Voltage sag is one of the most common power quality problems. The consequences for not troubleshooting a voltage sag complaint isn't the resulting damage that can be done to electrical…
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…
Detecting Loose Neutrals with a Receptacle PQ Monitor
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…
Wireless Power Quality
The time and cost of deploying PQ instrumentation only to return later in order to retrieve it (without the guarantee that the PQ anomaly has occurred) is often times exorbitant.…
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,…
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…
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…
Hardware for Power Quality and Distribution Monitoring
PMI offers an array of monitoring devices for just about any utility distribution monitoring need. Data needs, location, and communications requirements are all factors involved in selecting the right monitor…
Adjusting Waveform Capture Sampling Rates
Waveform capture is one of the most important data types available for PQ analysis. The sample-level data provides detailed information for voltage disturbances such as oscillatory transients, notches, sub-cycle overvoltages…
Sampling Rate in PQ Recorders
A common specification in power quality recorders such as PMI's Revolution, Guardian, or Eagle products is the sampling rate of the device. Users know this is an important number and…
Flicker Investigation Strategy
Flicker is defined as fluctuation or wavering in visible light intensity due to voltage variations. These variations in voltage are caused by fluctuations in the load through the system source…
Disconnecting a Power Quality Recorder
This whitepaper covers the proper method used to disconnect power quality recorders and remove them safely from their location. Following the proper disconnection sequence eliminates or minimizes generating and recording…