All of the Power Save or PowerSave devices that claim to reduce your electricity bill, actually do not save you money. All of these "Power Saving" devices do the same thing, which is to add capacitance to the AC power line. This improves the Power Factor (PF) for an inductance device, like a fan, electric motor, old fluorescent light ballast, and voltage transformers. By adding capacitance to the circuit, you increase the Power Factor closer to 1 (one), which means you’re decreasing the Volt-Amps value closer to the real-power used value as measured in Watts which is what the electric power company charges you for.
Below are excerpts from articles written by an electrician who has tested some of these PowerSave or Power Save products:
- "…motors in your home are inefficient and consume more energy than they need.’ Well, that’s true of all motors, of course; they always consume more energy than they deliver to their mechanical load. But it’s a mistake to believe that power-factor improvement changes that, and improves their 'efficiency’. 'Efficiency’ is the ratio of output power to input power. In this context, 'output power’ and 'input power’ describe 'real power’, expressed in watts. Power-factor improvement only affects the motor’s 'apparent power', measured in volt-amperes. It has NO effect, whatsoever, on the motor’s true power measured in watts. The writer obviously is not aware of the difference!"
- "…we can help you reduce your power consumption.’ This is a classic error, written by individuals who know very little about electrical engineering. What’s wrong with it? Well, quite simply, you do not 'consume power’! 'Power’ is simply a rate: the rate at which you consume energy. So, here, the writer has confused 'power’ and 'energy’, probably because he doesn’t understand the difference! And, the only way to reduce the power of your load, is to reduce your load!"
- "...when motors or appliances on your property require power, they demand energy’. This sentence makes no sense whatsoever. When motors or appliances 'demand energy’, they require 'energy’, not 'power’. An absolutely brainless sentence!"
- "…The amount of watts your property consumes is measured at your power meter and you are billed for the watts your home or business has used’. Pretty basic mistakes, once again. 'Watts’ (power) aren’t 'consumed’ and homes aren’t equipped with 'power meters’. It’s 'kilowatt-hours’ (energy) that are 'consumed’, and they are measured with an 'energy meter’! And energy meters measure the amount of 'kilowatt-hours’ (not 'watts’) your home or business consumes. Again, the writer is unaware of the difference between power and energy, kilowatts and kilowatt-hours, and the fact that the meter at your property is an 'energy meter’, not a 'power meter’."
- "…By making your air conditioner, heat pump, pool/Jacuzzi pump, and other motor-driven appliances and equipment more energy efficient (4)’. Power-factor correction does NOT make your motors 'more energy efficient’."
- "…The PowerSaver 1200 recycles (otherwise lost energy/watts) and releases it back to your motors, appliances, and motor-driven equipment/machinery when needed '.This is complete and utter nonsense. Power-factor correction does NOT 'recycle lost energy’ and 'release it back to your motors…’! This statement is scientific drivel!"