AVR 8-120

Alternator Voltage Regulator

with droop CT connections

DESCRIPTION

The AVR-8 voltage regulator is an electronic device which lets

the alternator to produce a fixed output voltage.

The device has open chassis, resin molded design. It is intend-

ed to be mounted in the alternator’s terminal box. The unit does
not include moving parts; therefore it is able to operate in highly
vibrating environments.

The device measures phase-to-neutral or phase-to-phase volt-

age of the alternator and adjusts the DC voltage applied to the
excitation winding until reaching the desired voltage.

The unit offers low-frequency protection feature. A frequency

measuring circuit continually monitors the generator output and FEATURES
provides output for low-frequency protection of the excitation
system, by reducing the output voltage proportionally with fre- p Universal operation
quency below a manually adjustable threshold. The nominal
frequency can easily be changed to 50 or 60Hz in the field by p Half-Wave thyristor output
push-on link selection.
p Designed for highly vibrating environments
Sensing loss protection circuit terminates the excitation and pro- p Built-in voltage adjustment
tects the windings if there is no voltage on the sensing input.
p Stability adjustment
The excitation power is derived directly from the generator termi-
nals. The required minimum residual voltage for build up is
p Compatible with various types of alternators
4V,AC. p External trimmer voltage adjustment input
The output stage of the device is a half-wave thyristor output p Analog voltage adjustment input
associated with a free-wheeling diode.
p Droop input for parallel running
Basically the unit is compatible with all brushless type alterna- p Sensing input provides phase-phase or phase-
tors. A stability adjustment potentiometer is also provided for
neutral control
this purpose.
p Compatible for 50 and 60Hz
A ±3V analog input is provided allowing external voltage adjust-
ment. p Low frequency protection

The AVR has the facility for droop CT connection to allow paral- p Exciter over current protection
lel running with other similarly equipped generators.
p High temperature protection
An overload protection circuit limits the output current to its nom- p Sensing loss protection
inal value. This prevents a device failure under overload or short
circuit conditions. p Optional adjustable overload limit

For more information or the latest certifications, please contact:

PC&S, Inc. at +1 (800) 523-9194 or +1 (973) 448-9400
www.pc-s.com
 AVR 8-120 Alternator Voltage Regulator

INSTALLATION
the stability control counter-clockwise until the
WARNING: The unit is designed only generator voltage starts to become unstable.
for installation within other equipment
by professional installers. The optimum or critically damped position is
slightly clockwise from this point.
WARNING: To avoid risk of shock, do
not touch terminals and Heatsink The stability selection ‘jumper’ should be
which may have hazardous voltage. correctly linked, A-B, B-C or A-C at the
bottom of the board for the frame size of the
generator.
PC&S products are
manufactured under a VOLTAGE ADJUSTMENT
total quality system that The generator output voltage is set at the fac-
provides total engineer- tory, but can be altered using the VOLT poten- LOW FREQUENCY PROTECTION
ing integrity. Products tiometer or by an external trimmer (if fitted). ADJUSTMENT
have been engineered Terminals T1 and T2 on the AVR will be linked The low frequency protection circuit shuts off
to satisfy specifications, together if no external trimmer is used. the excitation voltage in order to prevent
performance, reliability damage during engine stopping under load.
and life cycle to exact- WARNING: Do not increase the voltage The factory set value for the protection is
ing standards. above the rated generator voltage. 45Hz. Turning the FREQ potentiometer count-
er-clockwise increases the set value. The red
PC&S strives to meet WARNING: Do not ground any of the LED indicates that the Under-Frequency-
customer requirements trimmer terminals as these could be Protection is active.
and exceed expecta- above earth potential.
tions. We do this
through monitoring and DROOP ADJUSTMENT
measuring our process If voltage adjustment is required, proceed as Generators intended for parallel operation
and product, customer follows: are fitted with a quadrature droop Current
satisfaction, internal Transformer (CT). The CT is connected to
auditing, analysis of 1. Before running generator, turn the VOLT S1, S2 terminals on the AVR. The DROOP
production data, contin- control fully counter-clockwise. adjustment is normally preset in the factory
ual improvement to give a maximum 7% voltage droop at full
including corrective and 2. Turn external hand trimmer (if fitted) to the load. Turning the DROOP potentiometer
preventative action. Our midway position. counter-clockwise decreases the droop volt-
quality management age.
systems are certified in 3. Turn STABILITY control to midway position.
accordance with ISO
4. Connect a suitable voltmeter (0-300V,AC) ANALOG ADJUSTMENT
9001:2008 standards.
across line to neutral of the generator.
An analog input (A1 A2) is provided to
connect devices which have analog AVR
5. Start the genset, and run on no load at
control output. The input is designed to
nominal frequency (e.g. 50-53Hz or 60-63Hz.)
accept DC signals up to ±3 volts.
6. If the red LED turns on, refer to the Low
Frequency adjustment. WARNING: Any devices connected to
this input must be fully floating and
7. Carefully turn VOLT control clockwise until galvanically isolated from ground with
rated voltage is reached. an insulation capability of 500V,AC.
Failure to observe this could result in
8. If instability is present at rated voltage, refer equipment damage.
to stability adjustment, then re-adjust voltage
if necessary.
The DC signal applied to this input adds to
the AVR sensing circuit. A1 is connected to
9. Voltage adjustment is now completed.
the AVR ground. Positive on A2 increases
excitation. Negative on A2 decreases
excitation.
STABILITY ADJUSTMENT
The stability potentiometer adjusts the reac-
tion speed of the device. This helps the unit to
comply with various alternators.

The correct setting can be found by running

the generator at no load and slowly turning
 AVR 8-120 Alternator Voltage Regulator

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS MINIMUM FIELD RESISTANCE

INPUTS AND OUTPUTS CONTINUOUS

SENSING INPUT Sensing Voltage 277 240 208 139 120
VOLTAGE 90-150V,AC (L-N)
ms 17.31 15.00 13.00 8.69 7.50
(see Connection diagram)
STARTUP (5 second limit)
FREQUENCY 50-60Hz nominal Sensing Voltage 277 240 208 139 120

ms 8.66 7.50 6.50 4.34 3.75

POWER INPUT The rated minimum residual voltage for the AVR series is 5V.
VOLTAGE 90-150V,AC (L-N)

FREQUENCY 50/60Hz
MECHANICAL DRAWING
OUTPUT
VOLTAGE Max 90V,DC at 207V,AC input
CURRENT Continuous: 8A,DC
Intermittent: 10A for 10 sec.

PROTECTIONS AND PARAMETERS

REGULATION ±1.5% (see Note 1)
MINIMUM FIELD 13 ohms
RESISTANCE
THERMAL DRIFT 0.03% per oC change in AVR ambient
(see Note 2)
TYPICAL SYSTEM AVR Response: 20ms
RESPONSE
SOFT START 2 seconds
EXTERNAL VOLTAGE ±10% with 2k ohm 1 watt trimmer
ADJUSTMENT
UNDER FREQUENCY 42-50Hz or 52-60Hz (adjustable)
PROTECTION
UNIT POWER 18 watts maximum
DISSIPATION
BUILD UP VOLTAGE 4V,AC at AVR terminals
ANALOG INPUT ±10% with ±3V,DC (see Note 3)
QUADRATURE DROOP Max. Input: 5A
INPUT Max. Droop: 7% (adjustable) WIRING
1 P: Alternator phase input
ENVIRONMENTAL
2 N: Alternator neutral input
OPERATING TEMP -4oF to 158oF (-20oC to 70oC)
3 P1, P3: Voltage sensing inputs
STORAGE TEMP -22oF to 176oF (-30oC to 80oC)
(Please refer to Connection diagrams on next page)
MAX. HUMIDITY 95% non-condensing
DIMENSIONS 5.24” (133mm) L x 3.86” (98mm) W
4 T1, T2: External trimmer terminals. Link if not required.

FIXING CENTERS 4.49” (114mm) L x 3.11” (79mm) W 5 E+, E-: Excitation winding connections
WEIGHT 0.55 lbs (250 grams) 6 S1, S2: Droop CT input terminals
7 A1, A2: Analog controller input
NOTES 8 60Hz: Link for 60Hz usage
1. With 4% engine governing.
9 A, B, C:
2. Heated up to 70oC
3. Any device connected to the analog input must be fully Link A-C for under 90KW
floating (galvanically isolated from ground), with an insulated Link B-C for 90 ~ 550KW
strength of 500V,AC. Link A-B for over 550KW
 AVR 8-120 Alternator Voltage Regulator

CONNECTION DIAGRAMS
PHASE-NEUTRAL SENSING PHASE-PHASE SENSING
Mains Mains
N N
L1 L1
L3 L3
L2 L2

PANEL COMPONENTS & SYSTEMS, INC. Or, please contact:

MAIN OFFICE: Tel.: (973) 448-9400 Fax: (973) 448-1674
149 Main Street, Stanhope, NJ 07874 USA
Additional Offices:
South East: Charlotte, NC Phone: (704) 535-3357
South Central: Tulsa, OK Phone: (862) 258-6974
Canada: Edmonton, AB Phone: (877) 962-0557

+1 (800) 523-9194 l www.pc-s.com