[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by sendler

I read this and I'm still confused.
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http://ceolas.net/Docs/Sylvania_on_CFL_Power_Factor.pdf
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Where did the lost power go? Ringing back and forth at the wrong frequency in the wires?

Don't worry, I believe only after some one has devoted a lot time, with hands on applications does any one have a chance at understanding power factor.
If you only read about it, it will only further confuse you.
This is electrical engineer level stuff.

Other wise, yeah that's a pretty good way to look at it.

I would not say that CFLs just run a low power factor, normally caused by voltage to current phase shift. They run off pure phase distortion. Just a low power factor can be corrected with capacitors, capacitors alone cant fix a CFLs phase distortion caused low power factor.