Opinions on this please

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Fri Dec 27, 2024 1:30 pm

Some may have read my washing machine saga viewtopic.php?t=109827

I bumped into the Ukrainian guy (who had a go at the old Hoover) before Christmas and I told him about the untimely Beko repair. He subsequently sent me a text as follows: 'I believe the issue lies in the voltage in your him. most likely, you will need to install a voltage stabiliser to regulate and smooth out the sinewave as there may be an erratic or fluctuating voltage in your house'

Is this likely? What is a voltage stabiliser and where does it go?

DWD

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Fri Dec 27, 2024 3:28 pm

A voltage stabiliser does what it says on the tin. It keeps/holds/adjusts the incoming voltage to what it is set to.

I would say your man is clutching at straws, if one was required then I would have expected you to be moaning more often that your TV has given up, so has your electric oven and anything electronic in your house, as they all can be affected by wrong voltage.

Why don't you check your own house voltage? haven't you got a plug in energy meter? (I thought you had) one of these Click me

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Fri Dec 27, 2024 3:56 pm

Thanks for that. Well, I did kind of think that might be a bit unlikely, why just the washing machines? It sounded a bit off the wall and maybe that happens in countries with unstable power supplies, not I suspect here. I might buy one of those meters they look useful my smart meter is next to useless. Would this be good to check for both sockets and power? https://www.amazon.co.uk/KAIWEETS%C2%AE ... hdGY&psc=1 As you know I am not too sharp on electrics.

DWD

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Fri Dec 27, 2024 6:15 pm

I wouldn't trust that one with a barge pole, I shall explain why.

These are pictures of the pins of The device you asked about, and two others. The first one is yours.

: q1.jpg (11.43 KiB) Viewed 459 times

: q2.jpg (15.67 KiB) Viewed 459 times

: q3.jpg (9 KiB) Viewed 459 times

They all claim to be able to detect for a missing earth, but if you compare the other two, they have a working (Metal) earth pin, yours doesn't, so how can it check the earth if it is not connected to it? (If you look inside any UK socket, the connection to the pin is via its side, not the tip)

I would suggest this one Click me Yes, it doesn't indicate voltage, but it is safer.
These devices, if they have a display can only show you voltage, not how much "power" your (For example) Tumble drier is using.
For that, you would need a power meter Click me

If you want to know how much power your house is using, I suggest this Click me I have the display of mine sitting next to me now.

: qw.jpg (31.17 KiB) Viewed 459 times

OK, I moved it to take the pic. But it is very accurate, and no matter what energy company you are with it works.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Fri Dec 27, 2024 6:58 pm

Okay thanks for that, I will investigate those options. I may be back

DWD

OnlyMe · Post by **OnlyMe** » Sat Dec 28, 2024 2:41 pm

Someone-Else wrote: ↑Fri Dec 27, 2024 6:15 pm I wouldn't trust that one with a barge pole, I shall explain why.

These are pictures of the pins of The device you asked about, and two others. The first one is yours.

It's not a picture of the tester but a computer generated/photoshopped picture.

ericmark · Post by **ericmark** » Sat Dec 28, 2024 3:59 pm

Destabilised power can mean a lot of things, from the wave form,

: Simulated sine wave..jpg (7.92 KiB) Viewed 430 times

to voltage average, and spikes, we have in resent years been fitting SPD in the CU. (surge protections device in the consumer unit) I am undecided as to if SPD does any good, but I have them fitted, and my son has not, and my LED bulbs do seem to last longer, than sons, but he lives quite a distance from me, so many other factors as well.

We should have a supply between I think 207 to 253 volts, and devices offered for sale in the UK should be able to work within those limits. As to if they can run with a cheap inverter output, not so sure, I know most washing machines manufacturers said they would not like simulated sine wave, only the ones with inverter control, where the AC is turned into DC anyway, said they would work.

I have seen automatic stepping auto transformers, often built into CU, but the demise of the wire wound ballast in the fluorescent light has resulted in them now being regarded as snake oil.

I can view voltage on the PC, but it only records it when out of limits, the IHD (in home display) never bother looking at, most of the day it shows near zero and flits import to export not sure if it shows volts, the plug in monitor, does not show volts, it seems to assume 230 volts.

Some devices do transmit onto the AC wave form, these may cause problems, but in the main it is radio hams whole have the problem, however does not hurt to bin any power line adaptors, officially not permitted, but Ofcom don't seem to enforce it.