How to choose the ideal voltage stabilizer for a refrigerator

Voltage fluctuations are nothing new in India. Almost every city, except for the metros, experiences voltage fluctuations that can lead to damaged electrical equipment. So investing in a voltage stabilizer is a wise option. It is better to be safe than feel sorry later.

Therefore, if you have bought a new refrigerator, it makes sense to connect a voltage stabilizer to it and protect your costly equipment from damage. This article discusses why and how to select the proper voltage stabilizer for your fridge.

First, do you need a voltage stabilizer for your refrigerator?

You can go through one of our previous blogs discussing if a stabilizer is required for refrigerators, where we discussed the need for a voltage stabilizer for a fridge. So if you reside in an area where voltage fluctuations are common, it is advisable to use a voltage stabilizer even if your refrigerator has an inbuilt stabilizer. First, the reason is that you do not know whether the inbuilt stabilizer is functioning correctly. Secondly, there is no harm in securing your costly equipment. So spending a couple of thousand rupees to safeguard an expensive kitchen appliance should be fine.

How do you select the best voltage stabilizer for your fridge?

Though you can connect multiple appliances to your voltage stabilizer, we advise having a separate one for your fridge. Unlike your other electrical equipment, the refrigerator works 24 x 7 x 365 and is more vulnerable. So, it needs maximum protection.

Do your homework right before selecting the proper voltage stabilizer for your refrigerator.

1. All Indian domestic electrical equipment work on 230V and 50A current. Therefore, the first thing to note is your fridge’s wattage. It is available in the operating manual and written down on the refrigerator’s body. Suppose it is 200W. We advise you to play safe and select a voltage stabilizer with 50% more wattage than your refrigerator. Please note that your fridge has a higher defrosting wattage. So, the minimum wattage for your voltage stabilizer should be 300W.
2. Divide the real power in watts with the power factor (0.8) to get the result in kVA. Therefore, the minimum work capacity rating for your voltage stabilizer should be 0.375 kVA (375 VA)
3. So if you have a refrigerator with a capacity of up to 300L, you can go for the 500 VA (0.5 kVA) voltage stabilizer. However, bigger fridges have higher wattage. Therefore, a 600L refrigerator needs a voltage stabilizer with a minimum working capacity of 1000 VA (1 kVA).
4. Another crucial factor is the operating voltage range of the stabilizer. The ideal voltage in India is 230V. So the voltage stabilizer should have a working voltage range of 70V to 300V. Depending on the voltage fluctuations in your area, you can select the operating voltage range. The higher the capacity, the more expensive the voltage stabilizer.

Notable Factors Choosing a Voltage Stabilizer for Refrigerator

Once you have selected the capacity and the operating voltage range, look for the following features in your voltage stabilizer.

1. Mounting – Wall-mounted stabilizers are the best because you can hang them on the wall at a comfortable height to protect it from damage. It also protects your family from accidental electric shocks. If you select a standing model, we advise placing it on a wooden stool beside the fridge.
2. Time Delay System – Usually, the current flow is the maximum when the supply restarts after a power cut. This surge in power can damage your equipment. So voltage stabilizers feature an in-built time delay system that waits for a specific period, allowing the power flow to stabilize before switching it on for your refrigerator. This feature protects your fridge from damage.
3. Indicators – Voltage stabilizers have analog or digital indicators showing input and output voltage. It gives you a perfect idea of the voltage fluctuations present in your area.
4. Overload Protection – Generally, you will not encounter an overload factor if you have an exclusive voltage stabilizer for your refrigerator. But if you connect other electrical devices to it, there are chances of overload. So voltage stabilizers feature an overload protection feature that switches off the output if it senses an overload.
5. Warranty – The best voltage stabilizers come with warranties between three to five years.
6. Brand value – It is better to go for a good brand of voltage stabilizer. Cheaper brands are available but do not last long and give unreliable performances.

What to do if my refrigerator has an inbuilt stabilizer?

Please note down the working range of the inbuilt stabilizer. It would be around 180V to 280V, on average. So you can install an external voltage stabilizer with a higher working range (say 70V to 300V or 90V to 300V). It ensures your fridge works even if the input voltage is outside the operating range of the inbuilt voltage stabilizer. The external voltage stabilizer can serve as additional protection for your appliance.

Conclusion

Voltage stabilizers are valuable because they protect your expensive equipment from voltage fluctuations. Now, you know how to choose the ideal voltage stabilizer for your refrigerator. Select the most appropriate one and prevent damage to your fridge.