Unsteady Voltage Regulator

[Badged01]

.....using the higher values since I don't know the difference between resistive and reactive loads...

The higher value is the "apparent power" (reactive) which is what you will be drawing -- i.e. use that for your current calcs not the lower "true power" (resistive) value. You dont need to apply any power factor correction to the higher values (reactive) .......

 

[Barns]

So reactive and resistive are just the technical terms for apparent and true power. I understand now. Thanks Badged01.

Another question before I go and buy a bigger regulator:

If I invested in much bigger wire and replaced the connection between the breaker box and the restaurant (it varies in length between about 20 metres and 50 metres depending on the height of the river) would I actually need a voltage regulator in the first place? Does a voltage regulator actually increase the wattage available? Or, if there's not enough to start with, then it won't work anyway?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Badged01]

So reactive and resistive are just the technical terms for apparent and true power.

Not quite but for what you are doing I think helps explains it in sort of laymans terms!

Does a voltage regulator actually increase the wattage available?

Nope, it does what it says on the time and regulates the voltage to supposedly give a steady voltage. It will not increase your power!

 

[Barns]

I'm confused. Why would the cable coming directly from the breaker box to the restaurant (with no regulator in between) then not provide enough power for the four fridges and other stuff when there is 220V reaching the restaurant according to my multimeter?

Would a bigger cable increase the wattage reaching the restaurant? I can buy and wire up proper big black power line cable the same as we use for the three phases and neutral lines from the main road (black plastic with big silver wires twisted together inside...the size of one we use is 35 locally if that helps although I don't know 35 of what...although looking at it the diameter of the silver wires twisted together could be 35 mm but looks more to me). Would this make any difference?