These "power saving" plugs are widely available on the Internet. The premise is that you plug them into ANY socket in your home and suddenly your electricity bill gets lower. These claims are usually backed up by testimonials from satisfied users who quote staggering savings on their electricity bills.
In reality the plugs have no significant effect on a home power bill, since the only effect they have is random compensation for any continuous inductive loads in the home like transformers in power supplies. But even then, it's just a random correction of power factor (relationship of the voltage waveform to the current waveform) and as this is not even monitored by most household meters it won't have any effect on your bills at all.
What's really notable about this particular unit is that it at least attempts to do something. Others I've looked at had the capacitor, but had one lead cut off it, rendering it useless! They also had bodged circuitry to light the LEDs. In this unit there's a fuse for safety, an active 5uF capacitor, small VDR/MOV for transient suppression and a modest bit of circuitry to drive the LEDs on the front. It still won't have any effect on your electricity bill, but at least it looks the part.
In reality the plugs have no significant effect on a home power bill, since the only effect they have is random compensation for any continuous inductive loads in the home like transformers in power supplies. But even then, it's just a random correction of power factor (relationship of the voltage waveform to the current waveform) and as this is not even monitored by most household meters it won't have any effect on your bills at all.
What's really notable about this particular unit is that it at least attempts to do something. Others I've looked at had the capacitor, but had one lead cut off it, rendering it useless! They also had bodged circuitry to light the LEDs. In this unit there's a fuse for safety, an active 5uF capacitor, small VDR/MOV for transient suppression and a modest bit of circuitry to drive the LEDs on the front. It still won't have any effect on your electricity bill, but at least it looks the part.
ELECTRONICS MATH…ARGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!…having flashbacks to Electronics Class…..The pain!!!!!!!!…the humanity!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Big Cive for the review, I was almost tempted to buy one of these. Saved me from wasting my money.
I saw a long time ago, Tesla invented a device, type of open coil that looked as a stove top coil, I assume it was a voltage limiter, but now it may of been a simple wall plug heater,,
Has anyone seen this type of thing before?
I think I alone produce 5 microfirts a day.
Saw ads for these and could tell from the language it was a scam (lots of bogus products use the same you wouldn't believe / X wants to ban this language) but was curious about what it was doing. Appreciate the video, and the math.
Bloody hell, this was 7 years ago! Needless to say, these garbage products are still available! I found this video due to a friend recently buying one of these thinking they are going to save money, curiosity got the better of me. Well done Amazon for allowing this scam to continue 🙁
Brasileiro
Why would you plug in an electrical device that rattles before opening it up and checking it out first? Sounds a bit risky to me. But you are Big Clive, right? 🙂 🙂
I was suckered into buying a couple of these, I have to admit I'm usually a lot brighter than this. I studied electronics for 3 years but ended up going into my dad's business, it's more of a hobby now. I am always curious about gadgets like this, I figured that maybe it was more of an inductance and capacitor device. That's a whole different device there.
I'm in my late fifties now and have been diagnosed with terminal cancer, I'm looking for ways my wife can save money after I'm gone. I looked into the solar route, we have a large garage and one side faces south without obstruction.
Last month I finally decided to try this device, I never did actually plug it in. My curiosity got the best of me, I opened the unit and found the schematic was very much like yours except for one huge difference. The bipolar capacitor was not connected correctly, both ends were soldered to both ends of the neutral line. How dumb is that, it did absolutely nothing but light an LED. Needless to say I'm going to try and get my money back, I was very careful when peeling the decal back.
I had concerns when I bought these, I should have listened to them. I'll have to find other savings elsewhere.
I thought your video was very well done and you can't argue with the math. Keep up the good work, thank you for teaching everyone what I should have known. I'll blame it on the Chemo and Radiation Treatments.
too technical for ordinary people.
Thanks for the honest and detailed analysis. Very helpful.
At the school district I work they installed new 25 ton air conditioners with vfds for the main blower.
Some failed some locked out because the incoming power was just a cheap Delta y and it had so much noise on it and literally dropping phase we installed conditioners on each air conditioner it worked perfectly afterwards.
It clearly conditions the incoming power..🙃
It's what the electric power companys don't want you to know about🤫
Nice information but is there an energy saving that's actually worth it? And not a piece of garbage like the other ones?
Nice information box is there a energy saving box that actually works compared to the garbage ones?
I enjoyed Mrs. Doubtfire narrating this.
Really wish I had watched this prior to buying one. Thanks for your break down.