Alternative Power sources - Auto Voltage Regulation (AVR)

Author

Auto Voltage Regulation (AVR)

marc@neibauercpa.com

2005-12-06, 2:21 pm

I have a generator withour AVR, should I be converned about connecting
my computer to a manuel transfer switch, if so,. how can I protect the
sensitive appliances in my home safely with that generator. Surge
protectors ? or what else?

m Ransley

2005-12-06, 3:21 pm

Surge protectors do nothing, Coleman for example suggets you buy a
voltage regulator unit ,with their standard units and they are not cheap
from probably 150 up, They have this I believe even on their boxes,
becase Im sure alot of people ruin everything with circuits. A non
regulated cheap gen can swing 40v a regular regulated 5-10v , an
inverter seried Honda EU maybe 1-2v. For computers even a regular
regulated gen you buy at your local store is a big risk on a computer.
Best buy and circuit city I believe sell regulation units that may work
for 120v in. Also Ive seen factory units never calibrated on output
putting out 160v-320, my friend got one, luckily his new TV was only 5
days old and he returned it, because it lasted 5 minutes.

Running a computer, you better check everything first with a good V
meter at idle and load to be used. If you can return it and get a honda
EU , you will be safe. If it is for power loss remember some furnaces
have circuit boards, the same applies.

SQLit

2005-12-06, 4:21 pm

<marc@neibauercpa.com> wrote in message
news:1133891152.672936.239990@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> I have a generator withour AVR, should I be converned about connecting
> my computer to a manuel transfer switch, if so,. how can I protect the
> sensitive appliances in my home safely with that generator. Surge
> protectors ? or what else?

Voltage regulation is only part of the problem. If the genny does not have
AVR then it does not have Frequency control. Voltage and frequency are speed
driven in low end gensets. It is not uncommon for a generator at idle to
have 135v with hz of anything. Load the generator 50% and the voltage drops
to 120v, with the corresponding 60 hz.

Basically if you using the gen set as emergency back up. Make sure genny is
loaded 50% before the sensitive electronics are turn on. Make sure that the
grounding is adequate to superior ( <5 ohms, very least the grounding has
to be <25 ohms)

Sure hope this is not prime power for you equipment. If it is then you might
want to think about a regulated UPS.

Sorry can not answer your question directly. There are to many unknowns

2005-12-07, 5:21 pm

In article <L2mlf.27$P_3.4664@news.uswest.net>,
"SQLit" <sqlit@qwest.net> wrote:

> If the genny does not have AVR then it does not have Frequency control.

Hmmm, Frequency is only controlled by the input rpm of the generator.
Why do you think that an AVR has any effect on frequency of an AC
Generator? This is true for ANY gnertor that is not one of the Inverter
types. The above statement really makes no sense.

Me

Bruce in Alaska

2005-12-07, 5:21 pm

In article <29175-4395D688-2439@storefull-3136.bay.webtv.net>,
ransley@webtv.net (m Ransley) wrote:

> Surge protectors do nothing, Coleman for example suggets you buy a
> voltage regulator unit ,with their standard units and they are not cheap
> from probably 150 up, They have this I believe even on their boxes,
> becase Im sure alot of people ruin everything with circuits. A non
> regulated cheap gen can swing 40v a regular regulated 5-10v , an
> inverter seried Honda EU maybe 1-2v. For computers even a regular
> regulated gen you buy at your local store is a big risk on a computer.
> Best buy and circuit city I believe sell regulation units that may work
> for 120v in. Also Ive seen factory units never calibrated on output
> putting out 160v-320, my friend got one, luckily his new TV was only 5
> days old and he returned it, because it lasted 5 minutes.
>
> Running a computer, you better check everything first with a good V
> meter at idle and load to be used. If you can return it and get a honda
> EU , you will be safe. If it is for power loss remember some furnaces
> have circuit boards, the same applies.
>

Interesting comments. You apparently don't have much experience with
modern Switching Computer Powersupplies. I would estimate that better
than 90% of computers are using Switching Power Supplies, where the first
thing they do is rectify the incoming AC, and then feed the resulting DC
thru a High Frequency Chopper to make the required voltages for the
computer, with regulation feedback to the High Freq. Chopper drive.
Frequently these power Supplies have input voltage ratings from 90 to
250Vac @ 45 to 70Hz. No amount of voltage swinging from any genset is
going to mess with the stability of a Switching Power Supply. Now high
harmonic content, or extreme spiking of voltage transiants are a
different thing, but as a rule, generators really aren't a problem with
any Switching Powersupplies. Now if you were talking about computers
with Linear Powersupplies, which were common back in the 80's, then you
are correct. However these just aren't in use by any computer designed
since the mid 90's.

Bruce in alaska
--
add a <2> before @

ITSME.ULTIMATE

2005-12-08, 1:21 pm

In article <1133891152.672936.239990@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com>,
marc@neibauercpa.com says...
> I have a generator withour AVR, should I be converned about connecting
> my computer to a manuel transfer switch, if so,. how can I protect the
> sensitive appliances in my home safely with that generator. Surge
> protectors ? or what else?

While semiconductor controlled anything is sensitive to permanent damage
from a very large magnitude spikes compared to passive devices such as a
motor, computers are some of the most tolerant device. Computer being
"sensitive" must be a thought from the surge protector marketing people.

Get a full range power supply like this:
http://gotopower.net/ind.asp?ind_id=74

A full range power supply will tolerante anything in the range of 90-260
volts. Active PFC reduces the harmonic dostortion of the voltage
especially if the generator is relative small (i.e. 1,000W). If your
computer is the only concern, replace the power supply in your PC with a
full range unit.

Once you have a full range power supply, you could run it at 150volts
all day long, a voltage that would destroy a light bulb in a matter of
hours.

markvictor

2005-12-14, 6:21 pm

Onan QD and MQD series diesel gensets...full frequency regulation +or-
1.5 Hz. and vary RPM according to demand...

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