Forums > Specific Focus > Home, Garden & Construction in Mexico

dleach

May 31, 2007, 4:00 PM

Post #1 of 3 (1687 views)

Shortcut

Voltage Regulator for Entire House

Can't Post | Private Reply

I have heard that there are available voltage regulators that cover the entire house here at Lakeside.
If so, would I need a separate for the 110 and 220 lines?
I´ll have 2 meters, so that would mean I need 4 if my math is correct.
Does anyone have a comment on these things
and
can you advise where they can be obtained
and
how much are they?

What are your thoughts on how effective these are?

Also, is there also available a surge protector available on a house-wide or meter-wide basis?

It isn´t easy admitting to so much ignorance, but it would be stupid not to.

Thanks

David

whistler

Jun 1, 2007, 7:42 AM

Post #2 of 3 (1657 views)

Shortcut

Re: [dleach] Voltage Regulator for Entire House

Can't Post | Private Reply

Here is my understanding and thinking as I continue to learn more about this subject:

You have to think about the fact that Mexican devices operate at 127 volts and US devices at 120 volts. If your entire house is regulated to one of the two, the other devices are compromised.

One strategy would be to keep the house at the standard incoming Mexican 127 vac voltage, and regulate for selected items only, both your 120 volt US products, and some of your 127 volt Mexican products (to protect agianst vaiations in the incoming power).

http://www.apcmedia.com/...STE-6Z7V37_R0_EN.pdf This is a device that could be considered for both cases, and you would need more that one of these if you wanted to regulate both voltages.

For heavy power consumers / motor based power tools operating at US voltages I am planning on using a variac variable voltage transformer to drop the 127 volts ac to 120 volts to avoid reducing usable product life.

I have read on these forums that voltages in Morelia often approach 140 vac, and don't want to subject my 120 volt audio equipment to that.

johanson

Jun 1, 2007, 8:49 AM

Post #3 of 3 (1649 views)

Shortcut

Re: [whistler] Voltage Regulator for Entire House

Can't Post | Private Reply

And remember folks, that the standard voltage in Mexico is 127 +/- 10%. So voltages approaching 140 is considered acceptable. In my neighborhood the transformer puts out voltage levels closer to 115 to 132 depending upon the time of day. You know the voltage goes down as more people draw from the power lines.

My electrical appliances and one TV were purchased in Mexico and built to work here in Mexico. I have never protected them with a voltage regulator. I haven't lost anything yet.

I have sensitive an HDTV, satellite receivers, and computers built to US specifications that I of course protect.