Loose/open neutrals can present a dangerous and even life-threatening situation in a residential service. The classic voltage symptoms suggesting this condition are one single-phase leg rising in voltage, the other…
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Power Quality
Spotting Loose Neutrals with Waveform Capture
A "loose neutral" in a residential location can cause equipment damage and even a house fire. An open neutral may start as a high resistance connection that shows subtle signs…
PQ Recording Templates
This whitepaper describes the use and customization of PQ recording templates in PQ Canvass, iPowerPad, and in the ProVision software. PMI recording devices can be initialized with many different configurable…
TDD and IEEE 519:2014
IEEE standard 519 was first released in 1982 and was then updated in 1992 and 2014. It defines limits on Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) as well as Total Demand Distortion…
A Simplified Approach to IEEE 519 Harmonics
IEEE 519-2014 specifies measurements, analysis methods, and limits for harmonic voltage and current. A full IEEE 519 study is a straightforward, but rigorous analysis that can require multiple recordings and…
Understanding IEEE 1159 Definitions
It is very important to have recommended guidelines and practices in place regarding power quality monitoring with the use of consistent terminology and definitions of power quality phenomena. This is…
Using Cycle Stripcharts
Stripchart recording is an important tool for analyzing complex data. It provides a visual means to easily digest extensive quantities of recorded information over long time periods. In most cases,…
Understanding How Harmonics Affect Power Factor
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…
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…
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…
