BajaRae
Junior Nomad
Posts: 54
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Vista, CA
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Mood: Wish I was in Baja
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Surge protector?
Just wondering if a surge protector will help a frige when power gets low. Have solar, but use local generator to charge up batteries sometimes the
power surges or is to low...I've lost a frige don't want to again. Just bought a charger for the batteries...still wondering if a surge protector is a
good idea or if it won't matter
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Woooosh
Banned
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Registered: 1-28-2007
Location: Rosarito Beach
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Mood: Luminescent Waves at Rosarito Beach
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Low power or "brown-outs" can't be helped with a simple surge protector- as they just tone down spikes in power, but can't add more power if line
voltage is low.
I use a battery back-up system for my fridge and soda machine. It adds power from the battery when the line voltage is low and tones down power when
there is a power spike. Get one that can handle the amps of your appliances. I have four of these running in my house.
Here's a link to the kind you need, the model you choose (price) depends on your appliances.
http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=22
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 9-27-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
Low power or "brown-outs" can't be helped with a simple surge protector- as they just tone down spikes in power, but can't add more power if line
voltage is low.
I use a battery back-up system for my fridge and soda machine. It adds power from the battery when the line voltage is low and tones down power when
there is a power spike. Get one that can handle the amps of your appliances. I have four of these running in my house.
Here's a link to the kind you need, the model you choose (price) depends on your appliances.
http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=22 |
All of our computers at work are attached to one of these. They are workhorses. Mine is at least 6 years old and running strong.
Ken
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
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Brown outs are THE enemy of compressors and PC's.
In the US they are fairly rare and usually don't last for any prolonged time. Much more frequent here in Baja.
However, we have been here over 20 years, have 3 PC's, 4 fridges and a freezer, and have yet to have a problem with any one of them. And NO battery
backed up surge protectors.
Go figure !! Maybe just lucky.
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arrowhead
Banned
Posts: 912
Registered: 5-5-2009
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaRae
Just wondering if a surge protector will help a frige when power gets low. Have solar, but use local generator to charge up batteries sometimes the
power surges or is to low...I've lost a frige don't want to again. Just bought a charger for the batteries...still wondering if a surge protector is a
good idea or if it won't matter |
A surge protector won't help that problem. Low voltage is a killer for inductive loads, like a refrigerator compressor motor. It sounds counter
intuitive, but a low voltage causes a current surge in an inductive load. Not a voltage spike (which is what a surge protector blocks), a current
surge. It is the overcurrent situation that is killing the motor.
You say you are on a solar system. If you are off grid, then you should first check the voltage output of your system to see if it is within norms.
Check it at no load and full load. Then you should check the capacity of the system. If your house is drawing more than the capacity of your solar
system, it will drag down the voltage. The solar system has to be sized to the current demand of your house. Since you say you are also supplementing
power using a generator. my first guess is that solar system is to small for your loads.
No soy por ni contra apatía.
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BajaRae
Junior Nomad
Posts: 54
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Vista, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wish I was in Baja
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Thanks, we only use a few lights and a frige...no tv...I know it is enough solar power...the issue is the lg generator...and other people on our
'block' using too much power...then they shut us off...so I need to protect my frige ...I will read about the battery back up system...Thanks again..
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