Energysaver 1800

[Matt Fellman]

Home Page (http://energysaver1800.com/Home_Page.html)

I was sent this link and am interested in what you guys think?

Particularly the "how it works" section. I'm told this is big stuff in Europe and something similar is even required by code in some areas... Scotland I think was one.

Anyway, if nothing else, it's an interesting concept.

[Jim Luttrall]

Snake oil.

[David Wood]

Probably power factor correction capacitors. They are used in industrial applications where they get billed extra for a poor power factor.

I don't think a residential meter is even capable of measuring power factor (maybe the new ones are?).

[Jim Robinson]

I think they used to sell magnets that you could place on your fuel line and increase your mileage by 70%,

[Darrel Hood]

There is a distributor for these in my area, and I am beginning to be asked an occasional question about them by clients. My gut says they are just another black box gimmick. But they do have a history of success in industrial applications. I would really like to know more about if they work in residences so I can be more helpful to my clients. Does anybody have useful experience or information about these devices?

Thanks,

Darrel Hood
DILIGENT PROPERTY SERVICES

[Tony Cole]

Just a box of capacitors. Power factor correction in homes is useless. Utilities do not charge for poor power factor in residential meters. The assumption is that residential loads are so close to unity that the higer priced meters capable of power factor and demand measurements are not worth the return. The idea has been tossed around with the new smart meter technology to look into charging for poor power factor, but as of yet, I haven't heard of a utility doing so.

[Sal Castro]

I agree. Sounds like a Power Factor Correction Capacitor. Not valuable on a residential meter.

I have had this debate with many salesmen. Their website describes "watts" and infers that watts will be reduced. In reality, watts are not changed by a power factor correction capacitor. They only affect (lower) VAR's or reactive power, which overheats the generator and is a problem for the utility, but not readable by most meters which only see watts over time.

[Vern Heiler]

As I remember it, the residential power meter turns by eddy currents set up in the aluminum disk, by off set electro magnets. The phase off set of the voltage and current is compensated for by the way the meter measures the power used. Its been almost 40 years since I studied this so correct me if I am wrong.

[Bruce Adams]

This looks like a scam to me. It is manufactured by a unknown manufacture. Sold on the internet under several names for anywhere from $400.00 to $1000.00. Three of the name is, Electric Saver Nitro, Electric Saver 1200, and Energy Saver 1800. It just plugs into an outlet in your home. I has nothing to do with your meter. I believe I would stay away from it. Seen a couple have not said anything about them.
Bruce

[Jim Luttrall]

Kind of like a rabbits foot, copper bracelets, and crystals; some people swear by them... others swear at them. Some of what I have seen "appears" to have some surge protection for the home but these things are long on promises and short on proof.

[Scott Patterson]

I think they sell something like that at Lowe's and Home Depot.

[Steve Karr]

In the description of how it works, it sounds a lot like a motor start-up capacitor. As for claims of saving electricity, who knows. The current savings that they are talking about is the start-up surge, which only lasts a few tenths of a second. This is hardly long enough to heat anything up to where power dissipation (IE heat) savings would be significant. I think there maybe more to extending motor life from having the energy (BTW energy is measured in joules that they speak to) available at the motor to get the RPM up to normal running parameters quickly.

[Matt Fellman]

The night I posted this I also emailed my sister, a physics teacher at the local community college. She was away on vacation but just replied to me tonight. Her comments are below.... basically, there's no science to support it. As some mentioned, it does have some use in industrial applications but basically none for residential.

Comments from physics professor/sister:

OK, here's what I've found out. This device can help synchronize the current and voltage highs and lows, thereby increasing the "power factor" which determines how much energy is used for a limited number of appliances. I even have an equation for it, but who cares. What it comes down to is that most household appliances do not involve a "power factor" and will be completely unaffected by this device, saving no energy at all. In a few cases (things where a motor is involved) there will be a small advantage, but the cost savings are basically irrelevant for household use. The only real application for these things is in industry where they can have a huge impact on energy usage. This thing is sold under at least three names:

Electric Saver Nitro, Electric Saver 1200, and Energy Saver 1800.
Here are the best links I found:
http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_inspection/electrical-systems-home-inspection-commercial-inspection/22887-energysaver-1800-a.html
Does the Electricity Saver Nitro and other electricity savers work and how many watts do you need? - Yahoo! Answers (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090311233129AAivanU)
Electric Saver Nitro - Scam Review | open4energy (http://open4energy.com/forum/home/scam/electric_saver_nitro)
Anyone use a power-saver 1200 to lower your electric bill? - Yahoo! Answers (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060829183242AANwIbE)
It seems that it was developed for industrial use, and is now being marketed inappropriately for household use.

Edit: Ironcially, the first link my sister came up with was my post on this site :)