Power Factor (PF) is a measure of the efficiency of electric power delivery to a load. Traditionally the phase shift from inductive loads was the major cause of poor PF…
White Papers
Browse our library of power quality technical resources.
408 white papers
Catching VFD Failures
Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) present unique challenges as both a source of PQ problems as well as being sensitive to incoming voltage quality. A frequent complaint with a troublesome VFD…
Power Quality Recorder Setup Basics (Part 2)
This whitepaper is a continuation of WP241 (Recorder Setup Basics). In part one the details and relative memory consumption of interval recording was discussed along with the associated controls for…
Recording Interharmonics with the Revolution
Interharmonics are on the rise because of large non-linear loads and sources being introduced to the distribution network, in particular large Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) and inverters for distributed generation.…
Understanding Crest Factor
Crest factor is an often neglected power compatibility measurement, but can be very important in certain applications. This white paper presents the definition of crest factor and the method for…
IEEE 519 Harmonics in Residential Locations
IEEE 519 specifies the measurement technique and limits for harmonics in a wide variety of locations, from transmission through distribution. For the first time, the 2014 edition also provides separate…
Voltage Sag Source: Upstream or Downstream?
The first step in voltage sag mitigation is finding the source of the sag. In a power quality recording, spotting the voltage sag itself is often easy, but determining whether…
Power Factor Correction Capacitors and Harmonics: How PFC Capacitors Affect Harmonic Levels
Power networks have become increasingly more complex with the rapid growth of non-linear loads. These additions place significant burden on a network, resulting in a reexamination of today's installations. This…
Cell, WiFi, and More with the New Cell Guardian Meter Socket Recorder
PMI has just introduced a major redesign of the Guardian meter socket power quality analyzer. This white paper will focus specifically on the new Cell Guardian recorder and cover the…
Configuring Alerts with a Guardian in PQ Canvass
PQ Canvass is Power Monitors Inc.’s newest iteration of web-based power quality analysis software. It builds on the foundation established by Canvass and adds many new features, including variable-interval stripcharts;…
Introduction to PQ Canvass
Power Monitors has released a new cloud-based software product for power quality analysis, called PQ Canvass. PQ Canvass incorporates the features and convenience of our previous online software, Canvass, many…
Understanding RMS Measurements
Power Monitors, Inc. provides a wide array of power quality test instrumentation. These devices are used to measure line voltage, current and power from or to a number of different…