Power Perfector? Does it work?
Power Perfector? Does it work?
(OP)
Gents,
Currently our Environmental manager is looking at installing a unit into our buildings called "Power perfector" for energy efficiency reasons.
Apparently this unit will reduce harmonics, transients, improve power factor and phase voltage imbalances. Bascially it will reduce your energy consumption by 11-20% or so it states
I've had a read of the "techincal" document behind the unit and am still quite dubious about its benefits.
My question is has anyone used this with success? Can anyone explain how they think it will work? I dont fully understand how it works.
Below is a link to the "technical" explaination of the device. Any help or experience with this would be much apprecaiated.
http://www.powerperfector.com/technical.html
Thanks guys
Currently our Environmental manager is looking at installing a unit into our buildings called "Power perfector" for energy efficiency reasons.
Apparently this unit will reduce harmonics, transients, improve power factor and phase voltage imbalances. Bascially it will reduce your energy consumption by 11-20% or so it states
I've had a read of the "techincal" document behind the unit and am still quite dubious about its benefits.
My question is has anyone used this with success? Can anyone explain how they think it will work? I dont fully understand how it works.
Below is a link to the "technical" explaination of the device. Any help or experience with this would be much apprecaiated.
http://www.powerperfector.com/technical.html
Thanks guys





RE: Power Perfector? Does it work?
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Power Perfector? Does it work?
RE: Power Perfector? Does it work?
It looks like there is a delta winding which will act as a trap for triplen harmonic currants which would account for the altered harmonic spectrum.
The delta-star will re-distribute any voltage imbalance so it will appear voltage supplied to the load more balanced.
I suspect it will get hot, in common with most transformers. If it does, you are paying for that heat.
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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!
RE: Power Perfector? Does it work?
If I recall correctly, the general consensus (among us engineers anyway) was that while there are tangible benefits, the claims of energy savings are exaggerated at best, wild-eyed optimistic marketing hype at worst. What I recall regarding the energy savings issue is that IF you have a severely unbalanced system, it will help save energy because by presenting balanced power to things like motors, they will run more efficiently. But, you can often accomplish similar results by just doing a system analysis and balancing the power yourself. These types of devices also help to mitigate harmonics, which is beneficial, but again, if you don't have a harmonics problem, what is the payoff? I'm not convinced that it will do the type of surge and spike protection they claim, but to be honest, that is not my field of expertise.
My bottom line advice is, always be skeptical of devices like this which are marketed towards non-engineers. The hyperbolic engineering documentation is usually skewed towards making lay people believe "more than the truth". They tend to sprinkle in a few truths among the hype to make it seem like it's all true, a very common modus operandi for those who are out to sell something for more than it's worth. If the price isn't too exorbitant however, it may be worth considering.
RE: Power Perfector? Does it work?
There are two similar systems that I know of in the US. One is MicroPlanet. You can read a report that they have on their web site (supposedly written by the same utility as below) at http:
The other is Legend Power. You can read a report that a California utility did http://www
BCHydro is the only utility that I know of that actually gives rebates or incentives for these devices. They give $2300 per 100A capacity (doesn't say if it single phase or three phase). See ht
I am relatively skeptical of the actual results and industrially (as ScottyUK pointed out) the great majority of the load is constant wattage (or work). If you have a constant resistance load (resistance heater or incandescent light) then you will get less work output with a lower voltage.
RE: Power Perfector? Does it work?
I agree that there are many steps that could be taken to aleviate energy problems before relying of "black box" device.
As mentioned load balancing can be done in house and generally you can adjust your incoming supply by the tappings on the transformers. I've always thought however that higher voltage was a good thing to have rather then under voltage.
Harmonics will always be reduced by any transformer so big deal.
Lastly I always been taught with electricity that wahts goes in must come out. Wether its dissapated as heat or something else it still exists.
Oh well I've made my point to those purchasing the deivce yet they still wish to put them in so I'll just sit back and watch the marketing ploys to show how wonderful this things is.
Thanks again for your help guys.
RE: Power Perfector? Does it work?
I don't care what scheme you're talking about, adding some gizmo that provides 11-20% savings in-and-by-itself is going to be unreasonable.
Unless it's a bank of solar panels.
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Power Perfector? Does it work?
Whether the power perfector works at main and or sub main distribution level may be one of the discussion points but perhaps more importantly how it behaves and performs under fault could be another.
Does anyone know whether they have internal protection and if so what are the settings and type.
Looking at the product it looks like it is in a strong steel box but is this to contain the product under fault?
Obtaining proper technical information from this manufacturer is strangely difficult.
Regards