Voltage optimisers Are they worth the outlay ?

[unphased]

Hi Sidewinder. PFC and Voltage optimisation are ultimately trying to achieve the same aim, I think, which is energy efficiency. I would say PFC is good enough in a commercial environment. I wonder why they are adding VO as well. Would you know? Just curious.

 

[Sidewinder]

HM Prison service have altered the tappings on many of their transformers to be honest rather than go down the VPhase type route.

PFC is essential for most large facilities, and active is much better than fixed, and really the payback is good.

They are not quite trying to achieve the same aims, as PFC is trying to eliminate the reactive component, that is the wasted section, VO is all about reducing the voltage to that typically found on mainland Europe.

It is possible that appliances designed to run at that voltage which have an operational band which includes our voltage range, could use reduced power.

I'm not convinced. Neither have I looked into VO in any real depth, I do know a few well qualified engineers who asked some very pointed questions of the manufacturer of one type of VO, and never got any answers!!!

Suffice to say I think they will never spec them on any of their projects.

 

[unphased]

Thanks sidewinder. It begs the question, then, will UK eventually optimise at 220V? ; \

 

[Sidewinder]

I doubt it as it would be too expensive!

 

[Andy™]

Thanks sidewinder. It begs the question, then, will UK eventually optimise at 220V? ; \

i doubt it - to change to 220v would probably require real work - i.e change the transformer tappings. the change to 230v was mostly a paper exercise. in reality, not much was done