Power Factor Improvement Scams

[russ]

I came across a site today that is quite official and has an excellent explanation of the 'Power Factor Correction Devices'.

Quote, 'If you've seen an Internet ad for capacitor-type power factor correction devices, you might be led to believe that using one can save you money on your residential electricity bill. However, a team including specialists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have recently explained* why the devices actually provide no savings by discussing the underlying physics.'

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department.

These guys are the definition of measurement in the US and around the world. Please see the following -

http://www.nist.gov/pml/quantum/power_121509.cfm

Russ

[Mike90250]

It's not a "scam". PFC caps really do work, they are installed are most major electric users, and keep the Volts and Amps properly phased.

Useless, because consumer meters don't respond to power factor and you are not billed for it.

[russ]

You are correct Mike! In an industrial setting they are often necessary.

In the last iron ore processing plants I built and operated we used extensive PF improvement capacitor banks even when the power came from our own generators - it was our own money.

They are a scam when sold for residential use though. As residences are typically billed for kWh they can not save the homeowner one red cent.