Why Choose 3^rd Generation VP Products?

The History of Power Optimisation:

Voltage regulators have been in existence for some 158 years with the simple purpose of reducing or increasing voltage.

Voltage regulators are now increasingly used to reduce electricity costs and CO2 emissions. This use of voltage regulators is commonly referred to as voltage optimisation, or more correctly 'Power Optimisation'. Power Optimisation is more in demand today than at any other time. This is because power demand is constantly growing and now outstripping supply. This produces a resultant deterioration of power quality – irregular voltage which is mostly too high and sometimes too low. This constant change in main voltage damages users electrical equipment and causes them to pay too much for their electricity.

Consumers want to protect their sites from electrical equipment damage caused by poor power quality and the ever increasing cost of electricity. Power Optimisation has become the proven method in over-voltage supply areas to:

• Save energy and electrical costs,
• Reduce CO2,
• Reduce Carbon Taxes,
• Increase the lifecycle of electrical equipment,
• Reduce electrical equipment maintenance and repair.

There are currently 3 generation of systems being sold/used as energy saving Power Optimisation Systems.

1st Generation Systems:

Many companies still sell and use 1st Generation Systems which are now over 100 years old. These non-intelligent old style voltage regulators are used to reduce voltage or ‘Optimise Power’. These 1st Generation Systems are not purposed designed to save energy or power and therefore not efficient energy saving system. More importantly they only operate one way – reduce voltage – which can be dangerous if there is a dip in the supply main voltage. Low voltage carries greater risks of equipment failure than over-voltage. Electrical motors in lifts, escalators, fridges/freezers and air conditioners can seize and stop without warning. Because 1st Generation do not have any electronics or computerisation there are no safety or by-pass systems; and as a result cannot be integrated into any digital business management system.

1st Generation System Summary:

1. Dangerous one-way voltage regulation,
2. Cannot stabilise voltage and output varies,
3. Not purpose built old technology,
4. Non-Intelligent,
5. Cannot be integrated into management systems,
6. No Safety systems,
7. No By-Pass systems.

1st Generation – Fixed tap auto transformer - one way voltage reducers

2nd Generation Systems:

1st Generation Systems were then updated approximately 25 years ago to include simple analogue computerisation and thyristor switches. These updates were a substantial improvement over 1st Generation Systems as they automatically regulated voltage both ways – up or down as needed – and were therefore much safer to use. These systems are electro-mechanical and therefore need constant servicing to replace brushes and other mechanical components. Replacement will require site power interruption and shutdown. 2nd Generation System will have limited safety and by-pass mechanisms.

2nd Generation System Summary:

1. Both-way voltage regulation,
2. Simple stabilisation of voltage,
3. Very slow regulation 1 to 10 seconds,
4. Regular Servicing of brushes and mechanicalSystems which requires site power shutdown and cost.
5. Analogue systems expensive to integrate into management systems,
6. Limited safety and by-pass systems.

2nd Generation – Electro Servo/Thyristor – both-way voltage regulator

3rd Generation Systems:

3rd Generation Systems, unlike their predecessors are not adapted old voltage regulator technology. 3rd Generation Systems are specifically designed to save energy and electricity costs and protect electrical equipment and sites. These 3rd Generation Systems automatically regulate voltage both ways as needed by the site; and also include a second integrated machine to stabilise and maintain the User selected output voltage. 3rd Generation Systems are digital and permit the User to change the output voltage dynamically at any time between 210v to 230V.

3rd Generation Systems are solid state with 7 safety systems and need no servicing. There are 4 choices of external surge protection; and 3 choices of site to Product By-Pass Systems – two of which are fully automated.

3rd Generation System Summary:

1. Automatic both-way voltage regulation,
2. Stabilisation of voltage to ± 1.3%,
3. 7 standard safety systems,
4. External Surge Protection Systems,
5. By-Pass, manual and automatic,
6. World’s fastest regulation system at 20mS,
7. User can dynamically change output voltage,
8. No Servicing,
9. 3 separate computer systems,
10. Fully digital and can be easily integrated into Business Management systems.

3rd Generation – Advanced solid state electronics with independent phase control, user interface and control. Bi-Directional (both way) voltage regulation and standard safety features to protect your assets.

Increased Energy Savings using 3rd Generation Systems:

The major benefit of 3rd Generation System to the User is that they increase site energy savings and therefore create greater cost savings with advanced safety systems. This is shown below in a graph recording a site incoming voltage over 7 days; and the various changes in voltage produced by using 1st, 2nd and 3rd Generation Power Optimisation Systems.

1st and 2nd Generation Power Optimisation Systems voltage varies in tandem with the Normal Supply Voltage. A lot of potential energy savings is lost and the site electrical equipment is still subject to large voltage variances, shorter life expectancy and higher maintenance costs.

The 3rd Generation Power Optimisation System has a tighter regulation and stabilisation of the output voltage. The benefits of 3rd Generations Systems are:

• Greater energy savings - more of the incoming over-voltage is regulated.
• Stabilisation of the Output voltage increases the lifecycle of the site electrical equipment and reduces maintenance costs.

If we then overlay the results of the above 7 days voltage logging we see the following results:

This Pie Chart represents the Energy Savings from each of the Generation Systems. We see that 3rd Generation Systems increase the energy savings by an additional 23% over 1st Generation and 13% over 2nd Generation Systems.

What the Experts Say:
“A 230V linear appliance used on a 240V supply will take 4.3% more current and will consume almost 9% more energy.” (UK Electrician's Guide (IEE), 16th Edition BS7671.)

“A 230V bulb used at 240V will achieve only 55% of it's rated life.” (UK Electrician's Guide (IEE), 16th Edition BS7671.)

“One way to reduce electricity is to install voltage optimisers. These maintain a constant voltage in the building, avoiding the regular variations in grid supply voltage and maintaining the operational voltage at a constant and efficient value.” (Hywel Davies, Technical Director of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers – Government Business Magazine August 2010)

“Parallel VS in-line systems: parallel installation (as opposed to in-line) are cheaper and do not require shut-down to install but are much less effective and can normally be discounted.” (Hywel Davies, Technical Director of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers – Government Business Magazine August 2010)

Simple step-down vs. full optimisation: simple step-down equipment (a tapped transformer) is cheaper but is not effective if the mains voltage varies over time as it often does. So generally full voltage optimisation which maintains a constant supply voltage to the building is justified.” (Hywel Davies, Technical Director of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers – Government Business Magazine August 2010)

Further features concern improved security of supply such as overload protection and by-pass facility, and energy metering and monitoring additions.” (Hywel Davies, Technical Director of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers – Government Business Magazine August 2010)

The PropSava and LiteSava are the ONLY Power Optimisation systems that meet and exceed all these requirements.

VP UNIQUE 3rd GENERATION PRODUCT & SERVICE OFFERING:
• World’s 1st POS with Output Voltage set by the User - 210V to 230V.
• 3rd Generation Systems include ‘Cutting Edge’ safety systems at No Extra Charge.
• 3rd Generation Products Independently Tested and Certified to CE & IEC safety standards.
• 3rd Generation Systems are custom Built to Meet Your Unique Site Requirements.
• 3rd Generation Systems Sold, Installed & Maintained world-wide by VP Trained, Certified and Insured Channel Partners.
• Commissioned Systems have 10 to 20 years Warranty.
• See all Your Existing and Historic Power Usage Over a LAN or Internet with our Power Quality Metering System.
• Free and Without Obligation Quotation Service. 
• Free 7 Full Days of Site Power Quality Logging Using EVO Protocols.