Lost in the utility selection

[Vaquero]

Ok lets discuss what a var is and what it does

60 cycles per second. That's "unity". AC = alternating current. It flows back and forth 60 times in one second.
If a generation or consuption unit is out of unity it will affect the connected system accordingly.
It cant be explained as 59 cycles, or 61 cycles because, engineers.

A "scale" from low to high follows. 1 being unity.

-.95, -.96, -.97, -.98, -.99, 1, +.99, +.98, +.97, +.96, +.95

- is a "leading" power factor.
+ is a "lagging" power factor

Again, "1" is "unity" which =60 cycles per second.
Resistive load (incandescent bulb, toaster, electric cook top) will maintain unity, as supplied by the grid.
Inductive load (fans, motors, fluorescent lights) will alter the power factor. Either leading or lagging.

Variable speed motors will really wreak havock on the cycles per second.
These are measured in VARS, or more correctly for generation and transmission, kVARS. (thosands of VARS)

Remember, leading power factor is - (minus) and lagging power factor is + (plus).

 

[Tony2]

Oh I thought it had something to do with voltage and inductive motors. I must be looking at it from a different direction

 

[Vaquero]

Basically the change in timing over a given distance in relationship to the other production sources.

Close Vaq?

I wish I'd said that.

 

[Tony2]

I was being a little facetious. I have been in the business for a long time although I couldn't explain it as well or as eloquently as you. Power plants for a long time

 

[mitchntx]

You did ... impressive ...

 

[Vaquero]

You want free light?
New LED bulbs.
Power factor of about .30.
They'll jack up the grid bur won't move a watt hour meter.

 

[TheDan]

Wait... so the further away from unity a load is, the less it'll turn a meter?

 

[mitchntx]

LOL ...

 

[Vaquero]

Wait... so the further away from unity a load is, the less it'll turn a meter?

Not necessarily.
It all depends on the metering setup.
Your home (240 volt 3 wire) meter will not measure pf (power factor).
In a sense, your statement is true. A 120 volt fence charger is so far off of unity, it will run for years and never register a kwh reading.
That beong said, a utility must recoup the losses and will adjust the standard rate to all consumers to reflect that.
A coop measures your use in kwh (kilowatt hours) and pays the generation and transmission companies in mwh (megawatt hours).
If yo want to game the system, it's possible. But your coop and your neighbors will see rate increases due to tariffs and increased energy charges from generation plants and line conditioning devices to offset the pf created by you and others who try to "game" the system.
G&T (generation and transmission) companies have a penalty built in to the mwh rates if the distribution company can't maintain a pf of .97 +or- on their system. If you screw it up, you screw all your neighbors and eventually may be metered differently.
Tread cautiously.

 

[Vaquero]

LOL ...

Just let me walk right into that. Didn't ya?

 

[Younggun]

So, running the house on electric fence chargers =low bill+dick move.

Got it.

 

[mitchntx]

Just let me walk right into that. Didn't ya?

Like a green-broke filly ... give her rein and let her run herself down.

 

[Vaquero]

Like a green-broke filly ... give her rein and let her run herself down.

Ouch!
Guilty as charged.

 

[Younggun]

Just pull the meter and flip it upside down for 1 week/month. Should cut your bill in half.

 

[Vaquero]

Just pull the meter and flip it upside down for 1 week/month. Should cut your bill in half.

I aught to shut the hell up. But, I can't.
That's one area wher a "smart meter" will kick your ass.
#1, It will report an outage to the utility because it sees no voltage during the "flip".
#2, a "smart"meter will measure both ways, in and out.
If you don't have a buyback agreement, you pay anyway. And get theft of service charges filed.

I know y'all wouldn't, but, just saying.

 

[jocat54]

Man What a mess all this is.
I have lived in the sticks for so long and been on a coop--never realized all the choices out there.
We will be moving next month and have to choose a power company there (Lindale). Went to Power to Choose and now need to weed my way thru 264 companies.
It's boggling my hick mind---how to choose.

 

[TheDan]

Tread cautiously.

I'm not going to intentionally try to slow my meter; not into stealing. I remember reading about some of this stuff years ago, but it never clicked for me that a watt meter doesn't measure reactive power.

 

[Tony2]

I'm not going to intentionally try to slow my meter; not into stealing. I remember reading about some of this stuff years ago, but it never clicked for me that a watt meter doesn't measure reactive power.

Need a var meter on every home so the right person gets charged. Aint this fun

 

[Vaquero]

Tesla had it right.
amp hour meters. DC systems. But, he was a commie.
So we got Edison, watts and AC.
Inaccurate metering and no storage of power.

Consider this.
Every watt of power is consumed at the same moment it is generated on an AC system.
When you turn on your light, that power doesn't exist until you turn it on.
When you turn it off, it ceases to be generated at the plant level.

 

[Tony2]

Tesla had it right.
amp hour meters. DC systems. But, he was a commie.
So we got Edison, watts and AC.
Inaccurate metering and no storage of power.

Consider this.
Every watt of power is consumed at the same moment it is generated on an AC system.
When you turn on your light, that power doesn't exist until you turn it on.
When you turn it off, it ceases to be generated at the plant level.

That's true but we don't have to deal with batteries either.