On 9/22/19 11:05 PM, Phil Allison wrote:
Larz wrote:
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I recently installed a mercury vapor light fixture. It is a 125 W lamp
with integrated ballast in the housing. Today, I check the current with
a clamp ammeter on the 120 VAC/ 60 Hz line going into the housing.
After a 10 minute warm up, the current reads approximately 2.3 A AC.
Not being sure, I then wired a series multimeter in line for a moment
and it too read 2.3 A. Unfortunately, there is no PFC with this yard
light, only the bulb and ballast, so I don't think anything can be done.
However....

In another set up I have on the way, there is the 175 W MV bulb, ballast
and the PFC capacitor that will be used with the ballast. Any ideas as
to performance would be welcome. I'm just looking for in general as I
realize we can't get too specific without any more figures, but I'm
really hoping the efficiency is better than with the 125 W set up.



** You are working under a serious delusion.

PFC caps or circuits have *NO* effect on a device's efficiency.

Power consumption remains exactly the same, with or without.

The sole purpose is to reduce the *current draw* and allow more lights or whatever to be used on the same AC supply circuit.

Current draw that is non-sine wave or not in phase with the voltage is always higher than when it is.


..... Phil



Ok, I can accept that answer and will try and learn more.