Motor Trend Measurement

By Using Power analyzer Tools

Why Do We Measure Power Quality?
The worsening of power quality is a huge concern because of the increase in the use of power electronic
devices using inverters, an increase of unbalanced loads like large furnaces or rectifiers, and generally more
complicated power distribution due to an increase in grid connections for new energy sources, etc.
Poor power quality causes trouble in receptacle/transmission equipment and electronic equipment
Malfunctions. For example, harmonics is known to generate burn-out reactors and defective noise in
capacitors. Also, impulse noise and voltage drops stop control systems that are dependent on a computer

IEC61000-4-30
IEC61000-4-30 is the international standard stipulating how power quality should be measured, and
measuring instruments certified to be in compliance with IEC610004-30 will have reliable and repeatable
measurement results regardless of the original manufacturer

Power Quality Survey Procedures

Tips for Identifying the Cause of Power Quality Problems

Record the trend of voltage and current at the receptacle!

If the voltage drops during the increase of current consumption in a building, the cause is considered to
come from inside the building. On the other hand, if both the voltage and current drop, the cause is
attributed to equipment or anomaly outside the building. It is important to determine where to measure as
well as to measure the current itself.

The current consumption inside the building The supply voltage and current drop at the
increases due to a short-circuit or inrush same time.
current. This causes a voltage drop due to
insufficient power supply capacity

Check the power trend!

Equipment in overload condition is often the cause of trouble. By knowing the power trend, it is easier to
identify the actual equipment or location that is causing the problems.

Check WHEN the event occurred!

When an event is recorded, equipment that is in operation or restarting during that time can be the cause of
the problem. By accurately identifying what time the event occurred and when the problem subsided, it can
be easier to determine which equipment or location could have caused the problems.
Check for heat and faulty sounds generated in equipment!
Overheating or faulty sounds coming from a motor, transformer or cable are signs that there are problems
due to overload or harmonics

Step 1: Purpose

(1) Survey power quality Go to Step 3

Periodic power quality statistics survey

Survey before and after installing new equipment

Load survey

Predictive maintenance
(2) Troubleshooting Go to Step 2

Detecting the cause of malfunction/damage to equipment

Consider countermeasures for power supply troubles

Step 2: Understanding the trouble (where to measure)

(1) What kind of trouble has occurred?

Main electronic equipment Large copy machine, UPS, Elevator, Air compressor, Air-conditioning
compressor, Battery charger, Cooling equipment, Air handler, Timer controlled lighting, Variable frequency
drive, etc.

Distribution Damage or decay on conduit (electric cable pipe), Overheat, noise or oil leakage on
transformer, Opening or overheat on circuit breaker, etc.

(2) When did the trouble occur?

Always, Periodic, Intermittent

Specific time or date

(3) Where and What should be measured?

Voltage, Current, (Power) --- Always recommended

The cause can be identified much easier by analyzing the voltage and current trends during the time the
problem occurred

Measure multiple locations simultaneously – makes it easier to identify the source of the problem

Circuits in the transmission station (power utilities only)

Receptacle (high voltage, low voltage)

Distribution panel

Outlet or power supply terminal for electronic equipment

(4) What is the assumed cause?

Voltage problem RMS value fluctuation, Waveform distortion, Transient overvoltage, High-order harmonic

Current problem Leakage current, Inrush current
Step 3: Know the Measurement Site

Collect information about the measurement site, including:

Circuit wiring

Nominal supply voltage

Frequency

Necessity of neutral line measurement and DC voltage measurement

Current capacity

Other information about facilities, including: Existence of other power quality detection equipment, main
electronic device running
cycle, newly added or removed equipment, distribution network design, etc.

Step 4: Measure
Measure using a power quality analyzer

Wiring check
Provides easy connection to the measurement circuit, and gives confirmation of correct connection.
Power Quality Parameters and Events
The power quality parameters are the items required for surveying or analyzing power trouble. By measuring
the power quality parameters, you can gain a thorough understanding of the power quality status. Threshold
values are set on the power quality analyzer to detect the “fault value” or “fault waveform” for the power
quality parameters. Then, the PQA identifies an “event” when the input exceeds the thresholds. (Actual
trouble does not always occur at event detection because thresholds are set by assuming certain fault
values.)

Frequency fluctuation Voltage Swell (Surge)

This occurs due to a change of effective power balance This is the instantaneous voltage increase caused by
between supply and consumption, or an excessive lightning strikes, opening or closing of a power supply
increase or decrease of the load. Varying rotation speeds circuit, high capacitor bank switching, ground short
of synchronous generators, the most common type of circuit, or cutting a heavy load, etc. It may also occur
generator used in utility power systems, may be the due to the grid connection of a new energy source (solar
cause of frequency fluctuations. power, etc.). A sudden increase in voltage may damage
or reset the power supply of equipment.
Transient overvoltage (Impulse) Flicker

This is the voltage change generated by a lightning Flicker is a periodically repeated voltage fluctuation
strike, contact problem and closing of a circuit caused by a furnace, arc welding or thyristor controlled
breaker/relay. It is often a rapid change and consists of load. It may cause lights to flicker and equipment to
high peak voltage. Damage to an equipment’s power malfunction. When the flicker value is high, most people
supply or reset function often occurs near the generation feel uncomfortable because of the flickering lights
point due to its high voltage
Voltage dip (Sag) Interruption

Most sags are caused by the natural phenomena like This is a power outage over an instantaneous, short or
thunder and lightning. It is represented by an long period. It is caused by accidents such as lightning
instantaneous voltage drop caused by the cutting off of strikes or tripping of the circuit breaker because of a
the power supply circuit due to a short circuit to the short-circuit. Recently, UPS are widely used to protect
ground or high inrush current generation when starting a PCs, but this type of equipment may also cause a stop or
large motor, etc. reset of equipment
Due to the voltage drop, it may cause a stop or reset of
equipment, turn off lighting, speed change or stop of
motor, and synchronization error of synchronous motors
or generators.
Inrush current Harmonics

(Current waveform) Harmonics are generated by semi-conductor control

This is an instantaneous high current flowing at the time devices in the power supply of equipment as a result of
equipment is powered on. Inrush current may cause distorted voltage and current waveforms. When the
relays to malfunction, circuit breakers to open, impact on harmonic component is big, it may cause serious
the rectifier, unstable power supply voltage, and/or accidents such as overheating or noise in motors or
equipment to malfunction or reset transformers, burn out reactors in phase compensation
capacitors, etc,