Glossary of Terms

- Amps - Circuits are rated according to Amps (Volume). So amps are the actual measurement of the amount of electrical current that is flowing through a circuit at any given moment.

- Beta Units - Another name for Power Save Units.

- Bleeders - They release stored electricity from the capacitor when unplugged from the outlet. They bleed-out within 15 seconds. We use 220K (ohms) on each capacitor.

- Breakers - The circuit is further divided at the panel by breakers. Breakers assign/direct the electricity load to designated fixtures and appliances.

- Capacitor/Capacitance – Stored electricity. When holding voltage and effective power unchanged, current is reduced when power factor is increased. Less electricity is used to do the same work.

- CFL – Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs. These are energy efficient light bulbs. These provide bright warm light and uses about 75% less energy than standard lighting. They produce 75% less heat reducing home cooling costs and last up to 10 times longer. They contain a very, very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing.

- Circuit- Electricity must travel in a "loop" which is called – A Circuit. Depending upon the country A household could have 2 loops or 1 single circuit.

- Circuit Breaker- This is the actual switch on the breaker that will Interrupt the electrical flow in a circuit if there is an overload or short. The breaker rating determines the maximum flow.

- Clamp- This is the actual switch on the breaker that will Interrupt the electrical flow in a circuit if there is an overload or short. The breaker rating determines the maximum flow.

- Circuit Breaker- When an open circuit shuts off.

- Codes- Standards developed Internationally for Safety and consistency.

- Conductor- Anything that can carry electricity. In most cases a wire.

- Conduit- A hollow tube that wires can run through. It could be rigid or flexible.

- Current (l)- The quantity of electricity charge passing through the units. It is measured in (A) amperage. An example is water running through a hose: The water is the Current – the pressure is the Voltage – The amount is the Amps (amperage)

- Demand- Total amount of power used on your property. When demand exceeds the safe capacity of a circuit this is an overload.

- EMF Radiation- High currents (coils) creating a magnetic field. Motors and Florescent lighting with a home or building and large over-head power lines are a very real concern. The "SMART" Power Saver reduces EMF in the home or building. For the power lines the ground exposure spread beneath the power lines is considered to be 200 to 250 feet. The dissipating factor of exposure for these large power lines is heighth reduces ground spread exposure by 1 to 4. This means for every foot in height the exposure spread is reduced by 4 feet.

- End-of-a-run- The last location on a circuit. No wires continue on.

- Farad- It is the capacitance unit of measure.

- Ground- Electricity always seeks the shortest possible path to the earth. Neutral wires carry electricity to ground in all circuits. Additional grounding wires protects against shocks.

- GFCI (Ground fault circuit interrupter)- It is a safety breaker that is within the house or business to insure the power is cut off when there is a difference between the currents in the hot and neutral wires. When a difference is detected it means something abnormal is happening.

- Harmonics- High Energy Impulses which is very damaging to equipment. We stay within the first 3 levels of Harmonics. The higher the Harmonic level the more uncontrollable, hot and spiratic the current becomes.

- Harmonic Distortion- This is the change of waveforms from preferred (sinusoidal) form creating heat, effecting motor life. A 10% reduction can double the life span of the motor.

- Inductive/non-pure resistor/non-resistive- The electricity Power Savers work with air-conditioning units, air-conditioning units refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, pool pups, vacuums, computers, well pumps, etc… These can create heat caused by resistance. This heat is wastage unless it is produced by heaters, blankets, stoves, etc.
Reduction of heat generation or reduction of this power wastage is the fundamental source of electricity savings.

- Inrush Current- Stationary motor causing higher than normal current flow until the magnetic field builds up and the motor reaches a steady state. "SMART" PPS Professional Power Savers reduce the peak inrush and also the inrush time from 5% to 15%

- Kilowatt (kW) - One thousand watts. A kilowatt-hour is the standard measure of electrical consumption.

- LED - Light Emitting Diodes. Better light quality than incandescent bulbs, lasting 25 times longer and use less energy than even CFL's.

- Loads - There are 3 types of Loads.
1- Resistive/reactive
2- Inductive/non-resistive
3- Capacitive/stored electricity

- Load Center - Source for all power to the home or business. All circuits originate from here. Circuit breakers are located within this panel. Also called a Service Panel.

- MicroFarad (ųF) - 1 millionth of a Farad.

- MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor ) - This is a common component that sends to ground excess electricity.

- Neutral Wire - A conductor that carries current from an outlet back to ground.

- Non-pure resistor - Examples: inductive/florescent/transistors.

- Outlet - Any potential point of use in a circuit, including receptacles, switches, and light fixtures

- Phase-Shifting - This is moving the phases of electricity closer together for better efficiency of electricity usage.

- Phase Difference - This is what the Power Factor represents. Using the Power Saver = Changing the phase difference and Changing the phase difference = Increasing the Power Factor.

- Polarized plugs - Plugs designed so the hot and neutral sides of a circuit can not be accidentally reversed. One side is a different shape.

- Power Factor (PF) - PF measures how effectively your operation uses electrical power compared to what is wasted. Generally homes have a PF of .6 (60%) to .76 (78%). This figure is the efficiency level you are using electricity coming into your home or business. Poor power factor means your facility is using and paying for more electricity than it needs while doing the same amount of work. The net results is higher demand charges on your electric bill and overtaxing your internal wires and transformers. The "SMART" Power Saver increases your PF, reduces the amount of electricity needed to perform the same functions and saves you money on Inductive Loads.

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/industry/bestpractices/pdfs/mc60405.pdf

- Receptacle - An outlet that supplies power for lamps and other plug-in devices.

- Resistive/Resistance/Reactive (R) - Opposite of Inductive. No phase-shifting. Both phases run at zero/power factor of 1.0. No correction is required with capacitors. It is called being synchronous. The current flows in the same cycle or phase.

- Self-Sealing - Internal liquid that actually seals any cracks/breaks. This process is considered safe and meets Safety Standards requirements.

- Service entrance - The main point where power enters a home.

- Service entrance - Service panel – The main fuse box, electrical box or breaker box in a home. Also called the Load Center.

- Short Circuit - When hot and neutral wires contact each other. Fuses and breakers protect against this because of the possibility of fire.

- Spikes - A sudden sharp spike in electricity, such as, power being supplied after a black out, or the effects of lightning in the area.

- Subpanel - A second fuse box when the main box has no additional room for more breakers.

- Surges - An increase or decrease of power within the home or business. Similar to a wave building and then retreating.

- System Ground - A wire connecting a service panel to the earth. This can be attached to a main water pipe, rod in the ground or a plate embedded along a footing.

- Transformer -A device that reduces or increases voltage. Such as, low voltage equipment – thermostats and door bells. Utility Companies use them to reduce high voltage to useable voltage for residential usage.

- ų - A greek letter meaning mu. In electrical engineering it represents micro, i.e., ųF for microfarad.

- Volts or Voltage (V) (Pressure) - The rate or force of electricity and its potential capacity to do work. Voltage is measured in volts.

- Watt - A measure of the power an electrical device consumes. Watts = Volts x Amps.

- Wire Gauge -This is the standards for wire sizes. The size (gauge) will determine how much amperage (amps) the wire will carry. The bigger the gauge the "less resistance" , "less heat", "less wastage". Here are sample ratings - notice the lower the number the higher the gauge:

#14 - carries 15 amps
#14 - carries 15 amps
#12 - carries 20 amps
#10 - carries 30 amps

Too much amperage on too small of a gauge wire causes:

Safety factor concern
Creates heat
Electricity wastage

- Wiring - A distribution network of wire that conducts electricity to receptacles, switches and appliances throughout a home or building to provide electricity where and when it is needed.