Power factor correction apparatus for appliances having inductive loads

摘要

A power factor correction apparatus is retrofittable to an appliance having an inductive load. The apparatus includes a housing having an electrical socket on one side and an electrical plug on the other side. Inside the housing are a power factor correction circuit and a trigger circuit. The socket and plug are electrically coupled to each other by the trigger circuit which automatically couples the power factor correction circuit between the socket and the plug when current flowing to the appliance is sensed.

主权项

1. An apparatus for correcting power factor of an appliance having an inductive load to be coupled to an AC line source, said apparatus comprising:
a housing, said housing having a load side and a line side; an electrical outlet located on said load side to be coupled to the appliance having the inductive load; an electrical plug located on said line side to be coupled to the AC line source; and a power factor correction circuit contained within said housing and being electrically coupled to said electrical plug and said electrical outlet when the AC line source is coupled to the electrical plug, the appliance having the inductive load coupled to the electrical outlet when the appliance having the inductive load is turned on and drawing a predetermined current, when the appliance having the inductive load is turned on, said power factor correction circuit turns on and corrects for excess reactive load in the appliance having the inductive load by reducing current on a line side of the power factor correction circuit, said power factor correction circuit being automatically uncoupled from said electrical plug when the appliance having an inductive load is turned off, said power factor correction circuit including a trigger circuit having a capacitor, said trigger circuit decouples the capacitor from the electrical plug if the apparatus is unplugged preventing a hazardous condition.