Power Factor Correction on Progressive Dynamics Converters.

Is it not the focus of the thread on Pf and generated power? I wish I could gain an image of the stator winding of my 12.5 Kw KATO generator and show th comparison of it to say an Onan or other "competitive" brand. The KATO is rated industrial duty meaning 24/7/365 operation.

Warped Pf percentages really tax the ability of tiny generator sets. Otherwise its all a moot point. Power Pedestal Princess connections are directed at RV'ers who could care less about Pf. A mindset of mobile home living - not RVing.

Ok, folks it took me many many years to figure this out

Watts in a DC circuit = Volts times Amps. In a Dc Circuit, or in a resistive circuit, Power Factor = 1.0 always.

in an AC curcuit with either inductance or capacitance or both. (anything other than pure resistive, such as a light bulb) the power factor comes into play

Watts now equals Volts times Amps times POWER FACTOR

A Progressive Dynamics 9280 can put out what, about 960 watts at 12 volts (actually a bit more watts due to higher voltage) let us round to 1000 watts cause,,, I like ZEROS when doing examples.

So if it's putting out 1000 watts, well it has some conversion loss.. So now we are sucking perhaps 1200 watts.. or 10 amps at 120 volts... right... Sorry

There is power factor.. If the power factor is 0.8 (Someone suggested that is common) or worse yet 0.7) what I've seen suggested before)

Well now 1200=120*amps*0.7 so that 10 amps is up to 14.28 amps

Now that is what the circuit breakers see.

Correct the power factor and we are back to 10 amps.

kellertx5er wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

PF matters when powering the converter with a generator.

Power factor correction only benefits the system upline from the point of correction. So yes, the generator will see improvement. However, your 30 (or 50) amp main breaker will see NO benefit and you will still be limited by that device.

:h Why wouldn't the main breaker (and the branch breaker feeding the converter) also see benefit from power factor correction in the converter? They are, after all, upline from the converter, and the actual, measurable current that flows through them would be reduced.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

PF matters when powering the converter with a generator.

Power factor correction only benefits the system upline from the point of correction. So yes, the generator will see improvement. However, your 30 (or 50) amp main breaker will see NO benefit and you will still be limited by that device.

Hi,

PF matters when powering the converter with a generator.

Harvey51 wrote:
Why does the power factor matter to the camper? Just a little more current for the campground to supply for the same amount of power.

Why does the power factor matter to the camper? Just a little more current for the campground to supply for the same amount of power.

Oh, if you are needing more than the 30 or 50 amps of the pedestal breaker it would matter. My location in a cool part of the continent makes me slow to think about air conditioning. We have never used ours.

Between .7 and .8 for most "ordinary" switched power supplies.

An "honest" generator rating from cheapo generator manufacturers? Stop! You're killing me! Things got so bad in the small engine horsepower data ads that reputable manufacturers now refuse to imply "horsepower" ratings.

I've laid in an order for a 50uf 480 volt RUN capacitor to take with me to my instrumentation. A scope capture order will reveal voltage droop through a current transformer to determine just how effective or ineffective connection of a RUN cap is, before actually enabling a switching power supply.

Of course, I could guess, by monitoring instruments but power supply electrolytic capacitor inrush is so fast it is elusive to the eye. But it sure isn't "elusive" to a marginally powered generator.

0.7 for the power factor.

The power factor for a Progressive Dynamics converter is, as the company name implies "dynamic".. It will vary with the state of charge of the batteries or to be more precise the load on the unit.. If you really, really want I can plug in a test device and give you a reading on a 9180 with full batteries and perhaps 5-10 amps load. But this is not the full story.

Or,,,,,, you can do it yourself if you have a plug in model.

Things needed to find power factor on my 9180

1: short (like 1 foot) extension cord 15 or 20 amp
2: 1 Kill-a-watt
1: Adapter 20 to 15 amp (I have one I made up)

The 9180 works well on a 15 amp circuit (has tripped the breaker once in 11 years) so plug it into the adapter.. plug adapter into Kill-a-watt, plug Kill-a-watt into short cord (NOTE, longer is OK so long as it's at least 14ga) plug cord into outlet (the outlet mine is plugged into is a 15/20 type, takes either plug)

press PF key on Kill-a-watt.. There is your answer.

On edit.... Back when this Rig was more or less new I owned a 1,000 Watt Genrac portable generator.. This is a TRUE 1,000 watt (Sustained) unit... I'd really like to get it back (legally I still own it, but alas it grew legs, I knwo who's but knowing and proving are two very different things)

With the Interstate U-2200s Dead, and I MEAN DEAD (lights won't) I plugged the 9180 into the Genrac, using the adapter I built (Which is also a short extension cord) and it held... Generator eventually ran out of gas and batteries were near full when it got there. Did not trip the 10 amp breaker.

So, that gives you and idea of how much it takes.

Of course I'm not sure if Generators generate WATTS or Volt-Amps

(What is the difference? Volt-amps times power factor = Watts, so if the Generator generates WATTS. then the power factor does not matter but if it generates Volt-Amps (Volts times amps) then it does).

About 30% from what I read. (30% more apparent power needed)