Stavol Voltage Stabilizers experience, advice??

[TonyVov]

Hi looking for advice or experience for larger single phase Stavol of 10kva or 15kva rating for whole house stabilization.

living in Bali slightly off the beaten track.
We're in a village with 13 homes that include modern equipment , computers, appliances etc.
There are repeated brownouts from PLN damaging requirement and stopping equipment from working. Voltages dropping often below 180v. Each home has a 7.7kva PLN supply.

Several homes have fitted Matsunaga 10kva unit, they seem to work but supplier pushing to use 15kva due to continuous deep brownouts.
It is very hard to know the quality of these things from online information.
Any advice?
We have offers on
Yoritsu 15k MDI
VGR 15k or
Matsunaga 10k
Really struggling to find any information about which model to choose, all have good specs on paper.

 

[harryopal1]

I have no idea about any of this so I posted your question on AI Bard and got this as copied below. Hope that is of some use.


If you are considering between a 10kVA or 15kVA Stavol for whole house stabilization, I would recommend the 15kVA unit. This is because a 15kVA unit will be able to provide more power and support a wider range of appliances.

Here is a comparison of the three units you mentioned:

Yoritsu 15k MDI

• Pros:
  • High power handling capacity
  • Wide range of voltage regulation
  • Durable construction
• Cons:
  • Relatively expensive
  • Can be noisy

VGR 15k

• Pros:
  • Affordable price
  • Quiet operation
  • Compact design
• Cons:
  • Lower power handling capacity than the Yoritsu 15k MDI
  • Narrower range of voltage regulation

Matsunaga 10k

• Pros:
  • Most affordable option
  • Very quiet operation
  • Compact design
• Cons:
  • Lowest power handling capacity of the three units
  • Narrowest range of voltage regulation

Ultimately, the best Stavol for your home will depend on your individual needs and budget. If you need a unit that can provide a lot of power and support a wide range of appliances, then the Yoritsu 15k MDI is a good option. If you are looking for a more affordable unit, then the VGR 15k or Matsunaga 10k may be better choices.

However, I would recommend that you consult with a qualified electrician to get their professional opinion on the best Stavol for your home. They will be able to assess your specific needs and recommend the best unit for your budget.

 

[Hawk256]

Let me preface this response with the fact that I have no experience with local, residental stabilizers, but I did deal with them a lot in commerical applications over the years. With that being said, oversizing the stablizer is a good idea when dealing with large over/under voltages. 180v defintely qualifies for that. Since you are already oversizing some with a 10kva, the advantage of going to 15kva is debatable but given the low voltage you are dealing with, it may be a good idea if the costs aren't prohibitive. Not something you want to cheap out on. As far as the brands, I would be relying on the published online information instead of experience with that particular unit, so I have no opinion there. I would be more likely to get the one that has the best avaiblity of service just in case there were any problems. Best of luck to you.

 

[Pak Tani]

I once had a voltage stabilizer for my computer in my office. The voltage often dropped significantly, especially in the evening, although it was reasonably around 220V during the day. At one point I noticed my PC behaving erratically and soon after stopped working. What turned out? After turning up the low mains voltage in the evening, it got stuck (a voltage regulator contains mechanical parts). The next day when the mains voltage was normal it cranked the input voltage up (from PLN) giving it an output of about 250V.
I don't remember what brand it was, but it was mid-range; not expensive but not cheap either. It is possible that the defect was caused by a cikcak that got stuck inside, ants, or something else, so the regulator may not be to blame. But still, as Hawk256 said, don't cheap out on it.

As others have stated, it is wise to choose a voltage regulator that can supply more than you need. But don't be blinded by the 7.7kV that the PLN supplies. Look at what you need, at what you use. What is your peak load and add 50% to 100%. If you have a couple of lights on in the evening, 2 ACs, a refrigerator, microwave, water pump, TV, maybe a water heater, etc. then you are still below 6kV, so the 10kV Matsunaga is sufficient.
We currently also have a Matsunaga for the whole house and it works as you would expect. But from experience, I can tell you that it cannot adjust your voltage by more than 50 Volts. If possible, place the regulator somewhere where you can easily check the voltage meters on a regular basis.

 

[Helpful Herbert]

How can you check what the voltage to the house is at different times of day? Any special equipment needed?

 

[Wisnu]

Typical electrical panel is equipped (or can be equipped) with V and I meter; but you dont want standing starring the meters all time. You can install smart Tuya wifi MCB as the main CB where you can monitor from your mobile - and protect the under/over voltage. . However, I will not rely with this device for overcurrents (overload and short-circuit) and protection against earth leakage currents. . Use RCBO MCB. for group distribution.

 

[Wisnu]

Can't recommend the manufacturer as I'm not familiar with product in the market here. I believe most of the product mentioned above are servo / motor type which require maintenance / replacement of the brush particularly if the voltage very fluctuate. The response time is also very slow.
Ferro Resonant type is more expensive but more reliable and much faster response time.

 

[Pak Tani]

How can you check what the voltage to the house is at different times of day? Any special equipment needed?

If you have a prepaid meter from PLN, you can use codes to see real-time information on the display of the meter. For my meter, I type in 41 <enter> and it shows the real-time Voltage, 47 <enter> for real-time power consumption etc.

 

[Helpful Herbert]

Oh OK, we use postpaid. We quite often get mati lampu in the evening when using 4 ACs (we have 5500). I can't work out if we need to upgrade to 6600 or if it is because PLN is somehow reducing power to us in the evening (Jakarta) and if there's anything we could do about it.

 

[Pak Tani]

Oh OK, we use postpaid. We quite often get mati lampu in the evening when using 4 ACs (we have 5500). I can't work out if we need to upgrade to 6600 or if it is because PLN is somehow reducing power to us in the evening (Jakarta) and if there's anything we could do about it.

I just saw that the beban tetap for a 5.500W connection is Rp374.00 a month. Another advantage of the prepaid meter is that there is no biaya beban. You only pay for the listrik that you use.

Changing your meter to a prepaid one is free. Just call PLN and they'll do it for you.

 

[Pak Tani]

... and if there's anything we could do about it.

Even though you might not expect it, the PLN does have standards. I have no idea what they are exactly, but if things really get out of hand (like in the case of the OP) then you can file a complaint with the PLN. It is better if you do it together with a number of neighbors who also experience the same problem. But then you have to know the V numbers first.

 

[Brian86]

How can you check what the voltage to the house is at different times of day? Any special equipment needed?

Just put a few of these around the house and you will always be aware, and doubles as a night-light;

https://tokopedia.link/NdBNjyWLJEb