What Does a Power Quality Analyzer Do?

We’ve lived our entire lives with lamps, air conditioning, televisions, vacuum cleaners, and microwaves. It’s hard not to take electricity for granted. You turn on a switch and a machine, tool, or light bulb turns on. You can turn a knob and dial up the speed or function. You hit another switch and the function changes. All the while, you assume your needed task is being done correctly because of the electricity flowing to it. Then one day, you realize there is a problem. Whatever you are working with doesn’t seem to have the power it should. Maybe it’s not working to its full ability. Perhaps it’s turning on and off. A light may be lower and softer than it should be. A machine is going slower than its full capacity. What is the problem? More than likely, you don’t know just by looking at it. You need a tool to help you figure it out. You need a power quality analyzer!

Without the correct electric power, electrical equipment may fail prematurely or malfunction. That may be what you’re experiencing now. A power quality analyzer is used to measure electric power signals to determine the load’s ability to function properly with that electric power.

You can use power quality analyzers to track several electrical parameters, including AC voltage, AC current power, and frequency. Electrical data parameters include demand and peak demand. Typically, power parameters are measured in watts (W), volt-amperes (VA), and volt-ampere reactive (VAR). One example of a power quality analyzer is a Fluke power quality meter which will be able to detect repetitive, cyclical disturbances both within and outside of a facility. This type of power quality analyzer will be helpful in identifying and solving problems that are repetitive and cyclical in nature, definitely power-related, and line-to-line. Voltage sags and surges, momentary interruptions by circuit breaker operations, and power interruptions are all examples of electrical problems that are better tackled by using a power quality analyzer to find the problem.

Perhaps you know there is a problem, but you’re not sure what. Power quality analyzers can also detect mystery disturbances, which are upsets to a processor sensitive equipment operation that doesn’t seem to correspond to any identifiable source of a power disturbance. Ground loops, high speed transients, lightning, and common mode electrical noise are all common examples of this. A lightning strike occurs in such a short time frame that it is not easily identified, except with the right machine using high-speed wave shape or event capture.

The only question remains: where should you go to get your needed power quality analyzer. You should shop online! When you use the internet, you can research all about which power quality analyzer is right for you and your needs. Then, it’s simple to purchase the correct model. Maybe you need excellent power monitoring and analysis coupled with sophisticated triggering and event capture that completely eliminates errors and increases your productivity. Perhaps you simply want an entry-level power analyzer with a display that allows spot-checking of the important measurement data. Whatever you need, you can find it on a trusted website and have it shipped right to you!