your "paradigm" gets a real jolt.

For starters CFE services what I would describe as "rough" or "course" power to cities, towns, and villages in Baja. CFE provides minimal "voltage control" mainly at the generating plant and at the step-down distribution transformer. There is minimal to no automatic voltage regulation in the distribution system (12kV and below) out in the field as the load rises and falls during the day. From measurements I have taken the voltage is high at night (commercial / industrial load off) and begins to drop in the morning as factories and shops open up for the day. It levels off for the duration of the day and rises again as workers are headed home and motors / pumps are shut down. The voltage is also high on Sundays as that is a day off for workers (comml/Indust load off).

At an orphanage in Tecate I measured the 220 volt service between 205 - 250 volts on any given day! So CFE's service to you is a voltage range of plus/minus 30 volts of nominal. Contrast that to So. Calif utilities where the distribution voltage is tightly controlled within plus/minus 0.5 volts of nominal regardless of the load coming on in your neighborhood. I have known loads of 100-200 megawatts to switch on and off and have no effect on nearby neighborhoods (1 megawatt = 1 million watts). If you live near a large load in Baja such as a welding shop, electric fired ovens, or large AG pumps you may experience voltage fluctuations from those loads coming on and off. Baja businesses solve this problem by purchasing voltage regulating transformers installed on-site. These transformers will put out a constant voltage on the low side regardless of the low side load or the high side voltage. Their cost is determined by how many phase (1 or 3 phase) and capacity in kVA (kilo-Volt Amperes). For most of you living in Baja your stuck with the voltage range. CFE will not install voltage regulating transformers out on poles in neighborhoods where the voltage for common appliances is non-critical.

Another contributing factor to high voltages is a phenomenon called "line charging".

It's like when you have a water pipe that goes down a hill and at the top the pressure is 50 psi and at the bottom of the hill the pressure builds to 100 psi until you open the valve on the end and the pressure drops to 50 psi.

In Baja when you have long high voltage lines (115 kilo-volt) that have a small load at the end you will get very high voltages at the end of the line. This is because the line through inductance due to AC electricity interacts with the earth and gathers additional charging currents boosting the voltage at the end of the line. As an example the voltage in San Felipe is very hard to keep down because a 115kV line
crosses the peninsula from Rosarito to feed San Felipe and a rock crushing pit to the north were the voltage ends up at 145kV. What is that...about 150-200 miles? A long way to feed such a tiny load but deemed necessary back in the 1960's.

Hope this helps...

CFE Utilities - Lights Dimming/Glowing - Part 2

ElFaro - 2-11-2009 at 10:55 PM

Now...why do your lights dim and glow bright? It may be due to what is known in the utility industry as "frequency oscillations".

Prior to 1985 CFE had a big problem with this in their northern Baja transmission system. The northern system was an "electrical island" meaning it was not connected to any neighboring utility transmission grid on its northern, southern, or eastern flanks. This system was and still is connected between the coast and inland subsystems by 230 kilo-Volt lines that run from Mexicali to TiJuana / Rosarito...about 100 miles. When a generator trips off-line, a line faults, or a circuit breaker trips electrical inertia shock waves travel through the transmission grid back and forth similar to a rock thrown into a pool. As the waves travel back and forth they dampen out but they may not completely go away. The only way for them to completely dampen out is if the generators are equipped with something called "power system stabilizers (PSS)". As the waves hit the generators they cause the gens to move off frequency and the gens will return the wave back to the grid. If the gens are equipped with PSS they will absorb the shock waves and return nothing to the grid. CFE did not have PSS on their generators because they were too small or of the wrong type. The frequency oscillations would take days to dampen out because the waves would travel between the coast and the inland subsystems. Another way to dampen out the waves is to connect to a big utility grid...which is what CFE did in 1985 when they connected to the "Colossus in the North"...namely the So. Calif utility grid via San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE). When they connected to SDGE these shock waves were absorbed by the northern grid and the light dimming and brightness disappeared.

Which brings me back to those of you who live in Southen Baja. The southern Baja electric system consists of 2 or 3 "electrical Islands" with loads separated by long lines and small generators. I would bet there are oscillations on these electrical island systems that are not dampening out and thus you are seeing lights dim and glow bright due to frequency oscillations.

Hope this helps...

Russ - 2-12-2009 at 05:14 AM

Jim, I googled "home surge protectors" lots of stuff there too.

Santiago - 2-12-2009 at 07:06 AM

El Faro: thanks - what is the price range for these transformers? - $10,000 like Bob said? BOLA recently got electrical service from GN, some 120 miles. The service ends about 2 miles south of town at a group of 20 homes, no large industry/shops prior to it. Does this mean they are faced with the 'down-hill' problem you've described? I don't recall seeing any transformers other than in town but I will look next time. Is it possible for them to buy a single transformer prior to the feed to their homes? Since they all had fairly large solar systems, why not use their battery banks/inverters as the 'transformer'? In other words, simply run their homes off the battery bank like before and use the city power to keep the batteries charged?

Russ - 2-12-2009 at 08:03 AM

Santiago, I think if I had a solar system that worked I'd use it until the local power was more reliable. On low solar days they'd have the option to charge up with local power. But would the local power fry their inverter if it wasn't protected?

Pescador - 2-12-2009 at 09:03 AM

Wow, the Faro is literally a "Lighthouse" of information. Thanks for that.
It is really easy to assume that because we have electricity, that it is the same as in the United States but I knew that things were different, just did not realize fully why that was so. I guess the best solution is to use plug in surge protectors for sensitive things like Microwave ovens, etc. and not worry too much about the other stuff. I do notice that I have had no problems with my refrigerator which is a Mexican built LG.
And Russ is feeling really good that his solar power is so much cleaner than my "civilized" electricity.

shari - 2-12-2009 at 09:14 AM

I once asked Juan why there are so many old fridges outside everywhere..some people even use them as fences...it is because of our poor power....burns out fridges all the time..which is why we only buy used fridges. We suffer from low voltage ALOT which is why I switched to laptops now....just part of that baja charm!!!!NOT

ElFaro - 2-12-2009 at 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Santiago
El Faro: thanks - what is the price range for these transformers? - $10,000 like Bob said? BOLA recently got electrical service from GN, some 120 miles. The service ends about 2 miles south of town at a group of 20 homes, no large industry/shops prior to it. Does this mean they are faced with the 'down-hill' problem you've described? I don't recall seeing any transformers other than in town but I will look next time. Is it possible for them to buy a single transformer prior to the feed to their homes? Since they all had fairly large solar systems, why not use their battery banks/inverters as the 'transformer'? In other words, simply run their homes off the battery bank like before and use the city power to keep the batteries charged?

Check out Hammond...I have bought from them in the past.

www.electricalpowertransformer.com/hammond/autotransformers....

Look under their "Power Conditioning" sub-heading.

ElFaro - 2-12-2009 at 09:33 AM

Sorry...Look under "Power Quality Products" subheading.

DianaT - 2-12-2009 at 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
I once asked Juan why there are so many old fridges outside everywhere..some people even use them as fences...it is because of our poor power....burns out fridges all the time..which is why we only buy used fridges. We suffer from low voltage ALOT which is why I switched to laptops now....just part of that baja charm!!!!NOT

We thought the dimming of the lights was just the spirits creating a little more atmosphere. It also tells us when the water is hot after we turn on the water heater :lol:

Seriously, I know next to nothing about electricity. Someone mentioned having a surge protector for the refrigerator? Would that help? We also have a small freezer.

We don't have any electronic items, other than a small radio, but I wonder about my computer.

I was told once that I did not need a surge protector for the lap top when it is plugged in because the battery protected it. Is this correct, or a falsehood?

Thanks
Diane

Hook - 2-12-2009 at 11:42 AM

While we're clearing up potential falsehoods, can a simple surge protector (like the ones we often plug our desktop computers into) really protect you from low voltage?

I always thought it had to be a device that either transforms the voltage to an acceptable level and/or it simply cuts power to the circuit when voltage is above or below a certain threshold.

My operating concept on laptops is that since there is a AC/DC conversion going on in between the wall outlet and the laptop, you could only burn out the AC/DC converter. But that is pure speculation on my part.

losfrailes - 2-12-2009 at 11:57 AM

Computers and monitors are best protected with an Uninterruptable power supply (UPS) sold at most computer outlets or on ebay.

They will maintain the proper amount of voltage for a few minutes, giving you time to shut your system down.

If you do not protect them, they can be ruined, perhaps laptops go thru a wall wart but most desktops plug directly into the wall outlet.

DianaT - 2-12-2009 at 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by losfrailes
Computers and monitors are best protected with an Uninterruptable power supply (UPS) sold at most computer outlets or on ebay.

They will maintain the proper amount of voltage for a few minutes, giving you time to shut your system down.

If you do not protect them, they can be ruined, perhaps laptops go thru a wall wart but most desktops plug directly into the wall outlet.

So if I understand what you are saying, even a laptop should be plugged into a UPS???

Hook - 2-12-2009 at 12:12 PM

Laptops HAVE an uninterrupted power supply..........the battery, assuming yours is still in it. It doesnt last forever, but it gives you the power to protect you from a hard shutdown.

UPS are rather expensive and the batteries need replacing. And if you are running one in low voltage situations, what is that doing to the components of the UPS?

It's laptops from here on out for me. We dont even use our desktop anymore. But ours is a full sized laptop with a full keyboard and 17 inch HD monitor. REally heavy sucker.

[Edited on 2-12-2009 by Hook]

[Edited on 2-12-2009 by Hook]

losfrailes - 2-12-2009 at 03:00 PM

jdtrotter,

Most laptops use a separate power supply which plugs into the wall outlet. I suspect this gives some protection to the computer. The battery only protects it securely when you are not on street power.

I do not know if the power supply of the laptop gives protection.

My desktop is protected by a UPS, the laptops no. I just do not leave them turned on.

Pescador - 2-12-2009 at 07:23 PM

I have my laptop on most of the time and was told by a reputable repairman that I did not need to be concerned since the power was converted from AC current to DC current and when the power diminished it just lowered the power going in but the DC Current handles that fluctuation well like your car electronics continue to operate when the power goes down. I have had the same experience with the power supply to my Hughes Net Modem, my telephone and answering machine, as well as my printer.

Pescador - 2-12-2009 at 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook
While we're clearing up potential falsehoods, can a simple surge protector (like the ones we often plug our desktop computers into) really protect you from low voltage?

I blew up two of the Belkin surge protectors, one was a 6 place plug in with no reset function, the other one was a 6 place plug in with a longer wire attached and it had a reset function. When it fried, I replaced it with a cheaper version that I had laying around and that night my Pyramid Regulated Power supply that I use to provide power to VHF radio started sizzling and blew out a diode or something and now I have a terrible buzz in my VHF radio transmissions.
So, I suspect that some of the surge protectors do work and probably did protect some of the stuff I had plugged in.

The real problem is that you would not want to have your refrigerator or freezer plugged in and then be gone for a week or so, because while it will protect the surges, it means it will not reset itself and the appliances are not coming back on which makes for a really smelly homecoming.

BajaNuts - 2-12-2009 at 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador
And Russ is feeling really good that his solar power is so much cleaner than my "civilized" electricity.

How "clean and green" is Russ's (or any other solar system owner who uses it for the "green" factor) when they have to replace those banks of batteries every 8-10 years and used up or broken solar panels? Of course, I'm sure they all bring their used solar batteries back to the US so they can be responsibly recycled and not left around the campo or (God Forbid!) taken to the local dumps.......... :fire:

sorry don't wanna get off on a tangent here, but green ain't all it's cracked up to be.

Not saying we shouldn't be going that direction.....just that people buy all the solar stuff not realizing what in the stuff they bought and what they're going to be left with. I just get upset when people claim to be green and then do things like using propane for appliances when the cheapest hydroelectric power is literally at their front door (I'm talking about our area in the USA, not MX...but the attitude is the same elsewhere)

Russ - 2-12-2009 at 08:14 PM

I think Pescador meant I had a good AC supply not "Green".
Pescador, I feel for you!

Hook - 2-13-2009 at 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ElFaro
Sorry...Look under "Power Quality Products" subheading.

What devices under that subheading should we be looking at? Voltage regulators? Line voltage regulators? Super isolation transformers? Mitigating transformers?

I'd like something that will protect my entire property; RV outlet, garage and house from high/low voltage as well as fluctuations in the power frequency. Total power draw, IF everything was running at once might be around 80 amps.

Hook - 2-13-2009 at 04:44 AM

Jim, everything I read on the Belkin site only talks about protection from surges and spikes. Everything related to joules and reaction times. I dont find anything related to low voltage situations.

ElFaro - 2-13-2009 at 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook

What devices under that subheading should we be looking at? Voltage regulators? Line voltage regulators? Super isolation transformers? Mitigating transformers?

I'd like something that will protect my entire property; RV outlet, garage and house from high/low voltage as well as fluctuations in the power frequency. Total power draw, IF everything was running at once might be around 80 amps.

Hook...Santiago...It will most likely will be Voltage Regulators, Line Vltg Regs. or an auto transformer. But I would call them up and explain your situation / power needs and any issues you are having with local power quality. They are very helpful in suggesting the equipment you would need. Usually off-the-shelf equipment is sold in kVA steps (e.g. 10, 25, 50, 100) so something just above your calculated needs would probably be in stock. Hammonds website has some load calculators and formulae to determine your kVA requirements. There is also the issue of what CFE will allow. If your eq. is down stream of your main ckt. breaker...probably not a problem. If your want it installed on CFE's equipment, obviously you'll need CFE's nod.

Equipment to stabilize frequency ?? - That may get pricey but Hammonds may offer something.

One thing about surge protectors... All they are supposed to do is protect for voltage spikes in the 115 volt range and on equipment limited to 15 amp circuits.

I recommend for all of you in Baja...DO NOT install 220V all electric stoves in your kitchens with electronic controls. Stick to gas stoves with manual controls. Reason ? ... you can't but surge protection for 220V 30 Amp electric stoves off-the-shelf. Anything available is very expensive. Living in the back country of San Diego I have 1st hand experience. One night during a storm lightning struck a nearby power pole and sent a voltage spike through the distribution circuit I'm on. Grounding wires on the poles in the area took care of any stray currents but the voltage spike damaged the main chip on the electronic control board in my all electric stove. After diagnostics it was determined I needed to replace the main chip but because it was hard soldered onto the board I had to replace the whole board for $200...about 1/2 the price of the stove itself. So now when there is a storm with lightning I just throw open the stove circuit breaker in the main panel until the storm passes.

Pescador - 2-13-2009 at 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaNuts

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador
And Russ is feeling really good that his solar power is so much cleaner than my "civilized" electricity.

Geez, relax, that was kind of an inside joke with my friend Russ who lives at Punta Chivato where they have no electrical power and all the homes are built either with generators or solar. Russ is well grounded and not some politically correct whacko environmentalist eating granola bars and hugging cactus all day. :yes:

Santiago - 2-13-2009 at 09:34 AM

Well, if Russ is well grounded, then he should stick with the 12 volt stuff.

Russ - 2-13-2009 at 10:35 AM

12v stuff is for cars, boats & bikes. I'm a 24 volt solar kinda guy. "Well grounded" maybe a stretch but appreciated the upgrade.

Hook - 2-13-2009 at 11:30 AM

Here is the "Green Hornet" Russ, generating enough electricity to run the toaster and the blender for his killer colonic smoothies for breakfast.

Go, Greengo, Go.................

Russ - 2-13-2009 at 12:10 PM

Sheeze, I hope he rents out cuz I'm deadly frightened of ANYthing remotely appearing like exercise. Only if colon juice maker does Margaritas.

Woooosh - 2-13-2009 at 12:27 PM

For our chronic low voltage problem I have FOUR UPC devices, all made by the company APC. They have several models- depending on how much you are plugginin to them. I even have one I use for my fridge. For me the units provide clean stable power to proplong my electornice life. They also keep my security system up and running for an extar half-hour if a crook kills the power supply at the house.

"instantly adjusts both low and high voltages to safe levels, so you can work indefinitely during brownouts, saving the battery for power outages when you need it most."

http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=22

[Edited on 2-13-2009 by Woooosh]

rob - 2-15-2009 at 10:23 AM

Here at Rancho la Aguja on the Pacific, we have the only power line to the beach for about a hundred miles in either direction - it's a long and fragile thread . . .

Last year we had a series of power outages (usually blowing the "cuchillos" or knife fuses up on the poles) but only after frying the fridge and stove computers (now protected by GFCI/voltage regulators from Home Depot).

Turns out the cause was faulty grounding. CFE explained to me (it was an interesting conversation because every time I get a tenuous grasp on one set of Spanish volcabulary - like fishing or building - something like voltage variance physics turns up) that rural systems here do NOT have a neutral line - they just deliver 3 phases of live current (in our case at 13,800 volts).

To provide the ground reference (any electrician reading this stop me anytime), copper rods are hammered into the ground and become a local ground or neutral reference. If your ground doesn't work, you start getting voltage surges (wild fluctuations is a better word) until something finally blows.

After about five visits of increasing technical seniority, CFE fixed the problem, and we now have a fairly steady 130v.

Hook - 2-15-2009 at 03:39 PM

Yeah, 125-130 seems the norm where we are, at least at this time of year when no one is running air conditioners.

how do I choose a voltage converter?

Dianamo - 10-7-2009 at 06:20 PM

I wanted to see what other Nomads had tried as a surge protector when I found this post. After reading this post, I think I need a voltage converter, but I have no idea which one I get. Any suggestions?

Step up and Step Down Voltage Converter with Regulator

Dianamo - 10-8-2009 at 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ElFaro

Quote:

After doing research regarding the previous discussion, I found these devices "Step up and Step Down Voltage Converter with Regulator" that look like they would solve the problem. :?:

http://www.220-electronics.com/Transformers/trans/simranreg....

:?:

Thanks for any comments or suggestions?

Bomberro - 10-8-2009 at 07:16 AM

Try using a Single Phase Line Monitor. We use one on our generator's automatic transfer switch. It can be set to switch at a range of voltages and will stay in the switched position for a range of time. When the voltage is too high or low our gen comes on and we are switched from CFE to our own power. Some have wired this device into a switch that just disconnects the home from CFE and then back again when the power is back within the preset values. Google 'single phase line monitor' and have an electrician install one.