Voltage Regulator

[Pete Brown]

Any idea how I can cheaply stabilise a 230v AC supply. I have a 230v AC feed
to a metal detector that fluctuates by a couple of volts and I'm not sure if
this is causing it to keep tripping on metal detect. Any ideas?


Pete B.

 

[Ian Smith]

Any idea how I can cheaply stabilise a 230v AC supply. I have a 230v AC feed
to a metal detector that fluctuates by a couple of volts and I'm not sure if
this is causing it to keep tripping on metal detect. Any ideas?


Pete B.

19/08/2003

I wonder if a computer UPS (online type) might do the job
cheap enough?

 

[[email protected]]

Depends on your definition of cheap. ISOreg or similar transformers
are available with constant outputs. I personally use a 480 3ph unit
for a control power application.

I also have 3 metal detectors (Gorring Kerr), 2 units perform
flawlessly. The third installation, regardless of which equipment is
installed there, has problems with random detections, thousands of
them. If you are interested, I would be happy to continue this
discussion in greater detail.

A stable power supply is an important criteria, but in theory only
step changes in voltage would affect a metal detector. Example:
voltage dip from an A/C compressor cycling.

 

[Dave M.]

A two volt variation is a .87% regulation which is quite good. The detector
may have an internal DC regulator with input regulation to negate the effect
of the 2 volt variation in the 230 volt line. Anyway, the line voltage
variation is NOT the problem unless there are large spikes unaccounted for.

Dave M.