Obviously, applying a one-size-fits-all box of magic capacitors possibly augmented by a few MOVs for TSS is going to cause leading PF problems and actually increase the current draw during hours when the magic box is connected, but no inductive/motors are running.
So these products are doing something smart ~20% of the time, and possibly causing problems ~80% of the time.
So IF we were to do 'something' we need a non-magic small but correctly sized capacitor of the 'correct' type, installed at each individual load, so that the capacitor corrects the PF only when that load is 'ON'?
If so, then where is the easy-reference chart from these people for selecting the correct capacitor-in-a-box to install across the leads to each motor in a typical residential home?
You would think these products would love to get into a better market position where they could sell an entire "lineup" of such products, with various sizes and colors and flavors depending on the hp and voltage (120 or 240) ...except that after we're all done installing them and our PF at the house is a nice perfect 1.0...the kWh measured at the meter has changed by approximately 0.0.
The ONLY way an actual change could be seen at the meter, in my opinion, is if the Utility cheaped-out on the meters and bought kVA meters that simply 'multiply' by some assumed PF, possibly adjustable for calibration.
If so, the true kWh would still be the same, but the meter would be fooled by the addition of capacitors that allowed the user to operate closer to 1.0 PF than the assumption made by the Utility.
Every Utility I know of uses residential meters designed to measure Watts, and I do not know of any of the newer digital "smart" meters that would be fooled.
If real people were truly seeing a reduction in the kWh correctly measured by their meters, for the exact same loads, the Utilities would be selling these things...no, wait, they'd be giving them away!
In fact, it would be good for the Utility to invest in these if they worked "as advertised." Utilities would love for all users to be universally around 1.0 PF...but there is no incentive for the Utility to have residences sitting around en-masse with a leading PF screwing up the grid 80% of the time. RSanders
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