[net.consumers] power meters and common sense

rfg@hound.UUCP (R.GRANTGES) (03/26/85)

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Common sense says that the power companies would long since have made sure
that their meters measure pretty close to the right thing. Otherwise, irate
users would have sued hell out of them. Many industrial users with poor
power factors are charged on both kw hrs and KVA.
If they did read VA and you put in your big inductor, seems to me you
would only run up your bill, not down.
I believe that many home appliances have poor power factors. Laundry machine
and furnace blower motors. Fluorescent lights? Power tools.
On the other hand, heat producing appliances are all pretty purely resistive:
stoves, toasters, hair dryers, incandescent lights.

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"It's the thought, if any, that counts!"  Dick Grantges  hound!rfg