Electrical Basics
For Review and Refreshment
Base of Electricity
Basically there are three things that built an electricity. They are called VIR.
It were not a person name but it was a three element of Electricity.
V = Voltage; I = Current; R = Resistant; V = I * R
V = voltage. What is voltage?
Voltage is a different value of potential between two point.
I = current. What is current?
Actually, current is a volume of movement of electron from a place that has
higher electrical potential to a place that has less electrical potential. So if
there is a different electrical potential between two place it has a big
possibility to let the current flow. To make the possibility become real, they
need a conductor so it will become a close loop network.
R = Resistant. What is resistant?
Resistant is the thing that make the current can not flow. Physically
resistant is integrate in a conductor that make a close loop network. There
are three type of conductor:
1. Conductor it self = The thing that has less of resistant. So it very good to
let the current flow.
2. Semi conductor = The thing that has more of resistant than conductor.
So it is not good enough to let the current flow.
3. Resistor = The thing that has a lot of resistant. So it is not use for a
conductor.
Basic AC Terminology
For a 240 VAC:
What does 240 VAC
RMS Value = ?? mean?
Effective Value = ??
RMS value: Basic
estimation for digital
meter
t 0 T
Vrms 1 / T V sin(t )
2
dt
t0
t 0 T
Irms 1 / T I sin(t )
2
dt
t0
Effective value:
I eff = I/√2
Veff = V/√2
Root Mean Square (RMS)
A measure of equivalent
heating value, with a
relationship to the amount of
power dissipated by a
resistive load driven by the
equivalent dc value
RMS is a way to associate AC
signals in terms of DC signals
RMS is not equivalent to the
average – it depends on the
shape of the waveform
RMS=0.707*Peak Value only
works for pure sinusoidal
waveforms.
Root Mean Square (RMS)
Power and Energy
Apparent Power, kVA Reactive Power,
kVar
Θ
Real Power, kW
Power (flow rate of energy)
Watts = Volts * Amps * Cos Θ /√3
Vars = Volts * Amps * Sin Θ /√(3)
Volt-Amps = Volts * Amps /√ (3)
Power Factor (the efficiency of energy usage)
PF = Cos Θ or kW/kVA
Power and Energy
Energy (Power x Time)
Watt-hr = accumulated Watts over time
Var-hr = accumulated Vars over time
VA-hr = accumulated VA over time
Resume:
Power is different with Energy.
Energy is Power * Time
Example:
A 1000 Watt load operating for 1 hour = 1000 watts x 1hr = 1000 Watt-Hr
(1 kWhr)
Power and Energy
Instantaneous Power, kW
00 15
Time,
Minutes
Demand Peak Demand
kWd =Avg(kWatts) for 15 min. Highest Demand Period
Vard = Avg(Vars) recorded during the month
VAd = Avg (VA)
4 15-minute periods in 1 hour
96 15-minute periods in 1 day
2880 15-minute periods in 1 month
Power System Phasors
VCA
3-wire Delta Ic
Usually Medium Voltage VAB
No neutral conductor
3 conductors Ib IA
VBC
4-wire Wye (Star) Vbn
Usually Low Voltage
IB IA
Neutral conductor present Van
4 conductors
IC
Vcn
All PowerLogic meters can measure both 3-wire or 4-wire systems if wired correctly
and configuration settings match the wiring method
Individual Harmonics
Fourier Analysis - Any sinusoidal waveform
can be represented as a sum of many
waveforms that are multiples of its
fundamental frequency.
Total Harmonic Distortion
Total Harmonic Distortion:(THD) is a measure of
the total distortion present in a waveform and is
the ratio of harmonic content to the fundamental.
THD is calculated for both voltage and current.
The way to connect the meter
Direct Measurement
Usually applicable for Low Voltage
Has a limitation of Ampere rating
Range voltage until 600V
1 phase or 3 phase
With Instrument Transformer
Mostly applicable for Medium Voltage
Using Current Transformer for Ampere: 1A or 5A
Using Voltage Transformer for voltage: 100V or 110V or 120V
1 phase or 3 phase
All PowerLogic meters can measure both 3-wire or 4-wire systems if wired correctly
and configuration settings match the wiring method
AC Current Measurement
Current Transformers
Output current proportional to
phase current (1A or 5A)
Mounted around phase
conductors
Requires shutdown to install
Clamp-ons
Expensive, but do not require
circuit to be turned off
Metering Accuracy Class 1% or better
recommended for power metering
AC Voltage Measurement
Steps down the primary
voltage to 120 VAC
Connect directly to
primary voltage bus
Do not need a shutdown
to install (draw-out type)
The higher the voltage the
more expensive
1% accuracy or better
recommended
Analog Metering, cheap but….
Analog meters mechanically
average an AC waveform into an
averaged value: Not RMS values
Ignores harmonic effects
Analog meters have mechanical
parts that can break
Needs yearly calibration
Requires a separate meter for each
measurement: Voltage, Current,
Frequency, PF, kWhr, etc.
Customer Questions with CT/PT
Can I use my existing CTs that are on my protective
relays?
Answer: In theory, Yes, but not recommended due to the lack of
accuracy in the metering range
Can I mount my CTs x meters from my meter?
Depends CTs ratings of burden to drive cable resistance and
burden of devices connected. Need CT specification, wiring
specification, distance, and burden of each device connected.
Will adding a meter to my existing CT cause any
problems?
Answer: Depends on the CT ratings of burden to drive the meter.
Typically, the burden of the meter is so small compared to a
standard CT, you don’t really need to be concerned. Only in
unusual cases.
Customer Questions with CT/PT
How accurate of a CT should I use?
Answer: As accurate as the customer can afford. The
accuracy of the CTs add together with the meter
accuracy to form the total accuracy of the
measurement
How many CTs do I need?
Blondel’s Theorem: For n conductors, you need n -1
measurements
4-wire: 4 -1 = 3 CTs and 3 PTs
3-wire: 3 -1 = 2 CTs and 2 PTs (you can measure the
3 CT if customer has already)
Thanks for your kind
attention
May usefull
