Need some explanation about PC and AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator)

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martink0

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I have EG-AVR-D2000-01 Voltage regulator and my PC plugged into. I Live in Europe and the voltage in the mains is +-240V.
The AVR has a LCD display showing the current input (mains) is 237 and the output voltage is 210-217V. My question is, because i'm not familiar with electricity too much, what is the deal with that, is it something wrong with my AVR or they all work like that.

And while i was searching for an answer for this topic I've found some other information online like: "...So in general and within reason, higher voltages give you higher efficiencies." And: "Here's a quick explanation of why power supplies get less efficient as the supply voltage decreases. All electronic components (transistors, transformers, even the traces on the printed circuit board) have some sort of equivalent resistance..."

Anyway am I putting more stress on the PSU by using AVR or it is normal. Thanks
 
Solution
Someone Somewhere
AVRs are unnecessary for electronic loads with a full range switchmode power supply (one that says 100-250V or similar) - such power supplies can run from almost any input voltage, so regulation is unnecessary and just wastes (lots of) energy.

That output is too low, and indicates that the AVR may be faulty. But it shouldn't be harming your power supply.
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Someone Somewhere

Someone Somewhere

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AVRs are unnecessary for electronic loads with a full range switchmode power supply (one that says 100-250V or similar) - such power supplies can run from almost any input voltage, so regulation is unnecessary and just wastes (lots of) energy.

That output is too low, and indicates that the AVR may be faulty. But it shouldn't be harming your power supply.
 
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Solution
makkem

makkem

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Hi
An AVR showing a low voltage can be a sign that you are overloading the AVR.
As Someone Somewhere states modern power supplies can happily work down to 100V so unless you are getting massive brownouts then you do not need an AVR in Europe.

Edit ; just checked the specifications and the output of that AVR is 220V +/-8% so it is working within specifications.
 
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13thmonkey

13thmonkey

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you voltage is probably not 240 is europe, it's actually a range from 210-240 (i think). When the UK connected to the euro grid it was on 240 whilst the rest of europe was on 220. The specs were altered so that the UK would get supplied 220 -0 + 20 and the rest of europe was on 220 -10 + 10 so nothing actually changed but 240 (or 220) is not actually 240 or 220, it's a range. The only thing that is actually constant is the 50Hz signal which is very consistent.
 
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Someone Somewhere

Someone Somewhere

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Not quite.

Spec is UK supply 230 V +10% - 6%, Germany is + 6 % -10%.

It's possible that the AVR is still built to provide a 220V output, though.
 
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13thmonkey

13thmonkey

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working from memory :0 the principle is the point however
 
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makkem

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AFAIK They are simply that,transformers ,without ( or with a coarse tapping type voltage regulation) so within limits the output will be a ratio of the input.
 
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Someone Somewhere

Someone Somewhere

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That tapping is generally on the order of a percent or so per tap; it's pretty precise.

Percentage voltage drop is usually going to be much higher on the 230/400V run to the transformer than the 11kV or higher runs further back to the supply substations.
 
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martink0

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Quite a few posts as i can see, didn't expect that to be honest :) Anyway
@ Someone Somewhere, i don't think im overloading the AVR, it's rated 2000VA, i have one outlet of the AVR connected to passive 950VA UPS, and to the other outlet of the AVR I've connected a power bar with some delicate and low power consumption equipment connected to it, so i don't think im going anywhere near 2000VA :) Maybe as @makkem said the AVR is 220V +/-8% and is running as specified.
@13monkey I monitored the volts all day long with a multimeter and they stayed at 237 constantly, the AVR on the LCD screen also reported 235-237V

Anyway my main concern was if the slightly bellow 220V of the AVR will hurt my electronics, so as you guys say it most likely not. The power grid is terrible here, it works fine for a couple of months and than for a day or so it is very unstable and a friend of mine tested it and during this winter there was a very long period of brownouts with voltage of 80-110 for a days with fluctuations and I already had lost a ton of hardware so i don't think there is much I can do but at least I can add some protection and hope for the best :)
 
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