Recently we’ve been hearing about a simple device that plugs into your wall outlet and claims to be able to cut your electric bills in half …
Is it true, or is it a scam?
The science behind it
In order to figure out whether “power saver” devices really work, first we need to explain the idea behind them. Because it sounds a bit too good to be true, doesn’t it? That all you have to do is plug something into the wall, and suddenly you’re saving up to 50% on electric bills?
What this device does is smooth out the surges and spikes that naturally exist in electric current. These surges and spikes aren’t dangerous (most of the time!) but they do unfortunately cause some of your electrical energy to be converted to heat energy, and wasted.
By creating a smooth electric current, power saver devices improve energy flow. This way, more electricity is available to power your devices and appliances! And, these devices also work the same way that surge protectors do, to keep your electronics and your appliances from getting fried in a power surge.
This sounds great so far, right? But …
You DON’T save money
Yes, it’s great that these devices are able to smooth out surges in electric current, to make sure more current is usable in your home. But, as neat of an idea as it is, it won’t save you any money on your electric bills at all! Why? Because power saver devices do not change the gross amount of electricity coming into your home. This amount, also called “real power,” is measured in kilowatts. It determines how much you’re going to pay on your electric bill.
Power saver devices improve the electric current coming into your home, which is great, but it doesn’t change the amount of TOTAL electricity used. So, bottom line, it doesn’t reduce your energy bills! (And if you look up product reviews for power saver devices, you will see this complaint come up many times among the reviewers — that the product did NOT live up to its claims!)
Real whole-home surge protection
Don’t despair, though! Like we said, this product still has legitimate technology, that helps protect your electronics and appliances from power surges. In fact, it is basically the same thing as a surge protector. But it’s a very tiny device, and we think that if you’re going to go out and buy a surge protector, you should be getting the REAL thing, for your own peace of mind!
Here at Weather Master, we know that the Raleigh area gets some difficult storms. Our surge protectors provide 50,000 amps of protection against lightning damage! That’s way more protection than you can get from a wall plug-in. To learn more about surge protection, contact us online or give us a call: (919) 853-7910