can you explain power factor

[Fishbulb2]

Hey guys,
I just meshmodded my sedra 3500 and hooked it up to a kill-a-watt meter. It is using 30Watts and a power factor of .42

I didn't measure it before the mod (cause i'm an idiot) but is this normal. I used 3 layers of enkamat. Any tips? How long before it breaks in?

thanks FB

 

[wayoutacontrol]

The power factor has to do with the efficiency of an electrical item.
A unity power factor or a power factor of 1 is perfect, and usually only ever seen in purely resistive loads like incandescent lighting or heaters. Inductive loads such as motors and fluorescent lights have power factor of less than 1. It means that your pump is running at about 42% efficiency, not overly great but I am not aware what a normal aquarium pump would run at. A good general purpose electric motor runs around 75 to 80%.
Now before anyone jumps up to argue fluorescent lights are more efficient than incandescent lights, its true fluorescent lights are much more efficient at producing light (more lumens per watt), but incandescent are more efficient at using the power consumed they just happen to use a lot of it make heat instead of light.
I hope this is not too complicated.

 

[t-bone2]

great post wayout yep the closer to 1 the more efficient

 

[Fishbulb2]

I checked my eheim 1260 last night too. it read .48 . I guess that's the right ballpark then for these pumps.

 

[lakee911]

I never gave any thought to power factor on our single phase motors. I'm not sure what type they are. Shaded pole, perhaps?

 

[BeanAnimal]

.41 to .49 is the typical PF for single phase electric motors of the type we are talking about.