IIRC, all it really does is reduce the applied voltage.  Magic is in
figuring how far - I'm pretty sure it's looking at the power factor.
Early devices had a problem with motor starting; uP controlled devices
probably handle this better.

I recall seeing a display of one of these devices in a hardware store.
It had a motor running, and a power meter display, and you could switch
in the 'power saving' device.  Very dramatic, fabulous power reduction.
The motor was running with no load...

GC

> -----Original Message-----
> From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu 
> [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf Of Harold Hallikainen
> Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 11:33 AM
> To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public.
> Subject: RE: [OT] Stockton Engineer Creates Energy Saving Device
> 
> I recall that NASA patent. So, what are the losses in a lightly loaded
> motor, and what do you do outside of the motor to reduce them?
> 
> Harold
> 
> 
> > This goes back to a NASA patent from the '70's.  Nothing 
> new.  I suspect
> > his 'patent pending' depends upon some minor new quirk or 
> its simply an
> > 'application' and won't get any further.  It's been on the market in
> > many different forms, by many manufacturers.  It does work, 
> but savings
> > depends highly upon the application.  Best for a 
> long-running lightly
> > loaded motor - in many cases it doesn't provide any ROI, in fact no
> > savings if the motor is sized properly in the first place.  
> I've seen it
> > for less.  I believe the same technology is already built into many
> > high-end appliances.
> >
> > Here's the same thing:
> > http://www.powerefficiencycorp.com/
> > http://smservice.com/pwrcomm.htm
> > 
> http://mlmvs.trustpass.alibaba.com/product/11458622/Nesly_Powe
> r_Saver.ht
> > ml
> >
> > Usually more than just power factor compensating capacitors.
> >
> > Gary Crowell
> >
> >
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu
> >> [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf Of Martin Klingensmith
> >> Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2006 7:43 PM
> >> To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public.
> >> Subject: Re: [OT] Stockton Engineer Creates Energy Saving Device
> >>
> >> How much more vague could it be? It sounds like a free energy
> >> device. I
> >> don't know what it does. Nobody knows what it does. Are we
> >> just supposed
> >> to say "oh, cool"
> >> I can't find any patents with his name either. Who knows.
> >> --
> >> Martin K
> >>
> >> Jinx wrote:
> >> >> http://cbs13.com/local/local_story_347191740.html
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> > "Chuck Larue may be the man who drastically cuts your
> >> electricity bill"
> >> >
> >> > Realising that the device seems to be just for motors, I 
> suspected
> >> > that the press had gone all hyperbolic again - 
> "drastically" - but
> >> > then thought about his customer base
> >> >
> >> > Do homes in the "US And A" ** have many motors, such as AC,
> >> > fans, etc ? I'm pretty sure the only motor in most NZ 
> homes, being
> >> > a temperate climate, is in the refrigerator
> >> >
> >> > Just a quibble - the article says that a 1/3 HP motor was using
> >> > 180W. As a HP is (ideally) 746W that would make it a 1/4 HP
> >> > and with heat losses you'd expect input W to be higher. Not
> >> > picking on anyone, may not have been reported accurately
> >> >
> >> > ** Thank you Borat
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >> --
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