Bogus Energy Saver: Power Correction Capacitor Disguised under Beautiful Casing or Packaging



On Energy Saver, there are bogus ones in the market claimed that just by 

plugged in on to the power point socket or install on the main and using 

Current Meter to show you the "saving" by current. Please be aware and 

insist to check on Watt or KWH not current alone because Electricity 

Consumption are NOT charged by electrical current but by Energy Unit, KWH 

or 1000 x Watt x Hour. The main component is a >50uF Capacitor which cost 

less than S$10 a piece. There are actually used for Power Correction for AC 

Supply with Induction load to reduce current flow not for saving energy 

(KWH). You can find them already in action in every Fluorescent Lamp 

Fitting or high induction base appliances such as Fan, Motor, Air-con, 

refrigerator etc.. Such Power Correction Product or sometimes called 

Capacitor Bank used for KVA (Apparent Power) for High Tension User using a 

lot of induction base appliances mostly used in big factory.



Notes:

KVA or VA is Apparent Power

KW or W (Watt) is True Power and this is how we are charged for Electricity 

Consumption.



This is how we calculate our electricity bill:

$$$= KWH x Tariff = (1000) x (Watt) x (Number of hours used) x (Tariff)



Power = Current x Voltage x Power Factor  (P=I x V x PF)



For DC supply with induction load,

PF=1,  P = I x V

So if I reduced, P reduced

Adding a capacitor does not reduce I, so P remain

So NO saving.



But for AC application:

PF<1, so P = I x V x PF does not equal P = I x V

Adding a capacitor reduced I but PF will increased by the same amount

So I decreased but PF increased correspondingly and the result?

NO Saving.



By Appliance Innovation Pte Ltd