Determine the strength

To determine the power, you need to know the potential number of electrical appliances operating simultaneously. Then put the watts together. How to discover the power of consumers we told in one of our articles. After determining the total load, using the formula, we can calculate the total power S va (volt-amperes).

This parameter takes into account, in addition to active consumers of electricity (these are heating elements in heaters and incandescent lamps), as well as reactive consumers. This includes all types of motors, fans, transformers, throttles and capacitors in electrical appliances.

We need the parameter S, because it is precisely the manufacturers of stabilizers that indicate it in the passport data of their devices. In order to find S, in the passport of the device we look at the consumption and the parameter cos (φ). If there is no passport on hand, you can select the standard value from the table:

If this parameter is missing, take an approximate value of 0.7.

Also, when calculating the stabilizer, it is necessary to make a safety margin for those devices that consume a current several times larger than the rated data during startup. For example, in order to start a motor, a current pulse appears in the windings of an electric machine and gradually decreases to nominal, as the rotor speed increases. Air conditioners, washing machines, ventilation system, pumps, vacuum cleaners, lifting mechanisms – all these units have an electric motor in their mechanism.

After estimating the real load of their devices, it is necessary to add another 20-30% when choosing a stabilizer for a private house or apartment. The manufacturers themselves recommend this, because when stabilized at a low input voltage, the device operates in a mode close to maximum.

In most cases, based on the data of manufacturers and distributors, for an average city apartment, taking into account the above, a device with a capacity of 7500 VA will be sufficient. For ownership of a private house with a contract load of 15 kW, a 22,000 VA unit is required.

You can significantly save on purchasing a low-priced scope stabilizer if you reduce the set of consumers to a justifiable necessary set. Through a protective device, connect such consumers as refrigerator, computer, kettle, etc. into a separate line. In this case, the unstable residual line voltage relay must be protected.

Expert advice on choosing a voltage regulator

What else are you looking for?

In addition to power, which is one of the main criteria for choosing a voltage stabilizer, there are also additional parameters that you need to pay attention to. Therefore, to choose the device that is optimal in price and quality, consider the following nuances:

1. For a house, apartment and cottage, it is better to choose a relay type of device. As a last resort, if you are looking for an inexpensive model, consider the electromechanical CH. More about the types of voltage stabilizers we told in the corresponding article.
2. The input voltage must match the mains condition. If you constantly have low voltage at home, you need to choose a model that operates in the 140 volt range. If network overvoltage is observed, it is better to choose a model operating at a higher input voltage.
3. The accuracy of installation should be as low as possible. This parameter is the output voltage error. The optimal range is 8 to 5%. A fixation accuracy of more than 8% is a poor indicator and should be avoided. If you want to choose a stabilizer for the refrigerator and other sensitive appliances, we advise you to find a model with an installation accuracy of 5%.
4. Efficiency, or as you understand it, work efficiency. 90% is considered a good indicator, although on the market now you can find many models with 97% efficiency.
5. The installation type can be floor or wall. For an apartment, it is better to choose the wall mounting option to save space. In the country and in a private house, the floor stabilizer will not become an obstacle.
6. The housing is moisture-resistant. Degree of protection IP perhaps 20, if the installation involves a dry, heated room and IP24, if there is a possibility of moisture getting into the enclosure.
7. Extra security. Well, if the voltage regulator that you decide to choose is equipped with an automatic shutdown system when short circuit overheating. In addition, the presence of a display that does not indicate voltage and light indicates possible errors in the operation of the device.

We also recommend studying information on how to choose a generator for home and garden! Helpful expert advice will help you choose the right option for price and quality!

Top manufacturers

And of course, it is important to make the right choice in favor of the voltage stabilizer manufacturer. Much will depend on this, starting from the quality of work and ending with the service life of the protective device.

So, the best manufacturers of voltage stabilizers today are:

1. APC from Schneider Electric. French quality and reasonable price. The SN range from Schneider Electric is more aimed at protecting individual sensitive devices, therefore, its power, as a rule, is 600-1500 VA.
   
2. RUCELF. Fairly good quality from a domestic manufacturer of protective equipment. In online stores you can find enough inexpensive, but good fasteners that you can choose for a private house or apartment.
3. restaurant. A well-known company on the market produces inexpensive stabilizers with a lot of positive feedback from customers. The price sector and average build quality make it one of the best options when choosing a house and summer residence.
4. Leader. Country product – Russia. The company specializes more in electronic voltage regulators. In general, the quality is good, the prices are average for the market, the range is very large, there is plenty to choose from.
5. Energy.Completes our ranking of the best manufacturers of protective devices. A lot of good reviews about the devices of this company. Price and quality are acceptable. I would also like to draw attention to the stylish black color of the case and the presence of a screen on which all important parameters are displayed.

In addition to these manufacturers, I would also like to note that devices from companies such as Sven, IEK and Calm are in demand, however, reviews about these products are rather mixed, so we decided not to include them in the rating so as not to mislead you.

You may also be interested in tips on choosing an uninterruptible power supply for the home!

Evaluation forms

Well, the last thing I would like to talk about, which models of voltage stabilizers are the best. So, we recommend choosing one of the appropriate options from the list below.

For an apartment, a single-phase device with a capacity of 5-8 kW is suitable:

• Energy Classic 9000;
• SVEN AVR PRO LCD 10000 ؛
• RUCELF SRWII-9000-L ;
• RESANTA ACH-5000/1-C;
• RUCELF STAR-10000.

For the whole house, in order not to miscalculate, it is better to choose a stabilizer with a power of 10-15 kW:

• RUCELF STAR-12000 ؛
• RESTAURANT LUX ASN-10000N / 1-Ts ؛
• RUCELF SRFII-12000-L ;
• RESANTA ACH-10000/1-C;
• RUCELF SDWII-12000-L;.

Now you know how to choose a voltage regulator for a private house, apartment and cottage. We hope that the presented recommendations and list of the best models will be useful in choosing the right device for your specific needs!