How stable should consumer electricity supply voltage really be?

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Kraven

729 posts

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#847244 29-Jun-2013 21:10

casewindow: I am interested in those Dynamix UPS from the likes of DSE though. Are they any good? I assumed they were a good price as they're NZ made - though that may be a bad assumption.

Personally I would steer well clear. Our experience with these units a few years back wasn't positive - they either gave up well short of warranty or died in spectacular ways (eg. smoke poured out of them). They may have improved but considering they're still at the bottom end of the market price wise I'm not prepared to take that risk.

I don't think they are made in NZ - NZ brand name sure, but not actually made here. Stick with reputable brands - you get what you pay for.

casewindow

310 posts

Ultimate Geek

#847249 29-Jun-2013 21:50

gumboot19: First, (In my simple opinion) there may be a loose connection in your incoming power cabling, Copper cables tend to work loose (lose tension in connectors) over time. This will not help issues.
As an aside most lamp bulbs are rated at 230volts. We have found that the European sourced? bulbs rated at 250volts appear to last longer, maybe due to the advertised? additional voltage capability of the bulbs. Would be happy to be proved wrong here. Possibly other electric equipment ma have the same potential issues?

Regards
Darren

It is quite a modern house (5 years old), but I had thought about putting the UPS on another power socket.

I have two, the main SmartUPS and a much smaller APC BackUPS (or something like that), which is right on the other side of the house. From memory that exhibited the same symptoms, but I set that to a lower sensitivity quite some time ago.

I may hook the laptop with powerchute up to the small UPS and see if that gives similar voltage readings.

richms

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#847251 29-Jun-2013 21:57

Just be aware that there are maximum allowable voltage drops for premisis wiring, and if you are exceeding that and make a complaint about low voltage, they might lump you with the bill for investigating it.

Richard rich.ms

casewindow

310 posts

Ultimate Geek

#847266 29-Jun-2013 22:22

richms: Just be aware that there are maximum allowable voltage drops for premisis wiring, and if you are exceeding that and make a complaint about low voltage, they might lump you with the bill for investigating it.

So what you mean is that they have to keep within limits up to the electrical boundary of your house, but within your house it is your own problem if there are voltage issues?

richms

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#847276 29-Jun-2013 22:31

Yes, that is why when you get outlets added, the sparky will test and record the earth loop impedance, which allows them to detect what the voltage drop will be etc, and put the correct breaker on it. Its why you may end up with 4mm cable for a power circuit, but only be able to have it on a 20 amp breaker.

I dont know if they would pick up on that and make you down rate your breakers if you were over the limits or if they just throw a measurement device on the breaker panel or meter and leave it to log its thing.

The only times I really had UPS's kicking in was when we had a dodgey neutral which was dropping the voltage to barely over 200 at times, and it was a load with a lot of inrush being turned on like a table saw, the in sinkerator or else my 3kW stepdown transformer. Ups would just throw an led when voltage was constantly low.

Richard rich.ms

JimmyH

2886 posts

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#847434 30-Jun-2013 17:11

Kraven:
casewindow: I am interested in those Dynamix UPS from the likes of DSE though. Are they any good? I assumed they were a good price as they're NZ made - though that may be a bad assumption.

Personally I would steer well clear. Our experience with these units a few years back wasn't positive - they either gave up well short of warranty or died in spectacular ways (eg. smoke poured out of them). They may have improved but considering they're still at the bottom end of the market price wise I'm not prepared to take that risk.

I don't think they are made in NZ - NZ brand name sure, but not actually made here. Stick with reputable brands - you get what you pay for.

I have had one of the 1000VA-spec models for about four years, and it has been fine. Doesn't trip often. Got me through three power cuts over that time (gives me a couple of minutes to shut everything down in an orderly fashion) and a few severe power spikes. Personally, I would buy another one quite happily.

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