Erudite electrician required!

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 21:41

I am not a 'sparky' but need advice on a new box which has been newly imported that when fitted to an A/C unit reduces the consumption of elex units used in Summer by 40% and 50% in Winter without affecting output! Is this possible or another con? Something to do about leveling out elex input.



Richard

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 22:27

It is a con. Probably it reduces the elecrical current drawn from the mains but it does not alter the amount of units your meter registers. So it is a con.



Let me explain it technically as best I can. The mains electricity is alternating current i.e. it goes positive and then negative 50 times every second. The current drawn by electrical motors etc. also fluctuates 50 times from positive to negative and back to positive at the same rate. However the voltage (pressure) and the current are not in step and the current lags behind the voltage just a little. This means that for a very small fraction of a second the voltage and the current are of opposite polarities, thus it gives back energy to the system. The meter records the "net" amount used i.e. the energy drawn minus the energy given back.



The gadgetprobably contains a capacitor which draws current but the current "leads" the voltage i.e. exactly opposite the motor. Thus this gadget eliminates the "reactive" power i.e. the amount constantly drawn and then given back and leaves behind only the "active" power. The meter registers the active power only, thus the use of this gadget does not alter what your meter registers and hence no savings.

ismet

michelle3012


Joined: 07/11/2008
Posts: 578

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 22:30

My Husband also an electrician and he said NO ITS A CON, he said if it was that easy then every house, building etc in the world would have it!

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
28/06/2009 23:12

Cheers all, my sentiments reconfirmed.



Richard

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
29/06/2009 13:12

Hi Brinsley,



If you buy a/c which is inverter driven then substantial savings can be made. This is because a (compressor) motor running at partial load uses a dissproportianate amount less electricity than one running at full load.

Inverter-based air conditioners have their strengths in environments where a partial load is common as they are significantly more efficient than conventional air conditioners in these situations. For most households inverters are the preferred option as part load is the common mode there. The higher initial expense is balanced by lower energy bills. In a typical setting the pay-back time is about two years.