Re: RE- Cap Confusion

To: "'Tesla List'" <tesla-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com>
Subject: Re: RE- Cap Confusion
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 17:58:30 -0600
Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net

From: 	John H. Couture[SMTP:couturejh-at-worldnet.att-dot-net]
Sent: 	Friday, November 21, 1997 12:05 AM
To: 	Tesla List
Subject: 	Re: RE-  Cap Confusion

At 05:09 AM 11/20/97 +0000, you wrote:
>
>From: 	Esondrmn-at-aol-dot-com[SMTP:Esondrmn-at-aol-dot-com]
>Sent: 	Wednesday, November 19, 1997 6:03 AM
>To: 	tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
>Subject: 	Re: RE-  Cap Confusion
>
>In a message dated 97-11-19 05:20:56 EST, you write:
>
><< 
>   I agree that power factor correcting (PFC) capacitors are of little value
> for Tesla coilers. I would not recommend them because they can cause
> resonance problems.
> 
>   Reactive currents do not register on power company's kilowatt hour meters
> and are not billed to the customer. Only large electric user customers are
> billed for reactive currents (low power factor) by installing special meters
> like demand meters.  
> 
>   A Tesla coiler will not save any money on his electric bill if he installs
> PFC capacitors.  Reactive currents will circulate thru his house wiring
> system but will do nothing except create a small extra voltage drop when the
> coil is operating.
> 
>   Note that the electric power company does not sell electric power to its
> customers, only electric energy.
> 
>   John Couture
>  >>
>
>I think the only real need for pfc caps is when you have multiple neon sign
>transformers and the total current is too much for the variac at hand.  Then
>adding pfc caps may bring the current down to an acceptable level.  I used
>them initially when I only had a 10 A variac.
>
>Ed Sonderman
>
-----------------------------------------------------------

  Ed -

  An excellent thought. The pfc caps will reduce the total current for the
variacs. 

  It is interesting to note that although the reactive current does not
register on your KWH meter the current is causing losses in the distribution
system all the way back to the generators. So who pays for these losses? 

  The electric company does not add pf meters and extra charges unless you
are a large customer and your pf keeps going below 80%. It is obvious that
the cost per KWH you are paying includes an extra amount to take care of the
reactive losses regardless of your pf over 80%.

  John Couture