Frequently asked questions
about the PowerwoRx e3 Clean Power System
+ How does the PowerwoRx e3 System save energy?
PowerwoRx e3 provides energy savings by reducing the amount of power drawn from your utility with the use of specially designed harmonic resistant capacitors. PowerwoRx e3 systems optimize your homes power factor thus reducing the amount of energy your home's motor loads use such as air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, pool pumps, vacuum cleaners, furnace blower motors, fans etc. Motor loads (inductive loads) inherently require more energy to do their work compared to other electrical equipment in your home. The PowerwoRx e3's Power Factor Optimization significantly increases the efficiency of your motor load and stores waste energy resulting in decreased demand and usage of electricity from your utility company. This can equate to cost savings of typically 5% - 15% for you, the homeowner. Actual results vary depending on the inductive loads present in the home.
+ What is "power factor"?
Power factor is the percentage of electricity that is delivered to your home or business from the utility company. For example, a 1.0 power factor means that all the electricity that is being delivered to your home is being used effectively for its purpose.
But electric equipment that make use of motors, such as air conditioners, furnaces, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, pool pumps, vacuum cleaners and fans require more energy to do their work and can be so inefficient as to have "power factor ratings" as low as 0.2
This combination of electric loads in the average American home can result in an average power factor rating of .77 or less. This means that only 77% of the electricity that is coming through your meter at your home or business is being used effectively. The other 23% is being wasted by your inductive load, caused primarily by any device that uses a motor.
With a low power factor, the utility company has to deliver more electricity to do the same work. For instance, commercial and industrial power customers are issued power factor penalties on their electric bills because of the large amount of wasted energy due to their large inductive loads. While these power factor penalties do not generally apply to a homeowner, utility companies are expected to expand such extra charges to residential accounts in the future.
+ How long will the PowerwoRx e3 System last?
The unit has a predicted lifespan of over twenty years.
+ Will it work in any home?
Yes. As long as you have a circuit breaker panel with breaker switches and not the old screw-in type fuses, the unit will work on any single-phase 110/220 volt electric application for homes.
+ Will it work in my business?
Yes. In many cases the residential version PowerwoRx e3 will work in a small business that utilizes 200 amp electrical panels. For larger commercial applications, a line of Commercial PowerwoRx units are available.
+ How much current will it handle?
The PowerwoRx e3 is designed for up to 240V and 200A which is typical for residential applications.This means that you need one PowerwoRx e3 for every 200 amp electrical panel. (This covers 98% of all American homes)
+ Can I install it myself?
The PowerwoRx e3 must be installed by a licensed electrician to enable the 10 year limited warranty. The PowerwoRx e3 mounts next to a standard 100A or 200A single phase power panel. The unit’s supply wires are connected into a dedicated two-pole 20 Amp breaker. The neutral and ground are connected to their respective locations. Questions regarding proper attachment and wiring should be directed to the electrician who can verify that local and state codes are being observed.
+ Is the PowerwoRx e3 System tested and approved by independent labs?
Yes, the PowerwoRx e3 is UL listed and tested (PowerwoRx e3 UL certificate is under the UL 508 “Industrial Control Equipment” category, UL Certificate # E320259, dated 3/27/08).
The 200A Single Phase residential product is: CPS-1C-240-V1
The technology is also recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy.
+ How much money can I save per month?
That depends on many factors. The size of your home, the amount of inductive motor load, and the amount you are paying per kilowatt-hour for electricity will affect your individual savings. Most homeowners will realize a savings of 5-15% per month.
+ How long will it take for the PowerwoRx e3 System to pay for itself?
Looking strictly at Energy Savings the product can usually pay for itself within two or three years. This will depend on individual circumstances, number of appliances and age, electrical costs and usage patterns, and the home's power factor as well as other criteria. The other benefits, although not as dramatic as a drop in your energy bill, can turn out to be the biggest benefit of all. Consider Surge & Spike Protection, as well as the harmful effects of harmonic distortion. These invisible but very real threats to all electrical appliances and electronics in the home can and will cause premature failure to your electronic equipment. Considering your significant investment in these appliances and electronics, often totaling in the tens of thousands of dollars, the protection provided by the PowerwoRx e3 could be the biggest money-savings benefit of the product.
+ Does the PowerwoRx e3 System save any energy on resistive (non-motor) loads?
Resistive loads are items such as incandescent lighting, electric resistant heating, electric hot water heaters and electric ovens and ranges. Since these devices do not use motors they have no negative impact on Power Factor. The energy savings capability of the PowerwoRx e3 is achieved by storing the reactive power which is typically wasted, and making it available for reactive loads as required. There is basically no energy savings from the PowerwoRx e3 being attached to a purely resistive load.
+ What about PowerwoRx e3 System for Surge Protection?
One of the most important features of the PowerwoRx e3 is the ability to protect the entire home against power surges. No longer is there a need for many individual surge protectors in the home. The PowerwoRx e3 provides a broad range of protection for hardwired appliances and most home electronics such as appliances, televisions, satellite equipment, entertainment systems, etc. The unit protects from power line surges as well as spikes caused by internal wiring problems, loose connections and fluctuating demand from large motors such as vacuum cleaners, heating and cooling equipment, etc.
If the PowerwoRx e3 is properly installed and operating according to the instructions,and an appliance or electronic device is damaged due to an electrical surge or spike, we will reimburse you up to $25,000 to repair or replace the equipment.
+ Will the unit protect my cable modem?
No. The PowerwoRx only protects the electrical lines so a separate surge protector is required for a cable system. See "Other Stuff" to solve this problem.
+ Where is the PowerwoRx e3 System mounted?
The PowerwoRx e3 is designed to be either surface mounted or flush mounted. With several feet of wire to tie into the power panel, the PowerwoRx e3 offers mounting flexibility in case remote mounting is required. The PowerwoRx e3 is also available with an outdoor waterproof enclosure for mounting outside the home if necessary.
+ What is the difference between the PowerwoRx e3 System and other "energy savings" devices on the the market?
Most other energy saving devices that are advertised online do not include surge protection or electronic filtration. PowerwoRx e3 has all these features in one compact system. The average homeowner will realize a 5-15% energy savings by using the PowerwoRx e3
There are other products on the market that claim to reduce energy consumption in the home but most do not make much of a difference. Some manufacturers even claim a savings of 25-35%. These devices are merely "capacitors in a box" and will reduce energy consumption to a small degree but not 25-35%. In fact, their energy savings "guarantees" are usually cleverly-worded legal documents that leave the customer out in the cold when it comes down to energy savings.
+ Does the unit consume any power on it's own?
No. The PowerwoRx e3 stores and supplies energy to the electrical appliances in the home, it does not directly consume electricity. If an amperage meter (current probe) is placed on the electrical lines leading to the PowerwoRx e3, a reading of 4-5 amps will typically be shown. Most assume this translates into 600W of energy being “used” which on an annualized basis will cost the homeowner well over $100 per year at current electric rates. The truth is the CleanPower System uses no energy. This is easily proven by turning off all electrical loads and going to the electric meter and reading the consumption – the meter will not be turning.
+ Will the PowerwoRx e3 System function properly in a "Smart House"?
Yes, but the harmonic filtration capability of the standard PowerwoRx e3 will cancel out X10 and any other control signals that are transmitted over the AC lines. A special PowerwoRx e3 is now available which has the harmonic filtration removed.
+ Are there any tax incentives for buying the PowerwoRx e3 System unit?
The PowerwoRx e3 could potentially qualify for a tax credit under the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
Taxpayers should consult their tax professional or accountant to see if the PowerwoRx e3 can qualify for the Tax Credit and how much of the purchase price and installation costs apply.
CleanPowerSystem.com makes no claims regarding an individual’s ability to receive a tax credit.
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