my blender says it's 500 watts

[ElFenix]

turn it over and the motor label says 3 amps. 3 amps * 120 volts = 360 watts. where does 500 watts come from?

 

[Baked]

You need to turn on the turbo switch.

 

[ElFenix]

You need to turn on the turbo switch.

but does it have ice crushing power still?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

you have to attach a power supply to it

 

[FoBoT]

its AC, volts times amps equals volt-amps, not watts
you have to include the power factor for AC
so, Watts=average{v(t)×i(t)}

http://www.generatorguide.net/watt-acpower.html

plus they probably rounded something off, so it won't be exact anyway

 

[ElFenix]

its AC, volts times amps equals volt-amps, not watts
you have to include the power factor for AC
so, Watts=average{v(t)×i(t)}

http://www.generatorguide.net/watt-acpower.html

plus they probably rounded something off, so it won't be exact anyway

so it's even worse! it's not even 250 watts!

 

[xanis]

I think it's safe to say that it's over 9000 though.

 

[FoBoT]

you used a power factor of .7 ? hmmm, well there you go, i guess you got gypped
maybe its like why a 1TB hard drive only shows as 920GB

 

[Rubycon]

3A is probably for the appliance rating...

Most countertop blenders use universal motors. These have a very high (unloaded) speed. Even at full speed (frappe?) with no load it may very well draw considerably less than 500W. Get chopping, load the motor up and watch the power draw soar. The 500W (approximately .67 horsepower) is probably a peak measurement, like many vacuum cleaners are rated. The commutators and brushes are not rated for this duty continuously.

Even scarier is these types of motors can tolerate surprisingly amounts of over volting either until their bearings fail, the connected load destroys itself or the commutator goes up in a spectacular ring of fire!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8zXyFKfMSg&

 

[AmdEmAll]

But does it blend?

 

[eldorado99]

3A is probably for the appliance rating...

Most countertop blenders use universal motors. These have a very high (unloaded) speed. Even at full speed (frappe?) with no load it may very well draw considerably less than 500W. Get chopping, load the motor up and watch the power draw soar. The 500W (approximately .67 horsepower) is probably a peak measurement, like many vacuum cleaners are rated. The commutators and brushes are not rated for this duty continuously.

Even scarier is these types of motors can tolerate surprisingly amounts of over volting either until their bearings fail, the connected load destroys itself or the commutator goes up in a spectacular ring of fire!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8zXyFKfMSg&

The correct term is "GOOIFY"

 

[DrPizza]

When you first turn it on, there's a higher current momentarily until the motor starts turning. They probably measure the peak current (that lasts for a fraction of a second) and use that to calculate the watts.

volts times amps equals volt-amps, not watts

But, a volt is a joule per coulomb, and an amp is a coulomb per second. So, volt-amps are joule coulombs per coulomb second, or joules per coulomb.

 

[Lemon law]

Starting amps are much higher than running amps so your blender may consume 500 peak amps in starting. But as it continues to run the current draw may drop down to 300 Watts.

 

[ElFenix]

false advertising!



(yes it does say peak)

 

[eldorado99]

Starting amps are much higher than running amps so your blender may consume 500 peak amps in starting. But as it continues to run the current draw may drop down to 300 Watts.

I desperately want a blender that requires 500 amps to start! :awe:

 

[Rubycon]

false advertising!



(yes it does say peak)

Since the peak number is always higher - many times by a significant amount - they use it since people are under the belief that bigger is better, always. :biggrin:

I desperately want a blender that requires 500 amps to start! :awe:

Well if it's a 1V motor that certainly is possible!
It's not uncommon for a fractional horsepower induction motor to have a very high starting (LRA) rating. Window unit AC compressors will blow fuses or trip circuit breakers if stopped and started again. If on a dedicated line they may bounce off their klixon protectors, dimming the lights considerably in the process!

 

[NutBucket]

Is it bad that my first reaction to the title was "Only 500W? Get a better blender!"

 

[edro]

UL/CSA has industry standard tables for nameplate markings based on motor horsepower and voltage. They are all very conservative figures.
Literally every motor in any product with a CSA or UL marking will draw considerably less current than the nameplate.

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah, my favorite examples are "6 peak HP" on shop-vacs. Really, 6HP from a 120V-15A circuit? What kind of sorcery is this!

 

[LTC8K6]

500 watts peak, for advertising purposes. Makes you think the motor is powerful.

 

[LurkerPrime]

Take a quarter inch steel rod and jam it in your blender so the blades wont be able to turn. Flip the switch. You'll get your 500 watts.

Also on the power listing connundrum, go look at your stereo reciever. The power supply and amps drawn are less than the rated system wattage output. Its as if the stereo makes its own energy.

 

[Uhtrinity]

Watts = 1.44 * Amps * AC Line voltage

496.8 watts = 1.44 * 3 amps * 115 volts That 500w number is a close approximation. If you have ever looked at hot water heater elements they usually have a 1KW spread based on line voltage of 230 - 240 volts AC.

That number will fluctuate a little and and some others mentioned you will have an initial spike that can exceed 500watts by quite a bit.

 

[SandEagle]

my blender says 'How was your day today, honey?'

 

[Howard]

500W when it jams, perhaps?

 

[Fayd]

turn it over and the motor label says 3 amps. 3 amps * 120 volts = 360 watts. where does 500 watts come from?

wouldn't 360 VA be approx 255 watts?