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As part of a multi-step process to phase out T12 lamps the US Department of Energy will prohibit them from being manufactured as of July 1st. That’s only 6 month away. If you have a facility full of T12 lamps – what are you going to do?
Prices for T12 lamps are expected to spike as supplies dwindle. Eventually you will have to make the switch to a different system (like T8 or T5) or you’ll be working in the dark. The news isn’t all bad. There is an ROI if you make the switch. According to the Energy Cost Savings Council the average savings when you switch to energy efficient lighting is 45% (a 1 to 3 year payback). In addition there is Federal assistance available (as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005) that can give you a tax deduction, which can help you write off part of the cost of your lighting upgrade.
It gets even better. Several states and utility companies have financial incentive programs to help you further offset the cost of making the switch. But these incentives won’t last forever so the longer you wait to upgrade the less incentive money will be available to you. The clock is ticking. So call us and we can help you make the switch. To give you an idea of your potential savings you can check out our Energy Efficiency Savings Calculator here: www.thatsnew.com/services/energy-efficiency/
We get the question, “What’s the difference between amps, volts and watts?” enough that we thought we would address it here. There are some fairly complicated answers to this question but we thought we’d try to simplify the answer by using an analogy.
If we think of electricity as water flowing through a pipe it can help us understand amps, volts and watts. Amps would be the volume of water flowing through the pipe. The water pressure would be the voltage. Watts would be the power (volts x amps) the water could provide (think back to the old days when water was used to power mills). So with this analogy in mind the definitions below for amp, volt and watt should be easier to understand:
Amp – an ampere is the unit for measuring electricity. The accepted standard unit used for measuring how fast an electric current flows is an example of an ampere.
Volt – the basic unit of electromotive force in the SI and MKS systems, equal to the electromotive force, or difference in potential, that causes a current of one ampere to flow through a conductor having a resistance of one ohm.
Watt – the basic unit of electric, mechanical, or thermal power in the SI and MKS systems, equal to one joule per second or 10 ergs per second (of a horsepower): for electric power it is equal to one volt-ampere.
Back to our analogy; electricity is the flow (like water) of electrons through a conductor like a wire. The rate at which electricity flows is measured as an electric current. The electric current is measured in amps. What makes the current flow? In our water analogy we could say a battery would be the pump that makes the water flow which creates pressure in the pipe. The pressure is the voltage. And as we said before the watts are the power the water could provide (like to a mill wheel). The watt is a measure of how much power is released each second.
We hope you now have a better understanding of the difference between amps, volts and watts. If you have any questions though feel free to contact us at 855-210-8282.
A “low power factor” is a common occurrence in industrial complexes. This refers to an inefficiency in the power system, which causes some of the electricity that’s provided by the electric company to be wasted. In addition to the extra cost – including a potential penalty from some utility companies – a low power factor can cause equipment overloads and voltage drops, putting undue strain on this equipment and reducing service life.
Understanding Power Factor
There are three types of power in industrial electrical systems:
1. Real (or active) power: Power that does useful work.
2. Reactive power: Nonworking power that is used to create a magnetic field, which in turn is used to facilitate useful work.
3. Total (or apparent) power: The combination of real and reactive power, which is the actual power used by your industrial facility.
Power factor is a measurement defined as the ratio of real power to total power. In other words, power factor measures the percentage of power that is being used for useful work. When this percentage drops below about 0.95 or 95%, it means that about five percent of the current coming from the electrical company is being used for nonworking power, and many utility companies will charge you a penalty fee as a result of this inefficiency.
What Causes Low Power Factor?
Low power factor usually is caused by inductive loads, such as:
- Electric motors
- Transformers
- Arc welders
- HVAC systems
- Molding equipment
- Presses
- High-intensity discharge lighting
Unlike resistive loads (i.e., incandescent lights, electric heaters, cooking ovens), which involve a more direct conversion to useful work in the form of heat energy, inductive loads operate off of the magnetic field that is created by reactive power.
What Are the Benefits of Improving My Power Factor?
There are many benefits to improving a low power factor, including:
A smaller utility bill. By correcting your power factor, you can reduce the amount of reactive power needed to run your facility, thus lowering your electric bill. You can also avoid any potential penalty fees from your utility company.
An increase in electrical system capacity. A low power factor causes a greater loss of power in your electrical distribution system.
Fewer voltage fluctuations. An inefficient system with power losses can result in equipment overloads, overheating and a shorter service life.
How Can I Correct My Power Factor?
While low power factor can cause a significant increase in your plant expenses and a decrease in your system’s efficiency, you can take several steps to help correct your power factor, including:
- Minimizing the operation of idling or lightly loaded inductive equipment, particularly motors
- Replacing defunct motors with energy-efficient ones, and operating these near their rated capacity
- Avoiding operating your equipment above its rated voltage
- Installing capacitors to decrease the amount of reactive power used
New Electric can provide the assistance you may need to assess the many ways you can improve your power factor, and to correctly locate and install capacitors in your electrical distribution system.
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