Ah Ha
I remember a bit about this from many years ago... Using a taped inductor
and a capacitor it is possible to pull the current so far out of phase with
the voltage the electric meter (works on mechanical ones) goes backwards
when a high current (cooker) is consumed. Not exactly sure how these work
but the inductor is taped and the capacitor is taken from N to the tap and
the line current through the whole winding. I think there was a magnetic
shunt in part of the winding and it was defiantly a gaped core about 3Kva
frame size and it was wound with about 8mm wire. I have seen one but it must
have been 15 yrs ago.
Maybe this is what it does but I doubt it...

Steve


-----Original Message-----
From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf Of
Mark Scoville
Sent: 24 January 2007 15:44
To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public.
Subject: [EE] Energy saving product? Yeah right.

Hi Piclisters,

My boss has asked me to evaluate a device (which I can't get a hold of to
see) which supposedly saves gobs of money on electricity (sound familiar).

Anyway, this device, hooks to the incoming power. My initial reaction was
"Oh, power factor correction". My boss says "oh no, they say this is not
power factor correction". Ok what is it then. Nobody is telling me. This is
all I am being told - I don't have any details.

Some of the claims for this magical device... (Feel free to laugh out loud
at some, most or all of these)

Motors run cooler
Light bulb and ballasts run cooler
Transformers, panels, switchgear, breakers, starters, controls run cooler
SCRs, diodes, switching transistors and microprocessors all run cooler
Switching power supplies are more stable
Process and production controls are more accurate and reliable
Air conditioning and refrigeration is more effective and reliable
In-House and outside maintenance and repair labor costs decrease
Equipment repair and maintenance parts cost decrease
Light bulb and ballast replacement costs decrease
Costs to production or process downtime are decreased
Computer data is more secure and safe
Computer operation is more reliable and safe
Communications systems are more reliable
Lights flicker less

I do know you can save some $$ with power factor correction - but I
seriously doubt some of the above claims. For example, how is hooking a
gizmo to my mains going to make my uP run any cooler? Light bulbs run
cooler?

They do stop short of telling me my hair will grow back and I'll lose 20
pounds.

I'm curious to hear comments from the list on some of the more "interesting"
claims :) Have fun.

-- Mark

Doesn't matter what your business card says...
We're all in the results business.



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