A loose neutral is one of the most dangerous faults a single-phase service can develop, and one of the least likely to announce itself. The connection does not fail outright.…
Modern Flicker Analysis Using PQ Canvass and Merlin™
Voltage flicker is one of the most common power quality complaints reported by utility customers. The term flicker refers to visible changes in lighting intensity caused by rapid fluctuations in…
Visualizing Loose Neutrals with RMS Capture Graphs
Loose neutrals represent one of the most hazardous and subtle single-phase service issues encountered by utility power quality (PQ) engineers. The condition arises when the neutral conductor connecting the center…
Voltage Tug-of-War The Silent VFD Killer
The modern variable-speed drive (VFD) is a sophisticated power electronic system, yet the front end is still a deceptively simple six-pulse diode bridge. That simplicity means the rectifier has little…
Riding Through Voltage Sags with the IEEE 1668 Standard
Voltage sags are the most common power quality issue, and also the most costly for industrial power users. It's not practical for a utility to eliminate all sags, so industrial…
Tensor, Simplifying a Complex Enviroment
PMI has introduced the Tensor, a next generation plugin power quality analyzer. The Tensor (Figure 1) is designed to plug in to any standard 3-prong receptacle. This white paper will…
Recloser Violates ITIC Curve
Reclosers are electrical utility devices used to isolate faults occurring in an electrical grid. In their operation, if a fault is detected, they may disconnect and reconnect power several times.…