Guess I should have done a message archive search. I didn't mean to start all this.
Chuck WB2EDV ----- Original Message ----- From: Gary Schafer To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2010 5:17 PM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Adding capacitors to lower electric bill The guy did ok on the first part explaining how power factor works but fell down when it comes to the "save money" part. The utilities do not charge you extra or give you a break if you do or don't have any power factor correction. Unless you are an industrial customer. I have seen demonstrations at shows where the guy trying to sell consumers power factor correction devices had a motor and an ammeter showing current draw. He then switches in a capacitor and shows you how the current drops and shows you how volts times amps reduces the wattage used. Only problem is the electric meter doesn't care what the power factor is! So the utility will bill you the same amount if you use power factor correction or not in your home. The other thing involved if you are going to do power factor correction is that it needs to be done on EACH motor or inductive device. If you just hang a capacitor across the main power line of the proper size when all motors are running it will correct that. But when a motor or other inductive device is shut down and the capacitor is still across the line, now it will have a capacitive load rather than an inductive load. Same problem; capacitive current that is out of phase. You can hook a large AC capacitor across your power line and measure the current thru it. It may look like you are drawing a lot of power thru it but the meter will not see it. Yes it cost the utility more to generate that extra current whether it be capacitive or inductive but you don't pay for it. If the utility was really worried about it they would give incentives for high power factor equipment or they would bill you like they do in industry. We are small potatoes to them. Trying to sell power factor correction to home owners and small business' is a scam. You save nothing on your bill! 73 Gary K4FMX
