Tweakers' Asylum Tweaks for systems, rooms and Do It Yourself (DIY) help. FAQ. |
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In Reply to: Using capacitors across the AC posted by Tweaker456 on August 5, 2016 at 15:08:08:
Because that's what larger caps in the mfd range across the AC line do, either correct a poor power factor or create one!Large industrial plants with hundreds or thousands of electric motors, or a few very large motors often install capacitor banks to cancel the highly reactive load from the motors. The utility also installs line capacitors at substations to correct for poor power factor on the distribution system.
Calculating the values needed for close to unity power factor involves heavy AC circuit theory with deep trigonometry.
In a home setting they serve absolutely no purpose and are a potential fire hazard.
Edits: 08/07/16
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Follow Ups
- Do you have a power factor problem? - gusser 14:29:05 08/07/16 (0)