Voltage Optimisation

Installation

Maintenance

Remote Monitoring

What is Voltage Optimisation?

The basic idea behind most forms of Voltage Optimisation is to reduce the incoming supply voltage from a level provided by the grid to one that is more suited to the needs of the equipment on site – with the main aim being to save money and energy.

Optimising your Voltage from >240V to around 220V can save a significant amount of energy for commercial and industrial sites. To make the headline savings, you’ll need to have a high Voltage in the first place and also be operating lots of “Voltage dependent” equipment – ie equipment that changes the output based on the input Voltage. Traditional motors and chilling applications, mills, fans and even some older lighting can all benefit greatly from the installation of Voltage Optimisation.

Load that is said to be “Voltage independent” such as inverter drives, variable speed drives and thermostatically controlled heating are types of equipment that generally won’t yield much in the way of savings. Yes, it’s likely to extend life and there may be a small amount of energy saving too, but it’s very difficult to quantify – this is why they are generally discounted from our energy savings forecasts.

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Why Voltage Optimisation

Extend Equipment Life

The average Voltage in the UK is 242V. Higher Voltages can overburden electrical equipment, which can reduce life expectancy.
Be in control of your Voltage.

Financial Savings

Sites can save up to 15% of their energy consumption with Voltage Optimisation. Sites with a low power factor and low harmonic levels are ideal candidates for Voltage Optimisation.

Balanced Voltages

With Dynamic Voltage Optimisation, you can control the output Voltage to ensure they’re balanced and at the optimal level for your equipment to maximize savings.

The Low Voltage Directive

Prior to 1995, the UK’s nominal voltage was 415/240V ±6% (227 – 254V) and this is what the distribution network was originally designed to provide. In 1995, this was changed to 400/230V +10% -6% (216 – 253V) in an attempt to get closer to Mainland Europe’s 380/220V ±6% (207 – 233V) and is where we remain today.

To make things easier for buying and selling electrical equipment within the EU, the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2006/95/EC was introduced to ensure that any equipment bearing the CE mark shall operate within the proposed harmonised voltage levels of 400/230V ±10% (207 – 253V).

Therefore, with all modern equipment being capable of operating at a nominal voltage of 230V and within 207 – 253V, it’s unnecessary to continue to operate in and around 240V. As stated above, this can cause equipment to consume more energy than required and can shorten life expectancy – this is where voltage optimisation can help.

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What we can do to help.

Firstly, we suggest filling in our Voltage Optimisation Pre-Survey Questionnaire to help us determine the best solution to match your current circumstances. This form can then be emailed to us at enquiries@pfc-engineering.com.

Where possible we would request the previous 12 months half-hourly consumption data which can be obtained from your electricity supplier.

Download Voltage Optimisation Pre-Survey Questionnaire

Following our initial appraisal and assuming the project remains of interest to you, we would need to attend site to carry out a more detailed survey and to connect load monitoring apparatus which we would leave in-situ for 7 days.

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Upon collation of the above data we will submit our final report and quotation for your consideration.

If you would like to speak more about the possibilities of Voltage Optimisation please feel free to contact us.

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Voltage Optimisation Servicing

Already Have Voltage Optimisation ?

If your site already has a Voltage Optimiser installed, PFC Engineering can carry out a detailed service of your equipment. This can be done as either a non-intrusive visual check along with a thermographic check or if this if the first time the equipment has been service, we would recommend a full internal inspection during shutdown conditions.

During the inspection we check a variety of conditions including but not limited to:

  • Supply Characteristic
  • Tap Arraignment
  • Operation Check
  • Installation Method
  • Thermal Graphic Test
  • Physical Tightness (where possible)

If you would like to arrange a service for your Voltage Optimisation unit, please feel free to get in touch.

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Voltage Optimisation FAQs

The basic idea behind most forms of voltage optimisation is to reduce the incoming supply voltage from a level provided by the grid to one that is more suited to the needs of the equipment on site.

The main benefit form installing VO is site can save up to 15% of their energy consumption ultimately  saving you money on your electricity bill as well as extending the life expectancy of other equipment on site.

Ideally a power shutdown would be required to carry out any physical tightness checks on the internal connections of Voltage Optimisation, however should you wish for a more general inspection we also offer a non-intrusive check of the Voltage Optimisation unit which includes the use of thermal imaging.

The option to by-pass the Voltage Optimisation unit is available by installing a by-pass switch which will put the site supply back up to the original voltage output of the main incoming supply for a temporary period. This can be useful to allow site to continue operating during servicing or repairs with minimum disruption.

Latest News – Voltage Optimisation

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Fire Station – Voltage Optimisation Replacement

A routine maintenance visit identified multiple issues with the existing voltage optimisation (VO) equipment installed at the fire station. The site operates without a standby generator; however, UPS backup is available for essential services,…
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Voltage Optimisation Replacement

We were asked to investigate a possible fault with a Voltage Optimisation unit installed at a Gym south of London. The site reported that the load started to flicker and eventually the VO unit went into bypass mode increasing the voltage back…
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Voltage Optimisation Servicing

We were asked to attend a large office site in central London to carry out Voltage Optimisation check along with a Thermal Imaging Survey. Our engineer completed a full maintenance test sheet while onsite taking details regards in the type…
Any questions? Please get in contact, we would love to hear from you.
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