William Sommerwerck wrote:
Agreed. However there is a newer kid on the block, and that's the power
factor corrected SMPS. This technology has been reduced to an IC, and it
shows up in items as humble as compact flourescent light bulbs. If the
power factor is 1.00 or approaches it, then the current and voltage are
largely in-phase.

I checked some excellent CFLs from Home Despot (instant turn-on, excellent
color balance) with the Kil-a-Watt. It showed a power factor around 65%,
which struck me as rather low. Such a low PF also partly offsets the
money-saving advantages of fluorescent lamps.

Opinions, anyone?

Well, your computer switcher probably has a power factor of about 1.2 to
1.5... so run a couple computers and the lead and lag will cancel one
another out...
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."