While Germany has long passed a law requiring the installation of motion and presence sensors in offices, our Federal Law 261-FZ “On Energy Saving and Increasing Energy Efficiency” appeared relatively recently. Therefore, Russian designers and engineers are increasingly turning to Western experience and using it.
For industrial systems In energy saving in Russia, much has been done by analogy with German enterprises. In Germany, the average electricity tariff is 0.18-0.22 euros/kW, so zealous Germans show miracles of ingenuity: they have a lot to learn. And when it comes to energy saving systems in apartments, we rely on the experience of Americans.
Energy saving systems are not only profitable, but also convenient: the light turns on as soon as you enter the apartment; no need to make your way to the switch in the dark.
Payback
Both in enterprises and in apartments, a significant share of energy is spent on lighting. Sensors turn off lamps in a room when there are no people in it, and save up to 70% of the total electricity spent on lighting.
How quickly does a sensor pay for itself? In Europe (due to higher electricity prices) this happens within 1 year. In Russia, the cost of sensors and work on their installation can be recovered in about 1.5-2 years.
Pros and cons of energy-saving systems
In order to start saving energy at home, it’s not enough to just decide to buy a sensor. It is important to study information about them and decide which system is right for you and will be convenient for your living space. It is most rational to use for different rooms different systems. After all, if the sensors create discomfort or dangerous situations (they turn off the lights at the wrong moment), the money you save is unlikely to make you happy.
Here are the most popular automatic devices for saving energy, which you can easily find in stores or in the price lists of electrical installation companies:
- Photo relay. This device measures the light level and turns on the lamps when the sun sets. When installing, it is important to ensure that the light from the lamp does not fall on the photo relay - otherwise you will get a randomly flashing lamp or a lamp that burns around the clock.
- Programmable digital timer with weekly or annual program. Allows you to program the lighting system so that it operates at certain time. This device is more suitable for offices and production, where people come on a fixed schedule.
- Astronomical timer. One of the most “smart” energy saving devices: it itself calculates the time of sunrise and sunset at given coordinates and adjusts its operating mode to it.
- Time relay. The lighting turns on as usual (manually) and automatically goes out after a certain time.
- Motion sensors. React to moving objects. Convenient for “passage” areas: stairs, corridors. It is not suitable for residential premises, because the light may go out if you remain motionless.
- Presence sensors. Based on capturing infrared radiation. They determine the level of illumination and the presence of people in the room and, depending on this, turn on the power to the lamps. This is the most effective sensor because the light is on exactly as long as a person spends in the room.
Use as directed
IN different types rooms can be used in different ways energy saving appliances, For example:
- time relays are suitable for attics and basements;
- the staircase, hallway and corridors can be equipped with motion sensors;
- outdoor lighting can be adjusted by an astronomical sensor or a programmable timer;
- for living rooms best choice will become a presence sensor.
Installation: saving money or time?
For a person with experience in electrical installation work, installing sensors and connecting lighting to them is not difficult. Installation recommendations can be found in the instructions. But, if this is your first time working with these devices, then you will most likely need to try several installation options until you find the optimal one.
An equipment installation specialist will install energy saving systems quickly and accurately.
In the first case, you will save your money, and in the second, time. But in both cases, automation will help you significantly reduce energy consumption.
We connect the photo relay.
Economic turmoil forces each of us to think about cutting costs. And last of all, I want to deny myself the usual pleasures: food and going to the cinema. So what would be so unimportant to sacrifice to the tightening belt before it turns into a stranglehold? While you are pondering a difficult choice, the solution seems to find you. A kind neighbor, a helpful colleague, or a favorite social worker offers to purchase a small box that can reduce energy costs. I plugged the device into the socket, and the savings began to delight me by growing by tens of percent! The evidence base for the effectiveness of cutting-edge technology is based on encouraging reviews from happy customers and compelling YouTube videos. But is everything as good as advertising tells us?
Next, Lifehacker brings you an entertaining article from a trepanation team consisting of a surgeon LoneWolf and his assistant operby, posted in the original on the pages of the online publication "".
We disassemble the device to save energy
Do you want to become a real fairy tale hero? Not some overseas Superman or Spiderman, but the real Pinocchio!
And for this you don’t need to go to the Field of Miracles and bury 5 gold coins in the ground under the cover of darkness... You just need to purchase a device called the “Electricity Saving Box” or “Electricity Saving Box”.
Then plug it into the outlet (I strongly do not recommend sprinkling it with salt and pouring water on it), say: “Cracks! Pax! Fax! - and that’s it! You are Pinocchio!
Meanwhile, our respected Distribusilios, who are actively promoting boxes with LEDs that are inserted into a socket and promise “unreal energy savings” and “slowing down the rotation of the meter,” play well on the feeling of “eternal craving for freebies” of our citizens and are rubbing their hands. And, of course, it is the Distributors who make an unreal profit by purchasing these boxes for $4 in China and selling them to gullible citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Belarus for $40.
So what's inside this device? I propose to take a fascinating journey through its insides to evaluate the prospects of these investments! So, the scalpel is in the hands, the patient is on the table!
The most expensive thing about this device is probably the housing. It is made well: silver in color, with black inserts and a mega-glitter logo. However, its two halves are held together with just one screw, which we unscrewed without difficulty.
Inside the miracle device that “saves electricity” is electronic board With minimum set components and a relatively large "black box" which we suspect is the secret superweapon (Wunderwaffe) in the fight against kilowatt-hour consumption! And we also suspect that this is an ordinary film capacitor.
On the reverse side, the printed circuit board, which is attached with two screws, looks like this:
The entire circuit created on printed circuit board, is designed to create one great miracle - to create the necessary conditions for... the burning of two LEDs. And to make it more clear, here is a summary compiled by the surgical team: schematic diagram of this device:
Yes, very generally speaking, a small garland of two LEDs and a large film capacitor are hidden inside. We also became interested in how big it was, and we measured it with a pretty good device:
Measurements showed that this black secret capacitor has a capacity of as much as 5.18 microfarads.
After dissection, we put all the insides back in again and stitched the patient up. It was decided to try it out in practice. Without this, our experimental analysis would be incomplete. We inserted the mega-economizer into a well-loaded outlet.
And... Oh miracle! The LEDs really lit up, as did our hopes.
But the meter impudently and confidently “twisted” the same kilowatt-hours as without the connected miracle device...
And yet, at least some effect should have been obtained from connecting a film capacitor with a capacity of 5 μF in parallel with the home electrical network. In other words, what kind of brilliant idea does Distribusilio put in place in order to somehow justify their deception of the gullible Pinocchio? Let's answer directly, the capacitance of this capacitor is so insignificant that it is only enough to compensate for reactive power fluorescent lamp 40 W.
Yes, you heard right, except for active power (P, W, watt), which turns into useful work(movement, rotation, heating), some devices, such as motors, also consume reactive power (Q, var, reactive volt-ampere). It is needed to create an electromagnetic field. So, our washing machine and our refrigerator consume this power from the network and load it unproductively. And if you plug a capacitor (of the required capacity and designed for the required voltage) into a socket next to the washing machine or refrigerator, then our esteemed refrigerator and washing machine motors will consume reactive power from the capacitor and will not “load the electrical grid.”
And now the MEGA CONCLUSION: the ACTIVE energy meter installed in your apartment is absolutely indifferent to how much reactive energy passes through it. HE DOESN'T CONSIDER HER.
I repeat, a properly designed active energy meter ONLY takes into account the ACTIVE energy that passes through it. So, by installing all sorts of “magic-energy-saving boxes”, you can very slightly relieve a small section of your electrical wiring from a small portion of reactive power. But your counter will not appreciate your efforts.
Therefore, do not be fooled by Distribusilio’s fairy tales, do not buy a film capacitor with LED indication for $40, unless, of course, you want to feel like... Pinocchio.)))
Take care of yourself and your money!
Instead of a conclusion
We turned to one of the authors of the article with a quick survey. Is it worth trying in response to “bend” the state for the exorbitant increase in tariffs and devaluation of the ruble by deceiving electricity meters? Are there real benefits to energy-efficient home appliances?
Of course it's not worth it. The energy system is constantly improving its methods of finding thieves. In addition, a fine of ten times the amount of the “stolen” will cool any ardor. And most importantly, there are frequent cases of death of “Kulibins” who tried to connect past the metering devices. Therefore, the game is not worth the candle.
I myself only buy high-class electrical appliances (closer to “A”). Electricity will not become cheaper. Therefore, it is a profitable investment.
Alexander Malkov
Still have questions? Ask them in the comments.
So, you've decided it's time to start saving. On what, in fact, without harm to health and appearance Can you save some money? Of course, on electricity consumption.
Think for yourself how wastefully we often spend it not only on lighting rooms, but also on heating and ensuring the operation of numerous home appliances. To correct the situation, you must first of all realize that wasting the lights on and the TV talking to itself is a waste of money. Once awareness has arrived, you need to think about ways to reduce your electricity consumption. We present to your attention our list.
Devices for saving electricity
Solar panels
Converting and using sunlight is one of the most effective alternative methods of generating energy. Using solar panels at home can significantly save on electricity consumption.
The simplest thing is to use solar-powered lamps. Of course, the most effective option is to place a solar battery on a window, where, with the help of the sun, a special battery will be charged, from which you can later power the outlet. But: installing a solar panel, battery and automating this system is an expensive pleasure. In addition, the housing and communal services system does not allow the widespread use of solar panels in apartment buildings. Therefore, this option for saving electricity is suitable for you if you live in a private house. And further climate is important, in which you live, if there are a lot of cloudy and rainy days in the year, then use solar panels It would simply not be rational.
Energy savers
Nowadays, many energy-saving devices have appeared on the market, for example this one - Electricity Saving Box . They are plugged into an outlet and energy consumption is reduced. The essence of these devices is quite simple: they work like an uninterruptible power supply, that is, they protect your network from overloads and voltage surges. After all, when there is a voltage drop, quite a lot of electricity is wasted. In addition, the energy saver removes reactive energy unnecessary from your network, which only overloads the network and increases current consumption.
The advantages of this method are that it is legal, unlike magnets on the counter. And it’s easy: the device is small and not expensive. You won't be able to save millions on this, but a couple of hundred is quite possible.
Those who have already tried similar devices to save electricity say that the benefits, although not gigantic, are quite noticeable. In addition, with use, the service life of various electrical appliances increases, since you essentially protect them from burnout.
LED and eenergy saving lamps
New generation LED lamps consume much less energy compared to fluorescent lamps, and their use time is longer. In addition, the LED has another undeniable advantage - the lighting it produces is as close as possible to natural daylight and does not tire the human eye, unlike the yellow light we are used to. Devices with LED lamps do not contain any harmful substances, they are absolutely harmless and safe.
But there is some difficulty: Many devices with LED lamps do not provide the ability to change these lamps. Therefore, check this in advance, otherwise, after the lamp burns out, the lamp will have to be thrown away.
But with energy-saving lamps you can really save on electricity. They are quite expensive, on average from 150 rubles, but one energy-saving light bulb can easily replace 30 conventional light bulbs, each of which costs 25 rubles. So you will at least save that money. Plus energy saving light bulbs burn brighter and consume less.Energy Saving Principle is that such light bulbs hardly heat up and the energy consumed is spent only on lighting the room. Service life of quality energy saving lamp can be up to 3 years.
Therefore, going broke once and installing energy-saving light bulbs everywhere in the house is good way saving energy.
Motion sensors and light switch-off timers
These smart devices solve the problem of wasted light. The motion sensor can be installed on the porch of the house, in the hallway or in the hallway. This electricity-saving device will automatically respond to the approach of a person by closing the circuit and turning on the light. If there is no movement within the device's coverage area, the light will turn off. Lighting shutdown timers are programmed for a specific time, and can also respond to the absence or presence of daylight.
There are many advantages, the only disadvantage is the installation of the structure.
Household appliances class A+
Saving on upgrades household appliances, thereby increasing your energy costs. The fact is that old household appliances consume much more electricity than modern appliances of class A, A+, A++.
While Germany has long passed a law requiring the installation of motion and presence sensors in offices, our Federal Law 261-FZ “On Energy Saving and Increasing Energy Efficiency” appeared relatively recently. Therefore, Russian designers and engineers are increasingly turning to Western experience and using it.
For industrial energy saving systems in Russia, much has been done by analogy with German enterprises. In Germany, the average electricity tariff is 0.18-0.22 euros/kW, so zealous Germans show miracles of ingenuity: they have a lot to learn. And when it comes to energy saving systems in apartments, we rely on the experience of Americans.
Energy saving systems are not only profitable, but also convenient: the light turns on as soon as you enter the apartment; no need to make your way to the switch in the dark.
Payback
Both in enterprises and in apartments, a significant share of energy is spent on lighting. Sensors turn off lamps in a room when there are no people in it, and save up to 70% of the total electricity spent on lighting.
How quickly does a sensor pay for itself? In Europe (due to higher electricity prices) this happens within 1 year. In Russia, the cost of sensors and work on their installation can be recovered in about 1.5-2 years.
Pros and cons of energy-saving systems
In order to start saving energy at home, it’s not enough to just decide to buy a sensor. It is important to study information about them and decide which system is right for you and will be convenient for your living space. It is most rational to use different systems for different rooms. After all, if the sensors create discomfort or dangerous situations (they turn off the lights at the wrong moment), the money you save is unlikely to make you happy.
Here are the most popular automatic devices for saving energy, which you can easily find in stores or in the price lists of electrical installation companies:
- Photo relay. This device measures the light level and turns on the lamps when the sun sets. When installing, it is important to ensure that the light from the lamp does not fall on the photo relay - otherwise you will get a randomly flashing lamp or a lamp that burns around the clock.
- Programmable digital timer with weekly or annual program. Allows you to program the lighting system to turn on at a specific time. This device is more suitable for offices and production, where people come on a fixed schedule.
- Astronomical timer. One of the most “smart” energy saving devices: it itself calculates the time of sunrise and sunset at given coordinates and adjusts its operating mode to it.
- Time relay. The lighting turns on as usual (manually) and automatically goes out after a certain time.
- Motion sensors. React to moving objects. Convenient for “passage” areas: stairs, corridors. It is not suitable for residential premises, because the light may go out if you remain motionless.
- Presence sensors. Based on capturing infrared radiation. They determine the level of illumination and the presence of people in the room and, depending on this, turn on the power to the lamps. This is the most effective sensor because the light is on exactly as long as a person spends in the room.
Use as directed
Different types of rooms can use different energy-saving devices, for example:
- time relays are suitable for attics and basements;
- the staircase, hallway and corridors can be equipped with motion sensors;
- outdoor lighting can be adjusted by an astronomical sensor or a programmable timer;
- For living rooms, the best choice would be a presence sensor.
Installation: saving money or time?
For a person with experience in electrical installation work, installing sensors and connecting lighting to them is not difficult. Installation recommendations can be found in the instructions. But, if this is your first time working with these devices, then you will most likely need to try several installation options until you find the optimal one.
An equipment installation specialist will install energy saving systems quickly and accurately.
In the first case, you will save your money, and in the second, time. But in both cases, automation will help you significantly reduce energy consumption.
We connect the photo relay.
Loading...
