Re: Electric Power Conservers: Scam or No Scam?

My mother-in-law bought two of those types of gadgets 2-3 years ago, when it first came out. I don't know about the others but in spite of having spent around 5-7K on those devices, my mom-in-law has yet to reap any significant benefit from those two gadgets that are supposed to provide her with electricity bill savings.

Re: Electric Power Conservers: Scam or No Scam?

so scam siya, nicolodeon?

the ads really look very convincing!

does the DTI have the duty of testing such products and protect the public from such false claims ? the ads kasi claim the products have all these certifications from various agencies in different countries...

Re: Electric Power Conservers: Scam or No Scam?

Believe me, i am managing a sizable manufacturing plant and those who offered various power savers failed miserably to our test. We should be a good catch, were using almost half-million in power cost.

Re: Electric Power Conservers: Scam or No Scam?

thanks manggyver!

so if they "failed miserably" in your tests means only one thing -- that these 'power savers' are just overpriced electric-powered floor decors.

salamat sa advice... will just switch the channels everytime i see their infomercials 🙂

Re: Electric Power Conservers: Scam or No Scam?

so scam siya, nicolodeon?

the ads really look very convincing!

does the DTI have the duty of testing such products and protect the public from such false claims ? the ads kasi claim the products have all these certifications from various agencies in different countries...

Hmm...I don't think so because if hey did have some DTI approval, I would've seen a sticker of some kind on the box or on the units themselves.

Re: Electric Power Conservers: Scam or No Scam?

The only thing that works for me when I buy a new appliance like aircon or ref is to check the EER, or energy efficiency ratio which is mandated to be attached to new appliances for sale. This is a yellow sticker that clearly shows a number. A higher number, the more efficient in the use. My aircon which has an electronic thermostat, thermometer and timer has an EER of 12, a good number. Some of the older ones have 8 or 9. In other words, I save up to 1/3 the electricity with this aircon rather than using one of the older ones.

Re: Electric Power Conservers: Scam or No Scam?

hey peeps. first time post here. 🙂

about those energy saving devices, let's just put it this way, if they are really that effective, even without advertising, they should already be a common household appliance. by word of mouth, this product should be an instant hit.

if it really reduced your power consumption, it's because it probably switches the electricity on and off repeatedly in a fraction of a second, simply put. that's of course, in my own opinion. 😉

Re: Electric Power Conservers: Scam or No Scam?

FYI,

In the U.S. and E.U., all their fluorescent and similar type of light fixtures all have a built in capacitor that 'smooths' out the voltage/current and this allows these fixtures to function in such a way that you save electricity.

Have opened one of those power saver gadgets for a friend who says he has saved money with this both in his bookstore in GreenHills and in his house by Santolan. He has 2 units and the switches were not of good quality so they burned out (failed), so all I did was to connect one wire to the other.

All that is inside is a big capacitor and that is it !! If this is the same as all those little capacitors in all those fixtures in the U.S & E.U., then perhaps there might be some truth to this.

It may cost an 'arm and a leg' at first, but am not sure that such gadgets are all rip-offs. Buyer beware though !! Ask about warranties.

P.B.G.A. 🙂

Re: Electric Power Conservers: Scam or No Scam?

meron na rin po sa malls nito. me mga demo sila on front of Ace n Handyman. tpos me 2 month money back warranty pa sila.

around 2k ata cost.

Re: Electric Power Conservers: Scam or No Scam?

Capacitors in the line are power factor correctors. When you use big induction motors like those in factories or aircon compressors in big buildings, the power factor becomes less than ideal and the electric meter shows that you are consuming more electricity than you are actually using. A big capacitor is put on the line to correct the power factor.

The ballast in transformer type fluorescent lamps also affect the power factor, and small capacitors can be used to correct the power factor.

Specifying the correct capacitor is involved. I don't think that you can have a one-size fits all approach. This is probably the reason why some people experience savings and some not.

Re: Electric Power Conservers: Scam or No Scam?

Yes it is a scam if you are expecting that the device, being peddled as energy saving one, actually cut electric power without affecting the performance of your home appliance.

But no, it is not a scam, if you consider the savings incurred with the various electrical loads (usually inductive or motors/transformers) in your house. You can verify it yourself by looking at your electric bill on that part that says power factor correction in percentage. Many houses do not need that device when power factor stands between 95% to 99% but will need such kind of a device if you see that the power factor correction stated in the Meralco bill is lower than 90%. You will note that a corresponding amount is subtracted when it is above 90%, (spelled as savings), but an amount is added if it's below that percentage (spelled as added expense).

Re: Electric Power Conservers: Scam or No Scam?

I don't think residential users are charge for having a low power factor, only industrial users are.

Re: Electric Power Conservers: Scam or No Scam?

Now that we are on the subject of power factor correction, any rules of thumb on the size of capacitor to use for a certain type of inductive load, say a 1 hp aircon?

What type of capacitors should be used? Can motor start and motor run capacitors be used? Where is the capacitor placed, across the line or in series with the load?

Re: Electric Power Conservers: Scam or No Scam?

The capacitors are placed in parallel with the load. The total amount of capacitance depends on the load. Typically, I believe the capacitor bank is sized based on the nominal load, the actual instantaneous load of course varies.

I am not 100% sure but I believe that one would be doing is exactly the same as what is done when one compensates a probe of an oscilloscope.

Again I'm guessing but yes I think starting capacitors will do.

If you guys need more info, I'll try to get my friend who does this kind of stuff to join in. But like I said unless the power utility is measuring your power factor and charging for it, there is really no need.