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Automatic Voltage Regulators (AVR) for Generators

I could say that the "Automatic Voltage Regulators" (or AVR for short) is one amazing piece of equipment. It's main function is to regulate or maintain an unstable source of power supply.


Inside your house, there are actually several appliances and equipment that requires AVR. Without it, they will get damaged especially from electrical fluctuations. If you own a PC or desktop computer, it is actually very important that it's power supply must always be plugged into an AVR.

I actually have a neighbor who owns a desktop computer and claimed that he never used an AVR. He directly plugs the power supply cable of his PC into the wall-outlet. And of course it works!

The time came when he was caught with a busy work on his PC then suddenly, a thunderstorm occurred. Unfortunately, a powerful lightning struck the nearby power lines which caused a large electrical surge. My neighbor had describe the incident that, the entire back portion of his computer's hardware ignited with a large electrical spark.

When I inspected his computer, the entire hardware parts got damaged and nothing can be salvaged for re-use.

Electricity Generated by Generators


For the sake of those who never encountered or heard about generators, these are amazing and innovative equipment that produces electricity. They are actually very important for business establishments as "power backups" which allows them to continue on their activities during power failures.

Small type of generators are commonly powered by fuel energy such as gas. As for the large generators, they are powered by water (hydroelectric power) or wind (windmill). In short details, a generator coverts other forms of energy into an electrical energy.

Electrical Generator AVR

In relation to the Automatic Voltage Regulators, generators' technical draw-down is that, they don't produce a stable power output which is prone to fluctuations. This is the reason why AVR is required to filter and constantly maintain the generators' electrical output.

Relay and Servo Type Automatic Voltage Regulator


When it comes to regulating an electrical voltage, there are two types of AVRs that does it in different methods.

1. Relay Type

The best way to understand how an AVR operates on a relay type is to understand how exactly relays and semi-conductors do operate. But to make it short, Relay type of AVRs uses some complex electronic circuitry in regulating the voltage.

2. Servo Motor

The second type of AVR is the Servo Motor which makes use of magnetic core with motorized servo mechanism responsible in processing the regulated voltage.

Between the two types of AVR design above, most technical individuals recommends the Servo Motor type. It's because it can handle large range of voltage fluctuations unlike the solid state relay type.

Overall, automatic voltage regulators for generators and other sensitive technology serves as good protection from electrical surges.

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