Pakistan's mains supply is meant to be about 230 volts (usually called 220), but in many areas it sags in the evening, rises at night and surges when the power comes back after loadshedding. A voltage protector sits between the socket and an appliance and cuts the power when the voltage goes outside a safe range. These are our current prices for voltage protectors and other home electrical safety products:
| Product | Price (PKR) |
|---|---|
| Intelligent LED Photometer Test Pen 24-250V | LED Voltage Tester Pen | Voltage Tester Electric Screwdriver Indicator | Tester for Electricity | Electric Tester Screwdriver | Circuit & Electricity Tester | Rs.550 |
| Digital Power Protector The Voltage Monitor | Rs.950 |
| Automatic Electrical Fire Suppression System | Rs.4,000Rs.4,500 |
| DP Box | Rs.4,500 |
What high and low voltage do to appliances
- Low voltage: motors in fridges, ACs, pumps and washing machines draw more current to keep going, run hot, and may struggle to start.
- High voltage: electronics such as TVs, chargers and LED lights are stressed by voltage above what they're built for.
- Surges when the power returns: after a cut, the supply can come back with a spike, just as every appliance in the house starts at once.
How a voltage protector works
A plug-in voltage protector watches the supply. When the voltage goes above or below its limits, it cuts the power to the appliance. When the supply settles, it waits for a set delay and then switches the power back on. Our digital power protector shows the voltage on a display, and has a switch marked 3 min and 10 sec for the delay.
3 minutes or 10 seconds: which delay?
| Appliance | Delay | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge, freezer, water dispenser with cooling | 3 minutes | A compressor needs time after a cut before it can restart safely |
| AC, if the protector is rated for it | 3 minutes | The same reason: the compressor |
| TV, computer, router, chargers | 10 seconds | No compressor; a short delay just skips the first surge |
Shop · power protector, dp box
DP Box
Voltage protector, stabilizer or UPS?
- Voltage protector: cuts the power when the voltage is unsafe. It doesn't correct the voltage; the appliance simply waits until the supply is good again. Cheap and simple.
- Stabilizer: raises or lowers the voltage to keep it near normal, so the appliance keeps running on a weak supply. Costs more.
- UPS or inverter: keeps appliances running from a battery during a power cut.
A common setup is a protector on the fridge and TV, and a UPS or battery for fans and lights. Our AC/DC fan guide covers running fans straight from a battery.
Protecting the whole house: the DP box
Plug-in protectors guard one appliance each. The house's wiring is protected at the DP box (distribution panel), where each circuit has its own breaker that trips on an overload or a short circuit. The DP box pictured in our listing also has digital voltage displays, so you can see the supply at a glance.
- Use the right breaker for each circuit, and the right cable size for the breaker.
- An earth-leakage breaker (RCD) cuts the power if current leaks to earth, through a faulty appliance or a person. Ask your electrician about one, especially for bathrooms and the kitchen.
- Make sure the house has a proper earth connection.
Check before you touch
Before working on a socket, switch or fan, switch off the breaker and confirm the wire is dead with a tester pen. Test the pen on a socket you know is live first, so you know it works.
The water pump needs its own protection: see how to protect the motor.
