Running into consistent power factor penalties at a 180-bed nursing home in Ohio. AEP is hitting them for about $800/month in penalties. The facility has mostly LED lighting and newer HVAC equipment, so I'm puzzled what's causing the poor power factor. Any thoughts on typical culprits in these facilities?
Nursing Home Power Factor Issues
Vera, check their medical equipment loads. Things like MRI machines, X-ray equipment, even large UPS systems can wreak havoc on power factor. Also look at any older motor drives that might not have been upgraded.
Don't forget laundry equipment! Nursing homes run massive commercial washers and dryers 24/7. Those motor loads can definitely cause PF problems if they're older units.
Great points Arnold and Tina. Turns out it was a combination - old laundry motors plus some dialysis equipment they added last year. Facility is looking into power factor correction equipment. Should pay for itself in under two years.
Nice detective work Vera. This is why we always recommend power quality studies for healthcare facilities before making equipment recommendations. The loads are so diverse and specialized.