Thread: Home Power saver

Today, i see adverts on New Power savers for homes that claim to save between 20 -40% consumption monthly. Interesting! Can one throw light on how these work and the cost-benefit analysis, and if they fulfill the promise?

the power savers are basically capacitors, fitted in parallel so that they offset the power factor.

generally,

electricity consumed in watts (meter read out)= volts x amps x pwr.fac.

due to high load conditions on power company's equipment, the pwr. fac. is always more than one. this increases user's consumption, but decreases load on the company's equipment.

the company provides high tension lines @ 11 KV for transmission over long distances.
this is then reduced to about 11000 volts for transmission to various local sub-stations. step down decreases voltage, and increases available current, since the current x voltage value remains constant.

Here, the 11000 volts are then distributed to local transformers to be stepped down to 220 volts for domestic consumption.

if the power factor is kept close to one, then the power company's equipment (transformers etc.) does not function efficiently. it works best when all converted power is used at a factor higher than one.

using capacitors, we can reduce the power factor to a value less than one, so that the power consumption decreases.

However, these same capacitors may become leaky with age, and they would them increase the power consumption by leaking current across their poles.
This is the reason why such devices are not popular.

Originally Posted by netherwinterknights

the power savers are basically capacitors, fitted in parallel so that they offset the power factor.

generally,

electricity consumed in watts (meter read out)= volts x amps x pwr.fac.

due to high load conditions on power company's equipment, the pwr. fac. is always more than one. this increases user's consumption, but decreases load on the company's equipment.

the company provides high tension lines @ 11 KV for transmission over long distances.
this is then reduced to about 11000 volts for transmission to various local sub-stations. step down decreases voltage, and increases available current, since the current x voltage value remains constant.

Here, the 11000 volts are then distributed to local transformers to be stepped down to 220 volts for domestic consumption.

if the power factor is kept close to one, then the power company's equipment (transformers etc.) does not function efficiently. it works best when all converted power is used at a factor higher than one.

using capacitors, we can reduce the power factor to a value less than one, so that the power consumption decreases.

However, these same capacitors may become leaky with age, and they would them increase the power consumption by leaking current across their poles.
This is the reason why such devices are not popular.

Never seen such crap before: Power factor always more than one!
There are "power savers" certified by BEL with no capacitors. My belief is that these work by readjusting thermostat cycles (on loads that use thermostats), and would do nothing for any other loads. I see them in the local flea market from time to time, but I have not dissected one to learn more.