In article ,
Rick writes:
I need to get some fluorescent lamps for the garage. As I use the garage as my workshop, I want it
to be as bright as possible.

Looking at the ScrewFix site, I see that the low power factor lamps only use 38W tubes, and the high
power factor lamps use 58W tubes.

The difference in price is negligible.

Going back (longer than I care to remember) to trade school days....

A fluorescent light needs a power factor correction capacitor in order for the power used by that
lamp to register on the electricity meter.

That's wrong. The power used by the lamp and the rate the meter spins
will be unaffected by using a HPF or LPF fitting. However, a LPF fitting
will draw twice the current and hence need appropriately sized cables
and fuses, but this will not increase the price charged to domestic
consumers (some industrial consumers pay extra for LPF loads).

As I understand it...
All domestic fluorescent lamps do not need a PF capacitor, but they are limited to low power tubes.
All commercial fluorescent lamps need a PF capacitor, and can use higher output tubes.

I believe that is the current EU rules on this issue, with increasingly
high PF (and efficiency) being required for commerial premises lighting
in steps over a few years, which will eventually only be met by using
electronic control gear.

Now the question..

If I get the HPF fittings, and remove the capacitor, is there any reason why it should not work as a
low power factor fitting i.e. not register on the meter.

It will work as a LPF fitting, but it makes no difference to the meter,
so doing that is completely pointless to you, and imposes extra load
on wiring and supply infrastructure.

--
Andrew Gabriel