This Question is Mostly for the Engineers and Electricians, not sales people.
I have always figured these to be a Crock, am I wrong?
Never had a chance to prove them out.
Someone wants to talk to a friend of mine about purchasing one of these tomorrow? Any Input would be appreciated.

Plug what in? I'm for saving money like anyone else... but WHAT is it?

What? The link is missing?

Plug this in and save Money on Electricity.ANYTHING fitting this description is a scam.

ANYTHING fitting this description is a scam.

Shhhhhhh. I just want to see what's the latest scam going...

Shhhhhhh. I just wanna see what's the latest scam going.......

Oooohhh. So you're in on it.
Gotcha. ;)

The things that hook up to your electric, has lights and is supposed to save you Money. Balances Power Factor or some other nice wording.

Power factor controllers do save money when the utility bills a commercial company based on how far their power factor is from unity.

e.g. Large capacitor banks that are put together and used by a power factor controller.

Soft-start kits may save money if motors all try to start at the same time and your charged for peak usage in say 15 minute intervals.

This all has to do with power factor.

I have commented on these devices in other posts.

Utility companies, at least here in Maine, do not bill for poor power factor, esp for residential.

Even if they did, how bad can Pf be in a home?

Here is one website, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy ready to buy one, right?
Lower Your Electric Bills by Up To 40%! (http://plugandsave.com/)

A decent explanation:

Power Factor scams -- Ask Mr. Electricity (http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/powerfactor.html)

I have mentioned before, if they were so great, Walmart would be selling them.

A small electrical contractor I worked for years ago, during the 73-74 oil embargo, sold one of these gizmos, so I had one in my home. Beats me if I saved any money.

BTW, the company went out of business, so these gizmos did not help them much either.

Best way to save money for electricity is to SHUT IT OFF.

These examples are for Twinkie:
plug in save electricity - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?q=plug+in+save+electricity&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1)
Many Examples

Gee for the "small" sum of $300 I can save big bucks. Think I'll order 8. One for each home I don't own. Sending my order in now.

*****still rolling on the floor over this one******

If power factor is mentioned this is b.s. I recently opened one of these. It was riveted shut, cost $300. Inside were two $10 capacitors. The funny part is that these things, not at all surprisingly, actually draw a small current all the time, bleeder resistors, and actually add to your bill. As previously stated, residences are not billed for power factor.

If power factor is mentioned this is b.s. I recently opened one of these. It was riveted shut, cost $300. Inside were two $10 capacitors. The funny part is that these things, not at all surprisingly, actually draw a small current all the time, bleeder resistors, and actually add to your bill. As previously stated, residences are not billed for power factor.