I saw an item that was supposed to reduce electricity bills. The item is an electronic gadget that plugged directly into a socket in the house. From what i gathered it reduced the reading on the clampmeter (reading flow of electric instrument).. when plugged into a socket and vice versa when unplugged ...is this possible? and it is legal. My initial thoughts were, 'no way'..
2007-02-14 01:58:42 · 8 answers · asked by bluecow 5 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Other - Electronics
Your initial thoughts were dead right. Big porky, pack of lies, waste of money. There's no way one element connected to one part of a mains power supply can change the nature of the electricity reading for all other connected devices.
The only true way of reducing the apparent electricity consumption of a device is to reduce the power factor, i.e., the shift in time between the voltage rises/falls and the current rises falls in the alternating supply, but it is very difficult, if not impossible, to design this behaviour into a device which must perform any useful function.
Mathematically, the power factor is given by the cosine of the offset angle (phase) between the alternative voltage and the alternating current. A pure resistance (e.g., a tungsten light bulb) has a power factor of 1, because the offset angle between current and voltage is zero.
However, a pure reactance, such as an inductor, has a 90 degree phase angle between current and voltage, and hence has a power factor of zero. Therefore it can be loading the power supply heavily and yet the electricity meter will read absolute zero. It won't do any useful work in that state, however.
Needless to say, the electricity companies are not happy about supplying power any appliance that reduces the power factor significantly below one, and most modern electronic devices are designed to comply with a minimum power factor value.
2007-02-14 04:42:37 · answer #1 · answered by BryanIRL 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With another gadget plugged in, you'll just end up using more electricity.
2007-02-14 10:05:27 · answer #2 · answered by Polo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it were, I think the electric co. would have figured out a way to detect it... I'm sure if your consumption when down a drastic amount from your historical numbers, it would flag an investigation...
2007-02-14 10:01:43 · answer #3 · answered by GratefulDad 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmm...let's see. A device that deprives the utility company of their fees by fraud and misrepresentation...is its a scam? Is it illegal? Ah yes! all good questions these.
2007-02-14 10:03:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes i think it's impossible.. i think it could be done though but i wouldnt be so sure about the safety of your other equipments... i saw the infomercial and i was really intrigued... if anyone can give the circuit, or the theory behind, email me.
2007-02-14 10:02:26 · answer #5 · answered by lnfrared Loaf 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a scam to me.
2007-02-14 10:04:08 · answer #6 · answered by lifesajoy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
im not sure wheter this is true or not, it sounds illegal to me otherwise i think id have one by now! ;-)
2007-02-14 10:09:58 · answer #7 · answered by princess 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dodgy scam, dont fall for it.
if it did work it would be illegal
2007-02-14 10:01:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋