Debunking Chinese Power Saving Tools

#greatscott #science #engineering #diy #debunked

[ŽaliaUgnis]

That's why i don't trust everything i see on the internet.

[heikoindenbirken]

The energy meter does not recognize this current, but the cables do. So there may be a benefit of a few cents per decade. And a big risc too.

[WayOfTheZombie]

Smart meters most certainly do record reactive power as extra power used.

[NinoJoel]

These actually are dangerous.
Manny still hold a 230v charge after unplugging and can kill you when you touch the unplugged cord.

They also tend to start fires since Manny of the used capacitors are factory rejects that previously where scrapped and resold on the black market

[namehidden]

Technically, the capacitor actually consumes a little power.

[malipek]

Soon all energy meters will be replaced with "smart" ones. They measure reactive power.

In Poland private consumers don't pay for reactive power usage, but this may change any time...

[DRC_]

Most loads in the home are resistive anyway. Most large switching supplies have PFC, stoves and appliances are mostly big resistors. The only real inductive load in the home is a refrigerator, and even then it is only on part time. Only other thing I can really think of is power tools and those are used relatively briefly, not long enough to matter.

[BHxr]

a proper PFC device could definitely help, especially nowadays where almost everywhere in Europe smart meters are getting rolled out, which definitely measure power factor etc.

the good old disc meters don't tho

[AtulSohan]

Common household energy meters in India can read, record and charge for POWER FACTOR.

[cheweh]

Clearly these products aren't worth anything, but I would like to learn more about reactive power. I've heard that some places DO charge for reactive power, partly because it is such a significant cost to any power company.

On the other extreme, if you aren't worried about sending reactive power to the power company, why wouldn't you make a device to MAXIMIZE your home's reactive power (to reduce the measured real power)? That would save you money, then, wouldn't it?

[TheRenaissanceBuilder]

Genuinely interested in feedback, i installed two mini split in my house, my power bill dropped to a minimum bill of just 35 bucks a month. The only thing i can figure is that having those capacitor banks tied to the mains is offsetting the power factor and while i know residential meters dont measure that it does seem to make a difference

[Hauketal]

And now debunk the little heaters, advertised as "warming up a whole room quickly at nearly no cost". I see them everywhere, including YT ads. Physics tells us they must be a scam.
How do they do it without being immediately obvious?

[nikodemgorka]

and most of the times you don't even pay for reactive power.

[kitcarlson]

Mathematically, real power is instantaneous cross product of V and I signals. Apparent power is V times I. There is much myth involved with power factor as phase shift, more complexity exists for non sinusoidal signatures. Rectification and bulk capacitance at front end of low end SMPS, results non linear loads.

[HighVoltageArcsrd]

Actually, in my country they use a mechanical power meter which have inductor inside to measure power instead of using digital meter, so this capacitor thingy makes the meter indicate wrong and makes user think that this divide saves electricity

[marvin]

An Inductor would probably be better for private homes. With all the LEDs and stuff. But that is the problem of the electricity provider.

[Sekir]

The reactive power is not measured, sure, but do we get a benefit if we use an off-grid system, meaning, batteries? Will the cos fi correction extends the battery usage?

[feridhf]

In fact the euro regulations oblige company like enedis (French distribution company) to count reactive power with the linky smart meter thats why on commercial advertisement they say KVA and in the past they say KWh. So i sorry friend but every thing has a price in Europe even reactive power

[bimmernavikoln]

Was kann man mit richtig grossen Kondensatoren anstellen? Solarmodule optimieren?

[davideyres]

Yep these are rubbish, but the smart meters in the uk have the ability to charge on power factor and the uk does surcharge for commercial power where the power factor is out. My guess is that once the majority have smart meters, we have electric cars and heat pumps then they will change it so that the power companies can charge for power factor.
Not sure what car chargers and heat pumps are like for power factor though, would love to know your thoughts.