Low Powerfactor
- Thread starter JdoubleU
- Start date
- Status
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
If it's not causing problems, and the POCO isn't penalizing you for the low PF, nothing. 
brian john
Senior Member
- Location
- Leesburg, VA
Retro fit those old ballast.
I agree with Brian John, retro-fit those ballasts. With a power factor that bad, they are costing you way more to operate than they need to. If the lights are rarely used and your not being penalized for PF, then you might want to leave well enough alone. Also, check with your local power provider, many of them have a rebate program in place that will pay for a good portion of an energy efficiency effort such as lighting retro-fits.
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
As an EC that needs work, replace them all now, your pf may go up, your utility bill will go down because of ballast efficiency, your lighting level may go up and I will make a sl of money.
As a tax payer leave it alone. We can't afford another hit right now.
As a tax payer leave it alone. We can't afford another hit right now.
PowerQualityDoctor
Senior Member
- Location
- Israel
I can think on two sources for this issue:
1. Malfunctioning capacitors in the fixtures
2. Too high harmonic level
If 1 - check if you have capacitors and measure their consumption.
If 2 - if you have central power factor correction system, try to disconnect it and see how it affects the harmonic level.
The implications are reduced efficiency. The amount of losses and the ROI on retro-fit (which will not help in case of 2) depends on the utility charges and the wiring cutouts and lengths.
1. Malfunctioning capacitors in the fixtures
2. Too high harmonic level
If 1 - check if you have capacitors and measure their consumption.
If 2 - if you have central power factor correction system, try to disconnect it and see how it affects the harmonic level.
The implications are reduced efficiency. The amount of losses and the ROI on retro-fit (which will not help in case of 2) depends on the utility charges and the wiring cutouts and lengths.
- Status