Solving the 4-Year Flicker Problem Using PQube 3 Analog Channels as - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Solving the 4-Year Flicker Problem Using PQube 3 Analog Channels as a Troubleshooting Tool Bruce Lonie PSL European Channel Partner Symposium Prague, Czech Republic June 7-9 2018 05/06/2018 Q 1

The “Home” of the Flicker Problem 05/06/2018 2

Single Line of Electrical Distribution 05/06/2018 3

PQube 3 Monitor Locations 3 each PQube 3 Pass-Thru / Residential Units / Voltage Only 2 each PQube 3 Rugged / Basement Electrical Room / V, I & Analog 05/06/2018 4

Basement Electrical Room 05/06/2018 5

PQube 3 / Pass-Thru & Rugged Pass-Thru Rugged 05/06/2018 6

PQube 3 Rugged’s Connected to Residential Metering Bay 05/06/2018 7

Why PQube 3? • PQube 3’s equipped with cellular modems. • Automatic reporting • Data ready to view (gif files) – Even non-technical individuals can understand the graphics. • No site visit required to gather recorded data • Daily / weekly / monthly trend information easily understood • Event detail as it occurs • PQube 3 can be reconfigured remotely 05/06/2018 8

PQube 3 Pass-Thru Flicker Event Residential Unit PQube 3 Pass-Thru 05/06/2018 9

Unit 2H Flicker Trends Daily Flicker Trend Weekly Flicker Trend 05/06/2018 10

Unit 2H Flicker Event Event RMS Plots Event Waveform Detail 05/06/2018 11

Flicker Event Waveform Analysis • L-L voltage no amplitude change • L-N voltage variations • N-E voltage variations follow L-N variations • N-E voltage adds/subtracts from L-N voltage amplitude • No corresponding current changes 05/06/2018 12

PQube Rugged in Basement on Residential Metering Bay Supply • L-L & L-N voltage show no amplitude change. • PQ3R connected on line side of loose connection. • AN1-2 left side of bus splice. • AN3-4 right side of bus splice. 05/06/2018 13

Basement Electrical Room 05/06/2018 14

PQube 3 Rugged AN1-2 & AN3-4 05/06/2018 15

PQ3R Final Analog Channel Configuration 05/06/2018 16

Bus Splice Showing Loose Connections at “C” (green) 05/06/2018 17

Bus Splice Termination Lug 05/06/2018 18

Using Analog Channels to Find Loose Connections / 1 05/06/2018 19

Using Analog Channels to Find Loose Connections / 2 05/06/2018 20

PQube 3 Rugged – new opportunities • Portable 3-phase – 8 current channels • Flexi or Split-Core – 2 Environmental Sensors – Analog & Digital channels – Cellular modem – Outdoor rated • Unlimited Possibilities! 05/06/2018 21

PQube 3 Rugged (PQ3R) 05/06/2018 22

PQube 3 Pass-Thru (PQ3PT) 05/06/2018 23

Lonie’s Laws of PQ Problem Solving - (1 of 2) 1. Do the simple things first. 2. There is always more than one problem. There are always more than one or two problems, keep looking and you will find them. 3. The problem investigation is like peeling the layers of an onion. When you peel away the last layer the onion is gone…and so is the problem. Fix the problems as you find them…if you can. 4. 5. The customer (aka client) NEVER tells you the whole story. Every time you talk with them you learn another nugget of knowledge . 6. Never believe someone else's measurements or test results. Worst case, you verify the readings and test results are correct. 05/06/2018 24

Lonie’s Laws of PQ Problem Solving - (2 of 2) 7. Be nice to everyone, you never know who will provide you with an important clue. 8. If it is happening in the electrical environment you can figure out a way to measure it. Substitute technology (multiple monitors) for time …it speeds 9. up the investigative process and provides more and better quality data for analysis. Labor (time) is the most expensive cost component of an investigation, equipment (technology) is relatively inexpensive. Use equipment with remote communications capabilities to save labor. 10. You are NOT allowed to repeal any of the basic laws of physics. 11. Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Law solve most problems...use them wisely. 05/06/2018 25

When Working in the Field… Keep it Simple & Keep it Safe! 05/06/2018 26