Anyone expericance with savaplug?

Inf0war

Thinking about getting one and if its worth money.

Anyone use one and or notice difference in power consumption?

saveaplug linkhttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280144261305&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:uk

Kind regards

Arek

tr3mor

I'll leave this to Cardew or Moonrakerz.

Cardew

The principle of these devices is sound - the 'start up' power for the compressor motor is higher than that required when it is running. The Savaplug reduces the power.

However modern fridges have their own circuitry that does that anyway. So it is my understanding that these are only of any use on really old fridges/freezers - even then I suspect the savings are nowhere near that claimed.

A quick Google found thousands of adverts for these devices, but one independent report which stated:

July 2006 A solution to reduce energy used by Fridges is no longer recommended The SavaPlug device used to be sold as a device to reduce the energy used by fridges and freezers. The technology involved reducing the voltage supplied to a fridge once the compressor motor was running, when less power is needed to keep it operating. This would work with most old style mechanical fridges. However more modern fridges have internal controls to reduce overall energy consumption and the introduction of devices like the SavaPlug is not recommended and may be harmful. This is probably why the device appears to be no longer being sold.

Personally I would be wary of using one without clearing it with the manufacturer.

Nothing in life is simple!

cypher007

i read a Which magazine dated Feb 2008 which recomends the Savaplug as a green energy saving device? also can you tell me why some reports say chest freezers are more efficient than upright freezers, as most ive looked at are a C rating while the upright ones are A+. it makes sense that the cold air will sink into a chest freezer thus making it more efficient, so why are'nt they?

moonrakerz

cypher007 wrote: »

i read a Which magazine dated Feb 2008 which recomends the Savaplug as a green energy saving device? also can you tell me why some reports say chest freezers are more efficient than upright freezers, as most ive looked at are a C rating while the upright ones are A+. it makes sense that the cold air will sink into a chest freezer thus making it more efficient, so why are'nt they?

I must confess that I started to type a reply along the lines of:- "of course chest ones are more efficient than uprights !"

BUT, then I had a look at tribaluk's website and the uprights are nearly all "A", whilst the chest ones vary from A to C. Is this caused by some peculiarity of the testing and grading system ?

Pass !

Cardew

moonrakerz wrote: »

I must confess that I started to type a reply along the lines of:- "of course chest ones are more efficient than uprights !"

BUT, then I had a look at tribaluk's website and the uprights are nearly all "A", whilst the chest ones vary from A to C. Is this caused by some peculiarity of the testing and grading system ?

Pass !

Exactly my thoughts!!

When you open an upright freezer you can 'feel' the cold air that 'falls out'!

Guessing, I can only assume that the testing doesn't take into account that the freezer is opened xxx times a year.

moonrakerz

Cardew wrote: »

I can only assume that the testing doesn't take into account that the freezer is opened xxx times a year.

Probably the "EU harmonised" testing method doesn't take into account opening the door to put food in or to take food out.

I recently replaced my stone-age chest freezer with a frost free upright. I would have thought that perhaps that one might be a little less efficient than normal because of the fan - but it's A+ !

cypher007

what about the savaplug? should i buy one?

Cardew

cypher007 wrote: »

what about the savaplug? should i buy one?

I subscribe to Which and I have seen nothing about Savaplug and a search on their website doesn't give any details either. What did it say?

As said earlier in this thread it would appear that it will not be any use for most fridges/freezers and harmful to some.

I suggest you contact your fridge/freezer manufacturer for advice?

mute_posting

I think the "efficiency" band (A-G) for fridges and freezers is based on how much they cost to run per year not specifically how "efficient" they are (If that makes sense? lol) - i.e. a chest freezer is very efficient at what it does - but it uses more energy that pushes it into a higher band because of it's capacity.

On the Savaplugs, they should only be used on fridges without ANY electronics (i.e. they contain just a compressor and a thermostat), which rules out all but the most basic of currently available models on the market AFAIK

We do use them in lab areas at work on fridges. Because the fridges have to be "spark proofed" we buy the very basic models and modify them to remove the interior lights etc.

MP