High Voltage - Low Voltage - Electricity issues in North Cyprus

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
21/10/2009 15:07

Do any members know what their house voltage is? I know it goes up and down but generally speaking is it more than 230V or less?

Geoff


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 1370

Message Posted:
21/10/2009 15:18

It is a nominal 240 volts ac, 50 Hz, in most parts of the KKTC. This can drop if the local system is overloaded. Beware of generators, whether your own individual one, or a big one provided by a developer to supply a number of villas prior to connection to the public mains supply. These can vary widely voltage-wise, or frequency-wise, causing damage to equipments and flickerery TV pictures.

Geoff

JohnW


Joined: 23/04/2009
Posts: 601

Message Posted:
21/10/2009 15:25

My UPS is currently telling me that the incoming voltage is 220. Oops, no, it is fluctuating between 218 and 222 though it did go to 225 for a second or so.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
21/10/2009 15:28

Hi Geoff,



Thanks for that sound advice about generators.

It isn't what the voltage from KibTek SHOULD be that I want to know. It's what it actually IS in certain areas that I want to find out.

I am researching voltage stabilizers because people with HIGHER voltage than it should be are actually paying more for their power than those folks who get the correct voltage. People with lower voltage than normal run the risk of motor burnouts to pool pumps, fridges and a/c units.

greengate8


Joined: 07/12/2008
Posts: 156

Message Posted:
21/10/2009 15:33

Hi Vaughan



i normally experience 220-235 at the incoming main, depending on time of day (in alsancak) , but it did fluctuate from 190-240 a few months ago, so i invested in a voltage regulator, it now keeps the voltage at a regular level and protects against surges/spikes, which ensures that any sensitive electrical items now run properly and hopefully prolongs thier life.

Geoff


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 1370

Message Posted:
21/10/2009 16:09

Well low volatge can cause as many problems as a high one, as someone says eg motor burn-outs.

Here in Famagusta the mains runs at 240 vac most of the time, never seen it over 247, never less than 232.

Guess we are lucky here!

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
21/10/2009 16:40

I have a vested interest in this as you can see from http://www.elkocyprus.com

The nominal voltage here in TRNC is 240 volts plus and minus 6% is legal, that makes it 225-254 legal. Kib-tek adjusts their output at transformers to 255 volts and hopes that it will not go down too much on the way down the line.

I have seen voltages as high as 260 volts specially not far from a substation and sometimes as low as 160 volts and even lower.

Also note that some electrical equipment sold in TRNC is designed for 220 volts nominal.

High Voltage: Any voltage higher than design voltage has these effects. With incandescent bulbs they glow brigher, consume more electriciy and have much shorter life. The same goes for electrical heaters. With motors, the current drawn goes down and indeed there is a slight increase in efficiency. As the voltage goes higher, the magnetic fields (magnetic flux) in the iron core becomes much higher and the iron core goes into saturation which leads to much higher "Eddy" currents in the iron core and the

Kibris


Joined: 07/11/2007
Posts: 372

Message Posted:
21/10/2009 16:41

Greengate...where did you get the regulator from and how much are they please?

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
21/10/2009 16:46

motor begins to overheat and very hot to the touch. Eventually the isolation of the copper windings fail and the motor burns out.



Low Voltage: With light bulbs they glow less, gives much less light but the life span lengthens. Same with heating wires like electrical owens etc. With motors the current drawn goes up inversely proportional to the voltage. The higher current overheats the copper coils on the motor. The heating of the coils is proportional to the square of the current i.e. a 5% increase in the current causes a 10% increase in heating and eventually the motor burns out unless it is protected with a thermal cut out set properly.



So it is important that electrical equipment is protected against excess over voltages and under voltages. You can read more on http://www.elkocyprus.com

ismet

greengate8


Joined: 07/12/2008
Posts: 156

Message Posted:
21/10/2009 19:47

Kibris



Go the link for 'elko' - http://www.elkocyprus.com/ - where you will find the information required.



You will have to do a bit of working out regarding your home 'usage' - to find out which size you will need, so your cost may well be different to mine - i'm sure Elko2 can help you out there.



There will probably be a charge for fitting, and again this will vary with your mains/meter etc.



My model is not shown as the new version are now mostly digital etc. I ended up with the 20Kva model which happily copes with a my villa.



Hope this helps - if not contact Elko2

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
22/10/2009 00:10

Anyone can phone me for general advice on the subject. My number and details are on my profile and web page.

ismet

henrik



Joined: 01/10/2009
Posts: 314

Message Posted:
22/10/2009 00:50

in lapta - police station area - near the two camiis, the voltage goes low as 180V and high as 250 VAC.. all measured in the outback Powersystems Mate of my parents.. Unbelievable how often the UPS-PV generator cuts in/out.. Pictures: (Solar house) http://kibsolar.com/content/eng/references.html