Calling Electrical gurus

[95DRGT]

I think my Dad is getting taken to the cleaners on this. He's old and has dementia and I'm in the process of trying to take over his affairs.

I think this company is scam but would welcome any thoughts. They are supposedly installing all this stuff tomorrow and telling him he will cut electrical bills in half after the install. I'm calling BS

https://www.lightpowersolutions.com/powerworx.asp

more info
The team at Light Power Solutions LLC is pleased to release their new product called the green power switch. This is a system that wirelessly communicates with designated power outlets in your home to turn them off when they are not in use. When something is off but still plugged in it is using electricity called “vampire juice.” This product will shut the outlet off either on a timer or when you flip the master switch. This system also controls your thermostat, effectively giving you a “switch” that puts your house in its ultimate energy saving mode.

Millions of dollars are spent every year by consumers on the “phantom electricity” pulsing through appliances, electronics and any device that is plugged in to an outlet; even if the device is in off mode and not in use.

The green power switch will block the usage of unneeded electrical power that courses through your home while electronics are not in use, bringing you substantial savings on your utility costs.Reduce your carbon footprint and grow your bank account. Let the green energy saving specialists at Light Power Solutions LLC show you how.

[Aceman85turbo]

take the day off and post up at your dad's house. When they get there tell them to fuck off. How much are they charging him to for that snake oil? Dont they know your dad can just un plug stuff he isnt usign if it is a big deal?

[ceyko]

I remember some other similar devices.

There are power strips that can cut power to receptacles and all that. The reality is it saves pennies per month, per device at best. Anyway, what you posted is snake oil and at the end of the day I don't see much of anything cutting electricity usage in half, other than turning off the air conditioner.

[Chas_svo]

I agree. It's only gonna save a ver small percent and he'll likely never get the cost back.

[95DRGT]

Thanks All- I'm trying to run some interface but he lives several hundred miles away and without power of attorney it will be difficult.

I've tried to talking to him rationally but he is hell bent on doing it and has signed some type of contractual document.

It pisses me off to no end how people can take advantage of the elderly.

[ceyko]

Curious, how much are they charging him?

[95DRGT]

Curious, how much are they charging him?

Not exactly sure- but I think its a a few thousand dollars

[ceyko]

Not exactly sure- but I think its a a few thousand dollars

Holy smokes! If it was in the sub 750 area, I'd say just let it go. That's crazy.

Edit: The surge protection is nice though, but I think those can be had a lot cheaper than that. Since it seems like the install is going to happen either way, let us know if it helps.

[STANGGT40]

this is one of those things that is really a gray area...the product "works", in the sense that it shuts power off to outlets that aren't drawing much current. what they're doing, sounds like something that works from a circuit, with several receptacles on it. considering that, it would require that none of the receptacles on that circuit actually have anything running on them. that period of time is going to be very small, and anything that you're not using, that actually has some small amount of usage, while you're using something on the other receptacles on that circuit, will continue to draw power.

now, without doing the math (i really don't need to), unless your dad has ridiculous amounts of electronics plugged in that are constantly unused, you will NEVER make that investment back, unless he lives to be a few hundred years old. even if that were the case; if they go unused for so long, just unplug them.

if he really wants to feel good and do the same thing, without paying this company a ridiculous amount of money to do it, he can go online and buy power strips that do this exact same thing (actually better, because it's at the local device), and he can put them at each place that he has electronics.

here's an example:

http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Strip-Protector-Autoswitching-Technology/dp/B0006PUDQK/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1320676944&sr=1-1

as far as the thermostat goes, you can get one hell of a smart thermostat, that has all kinds of crazy settings, for a couple hundred bucks.

[95DRGT]

Just an update- I was finally able to get a contact number of the salesmen.

When I called him and identified him who I was and was looking out for my Dad's best interest him immediately started spouting off that anybody can post things to the internet that are not true. I was like WTF, but I did find several bashing threads in various forums about this guy.

I mentioned the fact that my dad was diagnosed with dementia and he just said we should call the whole thing off then.

hmmmmm even more of a scam for the guy to back down so easy......

My dad is pissed at me for 'meddling' in his business but he probably won't remember by later today- sad but true.

[LS1Goat]

My dad is pissed at me for 'meddling' in his business but he probably won't remember by later today- sad but true.

You saved him from getting taken advantage of. I wouldn't fret over it. He'll get over it.

[jw33]

Same thing happened to my grandparents with the Kirby vaccum salesmen. Called them up and told them there we be no more payments made and they can go eat a dick.

[miketyler]

Encourage him to try some other green alternatives. I put my electric water heater and recirculation pump on a timer. It won't cut your bills in half but the instant hot water is great.

[Fastfox86]

If he's bent on dropping that much money he might as well just get a few solar panels. They've been around forever and they work. Though they are still expensive.

[jefehbk]

Just an update- I was finally able to get a contact number of the salesmen.

When I called him and identified him who I was and was looking out for my Dad's best interest him immediately started spouting off that anybody can post things to the internet that are not true. I was like WTF, but I did find several bashing threads in various forums about this guy.

I mentioned the fact that my dad was diagnosed with dementia and he just said we should call the whole thing off then.

hmmmmm even more of a scam for the guy to back down so easy......

My dad is pissed at me for 'meddling' in his business but he probably won't remember by later today- sad but true.

post the phone number up if they give your dad any more trouble....the "salesman" will soon figure out to just leave your dad alone about the matter and move on to his next victim.