electric question?

amparocorp · #1 06-15-2007, 03:41 PM

i recently sent a 3 glass door, refrigerator-cooler, merchandiser, brand name True, to SD. it is not getting as cold as we would like. i had a AC guy check it out and the consensus was that the electric supply was not powerful enough, it is 110. could this be? any suggestions?...........it has plenty of freon..............

Ringo · #2 06-15-2007, 04:07 PM

You might want to check with the manufacturer and obtain the tolerance of the motor/compressor re: power. Also check to see if the unit thermostate has another adjustment other then the obvious "owner" one.

Over the last couple of years noticed the same problem with my frig/freezer and was always adjusting.. Either could not make ice or the vegy's would freeze. So, yes appears that the power can drop (brown out) either volts and/or amps. that make motors work harder and longer trying to do thier job... and not getting thier.

I put cut in/ cut outs at the main panel that would start the gen when the volts dropped to low or to high. Drove my gen nuts.... so..

I have since installed an inverter that does the same (for the 120), cut in/cut out, but now supliments the Edenorte power to maintain a consistant volts/amps/Hz. and have noted that the invertor kicks in quite a bit, while still have street power. My refer/freezer appear to have become stable.

Hope this helps. Regards, Ringo

windeguy · #3 06-15-2007, 04:53 PM

Ringo is correct. There many places here that do not get the correct voltage. We have both seen that.

There are a number of reasons. This could be because the step down transformer from the pole is not set correctly, the distance could be quite far from the transformer to your house and the voltage "drops" over that long distance, the wire used may be too thin, too many houses or businesses are hooked to that one panel, or potentially a wiring issue on at your power distribution panel. Any of these things could cause the voltage to be too low. As more amperes of current are used, the voltage drops even lower and motor/compressors don't work well with lower than recommended voltage.

My power bill says that I should have 120/240 volt service. I would bet that it never gets above 105/210 volts. This causes inverters to charge more slowly and less efficiently. Motors work less efficiently. Some appliances may not work at all or be damaged. The user has to pay for more watts of service than if the voltage was correct. So, due to the lower voltage you get to pay more for poorer quality service!

One relatively simple thing that you can try to do for a 110/120 volt appliance is have someone measure both legs of your 120 volt service. If the leg that the appliance is on is lower than the other side, try switching the appliance connection to a circuit breaker on the side with the higher voltage.

amparocorp · #4 06-15-2007, 09:49 PM

thanks, i just got off the phone, they were trying to run it on an extension cord from the neighbors.....................so all your comments were on target. this is not the first time i have sent perfectly good things to the DR only to see them ruined in short order and then they blame me for sending junk........

Ladybird · #5 06-15-2007, 11:20 PM

I had the same problem in both my houses. I have solved it now with something that wasnt available here years ago for my first house. I think the name is American nissan??. It is 1 step more than a booster, it controls the boost of supply, if you can understand me. If the power supply coming in suddenly increases this will control how much it will continue to boost to the correct level. They had run out of it on Ochoa, so I bought a different brand name. It costs RD20,000. But you need to be sure of what size you need I bought a 20k. Finally my fridge/freezer might work. If I had just a normal small fridge I wouldnt have had the problem. Please, word of warning, these things are very delicate, so be sure you have the RIGHT electrician to fit it with the correct wiring (you have to purchase this sep.)

Good luck let us know how it goes

Rocky · #6 06-16-2007, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladybird

I had the same problem in both my houses. I have solved it now with something that wasnt available here years ago for my first house. I think the name is American nissan??. It is 1 step more than a booster, it controls the boost of supply, if you can understand me. If the power supply coming in suddenly increases this will control how much it will continue to boost to the correct level. They had run out of it on Ochoa, so I bought a different brand name. It costs RD20,000. But you need to be sure of what size you need I bought a 20k. Finally my fridge/freezer might work. If I had just a normal small fridge I wouldnt have had the problem. Please, word of warning, these things are very delicate, so be sure you have the RIGHT electrician to fit it with the correct wiring (you have to purchase this sep.)

Good luck let us know how it goes

You must be talking about a voltage regulator that increases the voltage when it's too low and reduces when it's too high.
It's highly unusual to need such a device, unless the main transformer is defective or overloaded, or if one uses a gauge of wire that is too low to handle the amperage.

Ladybird · #7 06-16-2007, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocky

You must be talking about a voltage regulator that increases the voltage when it's too low and reduces when it's too high.
It's highly unusual to need such a device, unless the main transformer is defective or overloaded, or if one uses a gauge of wire that is too low to handle the amperage.

It is/was the transformer in both houses. Now Ive bought it the new cables etc from Edenorte are being installed all the way from Sabaneta
towards Mocca, so I may not need it

SantiagoDR · #8 06-16-2007, 06:05 AM

American nissan is more likely a brand name, not a name of a product. As Rocky said, it's a voltage regulator. I use an AVTEK regulator for the computer. They also makes speciallized ones for other items such as refrigerators, etc.

There are also "things" called "Constant Voltage Transformers", no electronics involved, just a big heavy special type of transformer. It does the same thing all these special "Voltage Regulators" being market here in the DR does.

Judging by the weight of my small AVTEK regulator I would guess it is just a fancy "Constant Voltage Transformer" with a power switch and an indicator light and a few other electronic control gadgets inside.

Another trick that works somewhat is to use a 220 volt to 110 volt transformer. Personally, I don't prefer that method, but a friend of mine does that and gets better results he saids for his inverter.

Third option would to be to purchase and have EdeNorte install a personal size transformer from the main transmission line to your house. I would go the extra expense of putting a pole just inside the yard to keep the neighbors from tapping into it. Another friend of mine has that situation, just him on the transformer, excellent voltage all the time (That is, when there is luz).

Don ♥ SantiagoDR