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Click on thumbnails to view
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Above is a view of one
of two home generators that I currently own. This unit is a
3,000 watt, 220vac generator. It is made by Powermate, a
common name in the US. This unit currently runs most of the
necessary electrical appliances in my home, and is kept in
the dirty kitchen out back. I ran a circuit to the dirty
kitchen specifically for the generator. Once line service
has dropped, I simply kill the main breaker feeding the
house and close a double pole-double throw switch for the
generator, allowing it to feed into the entire home. The
3,000 watt unit also offers a 12vdc charging circuit to
charge 12volt automobile or motorcycle batteries, as
needed.
Incidentally, the dirty kitchen has proven to be a fantastic
generator house, offering security (lockable door) and more
than adequate ventilation for the flow of fresh air and
engine exhaust. |
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This is a "new" alternator that I
acquired late last year (2007). It is a 5,000 watt unit,
which is currently set up to be driven by a belt and pulley
configuration. I have not decided if I will keep it set up
this way, or if I will attach it directly to a (diesel or
petrol) motor. If I do, it should be about an 8 horsepower
unit, for optimal performance and economy. Anyway, it has a
twist lock, full power plug, at 120 / 240 volts. It also has
a dual 120volt power point to receive two, three-prong,
grounded plug. |
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This is a (single)
1000 watt voltage converter, that is common in the
Philippines. It transforms 220vac to 110vac, for US made
appliances. I feel that this is the single, largest
transformer you would need for any appliance in your home. I
do know a number of guys here who run 5,000 watt units in
their homes. |
This is a 50 watt
version of the unit to the left, but still costly for its
size, at Php 425 for a 50 voltage watt transformer, vs. Php
3,200 for the 1,000 watt version.
Please note that all of these transformers will draw 220vac
electricity while plugged into the power point, even if an appliance is not
plugged into it. |
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This is a dual purpose
unite, a Zebra ZP-88 Power Protection Circuit, that you
would purchase to protect window mounted air-conditioners,
high ampere draw appliances. The two purposes it serves are
as follows.
1. Over-Under Voltage
Protection: It protects for over-under voltage going to the
appliance. If the voltage goes over or drops under a preset
limit, the unit will cut the power flowing to the appliance.
This will happen even if power continues to be provided to
the It will then use its second feature to make sure
of a safe restart of the appliance, the five minute timer.
2. Five Minute Delay Timer: An internal
five-minute timer delay begins to count, once power has been
restored to the house. If a brief lapse in utility power
occurs, or if the voltage exceeds the upper or lower limits
set in the unit, it will stop voltage flow to an air-con,
for example so as not to burn up the compressor.
Once utility or
emergency power has been introduced to the home circuits,
the (left side image) red indicator will illuminate and the
five-minute timer will begin to count. After five-minutes,
(right side image) the green lamp will illuminate showing
power has been restored to the appliance. |
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Here is a typical wall
receptacle in my home. It is identical the the two-conductor
flat bladed receptacles in the US. It is also the standard
for many Filipino homes. Typically, you will find only two -
conductor wire, without the third prong for a ground (bond),
as you will in the US. The two pronged plugs are like it
used to be in the US, years ago. |
On the left is an
image of a basic 2 pronged flat plug which would be
connected to typical 2 conductor wire. The image on the
right is of a basic surface mount type receptacle (power
point) for (220vac) voltage in the Philippines. The
power point (socket) can be connected for low
(e.g. refrigerators) or high (e.g. air-cons) ampere drawing
appliances. |
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This is a typical plug
adapter, usually about Php 40, which are commonly found in
most Philippines hardware stores. They serve to convert most
foreign male plugs from other countries. If you go to the
larger hardware stores, either in SM or Ayala Mall, you will
find these, as well as a wide variety of other adapters,
voltage converters (as seen in the top-right image), and
other powering devices, such as UPS (Uninterruptable Power
Supply) battery backups, as shown below. However, the brands
of UPS products found in hardware stores typically will not
be APC. APC is commonly found in most computer/electronics
stores, as their equipment is far superior to other UPS
manufacturers. |
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This is an APC (American
Power Conversion) brand UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply),
which will continue supplying power to designated electrical
appliances, computers, etc., during the brief period between
utility voltage drop and cranking a generator. I use this
particular one, specifically for my network. Believe me,
this is a very worthwhile piece of hardware, especially when
you have an entire network (or other voltage sensitive
equipment) in your home. No more rebooting modems, routers
and
voice over adapters.
I am much happier now, since I connected this unit
inline, as it also provides over and under voltage
protection for sensitive hardware. |
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