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The "Dolphin Smart Electricity Saver" also known as "Electricity Saving Box" and also known as the "Flexi Power Saver or Flexi Powersaver" claims to reduce your electricity bill by 30% though correcting the power factor in your home. It further claims that an improved power factor will extend the life of electrical devices, help electrical motors run more efficiently, save light bulbs and eliminate static interference.

There is truth in the fact that our homes have devices which consume electricity at reduced power factors. As an example we know that "CFL light bulbs" have a Power factor of between 55% and 70%, while incandescent light bulbs have a power factor of 100%. All electric motors, including fridges, air conditioners, fans and computers generate reactive power which will affect their power factor.

Just to be clear - this unit is a complete waste of money in our opinion - a similar version is being investigated in England as a scam and a safety hazard. It seems we in the US are more tolerant of the internet as the rediculous industry that this is part of.

This article - Trading standards warning over bogus energy saving plugs - says it all!

The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) is dealing with more than 200 complaints about people who have claimed to be a victim's energy supplier, or working in partnership with them, and are offering a plug-in device costing £99 which they say can save users 40% on energy bills. But trading standards has had a number of the devices tested and found that they not only failed to satisfy electrical safety standards because the pins are too short and the internal connections faulty, but they do not deliver any tangible energy savings.

Power factor and power factor correction are indeed subjects that we should be aware of, but it is "near fraud" when excessively marketed to home owners as a way to save money on their electricity bill. If you are being approached to buy any one of these - "Dolphin Smart Electricity Saver" - "Electricity Saving Box" - "Flexi Power Saver" - we suggest you run!

We have an overview on "Power Factor" and the definitions for real power, apparent power and reactive power for those who would like to understand more of the technical details on this topic.

 

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