Saving 10% to 25% on the electric bill

[Egon]

Have you guys heard of this: http://www.azpower-save.com/1200.html

You add this box to your circuit breaker panel and it will save power on electric motors used in your house. It also increases the life of the motors because it lowers the heat generated by the motor. I figured this would be perfect for the Monster Fish Keepers like us that have numerous pumps moving thousands of gallons of water.

Save cash $$$
Increase the life of your electric pumps/motors

I found it for $170 on e-bay. I think I'm going to buy one, install it, and report out to this form on the results

 

[rallysman]

So is this just a residential power factor correction?

 

[Bizzaro]

I dont under stand how it can work... how can something tell if its a motor thats blugged in unless it direct connect to the item it self.... even then the braker only send out elec to the wires.... Think ur getting scammed.... Like those little mag u can stick on ur (little thing that spins around and around) reading box to slow it down...

 

[rallysman]

I dont under stand how it can work... how can something tell if its a motor thats blugged in unless it direct connect to the item it self.... even then the braker only send out elec to the wires.... Think ur getting scammed.... Like those little mag u can stick on ur (little thing that spins around and around) reading box to slow it down...

It's feasible. We have something similar to what I assume this is on a much larger scale where I work. I makes a tremendous difference for commercial applications. It's interesting to see if it'll make a difference in a residential application. If it has nothing to do with power factor, then never mind. lol.

 

[Banjardini]

I'm not sure about this product sometime ago they were selling something like this in the Philippines, turns out to be a contraption that jams the meter. lol

 

[rallysman]

For all of those interested, here is what I'm talking about http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_factor_correction

I just spoke with the electrician where I work to ask him about residential power factor correction devices and he said that they do work. Apparently he was talking with someone today who had one on their house and it paid for itself in about a year.
Since MFKers typically use more power than a "normal" person this could yield an even greater ROI.

I'm going to look into this some more.

 

[JakeH]

Looks like a big capacitor-style voltage regulator. Excess current gets stored in low-draw times (at night), then gets used when draw goes up. Motors should last longer running at constant voltage/amperage, instead of pulling more amps when voltage gets sucked up. Taking your house from a .77 PF to a .98, though? I think not. Maybe if you replaced ALL the wiring in your house, too. You lose power through inductance, resistance, capacitance & wire heating (a product of resistance). Getting .98PF in your house would require much more than a $200 box can provide. Your monthly bill should drop, though. Let us know how it goes!

 

[invisyblegypsey]

they work. i had one on my last house. was going to add one to this new place but have decided i am going total solar this fall.

 

[Egon]

So is this just a residential power factor correction?

Yes this is just residential but they have commercial also, most likely just a larger unit to handle more power

 

[Egon]

they work. i had one on my last house. was going to add one to this new place but have decided i am going total solar this fall.

A friend of mine just went solar (same company as this thread) $40K investment after all the tax cuts and rebates. He has $0 electric bill and he says it will only take him 8 years to break even???? That comes out to about $400 a month and change. I only pay $300 a month in the summer (Arizona) but he keeps his AC at 70 degrees and believes the electric cost are only going to go up in price pushing his break even point closer. Who has $40K sitting around? I can't even get a line of credit on my house right now lol!