A lot of modern equipment like A/C, washing machines etc., now use inverters and dc motors to give soft start and variable run speeds/power. Mucking about with phase shift is asking for trouble. The inverter chips are going to love this! Not!
I did some investigation. If you lead current to volts by a power factor of 1.2 in an ordinary brush or induction motor designed to run at near unity PF at the design power, the heating effect in the windings goes up by 120 per cent squared, or 144%. Hot windings = less amps = shorter life = waste. Increased PF also reduces amperes in the windings, because the current and voltage sinewaves are offset by x electrical degrees. All the 'savings' come from downrating/cooking the motor.
Net savings effect: = Nil.
Long term effect: = Bill [ for new motor! ]
