This white paper describes using a motor soft-starter to reduce the effects of line changes due to high current in-rushes on AC induction motors. We'll start with the basics of…
White Papers
Browse our library of power quality technical resources.
408 white papers
Distributed Generation Power Quality Standards
The dramatic proliferation of Distributed Generation (DG) deployments began before power quality (PQ) standards were in place to ensure compatibility in the grid. IEEE 519-2014, a recommended practice for limiting…
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…
Variable Frequency Drives and Harmonics
Abstract A VFD, or Variable Frequency Drive, is a device which takes in a 3 phase AC signal and outputs a somewhat arbitrary waveform using pulse width modulation. This is…
PQ Monitoring for Controlled Environments
The Tensor is an innovative PQ analysis tool introduced by Power Monitors. Inc. Equipped with cellular and WiFi communication options, the Tensor allows for continuous measurements wirelessly streamed for analysis…
Sizing a Backup Power Source
Sizing a backup power source is tedious. In an ideal world, every piece of equipment you need to protect would come with a spec sheet correctly detailing its power needs.…
Harmonic Calculations
In a normal distribution network, the fundamental frequency is that of the voltage driving source, nominally 60Hz. Steady state deviations from the ideal 60 Hz sine wave shape are “periodic,”…
Generating IEEE 519 Compliance Reports with PQ Canvass
The explosive growth of modern electronic loads presents a challenge to utilities in the form of waveform distortion. The IEEE 519 standard is an important tool for utilities, providing limits…
IEEE 1250 Overview: An Introduction to Power Quality
Whether you are new to the study of power quality, or an experienced PQ pro looking for a quick reference, IEEE Standard 1250 is the place to start. IEEE 1250…
Seeker Modbus Map
The Seeker power quality recorder includes a variety of mechanisms to retrieve measurements. One of is Modbus, a protocol often used for communication with industrial electronic devices. The protocol is…
Analyzing Portable Power Station Inverter Power Quality
An engineer at PMI purchased a portable power station and wanted to verify the quality of the inverter before attaching sensitive electronics. The steps used to quantify the output quality…
Viewing Power Consumption in the Cloud
Energy usage metering (in kWh) is now available at-a-glance from the PMI Canvass web application. This new feature will save you time while you diagnose internal and customer-facing issues by…
