Voltage Current Protector: What Is It?
The voltage current protector, as one of the essential components in electrical systems, is responsible for safeguarding electrical equipment against sudden and severe voltage and current fluctuations. This device automatically and rapidly reacts to unstable and hazardous voltage and current signals at its input, preventing damage to connected equipment. Therefore, the voltage current protector acts as a guardian against the adverse effects of electrical fluctuations, significantly reducing equipment failures, severe drops in service quality, and repair costs.
You might think that by plugging your electrical devices into wall outlets, you can prevent problems. However, this idea is incorrect! Due to possible disturbances in the power distribution network, adverse weather conditions, and unstable infrastructures, the risks of damage to your electrical devices increase. Therefore, installing a central voltage current protector for your building is essential to prevent unforeseen accidents and enhance the safety and lifespan of your electrical appliances.
In cases where voltage and current suddenly increase or decrease, this protector transforms into active protectors, shielding equipment from hidden dangers such as burning or damage caused by electrical fluctuations. By installing this device in your electrical network, you can benefit from other advantages, including increased equipment lifespan, improved system efficiency, and maintaining equipment health.
Voltage Current Protector: What Is It?
One of the vital components in household electrical systems is the voltage current protector, also known as the central power protector. These devices, directly connected to the electrical system, prevent the transmission of fluctuations to the building. In the event of an increase in electrical voltage, the protector intervenes and, by blocking or directing it to the ground, protects electrical equipment from harm. This method ensures the protection and safety of the equipment.
The prominent feature of these protectors is their ability to connect to the ground during severe fluctuations. Without a connection to the ground, the performance of the electrical protector will not be optimal. When installing the protector, electrical engineers are required to carefully examine the building’s ground connection.
In the best-case scenario, these protectors can stop fluctuations of 40,000 amps or more. The installation of warning indicators or alarm lights on these protectors is crucial, as it provides information about the intensity of fluctuations, enabling necessary actions. For optimal benefits, installing the total current protector between the breaker box and the power meter is necessary.
Please note that due to their sensitivity, the installation of these protectors requires a specialized and experienced electrical engineer. These professionals, in addition to examining the ground connection, identify and correct any faults in the electrical system.
Learn about the various reasons for electrical fluctuations
As you know, current fluctuations occur very quickly. These fluctuations have the power to significantly impact all electrical appliances in your home. Therefore, it is better to first become familiar with common electrical changes to understand the importance of whole-building protectors.
Power Line Disruptions
Severe winds may cause power outages near your home. In these conditions, sudden power outages threaten your home, and it may cause damage to your household appliances. Of course, these outages may have other causes as well.
Sudden Increase in Power Consumption
Sometimes, in specific areas, due to a sudden increase in power consumption from the power plant, the amount of electricity in the entire area increases significantly.
Voltage Fluctuations and Drops: Preconditions and Prevention Methods
1- Reasons Inside the Building
In some cases, unstable voltages, especially in certain parts of the building, can be observed. These problems may result from using low-quality wires to connect the consumer to entry points, as well as weak and improper connections that can lead to voltage drops in internal circuits. These voltage drops turn into heat losses and can pose serious hazards. To identify the most critical causes of voltage drops, attention to the details of connections and wiring inside the building is necessary. It is also essential to measure these voltage drops when the circuit is overloaded.
2- Problems Arising from the Network
If voltage drops in the panels are visible without connecting consumers, the problem is likely external to the power network and becomes a problem when consumers enter the building. The causes of these problems may return to remote distances, insufficient capacity of the local power supply, or simultaneous power consumption by all subscribers. In this case, measures such as increasing the distance from the local power supply or optimizing the capacity of the supply station can improve the situation.
3- Sudden Increase in Power Consumption
A sudden increase in power consumption is also one of the causes of electrical fluctuations and voltage drops. If electricity consumption sharply increases at a certain moment during the day, such as turning on the microwave or an electric iron, the voltage drop is likely to intensify. Therefore, installing a voltage current protector and precise voltage control during moments of excessive load is effective. For the best performance of these devices, it is recommended to install them between the breaker box and the power meter.
Complete Protection Against Current Fluctuations Using Various Equipment
So far, we have discussed various types of current fluctuations and their sources, but now we need to explore the types of protections available, which are determined based on the type of consumer and the type of fluctuation that poses a threat.
Using UPS for Protection
In some cases, there are consumers that are very sensitive and vulnerable to shocks, fluctuations, or power outages, including medical equipment systems, computer systems, and precision tools. The best way to maintain a stable voltage in these cases is to install a UPS system. This system allows you to fully protect yourself against all network issues. In UPS, the input power is only used as a charger for the battery, and energy is continuously stored.
Using Transformers for Constant Voltage
In some cases, transformers can be used to keep the output voltage constant. Voltage stabilizers or voltage regulators are examples of devices that stabilize voltage. These devices are calculable and installable based on the general access needs or for specific consumers.
The Most Useful Voltage Stabilizer
Stabilizers, voltage stabilizers, are the most commonly used equipment in situations where there is a problem of voltage drop in the power grid, and consumers benefit from distances far from power management transformers. These devices ensure that the output voltage remains stable and without fluctuations, protecting electrical and electronic equipment against unexpected voltage changes.
Final Words
In addition to the mentioned measures, other protective options have also been introduced in the market that, in the face of dangers such as low and high voltage, have the ability to cut off the output to prevent harm to the consumer. These types of protective measures have gained more attention than no protection and work towards addressing the root cause of the problem and creating effective solutions.
Various companies have produced different types of these electrical protection devices, which have come into the market, providing diverse choices for consumers.
