What do you think about this "new" power saver?

[hockeyoligist2]

Just saw the ad on tv. Thought I would pass it on. It's hard to see the amp meter. But a homeowner probably would think wow!


Another power saver ad on TV
http://www.power-savetv.com/ then click on, VIEW OUR PRODUCT DEMO !

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I think that a fool and his money are soon parted!!
Don

 

[celtic]

If I daisy-chain them, will my electric bill be only the distibution fee?

 

[mdshunk]

It's a power factor correction cap, plain and simple. I'm on their list of installers, but I don't expect that the calls will come flooding in. I'll install whatever hocus-pocus a customer wants to pay for. While I'm there, maybe I can do something legitimate like put GFCI's in the kitchen and baths. A lead is a lead. Make hay when the sun shines, maybe sell a Gentran panel.

 

[robbietan]

Its funny how these 'infomercials' always show an ammeter, they never show a wattmeter or a voltmeter plus ammeter.

I have even seen one use a 'cheap' ammeter, those not-true-RMS ammeter type in these infomercials

 

[infinity]

Its funny how these 'infomercials' always show an ammeter, they never show a wattmeter or a voltmeter plus ammeter.

I have even seen one use a 'cheap' ammeter, those not-true-RMS ammeter type in these infomercials

Would a true RMS ammeter make any difference in a two-wire circuit?

 

[robbietan]

yes, if you have loads like CFLs which one infomercial actually used.
the current reading there will be different

 

[Jraef]

Snake oil!

Snake oil!

The internet has spawned a profusion of these snake-oil sellers now. It used to be that the cost of them having to drive from city to city looking for suckers kept their numbers in check, now they can spend $25/year for a cheap web host and sell them to a bazillion suckers!

I just did an evaluation for someone on another brand, but exactly the same technology (a PFC cap and filter). They were so bold as to post their test results from an independent testing lab in Texas. I think they were assuming that nobody would actually read it, or those that did wouldn't know what it was saying. If you actually read the data, it proved their device didn't work. The report just failed to mention that the meter on the side of your house only reads WATTS, not amps. They did 5 experiments. All of them showed the amps dropping, but 4 out of the 5 showed NO savings in WATTS. 3 of those actually showed the watts going UP! On the one that did show a savings, it was 7 watts out of 449 total, so that's a savings of 1-1/2%. At $200 up front (not including installation) and assuming 11 cents per kWH, the payback time was more than 23 years! I doubt the caps would last that long either.

 

[petersonra]

What is Power Factor?
Power factor is the percentage of electricity that?s delivered to your house and used effectively, compared to what is wasted. For example, a 1.0 power factor means that all the electricity that?s being delivered to your home is being used effectively for its purpose. However, most homes in America today have a .77 power factor or less. This means that 77% of the electricity that is coming thru your meter at your home or business is being used effectively, the other 23% is being wasted by your inductive load. With a low power factor, the utility has to deliver more electricity to do the same work. However, the Power-Save 1200? increases that power factor in most cases to .97 or .98, thus increasing the effective use of your electricity and lowering your usage.

Their explanation of how the unit works is all it takes for me to say "no thanks"!. I wonder how long it will take the FTC to get involved.

 

[jtester]

There seems to be a recent proliferation of these. I was contacted by a customer who has 2 by a different supplier, RCSI, installed on a trial basis. Their guarantee says if it doesn't work as advertised, they'll send more of them.

When I pointed out to the company, that utilities usually bill on watts and watt hours, not volt amps and volt amp hours, they said utilities have a conspiracy, unknown to the public, where they are changing out their meters from KWH meters to KVAH meters.

I pointed out that the theory of metering requires the use of pf in making the meter spin. They said I just didn't understand.

My customer is waiting to see if his bill goes down.

Jim T

 

[hockeyoligist2]

Let us know if the bill goes down! And be sure to point out that the heat or AC may not have ran as much if the weather has been the same as here. It has been really nice the last month here so no AC or heat, so my bill dropped about $50. If someone had just installed one of these contraptions they would say WOW it dropped my bill $50! LOL

 

[brian john]

If you install something you know is less than honest?.well what kind of statement does that make about the quality of service you offer, not a criticism just a plain simple question

 

[petersonra]

If you install something you know is less than honest?.well what kind of statement does that make about the quality of service you offer, not a criticism just a plain simple question

I don't have a problem with an EC installing a customer supplied device, whether it works or not. As long as the EC is not touting any benefits from said device that don't actually exist.

 

[allenwayne]

P.T. Barnum said.There is a sucker born every minute.This is no different than buying a pill to make a man larger -> -------> Which evangelist was it that came up with.I have to raise so much money or g_d will take me away.
Give me a break !!!!!!! Ok I`m sarcastic but this stuff just gets me going.Kinda like lethal injection is cruel punishment.

 

[catchtwentytwo]

Its too bad that people fall for this type of product. In part the promoters prey upon the "___________ want this kept off the market" belief of some (fill in the blank with government, oil companies, power companies, etc.). The lure of "beating the system" and/or "its not a lot of money" thinking is seductive.

As for the efficacy of our industry installing it, I'm not sure it is any better than some of the early uses of electricity as cure-alls. That being said, does anyone know what % or $ an EC gets to install these?

 

[brian john]

Myself I would not get involved in installing any devices that I know is, well hocus pocus. I would try and educate my customer or tell them to hire someone else. My reputation is more important than a few bucks, and believe me whether they furnished it or you do, your name is hung on it.

 

[tom baker]

Its only effect to correct the power factor if the utility meter measures power factor.
A commerical with an ampmeter would be a change. Seems like anything hi-tech (what ever that is) always has an oscilloscope.

 

[Jraef]

... Their guarantee says if it doesn't work as advertised, they'll send more of them. ...

That is the funniest thing I have heard all week!

(OK, it's only Monday, but I doubt I'll hear anything better).

 

[petersonra]

P.T. Barnum said.There is a sucker born every minute.This is no different than buying a pill to make a man larger -> -------> Which evangelist was it that came up with.I have to raise so much money or g_d will take me away.
Give me a break !!!!!!! Ok I`m sarcastic but this stuff just gets me going.Kinda like lethal injection is cruel punishment.

This may be a little OT, but I just love the Bob ads for enzyte. They are so bad they are good.

 

[jtester]

Bad news for my client. His electric consumption went down. His demand was 57 KW in 11/05 and 51KW for 11/06. His energy consumption went down from 26,320kwh for the month of 11/05 to 24,400 kwh for the month of 11/06.

I think he doubts that this "energy saving device" actually worked, but the promise was fulfilled, and my client will probably be out more than $3,000 for the purchase.

There is no way capacitors and a tvss can cut this hamburger joint's electric bill, but the Owner pays because he sold fewer hamburgers, because the weather was a bit cooler, or something.

Jim T