Apex domestic voltage optimiser

[KevinS]

Got a call out today
No power at db
I had 240 going into the apex voltage optimiser but nothing coming out. Status LED was flashing green then red
Does anyone know if the unit needs resetting (and if so how) or is the unit given up
Also does anyone have any instructions for these units
Thanks in advance
PS got the power up and running by by-passing the unit
Thanks again

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Apex Single Phase VO Status Codes:

Ultra Low Bypass Mode
Green Flashing
The dwelling load is too low to allow any savings to be made. The unit will revert to “Save Mode” when conditions allow.

Operating Normally
Steady Green Light
The unit is working normally and in Save Mode.

Unit Failure
Constant Red Flashing
The unit has shut-down either because the Incoming voltage has exceeded 270V OR the Unit has become too hot OR the unit has exceeded its 100A maximum load. Switching the main Isolator off then on again should re set the unit.

Low input / Bypass mode
Flashing Green followed periodically by one Red flash
Once the voltage increases to specification levels the unit will automatically revert back to “Save mode”.

High Current / Bypass mode
Flashing Green followed periodically by a group of two Red flashes
Temporary over current (60A). Once the current drops below 60A the voltage optimisation device will automatically revert back to “Save Mode”.

Over Temperature / Bypass mode
Flashing Green followed periodically by a group of three Red Flashes
Once the unit temperature drops to specification levels the voltage optimisation device will automatically revert back to “Save Mode”

If the unit fails to return to "Save Mode" after an error condition, switching the main Isolator off (>30s) then on again should restore the manufacturers settings.

 

[KevinS]

Hi
thanks for your help, the unit was flashing red/green constantly
i turned the power off for probably 2 mins but nothing
i would have thought that if the panel was drawing too little or too much current it would just stop optimising but still allow power through.
is this the case?
cheers Kevin

 

[MrVO]

Kevin,

Can i suggest you speak to Apex Direct 0191 3787900, User manuals and technical support is very good and free !

 

[KevinS]

Thanks, just spoke to them and they were really really helpful
thanks for your assistance

 

[guestvette]

Hi all,

Got a call to an Apex VO yesterday.
The house owner has recently moved in to the property, adn is complaining about his toaster isn't toasting the bread any more.

Wants me to disable the unit, to he gets his full 230 volts.
Says he is not interested in the carbon, as he drives a Land Cruiser.
Says he wants his full-on voltage.

Is there an internal link, or some thing, that I can simply drop off, so this unit just go's into permanent by-pass mode?

thanks

 

[Engineer54]

Well he'll be getting much closer to 240V and probably a bit more, than that 230V, that's that make believe voltage that you'll be lucky to see once in a blue moon!! lol!!

Why not take the unit out of service/circuit altogether, if he doesn't want it now he's not going to want it in the future either. Not if he has to wait too long for his toast to brown and his Earl Grey tea water to boil ...What!!! lol!!

 

[Knobhead]

Earl Grey? The water should be just off the boil.

I do hope the toast is wholegrain with lashings of salted butter.

 

[guestvette]

Well he'll be getting much closer to 240V and probably a bit more, than that 230V, that's that make believe voltage that you'll be lucky to see once in a blue moon!! lol!!

Why not take the unit out of service/circuit altogether, if he doesn't want it now he's not going to want it in the future either. Not if he has to wait too long for his toast to brown and his Earl Grey tea water to boil ...What!!! lol!!

.
.
Thanks for the reply.

Taking it out would be the ultimate, but don't want to go along that route just yet.

Would rather know how to put it into "bypass mode" either by removing an internal link, or some thing similar.
I threw the main breaker on the VO, but that just cut the power to the whole db that it supplies, so that didn't help.

Any one?

vette

 

[ipf]

Through crimps......?

 

[guestvette]

Through crimps......?

.
.
No room,

Really looking for some sort of internal link, to drop off, or swap over.

vette

 

[trev]

Take it out and bin it! Then ask him if he'd like to buy some snake oil or smoke and mirrors, me and Tony can do him a deal.

 

[Tinplate]

I have an Apex domestic vo which was in a new house which I purchased in Sept 2020. This unit makes a loud buzzing noise at various times during the day and night. Is this normal. I have 9 solar panels does this effect the Apex vo. I find the buzzing noise quite annoying. Can anyone advise me. Regards. David

 

[freddo]

No, loud buzzing noises should not be normal, call an electrician to have the unit removed.

 

[Zlodej]

it is unlikely that you would see any actual benefits of it anyway. Most modern equipment uses switching that adapts, meaning that on higher voltage it switches less often.
Most motors are controled by controlers and electric heaters heat shorter if they produce more heat. So I can only think of halogen bulbs where it might do some savings... Do you want some snake-oil?