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Today we will talk about devices for saving electricity, whether they are worth buying and whether they give the effect declared by the manufacturers.
The importance of electricity in the modern home
In the context of constantly rising energy prices, many people have a question about the possibility of saving costs on these same energy sources.
One of the first on the list is electricity.
Indeed, one cannot do without electricity in a residential building, and its consumption with an ever-growing number of devices that improve life is increasing.
Many people ignore recommendations and advice on how to reduce energy consumption as much as possible, or simply do not want to follow them, believing that it is useless.
But they believe what the market is offering now. Indeed, devices capable of reducing energy costs by 30-35% have recently begun to be actively advertised.
It sounds good, because all you need to do is connect such a device to the network at home, and the process of saving will begin, and even with such high rates.
Of course, it is hard not to believe if advertising actively imposes the opinion that this device, no matter what it is called, is able to significantly reduce costs, and the cost of the product itself is not so high, given its benefits.
What is being imposed on us by advertising “miracle devices”
But is this really so, is the power saving device capable of performing its functions – it’s still worth figuring out. One of the supposedly positive evidence of these devices is their technical component, because according to the assurances, the product is able to compensate for reactive power – one of the main components of saving this device, filter interference , protect against phase unbalance and protect against the negative effects of lightning strikes.
Such a number of terms for people who are not particularly knowledgeable in electricity can inspire confidence.
But here the first suspicion arises – after all, the implementation of all this, and even in a compact size, is very doubtful.
For example, interference filters that are used in industries are rather bulky products consisting of copper and metal elements.
The situation is approximately the same with reactive power compensators, and with stabilizers that protect against phase imbalance.
And one more condition, all these devices separately are not cheap.
Some theory
Let’s take a look at the example of reactive power compensators. But for this it is necessary to disassemble the theory somewhat.
All electrical appliances have a certain power, which consists of two components – active and reactive.
An active component is one that performs a useful action. It is transformed to perform one or another type of work (heating, sound, light).
The reactive one appears in devices where induction occurs. In general, in any device where there is an electric motor or a capacitor, a reactive component arises.
It does not perform any useful action, the reactive component spends all its power on heating the wiring, condensates, etc.
At the same time, these components behave differently in the electrical circuit: the active component is transferred from the source to the consumer to perform a certain useful action.
In this case, the shape of the current is completely identical to the shape of the voltage, so there is no phase shift.
But the reactive component of the consumed energy accumulates and transfers it back to the source.
This is due to the phase shift between voltage and current. And since the useful action of the electric current is not produced, then the action of the reactive component is negative.
If in a simple way, then the reactive component returns energy back, while it does not perform any useful action.
According to the assurances of the manufacturers of “miracle devices”, in them the reactive component is either converted into an active one, or it is reduced, which is how savings are achieved.
But here it should be pointed out that at home, if a reactive load occurs, it is in a very small amount, and it cannot compensate for 30% of the energy.
And here is another feature – electricity meters, which are installed in houses, count only the active load, it does not take into account the reactive load.
In industries where energy consumption is very high and devices with significant inductance are used, separate counters for reactive load are installed.
And this is only one component of what these devices supposedly do. But it is indicated that the devices stabilize the voltage, redistribute it correctly, and increase the power factor.
In addition to the theory, one of the fundamental rules of physics can be pointed out – energy does not come from “nowhere” and does not disappear “nowhere”, it passes from one state to another.
It follows from this that, for example, a hair dryer consumes 600 watts, and it will consume them, well, or it will not be able to fully function. No appliance can reduce or compensate for the hair dryer’s power consumption.
And since it is impossible to reduce the energy consumption of household electrical appliances without compromising their functionality, where will the energy come from? It is unlikely that the “miracle device” is capable of generating electricity.
What do these devices actually represent?
Well, now let’s go through the most advertised devices that save electricity.
SberBox and other “boxes”
One of these is SberBox. Small, compact, similar in appearance to any power supply, but only with two diodes on the top cover.
On the bottom cover there is a plug for connecting to a socket. When connected, the diodes light up, informing about the operation of the device.
According to manufacturers, SberBox is able to save up to 45% of energy by reducing the amount of power consumed by devices due to the reactive component.
The manufacturer specifies the technical parameters of this device.
It is designed for a single-phase network with a voltage of 90-250 V. The device can operate with a load of up to 15 kW.
Approximately the same characteristics have devices similar to this – SmartBox and Energy Saver. In fact, this is the same device, but under different names.
Remarkably, there are practically no reviews on them, there is simply a manufacturer’s website, where their positive qualities are explained.
In fact, everything is somewhat different. And although there are no circuit diagrams of these devices, it is not difficult to find out what it consists of, it is enough to disassemble them.
But inside these devices, everything is quite simple.
Two wires run from the plug to a printed circuit board, on which several resistors and two LEDs are placed.
Resistors reduce the voltage and apply it to the diodes. There is nothing else inside, all the more capable of reducing energy costs – no.
In fact, these devices are small lamps that can be used as an indicator of the presence of voltage in the network. But this indicator will cost a lot.
Power Saver
Another advertised device is called the Power Saver. This is the same compact device in a stylish case with two LEDs as the previous three.
The technical specifications state that it is designed for a single-phase network with a voltage of 90-240 V.
It can work with loads up to 19 kW. The percentage of energy savings when using it is up to 35%.
This saving is achieved by increasing the power factor of the devices, as well as by converting reactive loads.
Also, this device allegedly can improve and normalize the structure of the electric current.
As for the internal filling, it is somewhat better than that of SmartBox.
In addition to the same resistors and LEDs, there is also a capacitor inside the device. All this allows the device even to perform some useful function – to protect the network from power surges.
But if you look at the Power Saver as a whole, then this is nothing more than a regular surge protector. That’s just the cost of this filter is significantly overestimated due to advertising.
It should be noted that this device, although practically useless, but its circuit is safe.
He has a capacitor shunted to one of the resistors, so when the device is disconnected from the outlet, the capacitor is discharged to this resistor, and does not hold current in itself.
Electricity Saving-box
Next on the list is the Electricity Saving-box. This is another of the “boxes” that converts the reactive voltage into active.
In appearance, this device does not differ from those described, and its characteristics are not much different.
According to manufacturers, it can save up to 40% of electricity.
Inside this device, the same resistors with LEDs and a capacitor are hidden.
His circuit is also safe, so you can not be afraid that when you turn off the device and touch the plug, you can get a capacitor discharge.
And again, under the “wonder device” there is an ordinary surge protector that can only reduce network surges, but at a significant cost.
“Economic”
And finally, consider another device – “Economych”. According to the manufacturers, the device effectively redistributes the reactive component, protects the network from overvoltage, filters current waveform distortion and corrects the power factor.
That’s just outwardly this device does not differ from all the same “boxes”. In fact, this is the same – Electricity Saving-box. There are no differences inside either – all the same notorious resistors with LEDs and a capacitor.
Summing up
Based on the foregoing, no “wonderful” devices that can significantly reduce electricity consumption and are available to the mass consumer have yet been created. And if they have created it, they will keep silent about it, because who needs consumers to pay less.
In reality, you can save electricity only by monitoring the operating time of devices, disconnecting all consumers from the network if they are not in use.
Therefore, you should not believe the advertising and positive reviews of these devices, but it is better to spend money on something really useful, for example, on fluorescent or LED lamps.
Reviews about the energy saving device.