Power Factor for AC Pumps

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

I am feeling bad for someone out there who is paying more because of your motor having low pf

I still don't think it works that way, the extra current isn't lost. The only losses are from heat resulting from the difference in current that feeds through the lines plus some very minor losses in the pump which you would experience with most devices. The extra current flows back to the source. Large industries are sometimes penalized for low power factors due to the provider having to supply higher currents and accept higher losses due to cable inefficiency. In residential the losses are minimal and probably absorbed in general as delivery charges.

The real advantage of high power factors is the ability to design lower powered circuits, it really has very little to do with efficiency.

And before you curse me, measure your own pumps many home appliances such as washing machines are known to have very low power factors. And while I'm still really surpirsed at the number for these expensive pumps at the end of the day at least they don't cost that much to run and I'd still rank then significantly higher in quality over the wavelines I have as well.

[sphelps]

Funny story, I just got a phone call from some direct energy provider wanting me to switch to them for electricity. I asked if they'll charge me for reactive power and she said she didn't know. I then asked how can you expect me to switch if you can't even tell me if I'll be billed for the imaginary power my pumps use. She hung up..