VPhase VX1 - Voltage Optimisation, Electricity Saver

smellypunks

So I have seen this new product on the market its from a small new company. It seems to be a white box that is fitted by an electrician next to your home consumer box. What it does from what I can figure is flatten your voltage which can vary from 220v to 240v down to a flat 220V. By doing this they claim it will save around 10% off your electric bill.

The box is around £250 + fitting costs so call it £500 installed. They are saying pay back would be around 5 years which sound ok.

So my questions to you money savers out there:-

1. Does anyone have a Vphase VX1 (installed)?
2. Can anyone give data on performance/savings
3. Has anyone had any problems installing if so why?
4. What effects does the box have on lighting? I.e. does it dim?
5. What effects does the box have on other electric products performance?
6. Has anyone fitting one in a flat/house with storage heating (RHT)?
7. If you have one fitted and use electric storage heating do you have to have heating on for longer to get the same effect?

Looking forward to your comments.

Cardew

Covered many times.

For domestic properties it is a waste of money.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2753806

Jon_Tiffany

Try spending your money on something that is known to work - energy saving bulbs, some extra insulation etc. Do this before you do anything else.

As Cardew correctly said - a waste of money

You would make more of a saving taking up the British Gas free solar pv offer.

Brian99_2

They are LOWERING your voltage, so that LIGHTS will be dimmer; and HEATERS will be cooler... saving energy... of course!!!

It's FAR easier to install smaller lights, and MAKE SURE that you use all appliances economically

That company is selling an UNNECESSARY unit, which needed energy to manufacture it (and transport their engineers.)

Kilty_2

Can't believe someone would actually pay for this :rotfl:

Those that are so very quick to moan to your DNO about low volts take note :rotfl:

smellypunks

Cardew wrote: »

Covered many times.

For domestic properties it is a waste of money.

link

Thanks for the link, the post by 'espresso' on this thread was very interesting. Sounds like it wont be any good for me as I have storage heaters. Interesting statement

heating pumps actually achieve the highest savings from voltage regulation.

So if I changed my heating to air/ground source heat pump then a voltage regulator might be a good thing to have!?

UK mains voltage can vary between 216V - 253V

This is a larger range than I thought, but have just checked my voltage and it just over 250v.

moonrakerz

smellypunks wrote: »

This is a larger range than I thought, but have just checked my voltage and it just over 250v.

What did you use to check it, has it ever been calibrated ? It is usually very close to 240.

CrashUK

Your meter does not read volts so this is £500 down the power cable.. When saving money runing your home.. look at heating and hotwater that where the big savings are..

The things that saved me the most money are.
Have the loft done when I was not working.. £500 freebe.. saved £40 with in 4 weeks.. was reading meter every week and it was cold. save maybe £200 per year?
Wireless/Room Stat/timer Cost £50 off ebay I did the install saved about £100-200 per year
I have old toilets I installed 2 interflush costing about £30... water bill had dropped from £42 to £22 pm but they own me money so that will go up a bit later on in the year.

Looking to saving more water with tap magic and waterbuds.

Other things I looking in to was Solar PV and Solar Hot water but pay back worked out too long.. maybe better now with FeedIn.

I have in the passed got one of them so called power savers off ebay they are just a con.. Money down the toilet.

MSE_Investigator

MSE OFFICIAL INSERT

VPhase has asked us to post the following in response to the discussion on this thread:

The VPhase is only suitable for domestic and small commercial
properties. The claimed savings have been independently verified in
external tests, providing substantiation for the typical 10% savings on electricity bills that we claim.

Electric heating circuits are not optimised through VPhase. This is
because savings cannot be made here - less voltage means the appliances have to be on for longer to achieve the same heat output, so negating any savings. However, savings can still be made on energy saving lightbulbs too.

Lighting will not be noticeably dimmer. Appliances and electrical
devices in the UK have had to work across the EU range of voltage (207V to 253V) since the early 90's. VPhase lowers and regulates household voltage, typically to 220V - so is still well within statutory limits and actually more closely aligned with manufacturer's operating voltages - therefore potentially prolonging the life of bulbs and other appliances.

The biggest savings are on appliances like fridges, freezers, washing
machines, central heating pumps, and vacuum cleaners; anything with amotor or pump in will benefit. Fridges and freezers, for example, are designed to work at lower voltage than is received in most households in the UK. Any over-voltage results in heat being dissipated from the appliance - a process which requires even greater work from the fridge/freezer, as it then has to provide more cooling to maintain the same temperature. With voltage being optimised, the appliance can work more efficiently and use less electricity.