Are the big power TVSS devices all the vendors say they are? If you install them in the main for a large facility are you not just adding in a large lightning arrestor. If there are large loads turned off and on inside the building won't that cause spikes? Also some of the vendors are advertising that their TVSS devices will save KW and money, how could that be? How much trouble are these things after they are installed?
another stupid question
- Thread starter caj1962
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Re: another stupid question
If the spikes caused by turning on and off the large motors are not large enough, the TVSS will not do anything about them. A TVSS is not a ?power quality adjustment? machine. It is a fancy surge suppressor. It will do absolutely nothing for its entire life, unless and until ?the big one? hits the facility. Then it will act to save a large amount of money, by protecting the major equipment. I cannot see how it will save any money on KW charges during the rest of its time in service. I would be interested in learning how that claim is worded, and what the advertisers have to back it up.
By the way, when are you going to get around to asking your "another stupid question"? I haven't see it yet.
If the spikes caused by turning on and off the large motors are not large enough, the TVSS will not do anything about them. A TVSS is not a ?power quality adjustment? machine. It is a fancy surge suppressor. It will do absolutely nothing for its entire life, unless and until ?the big one? hits the facility. Then it will act to save a large amount of money, by protecting the major equipment. I cannot see how it will save any money on KW charges during the rest of its time in service. I would be interested in learning how that claim is worded, and what the advertisers have to back it up.
By the way, when are you going to get around to asking your "another stupid question"? I haven't see it yet.
paul
Senior Member
- Location
- Snohomish, WA
Re: another stupid question
I've put in several for the local phone company. They like one at the main service and one on the load side of their transfer switches. Each unit is about $1500. One model shows how many spikes it's taken, although not how large of a spike. Some sites never register a hit, while others register 100's of hits.
I'm rather skeptical about how this could save you money by reducing KW. I don't see it. I do see how it could save money if the building takes a power hit and saves equipment.
One note on installations. While the code allows these on the line side of the main disconnect, I highly recommend against it. I always put them on the load side and I also install fused disconnects. Three times I've seen where they've caught fire and had no disconnects to shut them down.
I've put in several for the local phone company. They like one at the main service and one on the load side of their transfer switches. Each unit is about $1500. One model shows how many spikes it's taken, although not how large of a spike. Some sites never register a hit, while others register 100's of hits.
I'm rather skeptical about how this could save you money by reducing KW. I don't see it. I do see how it could save money if the building takes a power hit and saves equipment.
One note on installations. While the code allows these on the line side of the main disconnect, I highly recommend against it. I always put them on the load side and I also install fused disconnects. Three times I've seen where they've caught fire and had no disconnects to shut them down.
- Status