power surges

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 10:09

Re power surges , we have a power surge protector , for our property , but the question i would like to ask is , how many complexes are effected by this ?

and if so what can you do to protect this from happening on a complex ?

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 11:17

Power surge protectors big enough for a complex would cost a fortune. It is more likely that each property on a complex would be covered by its own protector, even though this would cost more in total.

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 11:54

Hi i made not have been to clear with my post . Is anyone experiencing power cuts on there complexes ?

On our complex we are having power surges that blows electrics , just wondered if any other complexes are having this problem ?

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 14:03

Unless a complex has its own power supply then there should not be much difference all others.



Do not know what a single property protector is but we have surge protectors on every socket. I and others know people who did not take this precaution and lost hundreds of pounds worth of electrical equipment.



Only real answer is to do what we and everyone we know has done. Protect your appliances.

graham


Joined: 20/10/2007
Posts: 397

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 14:14

Also check house insurance as all our electrical goods that are listed on it are covered for power surges.

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 14:24

Sorry , the problem we are havingis that street lighting, complex swimming pool lighting and all communal areas are being affected by these power surges and we have been told it is a problem all over the island just needed to hear feedback from complexes who may be suffering with the same problem .

millzer


Joined: 12/04/2007
Posts: 978

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 15:07

I think the main question being is can we fit surge protectors for the communal swimming pool pumps to prevent damage being done - as we have been told the following



'Last Friday, due to voltage fluctuations, the pool filters/water pumps/sensors were blown and the generators kicked in and was working full time. There was a lot of damage done'



thanks for any help provided

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 15:17

You could fit an always-on UPS to your electrics to protect them from high/low voltages and surges. A true UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) costs loadsamoney.

Beware: Most alternative power systems sold out here are not true UPS's, - they are battery powered inverters which kick-in only during a power outage. They provide little or no protection when mains are live.

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 15:22

Re message 7 yes answer to that question would also be valid . however could i also ask again how many complexes that this affects also , as we are being told this problem exists accross the island .

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 15:24

This is really a complex subject but I will try to make a very short summary:

1. Nominal voltage in Cyprus like UK is 240 volts. Most equimpment imported into Cyprus is 220 volts and now those imported must be at leat 230 volts but not strictly controlled. On top of 240 volts 6% plus or minus is legal, thus most transformers are adjusted to 257 volts. At Bellapais I have recorded voltages even higher than this. Thus if your appliance is designed for 220 volts, it means that you will be in trouble quite often. At least make sure that your appliance is designed for 230 volts and not 220 volts.



2. Voltage surge in the true sense happens in two ways, both can be very damaging:

a) After power cuts, when the power is back on you can get voltages up to 5000 volts for a very short duration and this can be very damaging to electronic appliances. The best protection is to switch off the mains when you have a power cut. Such surges can happen with any electrical distribution system and the only remedy is to switch off or have "Surge Protectors" or "Surge Arresters" which is the same thing.



b) A direct hit by lightening or nearby causes voltage surges in the system and can be very damaging. The use of surge protectors is the only remedy.



There is also serious voltge fluctuations at places where the distribution system is not up to standards. If the system is weak and your neighbour is using an electrical welding machine, it can cause serious fluctuations. There is no cheap remedy for it. Even the normal voltage Regulators do not act fast enough to eliminate the fluctuation. There are some voltage regulators with instant action but they are prohibitively expensive and not available in Cyprus.



Surge protectors work on the principle that they short circuit the supply if the voltage is too high and blow the fuse. They are available as per socket or for the whole house which is much more expensive because it has to blow a much bigger fuse!!!

ismet

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 15:31

So in essence would the developer be advised to install surge protection to prevent communal areas , pools etc from being damaged ,seems simple to me or am i missing something ?

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 15:41

Pipie,

Your problem is not really "Surge" but serious voltage fluctuation and they should really use a "Phase protection relay" or in Turkish "Faz Koruma Rölesi" to cut off the supply if the voltage is outside plus or minus 20% from the nominal 220 volts. Thus if the voltage is outside the said limits the relay will switch off the contactor and cut off the supply.

ismet

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 15:59

Thank you Ismet , will pass on that info , and from what i can gather there are no other complexes that experience this problem .

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 16:50

Surely there's a business opportunity for someone here??

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 17:00

Sure there is and I am doing fine selling Voltage Regulators under my brand name ELKO. Perhaps I should look into importing Surge Protectors too. I know something about the subject since I was part of the team at GEC England that developed these things. We used "Tritium", an isotope of Hydrogen which is mildly radioactive to make them work very fast but I understand that radioactive material has been banned since my time.

ismet

PS: that shows how old I am, a few years more than our friend Wyn!!!

welsh witch


Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 7

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 17:35

we reside, when not in Cyprus in a country that is also suffering from a great variation in power supplies, which results in surges. We have always used voltage stabalisers and when plugged in can accept a number of appliances and also can be used if you have 110 appliances as it also converts too 220 to 110v Depending on the equipment you want to protect obviously depends on the size you need but they are relatively inexpensive, Certainly the best thing for PC HI Fi and the like.

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 17:36

ismet



I was a Marconi man myself, but I understand they've given up on valves, & moved onto transistors now!

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 18:05

The Sollatek AVS30 looks interesting, haven't got a price though.



http://www.sollatek.com/

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
06/08/2008 18:24

Wels witch:

I hope you are using a Servo motor type one and not a relay type which causes very sharp changes. 220 and 110 volt output is a normal feature.



Robnjo:

At one Type Marconi was taken over by English Electric and Mr. Young, the tall fellow was in charge there. Then they joined with GEC or GEC rather took them over. In the old days the transistors could not handle high voltages and heavy currents as expexted say from a mercury discharge lamp.

ismet

ishmail


Joined: 27/06/2008
Posts: 91

Message Posted:
07/08/2008 09:02

message 11 'seems simple to me' yeah but would you pay £00000's more for you property, that whot you missing, dont think so cos you not afford it, many peoples buying things electric here and not checking the voltages is right for the supply here many things from other places not good for here so you must check as well

We have many lightning hits on Cyprus and these causes many problems to so it is very hard to make sure for all things and whot Ismet says is right it is very expensive, so if developer asks for even more moneys you starts to shout out again it too expensive -another rip off - true !!

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
07/08/2008 09:26

Hi ,we use a stabilizer when we are in africa for the very same problem as described , is this the same thing as a voltage regulator ?

regards , simbas

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
07/08/2008 10:57

Ishmael message 20 the only thing that rings true in this message is the word SIMPLE and that refers to you and you're triple life .

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
07/08/2008 11:57

Simbas,

Voltage Stabilizers and Regulators are the same thing.



Pipie,



In message 12 above I mentioned the use of "Phase Protection Relays". As the name implies, it is used on 3 phase systems. They can be manipulted to work on single phase. The other alternative that I forgot to mention is this: if your system is single phase, you may use one of my Automatic Voltage Switchers as described by Sollatek, see http://www.sollatek.com/switchersintro.htm

However my devices do not have spike protection. They can be adjusted to allow output in a certain range, say 200-250 volts or whatever. If the voltage goes outside the set limits it will cut off the supply. When the power is back on after a power cut, there will be a delay of a few minutes in order to give maximum protection. It only costs 60 YTL retail. I was amused greatly when a chap returned one of these gadgets to me as faulty. He was watching a football match on the telly and the gadget switched off his telly just before a goal. He was very upset. I returned his money immediately and it was a waste of time trying to explain to him that there was nothing wrong with the gadget!!!

ismet

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
07/08/2008 12:09

Thanks Ismet , made me laugh the last sentence , ACE .

wynyardman



Joined: 15/12/2007
Posts: 4580

Message Posted:
07/08/2008 13:10

Hi All,



A very useful posting. Thanks for the advise. I have ordered a whole house surge protector as a result.



wyn



Ismet I note your comment about our age ! I feel that nowadays I am more in need of a blood pressure surge protector. I have found a good one called Effes!

ttoli


Joined: 24/03/2007
Posts: 1172

Message Posted:
07/08/2008 13:25

Elko



which of the AVS's would be suitable for a pool and can i buy in Cyprus?



Thanks

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
07/08/2008 15:00

Wyn,

My blood pressure is quite steady until I see an attractive lady. Ooops, good thing wife is not reading this



Ttoli,

If you are in the Girne area, you can get it from Tektan or Akim Elektrik. I adjust them to 190-260 range but I can adjust them to any value if you wish and send you one by Dolmus i.e. Virgo or Kombos. Please let me know privately. I don't like too much advertisement on this BB.

ismet

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
07/08/2008 15:00

thanks ismet

Aussie


Joined: 17/06/2007
Posts: 657

Message Posted:
07/08/2008 16:52

Ismet



I have been meaning to do something to better protect the house from power surges etc and wondered how the system you mentioned compares to something like the automtatic voltage regulators such as available from silent power and others ( http://www.silentpowercyprus.com/).





Thanks



Aussie

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
07/08/2008 17:16

Ref. msg. 29

Aussie,

I could not get the link to work which you provided. In any case, it would not be ethical for me to comment on similar products that I sell.



My recommendation is that you use a 20KVA regulator for the complete house. I have regulators available up to 30 KVA. My brand ELKO regulators contain the following features:

1. They are Servo Motor controlled so that the adjustments are made smoothly and not step type as in relay controlled ones.



2. Input 155-255 volts can be adjusted automatically to 220 volts output.



3. Output voltage can be adjusted as desired.



4. If the output voltage goes outside the set limits of 200-250 volts the the contactor will switch off the output supply.



5. On switch on the supply comes on after a few seconds so that the regulator adjusts the voltage in the meantime.



ismet

Aussie


Joined: 17/06/2007
Posts: 657

Message Posted:
07/08/2008 17:29

Thanks Ismet



How much would such a whole house system be (its a small house) and do you install it ?





Regards



Aussie

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
07/08/2008 17:58

Aussie,

For a small house I would suggest 15 KVA regulator.

My retail prices including VAT is as follows:

15 KVA-880 USD

20 KVA-1100 USD

30 KVA- 1500 USD



I do not do instllations but I can recommend electricans who can or I can instruct your electrician how to do it for you. Tektan does it as well.

ismet

simma



Joined: 03/02/2008
Posts: 346

Message Posted:
07/08/2008 18:38

wyn, where did you get your protector?

john

wynyardman



Joined: 15/12/2007
Posts: 4580

Message Posted:
07/08/2008 21:52

Simma,



My son has electrical experience, and he has purchased one from the USA I will E mail you the specification if you wish.



wyn

cooper


Joined: 23/10/2007
Posts: 3386

Message Posted:
16/08/2008 19:38

Hi all do i need mini power surge protectors to protect my white goods ?



Cooper

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
16/08/2008 19:42

yes , we purchased one that protects all of our electrical goods .

cooper


Joined: 23/10/2007
Posts: 3386

Message Posted:
16/08/2008 19:46

Thanks PIPIE i have seen the individual ones in B & Q and just wanted to know if i needed them for all white goods.



Cooper

keith


Joined: 03/04/2007
Posts: 272

Message Posted:
16/08/2008 20:12

Hi message 34 could you e-mail me the details please Keith

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
16/08/2008 20:18

i bought one when we purchased one for our fridge freezer in africa , was'nt aware of the usage for other white goods , { mind you it was 8yrs ago } did'nt know you could use them for other items

simbas

rocky


Joined: 17/10/2007
Posts: 1749

Message Posted:
18/08/2008 08:17

Elko 2 what do you consider a small house, I do not understand electrics and wish to know

How do you determine which size unit I need?

What are approx fit costs if you know?

If fitting whole house unit whatever its called presumably the individual protectors are not needed?

Can these units easily be fitted when a villa is complete or is it best before completion??

rocky


Joined: 17/10/2007
Posts: 1749

Message Posted:
02/09/2008 20:42

are you there elko?? No I am not a medium