⌛ Using a Voltage Regular (VR)

They say the only dumb question is the one you never asks so here goes. When using a step up VR, do you leave it on all the time or only when you will use the appliance you want to regulate? In my case, a microwave oven? Never had a VR before. Thanks

 

Hi Pat. If it is just for a microwave, or some other appliance you use intermittently...pull the plug on it. It'll be using electricity at idle - even when it's not doing its job. Depending on the design, that could be a meaningful amount of electricty. The acid test is turn it on without the microwave attached for an hour. Put your hand on it, and if it's warm, that's electricity you are paying for. Hope that helps...The better active ones use less at idle, but they all use some.

 

Thanks Garbonzo. How's the weather in Perth this time of year?

 

Hi Pat...the weather here is bloody good. First decent rain today - since November. We have had a really good soak. My veggie patch and everything else is smiling. Papayas are bloody beaming and I put extra compost to stop them cart-wheeling...
I've heard that Negros never really had a dry season this year (likely a good thing considerig the previous couple of years). Not sure about Dumaguete, but certainly Bacolod and environs have been pissing down regularly since May. We've had terrible floods in the east of Australia...while we watch endless bright blue sky here in the West and pray for rain.
Anyway, it's a beaut here now and hope we get a decent winter rainfall. We're up in Bacolod late next month for a couple weeks. My wife wants to run off to La Carlota to giggle with relatives and classmates for a couple days, bugger that just make me skin cancers worse if I go, so I may escape to Dumaguete and teach you how to drink beer.

 

magic words ... I sign up for that course... :D

 

Mate, listen, you bring me a couple bottles of good Margaret River Cabernet and I will treat you and Rhoody to dinner at Casablanca and all the beer you guys can drink while I enjoy the wine and we tell Rhoody stories about the "old Corps".

 

Bloody oath, sounds like an invite. Sure you want Margaret River Cabernet? I'm not saying I'm the world's best authority but my department at the university runs aquatic science, environmental biology, agriculture, and VITICULTURE - i.e. wine production (at Margaret River - we have a campus there and I have a good handle on the local quality - mainly because my boss makes me drink it). Usually outstanding wine there previously - but last two years have been very drought affected. It's ordinary stuff now and frankly better in the east. We are expecting this year's harvest to be better but it isn't in the bottle yet. That said, check out Pemberton on the map. My daughter put me on to it because she was there. High elevation, moderate temps, and better rain....their Port at the Donelly River is fantastic. I'm bringing some for PI relative fans and happy to bring a couple for you. It is smooth as.......yes....no lie....a baby's butt. I don't think I've ever had better. It is really fine. If you insist I'll grab a couple Margaret River cab/sav's, the best I can find...but let me know if these Ports will do. I haven't bought anything else for a couple months....I'm scared Rhoody might embarrass me though with beer....but i always practice when I can...

 

Pemberton sounds great. I'm not into Ports but sounds like I should have a go at that one. Also, Vasse Felix 2008 Cab is rated a 93 and not too expensive. VF was one of my favorites when I lived in Sydney and worked in Melbourne. Look forward to a fun time.

 

Absolutely true!

 

Auto!

You would think in this day and age, they would have had an automatic cut out, if Idle for say 10 Mins, or is this To Simple

Like Pat I have never had a VR, so This is all new to me as well. Ignorant to most things Electrical, What exactly is a VR for? What does it Do? On a Car I understand but household things Not.:o


Jack. P.