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…
High Impedance Faults: Causes, Risks, Detection Techniques
High impedance faults can be a troublesome power quality issue affecting not only utilities, but their customers too. Frequently, these faults can trip arc fault breakers and GFCI outlets and…
Datacenter Power Consumption II
The explosive growth of datacenter infrastructure in the United States continues to reshape electricity consumption patterns, now constituting a substantial and rapidly growing share of both total load and peak…
Why Notching Disrupts Power Quality and How To Stop It
Wave notching is a type of voltage distortion that appears as a very fast, repetitive dip or "notch" in the sinusoidal waveform of an AC power system. This periodic disturbance…
Identify Resonance & Distortion With PQ Canvass 3D Graphs
Modern loads convert the utility AC voltage into DC for use internally; this process generates harmonic currents. Harmonic currents can necessitate transformer derating, introduce voltage distortion, and even cause false…
PQ Trends Electric Vehicle Charging
The rapid deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is reshaping electric distribution systems in North America. This white paper provides a focused technical overview of EV charging technologies, emphasizing…
Delta (Line to Line) Voltage
In the world of electrical engineering and power distribution, understanding the relationship between different voltage types is essential. One of the key distinctions in three-phase power systems is the difference…
Line and Phase Voltage in PQ Canvass
PQ Canvass now supports viewing RMS Voltage in a virtual Delta hookup (Line-Line) when the device is hooked up to a Wye configuration (Line-Neutral) and initialized as such. This feature…
Voltage Imbalance and Its Impact on Waveform Distortion
Voltage imbalance, also referred to as voltage unbalance, is an important power quality issue that can lead to significant operational problems in customer equipment. It occurs when the magnitudes or…
60Hz Phasors and Extended PQ Measurements
This white paper walks the reader through a method to take basic core PQ measurements and derive several other measurements (such as 60Hz power, Voltage and Current THD, distortion power…
Introduction to PMI View
Power Monitors' PMI View is a cutting-edge iOS and iPadOS application for performing power quality analysis in the field, bringing the full capabilities of PMI's advanced recording devices to your…
Symmetrical Components
Power systems ideally operate in a balanced state, with equal voltages and currents across all phases. However, real-world scenarios often involve unbalanced conditions that can degrade power quality. Symmetrical components…
