There are few homes that have power factor correction devices but the ones who do know they have it because the little power flickers that reboot the home computer is gone, the buzzing in the radio vanishes and everything with an electric motor runs cooler, quieter and uses less electricity.
If you want your electronics to last longer and don’t want to replace your computer every time you get hit by lightning then buy a Power Factor Correction unit containing capacitors and surge arrestor which is installed at the fuse box and will protect your whole house. If you need a power bar and believe the insurance on it is legitimate then buy it, but don’t be fooled into thinking a power bar with a fuse is going to stop a bolt of lightning or correct your power factor.

Power factor correction is often misunderstood and because of some over-zealous salespeople has earned a bad name for itself in the residential market. However the reason for the misunderstandings stem from poor salesmanship and poor sales training not because capacitors or power factor is a scam. The fact that less heat is emitted from a motor running with a good power factor should be enough information for most people to make a decision but just in case I will make the following statement: “Every single residential installation of a power factor correction device saves the home-owner money” And yes I know they are not penalized for poor power factor like commercial users.

A simple analogy would be to compare low power factor with a small amount of water in your gas tank, your car will run but uses more fuel to get the same acceleration caused by a sharp reduction in your cars power output.

Water in gas
• More fuel less power
Low power factor
• More amperes’ less wattage

Handydan