How much good does an active PFC do?

[danklumpp]

Eh?

 

[danklumpp]

That cookie looks good, you guys better come quick or I might eat it myself.

 

[Jen]

Originally posted by: danklumpp
That cookie looks good, you guys better come quick or I might eat it myself.

active PFC suppose to give cleaner power to the rails? hm


cookie monster say yum

 

[danklumpp]

Is it worth an extra $20

 

[corkyg]

Active PFC - private first class on active duty?

 

[bendixG15]

PFC does nothing for me

 

[danklumpp]

Originally posted by: corkyg
Active PFC - private first class on active duty?

That was pretty good corkyg.

So an Active PFC doesn't do a whole lot?

 

[Ike0069]

http://www.dansdata.com/gz028.htm

 

[munchow2]

Pretty much no unless you've got an unstable power source, then maybe.

 

[danklumpp]

Thanks Ike0069, that really cleared that up for me. Good arcticle, relates well.

 

[Navid]

Power factor correction (active or passive) has to do with the input of the power supply not its output. If you connect to the power outlet directly, PFC does no good for you, only for the power company.

The power company charges you based on the energy they deliver to your house, which is the power to your house multiplied by time (power is energy per unit time). But, the power that they have to deliver is more! Why? Becasue of the power dissipation in the power lines. They cannot charge you for the dissipated power in the lines since you have nothing to do with it. But, they can try to minimize that power dissipation. To minimize the power dissipation in power lines, the current that flows into your house must be in phase with the voltage that is applied to the house (power factor =1)!
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/powfac.html

However, if you use a UPS to power your computer, PFC may be important for you as well. Without PFC, the power the UPS must provide is slightly higher than if there was PFC.