Teardown and test of a home power saving plug.

These "power saving" plugs are widely available on the Internet. The premise is that you plug them into ANY socket in your home and suddenly your electricity bill gets lower. These claims are usually backed up by testimonials from satisfied users who quote staggering savings on their electricity bills.
In reality the plugs have no significant effect on a home power bill, since the only effect they have is random compensation for any continuous inductive loads in the home like transformers in power supplies. But even then, it's just a random correction of power factor (relationship of the voltage waveform to the current waveform) and as this is not even monitored by most household meters it won't have any effect on your bills at all.
What's really notable about this particular unit is that it at least attempts to do something. Others I've looked at had the capacitor, but had one lead cut off it, rendering it useless! They also had bodged circuitry to light the LEDs. In this unit there's a fuse for safety, an active 5uF capacitor, small VDR/MOV for transient suppression and a modest bit of circuitry to drive the LEDs on the front. It still won't have any effect on your electricity bill, but at least it looks the part.

[richardgoins]

I was a industrial electrician for 30 years, and you provided a great explanation. Keep up the great work.

[skumhesten]

It doesn't do anything, but it does it really well.

[klkalenaloo]

Thank you Big Clive. We were about to order one of these power savers, and I’m glad I took the time to check it out with you.

[jdaywork]

I saw this advertised on Facebook. They said an 18 year old kid invented it to help save on power. It also made it sound like the power companies are supplying more power than needed.

[Cavalier_Steve]

Clive please don't do away with the maths I enjoy it especially when you keep saying I = V over R it really does help me for remembering the formulas. Also love it when you sketch out the circuits! Very helpful! Keep going as you are your videos are very entertaining and enjoyable!!!

[jokeen]

As a career training manager for skilled trades and engineering, I’m delighted to find it can be entertaining! And even save our unemployed from wasting what little $ we have! Kudos, Clive!

[kengamble]

Well you say " the boring as shit math" but as far as I'm concerned it's not ! Maybe it's just me but the more times I see it done the better chance of it sticking in my brain, so you go ahead and do all the math you care to !
Many years ago one of my teachers would make us do square root problems with just pen and paper. I didn't understand at the time why because the small handheld calculator had just become available and I had one ! It would take a few sheets of paper to do one problem but it stuck with me and that was over forty years ago !
Thank you sir for your time!

[julianpearce]

I recall my brother in law bought one of these because he was told that it would save power running his freezer. I only became aware of it when he was concerned it was getting a little warm.
I was happy to provide a simple and effective solution. I filed the device under "R"
(or G for garbage if you are reading this in the USA)

[SpotTiger]

"Stops appliances from getting fever" Nearly shat meself!! 😆

[koryyyy]

Best review ever of that crappy "energy saver" I almost bought one to take it apart.

[corp-fhcp]

Excuse me, BUT you totally ignored the main benefit of this device: "reducing the electric appliance getting fever." You did not do even one fever test!!

I can attest that ever since I bought this device, NONE of my appliances have contracted fever. AND that gives me a nice peace-of-mind. The powers within this device are almost as precious to me as all the "extended home warranties" that I compulsively buy - ha!

[RateYourAdverts]

You have a GREAT way of explaining things to us who have a little electronics background.

I LOVE IT!
Keep up the videos..

Dano

[bluephreakr]

I also have to say, David Jones has nothing over your voice. I could listen to you all day long. And in fact I've had; Been watching a lot of the stuff that was randomly suggested.

[johndoyle]

Clive, many thanks, very informative as always.
As others have commented please keep up the Maths(Math for our US friends).
My Dad taught me Ohms law at an early age, he used a triangle with E at the apex, and IR beneath, and an aide memoir of East India Railways. Put your finger over say "E" and the equation is what is left visible, "IR".
He was in the Royal Corps of Signals in WW2, he helped me build a crystal set, and later a Transistor radio, we even wound the coils round a ferrite rod.

[zaprodk]

Clive, the math is /not/ boring. I quite enjoy it!

[IceCrossFire]

Facebook is making the rounds again. The "official" website even says it's the 2nd year this product has been out. Your video is 6 years old. Thanks for posting this.

[heliczer]

I have put an EcoWatt in every socket in my home, and as I am not able to plug anything in anymore, they have saved me a fortune.

[CandiceNC]

Really wish I had watched this prior to buying one. Thanks for your break down.

[mariner]

At college in the 1960's we were introduced to "power factor correction devices" by our lecturer. They were a bit bigger then but the principal (scam) was the same.
Thanks Clive (I used to dry my boiler suits on the PF Correction boxes on my last ship !)

[kenfoland]

When you open a brand new purchase and you hear that large solder blob clanking around inside, it gives you confidence that it was well soldered.