HELP!!! Powersave 1200?

[whiskeytango420]

My electric dude told me about this box you put in your main breaker box.

http://www.power-save1200.com/?gclid=CNTKjI3x1JgCFQIfswodx2nWzw

I just find it hard to believe that something can cut 20-30% of electricity, without taking power from the lights/ballasts or what not.

Anyone use one of these, or know if it will interfere with grow equipment?

thanks in advance
good vibes

 

[LolaGal]

I find it suspicious myself WT! I can't believe it either.....

 

[whiskeytango420]

exactly...supposedly it cuts your power usage by 20-30%...how? Where is it giving up power from? will my 1k lights only run 800w? Sounds like a great way to lower your bill....but at what cost? What gives?....lol
good vibes

 

[justanotherbozo]

censorship sucks

 

[whiskeytango420]

shit....thanks bozo! THats what I was wondering. It sounded waaay to good. I just didnt wanna add it, and it mess up my shit...feel me?
good vibes

 

[Norkali]

"If it sounds too good to be true..."

Glad to see you still doing your thing WT, you pop any of the Red Eyed Bride yet? I scored a pack of those too and can't wait to see what they'll bring...

 

[whiskeytango420]

Norcal-thanks for stoppin in! Havent popped the REB yet...still waiting to get the 10 I got going semi-dialed in...at least narrowed down to a few moms..

Everything my electric buddy tells me sounds ok with it(the box), but Im just wondering if nothing is wrong, and its legit....WHY havent I heard of it, and at least 100 people on here raving about it?
good vibes

 

[FoothillsFarmer]

hmm, interesting... I like the sound of that for sure! As far as it being too good to be true... they said the same thing about CFLs when they first came out... nuff said.

 

[d4twamp]

WT, I've heard of these boxes, and others like it on the market...I think they are reletivly new and people jus' aren't willing to drop the money to experiment, unlike some people we know...What I've heard is basiclly how Bozo said it, it lowers the amperege so that Your appliances use the electricity more effectivly(no surges) If I had the cash I'd get one to see the differrence, but if you get one first bro keep me informed....

 

[whiskeytango420]

well.....like the LEDs, I guess Ill try em and let everyone know, lol...
good vibes

 

[d4twamp]

well.....like the LEDs, I guess Ill try em and let everyone know, lol...
good vibes

When I said "some people jus' aren't willing to spend the money to experiment, unlike like some people we know..." that's exactly what I was talkin' bout...lol...

 

[Guest]

well.....like the LEDs, I guess Ill try em and let everyone know, lol...
good vibes

Props for giving them a shot. I'm going to enter my one caveat based on limited knowledge of the device and some electrical experience.

The powersaver is a capacitor-based device. Since your ballast likely includes a capacitor, it is unlikely that it will work better with this device. The device will work best in a situation where an inductive motor or something is being powered and delivers a reactive current. It will certainly help eliminate power spikes and overdraw if a lot of things fire up at the same time, and may help with inductive devices you are running or harmonic problems, but probably won't do a lot for a ballast built with a capacitor.

If anyone wants more detail, I'll come back, but I'm stoned and don't want to be talking about the types of loads different devices provide at the moment. The bottom line is your main power draw, the ballasts, aren't a large inductive load and probably won't be impacted.

Cheers,
A

Edit: That said, I doubt it would make your equipment malfunction or become damaged unless it is really poorly made, and it may help with other things that include motors, like fans, or other things in the house, like washing machines or AC.

 

[whiskeytango420]

ANG...thanks maing! That helped a lot. I guess its worth it for the amount of fans, and the 6k kickin on at one time with the CO2 regulator and what not...
good vibes

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

Props for giving them a shot. I'm going to enter my one caveat based on limited knowledge of the device and some electrical experience.

The powersaver is a capacitor-based device. Since your ballast likely includes a capacitor, it is unlikely that it will work better with this device. The device will work best in a situation where an inductive motor or something is being powered and delivers a reactive current. It will certainly help eliminate power spikes and overdraw if a lot of things fire up at the same time, and may help with inductive devices you are running or harmonic problems, but probably won't do a lot for a ballast built with a capacitor.

If anyone wants more detail, I'll come back, but I'm stoned and don't want to be talking about the types of loads different devices provide at the moment. The bottom line is your main power draw, the ballasts, aren't a large inductive load and probably won't be impacted.

Cheers,
A

Edit: That said, I doubt it would make your equipment malfunction or become damaged unless it is really poorly made, and it may help with other things that include motors, like fans, or other things in the house, like washing machines or AC.

the capacitor is between the core and bulb, in fact, its for the bulb. this isa capacitor on 120/240 level it smooths out sag (turning on alot of lights) and can slightly reduce useage, although probably not 30% unless u run a laundroomat. im planing on installing one when i re-do(replace) my main breaker.
a ballast actualy uses more then it says 1k's use 1100+ and if ur running 110v(its closer to 1200w) and more amps then the label say 9.5 becomes 10.5 essentialy the power coming in isnt able to keep up, its kind of like a waterberrol for elec. u dont really need it, but your bill should go down even if you dont grow. only the most lightest of power users (50/mo) wouldnt benefit.

 

[Phillthy]

it works like the big caps in autosound systems. when the bass hits or any large load is put on the system it comes from the stored energy in the cap, not directly from the system. there are less peaks and spikey current draw at the alternator/batteries. this helps save wear on the alternator, less drain and recharge of the batteries, and other items such as headlights can operate with no dimming.

sorry i dont know if that made sense but it is the only analogy i know of

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

it works like the big caps in autosound systems. when the bass hits or any large load is put on the system it comes from the stored energy in the cap, not directly from the system. there are less peaks and spikey current draw at the alternator/batteries. this helps save wear on the alternator, less drain and recharge of the batteries, and other items such as headlights can operate with no dimming.

sorry i dont know if that made sense but it is the only analogy i know of

i see im not the only one to put ferads to work in keeping the bass pumping.

honestly if it saved even %5 id still be worth it

 

[FoothillsFarmer]

absolutely! Thanks for the head's up WT and thanks for the follow-up info, Bozo, Digital... definitely something I'll be letting a few people know about

 

[whiskeytango420]

DH...thanks for the info homie!
good vibes

 

[d4twamp]

Yeah I'd say even if it doesn't help the ballasts and jus' works with our homes' large appliances it will be a benefit, helping to finance the cultivation of our fav. plant...

 

[Guest]

it works like the big caps in autosound systems. when the bass hits or any large load is put on the system it comes from the stored energy in the cap, not directly from the system. there are less peaks and spikey current draw at the alternator/batteries. this helps save wear on the alternator, less drain and recharge of the batteries, and other items such as headlights can operate with no dimming.

sorry i dont know if that made sense but it is the only analogy i know of

This is a good analogy and description. The cap evens out the power, and provides the current spike needed.

Since the speaker is an inductive device (magnets moving the membrane), using a cap helps stop the inductive current from having to go back into the batteries and allows it to be stored more efficiently for immediate use. In this way, it saves power for an audio system also (and regulates the power such that there's no overdraw, like you said w/ the headlights).

I am aware that the capacitor in a magnetic ballast is for the bulb, but that doesn't change the kind of load the device as a whole is. There's no inductive load, so having this kind of energy management shouldn't get you much. It'll even out the power spike when you turn everything on, though. Anything with a motor, however, should be impacted.

My big question is about how the power company bills you based on draw and return. I'm not sure about how this works; there's no free energy coming from the cap, but it might allow you to make better use of energy you've already paid for.

Really interested to see how well this works. Props again for an interesting thread.
A