Enery saving

[moskaski]

Hi, i've just been looking at these enery saving devices, one from kvar power savings http://www.kvar-power-savings.com and another from http://www.plugandsave.com i know the sites are very advert intensive and aimed to sell the product, Basically both units are capacitors and supposed to stabalise the power supply and make it more efficient. But would this be any use in the uk where we dont have homes crammed with motors ac/pool pumps/room fans? as the biggest saving seems to come from motor driven devices.

[R1Geezer]

From what does Mr Cooper need saving?

[scotman]

These items seem to be Power Factor(PF) correcting devices. Assuming they are built properly they will have most effect on items which have motors in them as these can have a very low PF when running. My 2 years old Bosch fridge is down to about 0.47 when running and would benefit from something like this. When the Warranty runs out I may build one myself just for it.
For heat producing items there will be very little benefit as these have a high PF anyway.

[Hymie]

I have dismantled one of these devices (don’t ask why), as scotman says, they contain only capacitors and any energy savings will be minimal (<0.005%). As to whether they will lead to a power factor correction will depend on the electrical load (within your home). But since domestic consumers in the UK are billed per kWh (i.e. per watts used) and not volt amperes – by improving the power factor of your installation will help the power company, but not reduce your bill.

The claims made for these devices of double digit percentage savings are complete nonsense.

[AlBags]

corr Hymie .. you have been doing some homework.
I would agree, tho.
Over marketed
Overpriced ...
Over hyped

[scotman]

Hymie
/*
But since domestic consumers in the UK are billed per kWh (i.e. per watts used) and not volt amperes – by improving the power factor of your installation will help the power company, but not reduce your bill.
*/

Are you sure about that? I can't see how the electro-mechanical meters with the aluminium disc can do anything other than integrate the VA product.

Note that I have one of those and it does say on it 'ac wattmeter' it is just that I don't see how it can continuously measure power factor and include that in its metering function.