Replies

1. 
   Stuart | Dec 31, 2007 05:28am | #1

   I'd save my money.  I believe all those products are basically providing power factor correction, which really isn't an issue for residences.  Here's a couple pages that address the Power-Saver:

   http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r19465574-Is-anyone-using-a-Power-Saver-1200

   http://www.mikeholt.com/newsletters.php?action=display&letterID=406&email=#comments

   I haven't run across the other brands before but I imagine they're using the same smoke and mirrors to sell their products.

2. 
   DanH | Dec 31, 2007 05:59am | #2

   They increase the power factor which MAY reduce your electric bill very slightly  (depending on the type of meter you have), but they don't actually save energy.  And they have no effect at all (or perhaps a negative effect) for resistive loads (heaters and incandescent lights) -- they really just work for motor loads (and magnetic fluorescent ballasts).

   If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
3. 
   renosteinke | Dec 31, 2007 06:42pm | #3

      We've been having loads of fun with those ads over at the electrical forums. Suffice it to say that the ad agencies have a very different view of electricity than the physics books!  Training electrons! Can your's play fetch?

      Well, if you're the marketer, they can fetch money from your pocket, to theirs. Errors in theory aside, the merchants are showing an amazing lack of double-blind test data.

        My verdict: They're pure hype.

1. 
   Stuart | Dec 31, 2007 07:43pm | #4

   There are any number of companies out there selling various gadgets that are claimed to save on electricity.  A couple years ago, one (I forget the company name offhand) was canvassing the Minneapolis area with some sort of surge suppressor they claimed would reduce power bills by smoothing out the sine wave.  One of my clients (a local community's water department) spent about $5,000 to have them installed in the motor control centers in all their wellhouses, without asking me about it first...I kind of felt bad when I had to tell them they had been taken for a ride.

1. 
   Jay20 | Jan 01, 2008 12:21am | #5

   I read  the references Stuart left. I got the gist of what was being explained, to say I understand it all was another matter. Anyway snake oil. Thanks to all for your help and thoughts. Jay