Anonuser
join:2003-01-03
Milwaukee, WI
1 edit | Power Save 1200 ----Any one have experience this product?
»www.savepoweramerica.com/
Anyone here have experience with this product? I've been searching for reviews and such, but do not find many.
Their is a $500 tax credit, so I am giving it a try. I got a new unit on ebay from a distributor for about $200 less then they sell it on their site, so when it arrives on monday, I will hook it up and plug in my testers, give it a wirl, see what my lines power factor is and total wattage/amperage running some AC Units, a few Trintron monitors, fridge, toaster oven and cloths dryer ^_^
Thanks all!
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Do the Do! |
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rockotman
...Blown On The Steel Breeze
Emerging Research
join:2000-08-06
DSotM
clubs:
 ·Verizon FIOS
| Sounds like a cap bank to me. It states that the unit stores "reactive power".
Large electricity users with loads that draw a huge starting current can benefit by using them to correct the power factor and answer demand current during load start-up. Industrial electric utility customers are generally charged not only based on K-watts consumed, but also based on peak demand, as determined by a demand meter which monitors for large starting currents. These starting currents represent reactive power, but nonetheless result in real power losses throughout the utility's infrastructure as copper losses, requiring larger sized transformers and conductors throughout the infrastructure.
I seriously doubt that the typical homeowner could benefit from such a device, as the homeowner really doesn't have highly inductive loads to start. I wouldn't qualify a central AC unit or a refrigerator as a highly inductive load. At least tno compared to the types of loads that the utility companies worry about.
On the other hand, it could be a power-factor correcting inverter, that makes the load of your house, no matter what the overall power factor may be, look pretty much like a unity power factor to the utility. I still don't see it saving the homeowner much, as the typical house is pretty close to a unity power factor already - motor loads do make it slightly lagging, but I would think to not much more that 0.8 or 0.9.
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IllIlIlllIll
EliteData
Premium
join:2003-07-06
Lindenhurst, NY | reply to Anonuser
this sounds like another one of those devices like the "green plug".
dont they have a larger picture of it ?
i couldnt find any. |
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rockotman
...Blown On The Steel Breeze
Emerging Research
join:2000-08-06
DSotM
clubs:
·Verizon FIOS
1 edit | reply to Anonuser
Hmmmm... seems like the proprietor, Fred Council IV, is into other businesses as well...
»www.teamopportunityonetravelbiz.com/
Not only can you save money on your electricity, you can start your own travel business.
Go fred.
Google "Fred Council". He is into al kind of money making businesses.
Didn't you think to ask yourself why someone would be selling such a great money saver for over 40% off of the retail price?
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Is there anybody out there? |
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McSummation
Mmmm, Zeebas Are Tastee.
Premium,MVM
join:2003-08-13
Round Rock, TX | reply to Anonuser
It only has a 20 A rating. That's a single residential house circuit. Normally not much inductive load on those circuits anyway - fridge or washer. |
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Anonuser
join:2003-01-03
Milwaukee, WI | reply to Anonuser
I put a green plug on my grandmothers old freezer years ago, and her monthly bill dropped about $60.
Inductive loads would be motors correct? Things like electric water heaters, what would that be?
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Do the Do! |
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Anonuser
join:2003-01-03
Milwaukee, WI
1 edit | reply to Anonuser
I called in and asked, it attaches to the whole house, not a single circut. They told me 20ampier storage capicity, the unit itself handles up to 200 amp incomming service.
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Do the Do! |
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IllIlIlllIll
EliteData
Premium
join:2003-07-06
Lindenhurst, NY
| said by Anonuser  :I called in and asked, it attaches to the whole house, not a single circut. They told me 200 amp rating, so the site was probially a typo. than i would imagine this things is big, bulky and very heavy, besides expensive.
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IllIlIlllIll
EliteData
Premium
join:2003-07-06
Lindenhurst, NY
| reply to Anonuser
said by Anonuser :I put a green plug on my grandmothers old freezer years ago, and her monthly bill dropped about $60. Inductive loads would be motors correct? Things like electric water heaters, what would that be? didnt they stop making those "green plugs" because of the fire risks involved ?
i had a few of them, they arent really anything short of a high current variac/triac circuit.
the ones i had, i modified with better heat sinks to help dissipate the heat.
there was also a "running" voltage calibration control which i set to a lesser voltage than what it was set at, i think 109v from 119.
they work, but dont expect a refrigerator or a/c unit to work any better with it.
they work great for motors, increasing the current supplied if needed, sort of like a regulation circuit, only using needed current to get the "job" done.
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Anonuser
join:2003-01-03
Milwaukee, WI
| reply to Anonuser
If it increased the power factor, then it may help me out a bit.
Checked the PF on my 5k btu window AC in my bedroom, and it runs with the PF fluctuating between .78 and .85 It is also a high efficency AC. Although, it runs with that PF, it uses a sustained 354watts of power.
My TV runs with a PF of .88 and uses 120 watts. My trintron uses 200-ish watts, fluctuates Greatly, and the PF is .60
The full size high efficency fridge in the kitchen, has a PF of .92 and uses 100 watts when the compressor is running, and 130 watts when the door is open and the light is on.
I could not test the dryer, as it is 240v 40 amp, but I'm sure it sucks pleanty :P
I will hopefully find out monday or tuesday if the device works or not, if my meters dont measure properly with it on, then I will have to wait until my next bill. We have been using the AC's quite a bit with this heat, MUCH more power used then last month. So if our bill is similiar, lower, or real close, then it works!
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Do the Do! |
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McSummation
Mmmm, Zeebas Are Tastee.
Premium,MVM
join:2003-08-13
Round Rock, TX | quote:
Things like electric water heaters, what would that be?
Resistive load.
Electric dryers are mostly resistive, although the motor is inductive. |
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sdgthy
@optonline.net
| reply to Anonuser
Hmmm, my understanding was that NASA didn't allow the use of it's logo for the endorsement of any product: »www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/f···nes.html
Any which way, I emailed the NASA contact for logo useage, to check on that.
I call BS. Besides, PFC is a EU thing that has never been an issue in the US, unless maybe you have a demand meter. Unlikely as those are usually only for a bussiness. Not to mention that a UL listing means little, if it atleast had an ETL, CE, or even better a TUV listing, I might think otherwise. |
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electric6
@sbcglobal.net
| Specifications:
- Single Phase
- Utilizes Self-Healing Low Loss Capacitors
- 20 Year Design Life
- Surge Suppression – 2000 Joules
The unit appears to be a plastic capacitor bank.
I call BS. Besides, PFC is a EU thing that has never been an issue in the US, unless maybe you have a demand meter.
Unlike RoHS PF correction is a universal problem. Mandatory compliance could have prevented blackouts.
My TV runs with a PF of .88 and uses 120 watts. My trintron uses 200-ish watts, fluctuates Greatly, and the PF is .60
A capacitor bank does not correct rectifier type loads which may be more damaging than inductive type loads. |
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SparkChaser
'til we outnumber em
Premium
join:2000-06-06
Downingtown, PA
·Verizon FIOS
 ·Comcast
| reply to Anonuser
Still not sure about this one 
Anyway this looks like the mfg site »www.power-save.com/product.html it has more info
That other site looks a bit questionable, as was pointed out, with their generous use of logos. |
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Splitpair
Premium
join:2000-07-29
Cow Towne
 ·T-Mobile US
·T-Mobile US
 ·AT&T Southeast
1 edit | said by SparkChaser :Still not sure about this one Anyway this looks like the mfg site » www.power-save.com/product.html it has more info That other site looks a bit questionable, as was pointed out, with their generous use of logos. Aside from the fact that what they call a DOE report which supposedly supports the concept of their product is working with 100's of Kw's I think the key words in the report are "capacitor suppliers and engineering firms can provide the assistance you may need to determine the optimum power correction factor and to correctly locate and install capacitors in your electrical system."
As such just buying a box of caps and connecting it to the breaker panel may or may not have a positive effect on ones electric bill.
Wayne
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If you cannot fix it with a buttset and some beanies you ain't a technician. |
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Splitpair
Premium
join:2000-07-29
Cow Towne
·T-Mobile US
·T-Mobile US
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to Anonuser
said by Anonuser :Their is a $500 tax credit, so I am giving it a try. Where's that at?
Wayne
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If you cannot fix it with a buttset and some beanies you ain't a technician. |
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Anonuser
join:2003-01-03
Milwaukee, WI | reply to Anonuser
They want you to fill a text box out to request the form, I sent in my request for the form, probially get that monday due to it being weekend.
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Do the Do! |
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SparkChaser
'til we outnumber em
Premium
join:2000-06-06
Downingtown, PA | Okay Anonuser, you're the test subject. We're going to expect a full report, spreadsheet, powerpoint, the works. I hope you have off Monday to work on this  |
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Anonuser
join:2003-01-03
Milwaukee, WI
| reply to Anonuser
No, wife and myself own a nail and hair salon  I will be test it on monday night if it comes on time, DHL seems to have delayed shipment along one of the stopps
I'm installing this in my home first, give er a try, if it works, i'm going to move it to our shoppe, which uses quite a bit of electric. Air brush compressors, hair dryers, 80 gallon electric water heater, capichino machine, tv's, 4 ton AC unit with a 90,000 btu furnace, and exhaust fans up the wazoo
even if it saves 4-5% on my bill, that means I will have it paid for in 6 months with the savings (We have 200 amp service, and at times, use quite a bit of it with the Ac and water heater running)
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Do the Do! |
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electric6
@sbcglobal.net
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even if it saves 4-5% on my bill, that means I will have it paid for in 6 months with the savings (We have 200 amp service, and at times, use quite a bit of it with the Ac and water heater running)
It seems that you need a full energy audit to identify wasteful old appliances.
Properly insulated Water heater, high efficiency AC, and active drive AC motors for your fans would save a lot more. |
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