Is this a scam? - ECN Electrical Forums

My attention was drawn recently to a site promoting a device that appears to be a power-factor correction system : http://www.saveenergyllc.com/
All well and good, but they head up their web page with the claim that it will save 8% - 15% in your domestic electricity account!
I was not aware that domestic consumers got charged for a poor power factor, I thought it was pretty much universal to be charged for KWh, not KVAh. Am I right?
This looks like a scam to me. Comments, anyone?

Some of the claims for the device appear to be true, but saving a meaningful amount of money on your electric bill isn't one of them.

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In addition to big money savings, this device will help protect all your electrical and electronic investments against:

* Harmonic distortion
* Under Voltage
* Switching transient
* Power surge
* Frequency variation
* Power sag
* Over voltage

Wow, that's quite a gadget!

I notice they usually "test" these PF correctors with an unloaded motor. I suppose if you have a lot of machines spinning with no load on them this might save you some money but a properly designed motor/load combo may actually do worse with these magic boxes.
That is what Consumer Reports found using the "Green Plug" on a moderrn refrigerator.

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Save Energy LLC

Product Info

KVAR Power Factor 1200

You're using more electricity in your home today than ever before, it's still possible to lower your monthly electric bills with our Residential KVAR Power Factor 1200 Unit!

Why KVAR Power Factor 1200 Unit are so important?
As the demand for the depletion of our natural resources and rising fuel cost for energy increases, so does the need for additional power plants. Our KVAR participants have already saved enough money and energy to help avoid building one additional power plant and saved millions of tons in the emissions from greenhouse gases.

How KVAR Power Factor 1200 Unit is installed?
The KVAR Power Factor 1200 Unit is attached to the top 220/240 volt breaker/200amp service (we recommend to have your local electrician install for you). By installing the KVAR UNIT in this location, you are hitting both sides of the bus bar in your panel insuring whole house surge protection.

How do you achieve savings?
When motors in your home start, they ask the utilities transformer for power (voltage and amperage) to run. This demand for power runs through the house wiring, thru the panel box, thru the meter and down the lines to the transformer. This demand for power heats up and strains the motors and wiring in the home, this heat (I2R losses) is watts. The KVAR Power Factor 1200 Unit once installed stores and releases to the homes motors what they need to function properly, thus reducing heat on the wires and the motors. Lowering this heat will reduce your electric bill, reduce the chance of fires and increase the life of the motors. Note: The KVAR Power Factor 1200 Unit is compatible with installation on the "older" designed fuse boxes.

Ahh OK.

It kind of sounds like this has some big capacitors in it with some surge protection. I like how it is rivited shut, I am sure if the rivits are removed - warranty is void. Saving energy... just another gimmick devide.

~Matt