From: muratlanne@gmail.com   
      
   "Mho"  wrote in message   
   news:NJEur.18724$x11.13805@newsfe21.iad...   
   > Not quite true.   
   >   
   > The way I understand these boxes is they lower the voltage to motors   
   > running at bad power factors. A synchronous motor then has to pull   
   > more current at the lower voltage to produce the same HP and the   
   > phase angle of the load now becomes closer to unity pf. While that   
   > may, in itself affect the power showing up in a residential kWh   
   > meter the motor runs cooler and the loss of energy due to motor heat   
   > is reduced. Efficiency of the motor is increased and real power is   
   > decreased. Residential bill payers can benefit but I suspect it   
   > isn't very much difference.   
   >   
   > I have never actually experimented with one on accurate metering   
   > devices..   
      
   That might be worth trying with a KillAWatt and a Variac, which can   
   transform lower lowered voltage to higher current efficiently.   
      
   This shows how power factor improves as the load on a motor approaches   
   its design rating:   
   http://www.motorsanddrives.com/cowern/motorterms16.html   
      
   I can't think of many household motors that run lightly loaded often.   
   My washing machine varies between ~500W spinning empty and ~800W   
   agitating a full load.   
      
   Maybe the metal lathe would benefit when I make small brass parts but   
   it isn't a common home appliance, rather a typical highly variable   
   industrial load.   
      
   jsw   
      
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