Vphase VX2

[Taylortwocities]

So sorry to disappoint you but, did you even consider that the information that you are looking for is just not available.
A company that produces something that (allegedly) can save energy - as they claim - may take quite a lot of steps to protect their intellectual property. So all of the meaty stuff will be in Escrow and well locked away.
That is if there is truly ground-breaking technology in there.


Alternatively, the box may well have nothing of any consequence and rebvealing that would lead to ridicule (especially on here) and sales plummeting to zero.

EDIT: Looking at the web, it looks like Vphase went into administration a couple of years back…..

So maybe you ask the impossible question. A bit like trying to get the recipe for Coca Cola.

 

[bernardgreen]

A long time ago we put together ( bodged up in a rush ) a motorised Variac to get a stable supply for some equipment at an Office Machinery Exhibition in Hannover. The equipment ( a prototype ) was extremely fussy about supply voltage and the supply at the Hannover Messegeland ( Exhibition Area ) was far from stable. We had to rig a covert lamp next the equipment that lit when the motor was adjusting the voltage. The sales people were told that if the light was lit they must only waffle and NOT demonstrate the machine.

 

[ericmark]

I gave a link to:-
Download 8 Step Installation Manual
Download Installation Manual
Download VPhase Embedded Generation
Download VPhase Technical Specification
On one I read it gave the address in Capenhurst close to the Welsh boarder which as I said is an old nuclear site so security is tight can't simply drive there. But I am sure they would answer inquiries. Repeat of site link the unit costs £119 and is out of stock I will guess as now will require a fire proof casing.

looking at the picture.

I would be interested to find out how it is switched myself although would never fit one.

VPhase plc Chester
Unit 8, Capenhurst Technology Park
CH1 6EH Capenhurst
Cheshire
0845 003 8269
0845 003 8 222
www.vphase.co.uk

The link shows manuals but listed as installation rather than repair. I see no real point in doing the google work for you or phoning for you, it would be better if you talked to them direct, possible you will not need the circuit diagram once you have talked to them. If I can get to unit 8 through security I would nip there for you it's not far from where I live, but I would guess after a phone call you will get what you need.

Considering location wonder why tested in the South of England.

 

[oldie]

Thank you will let u know if I find it. Just a bit grumpy today.
Alfie

 

[JohnW2]

So lots of I think for this Marmite unit but no circuit diagram. Thanks for all your inputs, maybe thats why the site is DIYNOT.

As has been said, what makes you think that the circuit diagram for such a device would be published?

I'm sure that if anyone here had such a circuit diagram, or knew where one could be found, they would have helped you. That has not happened because no-one who has read you message is able to help you, not because this is an unfriendly/unhelpful place or because people are deliberately depriving you of what you want.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ericmark]

Seems a couple of years to late Wednesday Jan 22 2014 reports went into administration however this link says it exited administration on 27 Dec 2014 so not really sure. Tried a company house search it says dissolved.

Seems odd that the web page is still active. May be Matt-e bought them out as all links go to Matt-e?

 

[bernardgreen]

V phase may use a device called a saturated reactor to control the current that passes through the unit. By regulating the current the unit can appear to be controlling the voltage applied to the load(s).

A saturated reactor is a form of wound transformer with two windings. The AC current to be controlled flows through one winding which acts as a low impedance choke. A DC current flows through the other winding and this creates a steady state magnetic field in the core. The amount of steady state magnetic field determines the impedance of the choke and hence the amount of AC that can flow. Varying the DC current varies the impedance and thus controls the AC current.

If memory serves me right the DC current can be derived directly from the output voltage with a bridge rectifier and smoothing capacitor. Carefull design of the transformer and the impedance / resistance of the DC winding allows this very simple source of DC current to control the AC current such that a constant AC voltage is produced.

 

[flameport]

This video shows the inside of the VX1:

It's basically a buck transformer with some additional controls to bypass it when the load is too high.

The remains of the vphase website here: http://web.archive.org/web/20130723053204/http://www.vphase.co.uk/Products
suggest the VX2 is just a newer version with slightly different connection options and a different size casing.

 

[ericmark]

This is the basic design

to drop the voltage be it called an auto transformer or a buck transformer it really does not matter. The 8 amp rating does limit its use some what but some how one needs to switch the 27 volt winding at the top in and out of circuit as and when required. You can't short it out as it is on the same iron core. So if two linked relays one normally closed and the other normally open short out the top coil at same time as opening circuit to bottom coil you could switch in and out the 27 volt without actually ever removing the connection as long as the top switch is never made at the same time as bottom switch it will work. Likely from the video that is what the semi conductor devices which burnt out did. Likely bottom switch was the semiconductor switch and top one the relay. However that guy is way beyond my level and if he could not work out exactly what they did then very little chance of me working it out.

Should the relay stick and not release before the bottom connection is made there would be a huge current likely to burn out something. The idea of using an auto transformer to drop from 415 volt to 380 volt for imported items pre-harmonization is well known and I have worked on sites where there was one such auto transformer at the base of every tower crane. However to switch in and out a 27 volt reduction is very different from a constant 35 or with single phase 20 volt voltage reduction.

If the firm has gone then there is very little one can do but rip it out. With the limit of 8A there is little one can do unless you used the auto transformer just to power the lights. Since it does not save energy with LED or HF fluorescent then its use even with the lights is limited. Other than lights I can't think of any benefit in lowering the voltage. Why it even attempted to drop the voltage to sockets I don't know.

I would say it will take far less man hours to remove than to repair. And if the four semi conductor devices he showed have blown like in his example why would one think replacements would not blow in the same way?

 

[stillp]

In general these things are a bit like religion - if you believe, then no amount of argument will persuade you to change your mind, and if you disbelieve, no amount of argument will persuade you to change your mind.
OTOH, they have their uses, for example on large sites where the transformer tappings are selected so the the voltage at the extremities of the site is within tolerance, which can leave the voltage near the transformer too high.

 

[bernardgreen]

auto transformer or a buck transformer

Auto transformer has its windings in connected in phase. A buck transformer has the windings out of phase.

 

[ericmark]

So to left is auto to right is buck thanks. Really not much difference does the same thing both shown as 203 volt with 230 volt input or 213 volt with 240 volt input. 27 volts seems a little on the extreme side and one would see a massive dip with tungsten lamps unless fed with a electronic transformer in which case no point in having the device. Would be interested hearing from some one with one fitted did they notice when if came in and out of circuit? If not then I would assume not working.

 

[stillp]

If not then I would assume not working.

The faithful will still say it saves 10% of their bills!

 

[ericmark]

If not then I would assume not working.

The faithful will still say it saves 10% of their bills!

Yes and it actually might. There will be those who have fluorescents which it will help with, and those who are made more aware of the power they are using because of having it fitted so have become better at switching items off. It is not a total rip off there is some logic behind what they are doing, however other events have resulted in it no longer saving as much as it did.

How any one would repair one I don't know, lack of information means it is near impossible. The circuit board does look rather complex, so although we understand the principle, to repair with a total lack of a wiring diagram would be dangerous.

Of course there is no way a user could disable the unit to compare, once up and running it would cost to remove, so until they go bang likely owners will keep them.

 

[bernardgreen]

As pointed out in the video when this snake oil device is reducing the voltage to the appliance the meter is still using the un-reduced voltage in the calculation of power being used. Hence for some loads the meter will be recording a higher consumption than the actual consumption of the load.