Every year, household appliances that we all use on a daily basis are re-equipped, becoming compact with a large number of options. And that makes us all happy. But unfortunately, the quality of household appliances is overshadowed by the unstable supply of electricity. Domestic power lines are unstable. Power surges are common, so all this equipment burns like matches. This will be confirmed not only by service departments, but also by firefighters. Is it possible to get rid of these troubles? Not a problem, just a single-phase voltage relay must be installed in the electrical network of a house or apartment.

What is it and what functions does this device have? These questions will be answered in this article.

What it is

This is a device in which two functionalities are connected in one housing: an electronic device that controls the voltage indicator and a power switch disconnector. The relay itself, or rather, its design is made on the basis of a microprocessor base or a comparator. The first option is characterized by smoother operation (adjustment of the lower and upper response levels).

The main parameter of the device is the speed of operation. Of course, this criterion largely depends on the quality of the relay itself, so branded devices, for example, from ABB or Legrand, work literally in a few fractions of a nanosecond, that is, instantly. In them, the response threshold is set on a special scale with a potentiometer. Hence, not only the speed of work, but also the high accuracy of determining the limit of the power surge.

Attention! Many may say that installing a voltage stabilizer will solve this problem. But keep in mind the fact that the relay does not equalize the voltage, it is a circuit breaker when the voltage in it rises or falls. But already when the latter stabilizes, it immediately turns the circuit back on. That is, this device works only in emergency situations.

Varieties

The variety of types of single-phase voltage relays depends on the type of its connection.

1. Relay plug. In this type, a conventional plug is mounted in the design. And, therefore, the relay is simply stuck into any outlet. On the opposite side of the plug, there is a socket where a household appliance is connected. This type is good to use as a single separator for one or more household appliances. This is a modern electronic device, which also includes a display, the panel of which displays voltage data, and setting buttons.
2. Extension relay. In fact, this is the same as the previous version. Only its design is an extension cable on which one, two or three sockets are installed.
3. Voltage relay single-phase for installation on a DIN-line. This variety is installed in a switch cabinet. The main advantage of this type is installation on the phase of the consumer circuit. That is, it can be installed on any circuit of a consumer group or immediately on a phase of a whole house or on one apartment.

Relay on DIN rail

As practice shows, the best option for creating normal operating conditions for household appliances in a house or apartment is to install this particular type of voltage control relay. Why?

• Firstly, this view has a wide range of settings.
• Secondly, it can work in different modes, independent of each other. Namely, as a conventional voltage relay, as a unit that controls the maximum or minimum voltage (these are two varieties), as a time relay (that is, it can delay the power on).

Of course, the type of networks determines the type of relay. Therefore, on the market you will find both single-phase and three-phase. But keep in mind the moment that three-phase models work according to this principle. If you install it at the entrance to the house, then during a power surge on one of the phases of the network, the entire device turns off, that is, it also disconnects the other two phases. So your house is left without electricity.

Advice! It is better to install three separate single-phase voltage control units for each phase on a three-phase network for a private house. This is a guarantee that in the event of a power surge on one of them, it will turn off, and the remaining two phases will operate normally.

And one more negative point associated with a three-phase relay. If the voltage on adjacent phases differs, then the device will immediately work. For example, there will be 230 volts in one phase, and 220 volts in the next one, then three phases will turn off at once. Although these voltage indicators are normal. Therefore, if your house does not have three-phase consumers, then you should not use a three-phase voltage monitoring relay.

And one more recommendation from experts. The choice depends on the current strength (A). For example, a 25 A automatic machine is installed on the circuit phase, it is recommended to install a 32 or 40 A relay here. That is, with a margin of 20-30%. Remember that this indicator does not affect the operation of the device, because the opening of the network occurs under the influence of a variable voltage, and not current strength.

Models

Currently, the market for electrical relays is simply littered with a variety of models from different manufacturers. Here are domestic brands such as RKN, Novatek-Electro, and from foreign companies such as Legrand, ABB, Meander or ZUBR. In general, there are a huge number of company names and brands. Let's consider two of them.

Relay RKN

Specifications:

• Turns off for 6 minutes.
• The lower voltage level is 30 V, that is, up to 190 V.
• Upper level - 20 V.
• Response speed from 0.1 seconds to 10.
• Works without additional voltage.
• Compact device with a width of 17.5 mm.

The device can be mounted on a DIN-ruler or on any flat surface using self-tapping screws. The device can be mounted on wires with a cross section of up to 2.5 mm², the terminals allow this. On the front there is a settings panel and an indicator showing whether the device is working or not. That is, the green eye is on or not. The case of the device is plastic.

Relay from ABB

So, ABB relays are a representative of high-quality electronic devices that are known all over the world. This is the so-called branded device. Like many brands, an ABB relay can operate in four modes.

1. Like a simple voltage relay.
2. Determining minimum voltage.
3. Max.
4. Device with switching on and time delay.

The company produces all types of ABB relays (single and three-phase) with control over a wide range of voltage surges. At the same time, the model line includes both simple devices and complex ones, for example, with a built-in time relay.

Conclusion on the topic

So let's sum up all of the above. The fact that the relay that controls the voltage in a house or apartment is a necessary device is now clear to you. And if someone else did not have time to install it in the electrical network, then hurry up. This small device will save you from trouble and unnecessary expenses and your property from damage. The most important thing is to choose the right relay for the exact current strength and install it correctly. By the way, its installation is so simple that anyone who is far from knowledge of electricians can handle it. So choose and install.

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