A New, Ultra-low-cost Power Quality and Energy Measurement Technology

IEC 61000-4-30 is an excellent standard that ensures that all compliant power quality instruments, regardless of manufacturer, will produce the same results when connected to the same signal. However, instruments that comply with the Class A requirements of this standard have, until now, been too expensive for common use. Now a new set of technologies developed by an American company, in cooperation with a Japanese company, demonstrate that it is possible to manufacture three-phase power quality instruments that are fully compliant with the Class A requirements of IEC 61000-4-30 at ultra-low-cost to allow putting this monitoring devices even at entry levels of individual loads. The development uses technologies from several fields that have not previously been related to power quality, including digital cameras, power-over-ethernet, mobile phones, and submarine sonar systems. These new technologies have been packaged in a demonstration instrument, and may be licensed to instrument manufacturers as well. This allows gathering power quality and energy consumption information throughout manufacturing facilities or commercial buildings.