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PAT testing price crash! Now only £1.00 per item with a minimum charge of only £25.00. See our PAT Testing page for more details.
New V Phase Units now available!
What is it?
Excludes fittingThe VPhase unit is a voltage optimisation device designed for use in homes and small businesses. The unique VPhase product optimises the incoming voltage to a constant 220V giving householders immediate and significant energy savings for the whole home with a single VPhase fitted to the consumer unit (fuse box).
What savings could I make?
The voltage supplied to your home or business needs to vary to ensure that the distribution network works effectively, offering the best supply to all users at all times. Across Europe the agreed statutory range for voltages is based on 230V +/-10% (207V to 253V). In the UK our voltages have historically been higher and whilst actual levels will vary during the day they typically average at around 245V.
The majority of appliances operate more efficiently at lower voltage (but still within the European statutory range). Voltage Optimisation is the control of voltage supplied to appliances to a set level (usually 220V). Presented below are example energy savings achieved in VPhase testing and based upon 245V to 220V voltage reduction.
Appliances with motors and pumps
'A' rated freezer = 17% energy saving
'A' rated refrigerator = 16% energy saving
3 speed central heating pump = 15% to 18% energy saving
Lighting
CFL lighting = 11% energy saving
Incandescent bulb = 15% energy saving
Low voltage halogen spot lights = 15% energy saving
Consumer electronics
Results for consumer electronics vary widely, examples are given below:
DAB radio = 5% energy saving
DECT cordless phone base station = 30% energy saving
ADSL modem and wireless router = 5% energy saving
Personal Computer = 4% energy saving
Hi-Fi = 13% energy saving
Tip Of The Month
MK Minature Circuit Breakers
Do you have an MK consumer unit with MK minature circuit breakers? Do you know how to reset your circuit breakers in the event of a trip condition?
Most minature circuit breakers (mcb's) simply trip in the 'down position' and are easily reset by simply pushing back up. However MK mcb's will simply fall back down again UNLESS they are pushed FULLY DOWN FIRST then pushed back up into the reset position.
This may seem simple enough and the reset instructions are usually visible on the consumer unit but we have had 5 or 6 callouts to rectify this simple fault and know of companies that charge £75+vat! Having said that, should the mcb immediately trip again, this would require further investigation by a qualified professional electrician.

