Power Save 1200 - fact or fiction?

[ErVikingo]

Guys,

Any feedback on this? We got one for our office to see what happens. Plus, if it works as a surge suppresor also, well that's worth it here in FL.

In theory I understand the logic behind it but, fact or fiction?

Pelican engineers, give us feedback please !

http://www.power-save1200.com/index.html

[Porsche_monkey]

JMO - Total crap.

[azasadny]

They rely on "personal testimonials" which makes them suspect in my mind...

[azasadny]

They rely on "personal testimonials" which makes them suspect in my mind...

[Jims5543]

They rely on "personal testimonials" which makes them suspect in my mind...

[Dantilla]

They rely on "personal testimonials" which makes them suspect in my mind...

[KFC911]

They rely on "personal testimonials" which makes them suspect in my mind...

[ErVikingo]

So I guess that the community's opinion is that: "They rely on "personal testimonials" which makes them suspect in my mind..."

I agree, I was hoping for some engineering feedback. We all know that they've been using capacitors to "store" power for high powered audio systems so I gather the rationale must be similar for motorized appliances.....

What about using capacitors as a surge suppresor?

Let me guess: "They rely on "personal testimonials" which makes them suspect in my mind..."

[Porsche_monkey]

As an electrical engineer - While it is possible that they could store some power based on power factor lagging, I find it difficult to believe that it is significant in the overall power consumption.

If I stay at a Holiday Inn next week I will reassess my position, for now I think it's junk.

[red-beard]

It all depends on your Wh meter. If it is designed to give you a corrected power reading, no, it won't do a darn thing for you. If your meter reads via current only, then, yes it will help.

Most industrial feeds read both Power and Power factor. The more inductive the load, the more you pay. Adding banks of capacitors or a synchronus condensor (a rotating capacitor) can correct the vars back to zero. The investment usually pays itselft back in short order.

For those of us with many many motors in our houses, and the wrong type of meter, it could help. If you have 2 A/C units and multiple pool pumps, it may help. For someone with only a refrigerator and lights, it will do nothing but lighten your wallet.

My biggest concern with this company is:

They rely on "personal testimonials" which makes them suspect in my mind...

just like Swepco....

[Porsche_monkey]

Does the Power-Save 1200™ work in any home?

Yes it does, as long as you have a circuit breaker panel with breaker switches and not the old screw in type fuses, the unit will work on any single-phase electric application for homes.

hmmmm

[ErVikingo]

Thanks guys, that's the kind of feedback I was looking for.

[Dantilla]

Originally posted by PBH
As an electrical engineer - While it is possible that they could store some power based on power factor lagging,

Is this why a 3-phase system still has a bit of power during an outage?

[Porsche_monkey]

No, I would think you have lost two phases and the third is live.

[MBAtarga]

It will run cooler with a cool collar though!

[2.7RACER]

Gee whiz guys, this is old stuff.
Anyone that has studied electricity has heard of "power factor".
Remember ELI the ICE man.
In an inductive load the voltage will lead the current. The bigger the inductive load the bigger the phase shift.
The power company is very aware of this "power factor" and you are billed for it.
Run capacitors across your service and you can balance the inductive load with a capacitive load. This can and will bring the power factor closer to 1 resulting in a lower load and more efficient use of the power.
Simple capacitors designed to correct the power factor.
The electric motors in your house cause the phase shift. Your TV, oven, lights and hair dryer are fine.
The fridge, air conditioner, fans, anything electric motor driven shift the phase.
This unit is designed to correct that phase shift.
Call your power company and ask about your power factor. They can tell you if this type of unit is useful.
This is old, well known stuff.
Big production plants with lots of big motors can save thousands each month by correcting the power factor and also managing peak loads.

[David]

I'm no electrical engineer, but I do work for an electric utility so I was curious. I asked an electrical guy at work and he said it appears to be a power factor correcting capacitor bank that could actually be some benefit if you have some motors at home. He said a few of the guys that have pool pumps have built their own similar devices at home. He also said most A/C compressors with a 13 SEER or higher rating already have such circuits.

I have two pool pumps plus an air compressor so I may look into building something like this if I get bored.

[Porsche_monkey]

Well that's true, and that's where the power factor correction should be taking place, downstream of the starter for each motor.

There's no reason to spend money on a system like that, power factor correction devices can be added as needed, and they are in industrial applications. At home, the benefits seem to be negligable in my mind, espescially if you have the high SEER rated devices.