Each product that uses an AC or DC power source is equipped with a voltage regulator. Let us assume that the desired power need of a laptop computer is 5 watts. When you plug your laptop to an electrical power source in your home with an output capacity of 20 watts, what do you think would happen? If your laptop has no power regulator (voltage regulator), the laptop could be damaged by the power surge into the equipment.
What is Automatic Voltage Regulation?
The principle of automatic voltage regulation involves the process of maintaining the voltage flow at a specified level at all times. Occasionally, there are voltage power surges that may be caused by unanticipated conditions, such as lightning or power failures for instance. Unless your electrical equipment has an automatic voltage regulator, the power surges to your equipment could easily damage that equipment when power is turned off and on. The best way to illustrate this principle is through the general requirement of power companies that all electrical control buttons be turned off before they can restore power to disconnected customers.
Job of a Voltage Regulator
This is a piece or component part of equipment or an electrical gadget that has the capacity to regulate the level of power flow to the specifications of the equipment manufacturer. Consider the automobile, which uses a battery and generator as power sources. At times, the engine may accelerate and run faster than other times. This means that the generated power would be difficultly maintained at a constant level. The car voltage regulator helps to maintain balance between the power output and the required output level.
How is Automatic Voltage Regulation Achieved in Gadgets?
The voltage regulator comes in handy to guarantee that the power output of an electrical gadget is adjusted in line with the voltage power level specified by the equipment maker. Voltage regulators work to maintain a specific voltage excitation level in line with the equipment's desired level. With an installed voltage regulator, the power would be converted with a step down if the power source is higher than the manufacturer's desired level. In this case, the power regulator would absorb the extra power output and only release the required limit of 5 watts, which the laptop needs to operate efficiently. If the power source is lower, the power regulator would boost the power output with a step-up in line with the equipment's needs.
Kinds of Voltage Regulators
There are many makes and models of voltage regulators on the market. Each voltage regulator is made in line with the product needs. For instance, the LS606M is a voltage regulator with surge suppression of 120 volts, 60 Hv and 600 watts. This particular voltage regulator was designed for electronic equipment and computers. The LC1200 voltage regulator has a surge suppression capacity for 120 volts, 60 Hv and 1,200 watts. and was also designed for voltage sensitive equipment and computers. There are thousands of voltage regulators available for all electronic and electric power equipments.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The automatic voltage regulators have many advantages, as well as few disadvantages. The first of these is that it offers better system voltage regulation to the equipment, thereby increasing the durability of that equipment overall. They also enable the equipment's stability at all times. They are easily adaptable to outdoor applications and highly tolerant to system faults and overload, and they are relatively inexpensive. Among some of its disadvantages is that some of its mechanical drive components, such as contactors and brushes, may require regular maintenance, and frequent overloads have the tendency to damage brushes.
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