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	<title>Chauvin Arnoux UK</title>
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		<title>5 Proven Ways to Reduce Electricity Waste in 2026 </title>
		<link>https://cauk.net/5-proven-ways-to-reduce-electricity-waste-in-2026/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Romuald Lebionka]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:11:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorised]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cauk.net/?p=9595</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Following the COVID-19 pandemic, electricity prices rose sharply, contributing to an energy affordability crisis across the UK. As a result, both business owners and homeowners have been actively seeking ways to reduce their electricity costs. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/5-proven-ways-to-reduce-electricity-waste-in-2026/">5 Proven Ways to Reduce Electricity Waste in 2026 </a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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					<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">5 Proven Ways to Reduce Electricity Waste in 2026 </h2>				</div>
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									<p><span data-contrast="none">This checklist was developed by <strong>Rochel Lewis, Marketing and Communications Manager at Chauvin Arnoux UK</strong>, to help you take simple, practical steps to become more energy efficient.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>								</div>
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															<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="768" height="372" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Asset-1@2x-768x372.png" class="attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-9596" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Asset-1@2x-768x372.png 768w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Asset-1@2x-300x145.png 300w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Asset-1@2x-1024x496.png 1024w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Asset-1@2x-1536x744.png 1536w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Asset-1@2x-2048x991.png 2048w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Asset-1@2x-600x290.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />															</div>
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				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2c9a898 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="2c9a898" data-element_type="section">
						<div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no">
					<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-c1ffbe5" data-id="c1ffbe5" data-element_type="column">
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						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-da7bf20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="da7bf20" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p><span data-contrast="none">Following the COVID-19 pandemic, electricity prices rose sharply, contributing to an energy affordability crisis across the UK. As a result, both business owners and homeowners have been actively seeking ways to reduce their electricity costs.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}"> </span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Recent reports indicate that Ofgem has set the UK energy price cap so that average combined gas and electricity bills are expected to fall to around £1,641 per year for the period 1 April to 30 June 2026. This represents a reduction of roughly 7% compared to the previous cap, driven mainly by lower wholesale energy costs and changes to policy levies. However, analysts warn that prices could rise again later in the year if global energy costs increase.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}"> </span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Despite the energy price cap, electricity bills remain a significant concern. Household energy prices in the UK are still</span> <span data-contrast="none">higher than pre-covid levels, and industrial electricity prices are among the highest in Europe, according to recent House of Commons committee reports. These high costs continue to put pressure on households and businesses across the UK.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}"> </span></p><p><b><span data-contrast="none">To help address rising electricity bills, this article outlines 5 proven ways to reduce energy consumption at home, in commercial settings, and across industrial operations. These approaches not only help cut costs but also support environmental sustainability by reducing unnecessary energy waste.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}"> </span></b></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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					<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">1. Run Regular Maintenance Checks  </h2>				</div>
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									<p><span data-contrast="none">Businesses and homeowners alike can benefit financially and environmentally by ensuring electrical systems are in good working order.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:120,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}"> </span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Regular maintenance checks aren’t just a safety requirement. Devices such as air conditioning units, heating systems, and other electrical equipment can directly affect energy consumption. Neglect or failure to perform maintenance checks can cause energy efficiency levels on these devices to decline over time, directly affecting your electricity bills.    </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:120,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}"> </span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Research suggests that well-maintained equipment performs more reliably and consumes up to 15-20% less electricity (Gradwell Group, GOV.UK 2025).   </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:120,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}"> </span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Ensuring your filters, vents, and cooling fans are cleaned regularly to prevent overheating, replacing inefficient components with more energy-efficient alternatives, or opting for more advanced inspections under UK guidelines such as </span><a href="https://cauk.net/products-hv-power-and-utility-testers/"><span data-contrast="none">PAT testing</span></a><span data-contrast="none"> will help achieve optimal machine performance and energy savings.    </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:120,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}"> </span></p>								</div>
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					<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">2. Reduce Standby Power Waste  </h2>				</div>
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									<p><span data-contrast="none">Unmonitored electronic devices can inflate household electricity bills even when not in use. In late 2025, average UK households could have wasted around £80 a year by leaving appliances on standby rather than fully turning them off (Go.Compare Energy). </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:120,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}"> </span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Data from Measurable Energy suggests that up to 20% of total electricity use in offices could be from devices that are not in active use or from after-hours consumption – generally caused by standby/idle loads. </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:120,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}"> </span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">While a single standby device might draw only a few watts, with multiple devices like computers, printers, and HVAC systems, even with the energy price cap, standby consumption can add up quickly.  </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:120,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}"> </span></p>								</div>
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					<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">3. Invest in Energy-Efficient Upgrades</h2>				</div>
				</div>
				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-e82490e elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="e82490e" data-element_type="section">
						<div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no">
					<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4bae2bf" data-id="4bae2bf" data-element_type="column">
			<div class="elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated">
						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-f5470dd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="f5470dd" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p><span data-contrast="none">Electrical devices are built to perform, but older systems can quietly drain energy without you even recognising the pattern. Investing in newer, </span><span data-contrast="none">energy-efficient appliances</span><span data-contrast="none"> or equipment (wherever applicable) could be the way to go, as this will help reduce unnecessary power use straight away. So, whether it&#8217;s a small change, such as switching to LED light bulbs or motion-sensor lighting, or a relatively more expensive alternative, such as industrial equipment – moving towards </span><span data-contrast="none">energy-efficient upgrade</span><span data-contrast="none"> for offices or homes can translate into lower energy bills.  </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:120,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}"> </span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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					<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">4. Maximise Efficiency by Enabling Low-Power Mode  </h2>				</div>
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									<p><span data-contrast="none">Electrical equipment often runs continuously. Businesses and household consumers can optimise usage and downtime by scheduling equipment use. Be it in industrial or residential settings, using programmable timers or smart plugs to power down instruments when not in use can help maximise energy efficiency efforts.  </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:120,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}"> </span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Pairing these practices with staff awareness can ensure instruments consume full power only when needed, thereby improving efficiency and reducing costs.  </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:120,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}"> </span></p>								</div>
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					<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">5. Monitor Energy Consumption  </h2>				</div>
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									<p><span data-contrast="none">Pro tip – sometimes it&#8217;s a lot easier to assess energy usage patterns early on to curb spending and electricity waste. And when it comes to saving your operational budget, energy consumption monitoring helps ensure every pound is spent well. </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:120,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}"> </span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Businesses and electrical specialists often employ </span><a href="https://cauk.net/products-power-quality-and-energy-loggers/"><span data-contrast="none">energy monitoring systems</span></a><span data-contrast="none"> on-site to track real-time consumption, log data to identify inefficiencies, optimise performance, and reduce energy costs.  </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:120,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}"> </span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Don’t just take our word for it! See how data loggers measure voltage, current, power factor, harmonics, and more, and provide a detailed breakdown of consumption so that you know how and where your money is really going. Here’s a quick YouTube video on the </span><a href="https://youtu.be/A4azf622eI4"><span data-contrast="none">top features and benefits of using a power and energy logger</span></a><span data-contrast="none">. </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:120,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}"> </span></p>								</div>
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					<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">Considering opting for Solar PV?  </h2>				</div>
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									<p><span data-contrast="none">Installing a commercial solar PV rooftop array could be a practical move, but one that’s quite expensive.  </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:120,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}"> </span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Generating your own electricity on-site can reduce reliance on the grid, lead to lower monthly energy bills, and improve your sustainability efforts. But considering costs vs potential savings is crucial in this scenario, since the initial investment may depend on several factors that can affect both your upfront spending and long-term savings plan.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:120,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}"> </span></p><p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:120,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}"> </span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">And there you have it — these are 5 proven ways to reduce electricity waste in 2026! Whether you’re running a small or medium-sized business looking to cut operational costs, an electrical contractor seeking smarter ways to help your clients save more, or a homeowner wanting to lower your energy bills, this checklist is designed to help you take practical steps toward becoming more energy-efficient. Check out other articles on cauk.net to learn more.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:120,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}"> </span></p>								</div>
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		<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/5-proven-ways-to-reduce-electricity-waste-in-2026/">5 Proven Ways to Reduce Electricity Waste in 2026 </a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
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		<title>Power Quality Issues &#8211; Part 5 &#8211; Reactive Power and Power Factor</title>
		<link>https://cauk.net/power-quality-issues-part-5-reactive-power-and-power-factor/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Romuald Lebionka]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:41:40 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorised]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cauk.net/?p=9502</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Based on recent feedback from a specialist power quality improvement service business, the issue of high reactive power and poor power factor is becoming increasingly common in the UK today, an issue which apparently used to be considered much more widely by electrical engineers and facility managers.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/power-quality-issues-part-5-reactive-power-and-power-factor/">Power Quality Issues &#8211; Part 5 &#8211; Reactive Power and Power Factor</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
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					<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">Power Quality Issues - Part 5 - Reactive Power and Power Factor</h2>				</div>
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									<p>As with voltage imbalance, covered in the previous article, reactive power and power factor are not power quality issues in the same sense as harmonics and transients, but are of critical importance, particularly with regards to a facility’s electrical energy consumption and efficiency. Julian Grant – General Manager at Chauvin Arnoux UK, looks at the causes and effects of high reactive power and poor power factor, along with solutions to improving them.</p>								</div>
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				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2c9a898 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="2c9a898" data-element_type="section">
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					<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-c1ffbe5" data-id="c1ffbe5" data-element_type="column">
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						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-da7bf20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="da7bf20" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="1297" data-end="1856">In a purely resistive AC circuit, voltage and current waveforms are in phase with each other, changing polarity at the same instant in each cycle and all the power entering the load is consumed by the load. Reactive power exists in an AC circuit when the current and voltage are not in phase. Some electrical equipment used in industrial and commercial buildings requires an amount of reactive power in addition to real power in order to work effectively. These tend to be items with copper windings in them; especially transformers, motors, induction heaters, arc welders and compressors, even fluorescent and LED lighting. In the case of inductive loads, the current lags behind the voltage. However, various capacitive loads may be encountered which cause the opposite effect, that is for the current to lead the voltage.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img decoding="async" width="1280" height="586" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/power-triangle.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-image-978" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/power-triangle.jpg 1280w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/power-triangle-300x137.jpg 300w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/power-triangle-768x352.jpg 768w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/power-triangle-1024x469.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" />															</div>
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				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-d043bef elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="d043bef" data-element_type="section">
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					<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1a99756" data-id="1a99756" data-element_type="column">
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						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-cc6f2a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="cc6f2a5" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="1494" data-end="1772">Reactive power (kVAr) is the vector difference between real power (kW) and the total power consumed, which is called apparent power and is measured in kVA. Power factor is the ratio of the real power that is used to do work to the apparent power that is supplied to the circuit.</p><p data-start="1774" data-end="2044">It’s quite easy to understand if you consider a pint of beer, where the whole glass that you pay for is the apparent power, the bit you want most (the beer) is the real power (active power), and the bit you want as little of as possible (the head) is the reactive power.</p><p data-start="2046" data-end="2315">A full pint with no head would represent a power factor of 1, or unity power factor, and in that situation there would be no reactive power. In reality a power factor greater than 0.95 is generally aimed for, 0.98 if you can get it. A pint with a nice small head on it.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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									<p data-start="2317" data-end="2842">Poor power factor, and the associated high reactive currents, can cause a variety of issues within an electrical installation. Many network operators apply penalties in the form of a reactive power charge when power factor falls below 0.95, and this is recorded as a parameter on a half-hourly meter. Aside from the costs there are related environmental issues in that reactive power adds to the burden on the national grid and causes unnecessary increased levels of CO₂ emissions at a time when we are aiming to reduce them.</p><p data-start="2844" data-end="3124">Power factor also impacts on the reliability of the network itself and can cause a variety of electrical issues that may result in the early failure of capital equipment. This equipment often gets replaced at great expense without the root cause ever being observed or identified.</p><p data-start="3126" data-end="3672">Poor power factor can also impact heavily on authorised supply capacity and associated charges which are based on the maximum demand required from the network. This is often imposed to pay for the supply network infrastructure required to deliver the maximum declared energy requirement. It follows therefore that an unnecessarily high level of reactive power not only pushes the price up, but it also limits the available headroom for expansion, and may cause excursions above the authorised supply capacity which will result in penalty charges.</p>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="391" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/PEL103inuse-e1585256324453-1024x501.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-1079" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/PEL103inuse-e1585256324453-1024x501.jpg 1024w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/PEL103inuse-e1585256324453-300x147.jpg 300w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/PEL103inuse-e1585256324453-768x376.jpg 768w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/PEL103inuse-e1585256324453.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />															</div>
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									<p data-start="3674" data-end="4143">According to The Carbon Trust it is not uncommon for industrial installations to be operating at power factors between 0.7 and 0.8, which is surprising since measuring power factor is not at all difficult. It can be routinely measured using portable test instruments, or alternatively can be permanently monitored in real time with constantly displayed values, while also showing a multitude of other useful parameters including voltage, current and energy consumption.</p><p data-start="4145" data-end="4579">While specification of a power factor correction (PFC) system requires knowledge of several factors including the voltage level and typical usage of the reactive loads on site, the usage profile across the site, the degree of harmonic distortion present, and the power quality required by the on site loads, all of this is easily measured and calculated. PFC systems are a fraction of the cost of the potential savings they can bring.</p><p data-start="4581" data-end="4914">The simplest form of PFC involves fitting capacitors, and it is worth shopping around and taking expert advice on the system that will suit you. If a single machine has a poor power factor, capacitors can be connected in parallel with the device, so that they compensate for the poor power factor whenever the machine is switched on.</p><p data-start="4916" data-end="5093">If the power factor of a site is permanently poor and no single item of equipment is solely responsible, fixed PFC can be connected across the main power supply to the premises.</p>								</div>
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				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-e82490e elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="e82490e" data-element_type="section">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="5095" data-end="5499">Where many machines are switching on and off at various times, the power factor may be subject to frequent change. In this case the amount of PFC needs to be controlled automatically. In other words, the banks of capacitors need to be selectively switched in and out of the power circuit appropriately. There are various solutions on the market for performing this capacitor bank switching automatically.</p><p data-start="5501" data-end="5915">Selection of the correct design of power factor correction is critical to ensure long term reliable operation of a facility. With the increasing use of non-linear loads in industry, such as variable speed drives, LED lighting, and large quantities of IT equipment and their associated harmonics, it may be the case that none of the traditional methods discussed so far for power factor correction will be suitable.</p><p data-start="5501" data-end="5915">The simple connection of PFC capacitors to an installation with a significant number of harmonic generating non-linear loads, or where loads are expected to contain in excess of 25% non-linear loads, could create more problems than it solves. The impedance of capacitors reduces as frequency increases and so harmonic currents which are at higher frequencies are more likely to flow in capacitors that are connected in circuit. The increased currents cause higher voltages across the dielectric of the capacitor which can lead to stress and premature failure. It is also possible to inadvertently create harmonic resonance. This is generally caused by parallel resonance between the power factor correction capacitors connected to a load and the transformer supplying the load.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="498" height="610" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/pfc-capacitors.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-image-1078" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/pfc-capacitors.jpg 498w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/pfc-capacitors-245x300.jpg 245w" sizes="(max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px" />															</div>
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									<p data-start="6696" data-end="7336">When a number of harmonic current sources are injecting currents into the supply and the frequency of one of the harmonics coincides with the resonant frequency of the supply transformer and power factor correction capacitor combination, the system resonates and a large circulating harmonic current is excited between these components. The result is a large current flow in the supply transformer, resulting in large harmonic voltage distortion possibly causing equipment malfunction, loss of transformer output due to increased heating, interference with communication systems, and premature failure of motors and power factor capacitors.</p><p data-start="7338" data-end="7535">In these situations, professional advice and the potential use of detuned power factor correction, thyristor-switched power factor correction or active power factor correction may well be required.</p><p data-start="7537" data-end="7898">Power factor is one of the simplest things to measure in an electrical installation, can be responsible for unnecessary power consumption and charges, and yet can be relatively simple and very cost effective to fix. Contact Chauvin Arnoux directly for any questions you may have about this subject or any of the other power quality issues – we’re happy to help!</p>								</div>
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		<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/power-quality-issues-part-5-reactive-power-and-power-factor/">Power Quality Issues &#8211; Part 5 &#8211; Reactive Power and Power Factor</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
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		<title>Power Quality Issues &#8211; Part 4 &#8211; Voltage Imbalance</title>
		<link>https://cauk.net/power-quality-issues-part-4-voltage-imbalance/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Romuald Lebionka]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:32:12 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorised]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cauk.net/?p=9497</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Based on recent feedback from a specialist power quality improvement service business, the issue of high reactive power and poor power factor is becoming increasingly common in the UK today, an issue which apparently used to be considered much more widely by electrical engineers and facility managers.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/power-quality-issues-part-4-voltage-imbalance/">Power Quality Issues &#8211; Part 4 &#8211; Voltage Imbalance</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[		<div data-elementor-type="wp-post" data-elementor-id="9497" class="elementor elementor-9497">
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					<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">Power Quality Issues - Part 4 - Voltage Imbalance</h2>				</div>
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									<p data-start="178" data-end="429">Voltage imbalance is not a power quality issue in the sense of the quality of the sinus of the electrical supply or events occurring on it, like harmonics and transients for example, but is nevertheless of critical importance for a variety of reasons.</p><p data-start="431" data-end="648">In the fourth part of this series on power quality issues Julian Grant – General Manager at Chauvin Arnoux UK, explains what it is and the implications of voltage imbalance on the electrical supply of an installation.</p><p data-start="650" data-end="784">In a balanced three-phase AC power system, the voltages are all equal in magnitude and each of the three phases are 120 degrees apart.</p>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="474" height="298" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/balancedphases.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-1025" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/balancedphases.jpg 474w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/balancedphases-300x189.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px" />															</div>
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									<p>Accordingly, an unbalanced three-phase AC power system has voltages that are not all equal in magnitude and/or each of the three phases are not 120 degrees apart.</p>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="474" height="298" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/unbalancedphases.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-1027" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/unbalancedphases.jpg 474w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/unbalancedphases-300x189.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px" />															</div>
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									<p data-start="950" data-end="1504">Voltage imbalances are caused by big single-phase loads, such as induction furnaces, traction systems, and other large inductive machines, drawing a current on the phase they are connected to that does not appear on the other two phases. Some equipment may also be connected between two phases such that current is only drawn on two out of the three. Either way, this causes the higher loaded phases to experience a greater voltage drop, reducing the voltage on those phases, or one particular phase, for all other equipment connected to the same supply.</p><p data-start="1506" data-end="2081">The uneven distribution of general single-phase loads across a three-phase system can also sometimes be bad enough to cause a slight voltage imbalance. This more often than not occurs over time as an installation, originally balanced during its construction, has additional circuits and equipment added to it. The unequal degradation, or failure of one or more PFC capacitor units in a bank can also cause voltage imbalance, and temporary voltage imbalances can be produced by a fault on any one of the phases either within the facility or further back up the supply network.</p><p data-start="2083" data-end="2743">Having balanced phase voltages is arguably one of the most important requirements for an industrial installation, particularly if it contains three-phase motors, and crucially if they are operating at or near their full load capacity. Unbalanced voltages at motor terminals can cause a phase current imbalance of up to ten times the percentage voltage imbalance for a fully loaded motor. Accordingly, motors operating on imbalanced supplies need to be de-rated with significant reductions in available loading for relatively minor voltage imbalances. Imbalances can also require the necessary de-rating of power cables due to increased I²R losses in the cable.</p>								</div>
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						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-da7bf20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="da7bf20" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="1297" data-end="1856">According to the IEC, voltage unbalance is defined as the ratio of negative sequence voltage to the positive sequence voltage. Briefly explained, the three-phase voltages can be mathematically expressed as a sum of positive, negative and zero sequence components. Positive sequence voltage creates flux in the direction that the motor is intended to rotate, and negative sequence voltages rotate in the opposite direction. This creates flux in the opposite direction, however, since the positive sequence voltages are always much larger than the negative sequence voltages the direction of motor rotation is not affected.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="534" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/MotorDeratingTable.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-image-1026" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/MotorDeratingTable.jpg 1500w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/MotorDeratingTable-300x107.jpg 300w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/MotorDeratingTable-768x273.jpg 768w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/MotorDeratingTable-1024x365.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" />															</div>
				</div>
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		</section>
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									<p data-start="3368" data-end="3841">IEC 60034-1 imposes a 1% negative phase sequence voltage limit on the supply feeding machines. However, EN 50160 states that imbalances of up to 3% can be expected, and indicates that an acceptable supply system standard is that “under normal operating conditions, during each period of one week, 95% of the 10-minute mean RMS values of the negative phase sequence component of the supply voltage shall be within the range 0 to 2% of the positive phase sequence component”.</p><p data-start="3843" data-end="4427">The counter-rotating negative sequence flux caused by negative sequence voltages creates additional heating in the motor windings that will eventually lead to insulation breakdown and premature motor failure. Continuous operation at 10 °C above the normal recommended operating temperature can reduce rotating machine life by a factor of two. Shortened motor operating lifetimes are obviously hugely disruptive and expensive. The impact of this problem is evident by the existence of many businesses developing and manufacturing devices that monitor voltage balance to protect motors.</p>								</div>
				</div>
				<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ed1b469 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="ed1b469" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
				<div class="elementor-widget-container">
									<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="2772" data-end="3381">Other infrequent external factors like load switching and fault clearance within the utility supply can generate transients, although generally smaller than those generated by lightning. This is due to either the interaction between magnetic and electrostatic energy stored in the inductance and capacitance of the circuit, and a load being connected to it during the closing of the switch contacts, or the interaction between the mechanical energy stored in rotating machines, and the energy stored in the inductance and capacitance of the circuit, when additional generation capacity is switched in and out.</p><p data-start="3383" data-end="3865">Transients are more often produced from within the installation each time a switching operation occurs, such as bus transfer switching or even a normal circuit breaker or contactor opening or closing. Simply turning a light switch on or off can create a transient, and in all cases the transients generated will be worsened by breakers and switches arcing due to faulty or corroded contacts. Abnormal events such as MCBs tripping during the clearing of faults also cause transients.</p><p data-start="3867" data-end="4177">Office equipment such as photocopiers and laser printers are notorious for generating transients, as are HVAC systems. In fact, whenever an inductive or capacitive load is either connected to or disconnected from the power source it generates a surge impulse that propagates back through the electrical system.</p><p data-start="4179" data-end="4436">That shock you get after you walk across a carpeted office and touch the coffee machine, resulting from the static electricity generated through the interaction between your shoes and the flooring material, can also induce a transient into the mains supply.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-8bd9ed2 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="8bd9ed2" data-element_type="section">
						<div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no">
					<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-b17d5f7" data-id="b17d5f7" data-element_type="column">
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						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-525844e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="525844e" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="4429" data-end="4880">Apart from the motors themselves, many solid-state motor controllers and inverters also include components that are especially sensitive to voltage imbalances. Depending on the product, some of these will protect themselves and the motor in the event of voltage imbalance and refuse to operate. For less sophisticated devices, reduced life of Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) front-end diodes and bus capacitors are a common result of voltage imbalance.</p><p data-start="4882" data-end="5135">UPS, polyphase converters, and inverter supplies also perform with reduced efficiency in the face of voltage imbalances on the supply, creating unwanted ripple on their DC side and, in many cases, also creating increased harmonic currents on the supply.</p><p data-start="4882" data-end="5135">Fortunately, the measurement of voltage and load (current) balance, and therefore the identification of imbalance, is easily achieved using a power and energy logger (PEL). Connected at the incoming supply the loading across the phases for the whole installation can be monitored over time to see how it might vary during the normal operating day or week. PELs can be quickly moved around the installation, non-intrusively connected, and utilised to measure individual equipment or circuit loads and voltages to achieve balance throughout the installation, and then reconnected to the incoming supply for ongoing monitoring. As well as voltage and load balance this will enable measurement and monitoring of other power quality parameters including power factor and harmonics.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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				<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-66019df" data-id="66019df" data-element_type="column">
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="600" height="697" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/voltage-imbalance-motor.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-image-1028" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/voltage-imbalance-motor.jpg 600w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/voltage-imbalance-motor-258x300.jpg 258w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />															</div>
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				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-84c4c8f elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="84c4c8f" data-element_type="section">
						<div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no">
					<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-31d6336" data-id="31d6336" data-element_type="column">
			<div class="elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated">
						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-b4c5185 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="b4c5185" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
				<div class="elementor-widget-container">
									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper">There are two obvious precautions or actions to reduce voltage imbalance and its effects. Firstly, use separate circuits for large single-phase loads, and connect them as close to the point of the incoming supply as possible. This will ensure that the load does not cause a voltage drop on any wiring utilised by other equipment that would then be subjected to that voltage drop. Secondly, ensure that all single-phase loads, large and small, are balanced evenly across all three phases. Two simple steps that could save a lot of headaches and expense.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1181" height="869" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/PEL103-in-cabinet-door-1.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-image-1029" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/PEL103-in-cabinet-door-1.jpg 1181w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/PEL103-in-cabinet-door-1-300x221.jpg 300w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/PEL103-in-cabinet-door-1-768x565.jpg 768w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/PEL103-in-cabinet-door-1-1024x753.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1181px) 100vw, 1181px" />															</div>
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		<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/power-quality-issues-part-4-voltage-imbalance/">Power Quality Issues &#8211; Part 4 &#8211; Voltage Imbalance</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
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		<title>Power Quality Issues &#8211; Part 3 &#8211; Transients and Interference</title>
		<link>https://cauk.net/power-quality-issues-part-3-transients-and-interference/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Romuald Lebionka]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:08:16 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorised]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cauk.net/?p=9491</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Based on recent feedback from a specialist power quality improvement service business, the issue of high reactive power and poor power factor is becoming increasingly common in the UK today, an issue which apparently used to be considered much more widely by electrical engineers and facility managers.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/power-quality-issues-part-3-transients-and-interference/">Power Quality Issues &#8211; Part 3 &#8211; Transients and Interference</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[		<div data-elementor-type="wp-post" data-elementor-id="9491" class="elementor elementor-9491">
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					<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">Power Quality Issues - Part 3 - Transients and Interference</h2>				</div>
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									<p data-start="185" data-end="766">Discussed here together because they are both high frequency power quality events, interference and transients, or spikes as they are often referred, can have an effect on the equipment within and operation of an electrical installation ranging from mildly irritating to extremely damaging and costly. In Part 3 of this series on power quality issues Julian Grant – General Manager at Chauvin Arnoux UK, looks at the causes and effects of interference and transient voltages on the electrical supply of an installation, along with solutions to protecting against, or removing them.</p><p data-start="768" data-end="1295">An electrical transient is a very fast, short duration spike in voltage which could be several kV in magnitude. This voltage spike produces a corresponding increase in current in the load, seen as a current spike, and this in turn results in a momentary increase in transferred energy. Depending on the magnitude and duration of the transient, the resulting transferred energy to the load can be of little to no consequence, or it could cause significant damage. Transients may also occur as bursts rather than singular events.</p>								</div>
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				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2c9a898 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="2c9a898" data-element_type="section">
						<div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no">
					<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-c1ffbe5" data-id="c1ffbe5" data-element_type="column">
			<div class="elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated">
						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-da7bf20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="da7bf20" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="1297" data-end="1856">As with most power quality issues transients are often assumed to be generated by outside sources such as lightning strikes, load switching, and fault clearance within the utility supply equipment. However, while lightning induced transients present the greatest risk of equipment failure and damage, due to the voltages they reach and the energy levels they may contain, most transients originate from internal sources within a facility. In fact, studies have indicated that greater than 80% of transients in any particular facility are internally generated.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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				<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-a6d7fc1" data-id="a6d7fc1" data-element_type="column">
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="900" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Transient-spikes.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-image-1017" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Transient-spikes.jpg 1200w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Transient-spikes-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Transient-spikes-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Transient-spikes-1024x768.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />															</div>
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				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-f8010d1 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="f8010d1" data-element_type="section">
						<div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no">
					<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6db41dd" data-id="6db41dd" data-element_type="column">
			<div class="elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated">
						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-e6fd522 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="e6fd522" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
				<div class="elementor-widget-container">
									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="1297" data-end="1856">So, accepting they are rare, why are lightning induced transients potentially so damaging? The current within a typical lightning strike rises quickly to its maximum level within 1 to 10 microseconds, before it then decays at a rate of about 50 to 200 microseconds. Because the current within a lightning strike is of a transient nature several phenomena come into play. Short duration current spikes tend to travel on the surface of a conductor due to skin effect, and rapidly changing currents also create electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) that radiate outward from the point of the strike. If the radiated pulses pass over conductive items such as power lines, communication lines, or metallic pipes, they may induce a transient current into those items that then runs along the surface to the point of termination. Even a strike to the ground near to a piece of electrical infrastructure can have such an effect.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="980" height="450" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/lightning.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-image-1014" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/lightning.jpg 980w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/lightning-300x138.jpg 300w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/lightning-768x353.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px" />															</div>
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				<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ed1b469 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="ed1b469" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
				<div class="elementor-widget-container">
									<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="2772" data-end="3381">Other infrequent external factors like load switching and fault clearance within the utility supply can generate transients, although generally smaller than those generated by lightning. This is due to either the interaction between magnetic and electrostatic energy stored in the inductance and capacitance of the circuit, and a load being connected to it during the closing of the switch contacts, or the interaction between the mechanical energy stored in rotating machines, and the energy stored in the inductance and capacitance of the circuit, when additional generation capacity is switched in and out.</p><p data-start="3383" data-end="3865">Transients are more often produced from within the installation each time a switching operation occurs, such as bus transfer switching or even a normal circuit breaker or contactor opening or closing. Simply turning a light switch on or off can create a transient, and in all cases the transients generated will be worsened by breakers and switches arcing due to faulty or corroded contacts. Abnormal events such as MCBs tripping during the clearing of faults also cause transients.</p><p data-start="3867" data-end="4177">Office equipment such as photocopiers and laser printers are notorious for generating transients, as are HVAC systems. In fact, whenever an inductive or capacitive load is either connected to or disconnected from the power source it generates a surge impulse that propagates back through the electrical system.</p><p data-start="4179" data-end="4436">That shock you get after you walk across a carpeted office and touch the coffee machine, resulting from the static electricity generated through the interaction between your shoes and the flooring material, can also induce a transient into the mains supply.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
				</div>
				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-84c4c8f elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="84c4c8f" data-element_type="section">
						<div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no">
					<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-31d6336" data-id="31d6336" data-element_type="column">
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						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-b4c5185 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="b4c5185" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="4438" data-end="4866">With regards to the effect of spikes on an electrical installation and the equipment connected to it, it is generally the case that internally generated transient activity may weaken equipment over time, but the threat posed by lightning and the switching of large inductive loads can reach levels that can cause insulation breakdown and subsequently deliver vast amounts of energy into equipment resulting in premature failure.</p><p data-start="4868" data-end="5370">When a transient voltage occurs that is higher than the breakdown voltage of the insulation in a piece of equipment a flashover may occur. During the period of this flashover there is effectively a low impedance path created through the arc, which the lower normal supply voltage will now be able to flow through. With all of the energy of the mains supply behind it the burning effect of the arc will increase and can cause the immediate failure of insulation in rotating machines and other equipment.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="501" height="454" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/MotorSpikeFailure.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-image-1015" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/MotorSpikeFailure.jpg 501w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/MotorSpikeFailure-300x272.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 501px) 100vw, 501px" />															</div>
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				<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ead030f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="ead030f" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="5372" data-end="6259">Modern electronic equipment is particularly vulnerable to transient voltages due to microcontrollers and other internal components containing millions of active circuits in a package with increasingly smaller dimensions. Basic electrical theory means that the smaller the spaces between conductors the lower the transient voltage required to cause a flashover. Consequently, the voltage element of a transient will stress these components, and repeated exposure to such spikes will result in an otherwise healthy silicon device failing. Based on the utilisation of electronic components in all aspects of the modern facility this could result in process automation disruption, including variable speed drive (VSD) failure, computer, network, or general IT crashes, loss of data, or the need for premature equipment replacement. Electrical spikes may also cause nuisance tripping of RCDs.</p><p data-start="6261" data-end="6617">Methods for protecting against transients largely depend on what the voltage, duration and power levels of the transients are, and the nature of the equipment connected to the installation. Power equipment, such as rotating machines, should be specified with an adequate level of insulation according to the point on the supply to which they are connected.</p><p data-start="6619" data-end="7423">In the world of test equipment, products must be developed such that they are able to withstand specific transient voltages depending on the point on an electrical installation to which they will be connected and used according to BSEN61010-1 (see table).</p></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="575" height="229" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/BSEN61010-1.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-1011" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/BSEN61010-1.jpg 575w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/BSEN61010-1-300x119.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 575px) 100vw, 575px" />															</div>
				</div>
				<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-d203a81 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="d203a81" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="6619" data-end="7423">This recognises that externally generated transients of a certain magnitude will appear at an installation, with that transient slowly reducing in voltage as it moves through the installation wiring due to the effects of that wiring and the installation equipment. In other words, products connected at the point of the supply need to be able to withstand transient voltages higher than products designed to be connected to the fixed wiring within the supply, which in turn experience higher voltage transients than items plugged into a wall socket, and so on.</p><p data-start="7425" data-end="8194">CAT I rated products can be used for measurements performed on secondary circuits not directly connected to mains. CAT II for measurements performed on items connected to a standard 230V mains socket. CAT III for measurements performed on the fixed wiring on the building installation, for example distribution boards, circuit-breakers, bus-bars, junction boxes and industrial equipment. CAT IV for measurements performed on the source of the low voltage installation, like the power input to the installation or the primary overcurrent protection device. Such appreciation of likely transient levels can similarly enable industrial equipment to be selected that is manufactured to applicable standards and with levels of insulation appropriate to its location and use.</p><p data-start="8196" data-end="9186">Transients may be mitigated by utilising surge protection devices (SPDs). SPDs are designed to prevent voltage spikes and surges damaging the installation wiring infrastructure and equipment. If an overvoltage event occurs the SPD diverts the resulting excess current flow to earth and clips the voltage. Depending on circumstances, they can be located close to the internal source of the transients, or close to the electronic load equipment, or both. There are three types of SPD currently available. Type 1 for protection against transient overvoltages due to direct lightning strikes. Type 2 for protection against transient overvoltages due to switching and indirect lightning strikes. And Type 3 for local protection of sensitive loads. With sensitive electronic components being used in almost every piece of equipment vital for the smooth operation of everyday life, protection against transient overvoltages and the use of SPDs now has its own section in the UK wiring regulations.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-ea7b49a elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="ea7b49a" data-element_type="section">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="9188" data-end="9468">Electrical interference is generally much less harmful and is caused by either electromagnetic interference (EMI), or radio-frequency interference (RFI), generated by external sources. It enters the installation by electromagnetic induction, electrostatic coupling, or conduction.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="638" height="214" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Interference.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-image-1013" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Interference.jpg 638w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Interference-300x101.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 638px) 100vw, 638px" />															</div>
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				<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-0e6a727 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="0e6a727" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="9762" data-end="10361">Other less obvious external sources of electrical interference include solar magnetic storms and other cosmic noise, atmospheric noise, and even noise generated by the earth’s magnetic field flux. Under normal conditions there is constant radiation from the sun, which varies over time in a solar cycle, and electrical disturbances such as corona discharges and sunspots produce additional noise. Atmospheric noise, also called static noise or white noise, is another natural source of disturbance caused by lightning discharge in thunderstorms and other electrical disturbances occurring in nature.</p><p data-start="10363" data-end="11027">Electrical interference is generally unlikely to affect power equipment or lighting, although sensitive electronic equipment and devices controlling such items could be vulnerable. It most notably appears as noise, hum or hiss on audio equipment, and white lines or snow appearing on television and radar screens. It can degrade the performance of data networks, or even stop them from functioning completely, with effects ranging from an increase in error rate to total loss of data. Interference can be transmitted between close running cables through crosstalk and care should be taken to segregate power and data or signal cables and use appropriate screening.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-823ef09 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="823ef09" data-element_type="section">
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					<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4306fac" data-id="4306fac" data-element_type="column">
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						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-f0a656c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="f0a656c" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="11029" data-end="11606">Electrical interference is relatively easily removed or blocked from entering equipment by a widely available array of products. EMI suppression filters and AC line filters efficiently suppress noise, ferrite cores and microwave absorbers help suppress it further, and ESD protection devices protect semiconductors from static electricity. These should be used in conjunction with appropriate shielding. Shields effectively shut out electromagnetic fields by enclosing sensitive items within a metal box, or Faraday cage. Screening on data cables is an obvious example of this.</p><p data-start="11608" data-end="12060">If you suspect you’ve got issues with transients or electrical interference it’s time to get a power quality analyser and set it up to monitor the installation. Interference will be immediately visible superimposed on the mains waveform, although it may be intermittent in nature and therefore only revealed by logging for a period of days or weeks. Thresholds and alarms can be set to alert of the presence of transients and capture them for analysis.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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		<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/power-quality-issues-part-3-transients-and-interference/">Power Quality Issues &#8211; Part 3 &#8211; Transients and Interference</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
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		<title>Power Quality Issues &#8211; Part 2 &#8211; Dips and Swells</title>
		<link>https://cauk.net/power-quality-issues-part-2-dips-and-swells/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Romuald Lebionka]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:53:45 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorised]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cauk.net/?p=9482</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Based on recent feedback from a specialist power quality improvement service business, the issue of high reactive power and poor power factor is becoming increasingly common in the UK today, an issue which apparently used to be considered much more widely by electrical engineers and facility managers.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/power-quality-issues-part-2-dips-and-swells/">Power Quality Issues &#8211; Part 2 &#8211; Dips and Swells</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[		<div data-elementor-type="wp-post" data-elementor-id="9482" class="elementor elementor-9482">
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					<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">Power Quality Issues - Part 2 - Dips and Swells</h2>				</div>
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									<p data-start="190" data-end="490">Continuing on from the previous article on the issues of harmonics within an electrical installation, this month Julian Grant – General Manager at Chauvin Arnoux UK, discusses the symptoms and effects of dips and swells on the electrical network, and steps that can be taken to mitigate any problems.</p><p data-start="492" data-end="810">When a subscriber purchases electrical energy, they are effectively buying a product. Like any other product it needs to meet the necessary prescribed quality standards to ensure it works properly, or in the case of electrical energy, that the equipment within the installation powered by it works properly and safely.</p><p data-start="812" data-end="1334">If electrical equipment is to operate correctly, it requires electrical energy to be supplied at a voltage (and frequency) that is within a specified range, and to that end European standard EN50160 “Voltage characteristics of electricity supplied by public distribution systems” was drawn up by CENELEC in November 1994. This standard gives the main characteristics of the voltage at a customers supply terminals in public low voltage and medium voltage electricity distribution systems under normal operating conditions.</p><p data-start="1336" data-end="1778">The standard gives the limits or values within which the voltage characteristics can be expected to remain, but does not describe the typical situation in a public supply network. It is also the case that the limits are quite wide, 230V ± 10% for example, and it is acceptable for the voltage to drift outside ±10% for 5% of the time. Add to that the further complication that the UK electricity supply is actually specified as 230V +10% -6%.</p><p data-start="1780" data-end="2147">The bottom line, as with all issues of power quality, is however, not whether the supply voltage meets or does not meet a standard, but the compatibility between the electricity supply and the loads that are connected to it. In other words, that an installation works safely, faultlessly and without interruption, to the requirements and satisfaction of the customer.</p>								</div>
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				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2c9a898 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="2c9a898" data-element_type="section">
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					<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">What are voltage dips and swells?</h2>				</div>
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				<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-da7bf20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="da7bf20" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="2187" data-end="2646">A voltage dip, or sag as it is also called, is a sudden reduction in the supply voltage of between 10% and 90%, recovering after a short period of time. Conventionally the duration of a voltage dip is between 10ms and 1 minute. The depth of a voltage dip is defined as the difference between the minimum rms voltage during the dip and the declared voltage. Voltage changes which do not reduce the supply voltage by less than 10% are not considered to be dips.</p><p data-start="2648" data-end="3001">Voltage dips may be caused by external or internal factors and can exist as random singular events or a series of repeated occurrences, perhaps with some kind of pattern to their timing. Monitoring and measuring the supply voltage over time will quickly identify what particular events are occurring in an installation and enable location of the causes.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="440" height="284" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/dip-graph.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-image-1003" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/dip-graph.jpg 440w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/dip-graph-300x194.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 440px) 100vw, 440px" />															</div>
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		</section>
				<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ed1b469 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="ed1b469" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="3003" data-end="3610">External factors, which are more likely to produce singular events, include short-term reductions in supply voltage caused by load switching and fault clearance in the supply network. A similar effect can occur when switching between the mains supply and uninterruptible power supplies or emergency back-up generators. Common causes of voltage dips within an installation include the switching on and off of large loads including electric motors, arc furnaces and welding equipment, or possibly even loads with pulsating current demands. These may appear as more regular occurrences and at particular times.</p><p data-start="3612" data-end="4320">The effect that a dip has on the other equipment and the occupants within an installation varies widely, and is dependent on a variety of factors including both the nature of the event itself and the equipment within the installation. It is perfectly possible, for example, for an office environment with equipment powered by switched mode power supplies and UPS systems, fitted out with fluorescent lighting, to experience dips and never even know. However, the same office fitted with different lighting could experience regular and irritating flicker. Flicker is the effect of random and repetitive variations in voltage resulting in rapid visible changes in brightening and dimming of lighting equipment.</p><p data-start="4322" data-end="4876">A dipping supply voltage can cause particular problems for AC induction motors and with varying severity. As the supply voltage to the induction motor decreases, the motor speed decreases, and depending on the size and the duration of the voltage dip, the motor speed may recover to its normal value as the voltage amplitude recovers. If the voltage dip magnitude and/or duration exceed certain limits the motor may stall, an undervoltage trip may operate or a contactor drop out, or variable speed drives may shut down to prevent potential motor damage.</p><p data-start="4878" data-end="5241">Voltage swells are simply the opposite to dips and defined as a sudden increase in the supply voltage of 10% or greater followed by a voltage recovery after a short period of time. Again, generally, between 10ms and 1 minute. Swells are almost exclusively caused when a heavy load is turned off somewhere on the power supply network or in the installation itself.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
				</div>
				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-84c4c8f elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="84c4c8f" data-element_type="section">
						<div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no">
					<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-31d6336" data-id="31d6336" data-element_type="column">
			<div class="elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated">
						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-b4c5185 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="b4c5185" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="5243" data-end="5517">Although the effects of dips may be more noticeable, the effects of a voltage swell are often more destructive. Regular and sustained voltage swells can lead to early insulation failure in induction motors resulting from increases in current flow and associated overheating.</p><p data-start="5519" data-end="5718">Swells can cause breakdown of components in equipment power supplies over time due to accumulative overload effects. They can also cause damage to electronic components and other sensitive equipment.</p><p data-start="5720" data-end="5892">As with all power quality issues there are solutions to the problems, and ways to mitigate the effects, of dips and swells once the causes have been identified and located.</p><p data-start="5720" data-end="5892">This can be achieved through conducting a site survey, a process of moving around the electrical installation, measuring supply voltage and current consumption over time, and tracking down the sources of dips and swells.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="583" height="587" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Burntmotor.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-image-1153" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Burntmotor.jpg 583w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Burntmotor-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Burntmotor-298x300.jpg 298w" sizes="(max-width: 583px) 100vw, 583px" />															</div>
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				<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ead030f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="ead030f" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
				<div class="elementor-widget-container">
									<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="6116" data-end="6456">Performing a site survey today is made all the easier with the array of power and energy loggers and power quality analysers available. These products can be connected completely non-intrusively to various points on the electrical network within the installation, in many cases while the power is maintained, and left to gather information.</p><p data-start="6458" data-end="6637">If monitoring determines that the problems are coming from the external supply, and the limits of the standard are being exceeded, then it’s time to call the electricity supplier.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
				</div>
				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-ea7b49a elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="ea7b49a" data-element_type="section">
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			<div class="elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated">
						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-a27e43a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="a27e43a" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="6639" data-end="6904">However, as in many cases, the power quality issue may well be found to be from within the installation itself. If that is the case, then following identification of the circuit supplying the equipment causing the dip, thoughts on mitigating the issue can commence.</p><p data-start="6906" data-end="7337">These may include supplying the equipment in question from a dedicated circuit so that there are no other items on the same circuit to be affected. This assumes the issue is not so big that it is causing the whole supply to dip, in which case it’s time to reduce the load or call the supplier again. Sensitive loads can also be arranged to be fed by separate circuits or connected to regulated/UPS supplies to eradicate any issues.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="728" height="865" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ca8336_f_1PNG.png" class="attachment-full size-full wp-image-8300" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ca8336_f_1PNG.png 728w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ca8336_f_1PNG-252x300.png 252w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ca8336_f_1PNG-600x713.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 728px) 100vw, 728px" />															</div>
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		<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/power-quality-issues-part-2-dips-and-swells/">Power Quality Issues &#8211; Part 2 &#8211; Dips and Swells</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
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		<title>Power Quality Issues &#8211; Part 1 &#8211; Harmonics</title>
		<link>https://cauk.net/power-quality-issues-part-1-harmonics/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Romuald Lebionka]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:41:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorised]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cauk.net/?p=9477</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Based on recent feedback from a specialist power quality improvement service business, the issue of high reactive power and poor power factor is becoming increasingly common in the UK today, an issue which apparently used to be considered much more widely by electrical engineers and facility managers.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/power-quality-issues-part-1-harmonics/">Power Quality Issues &#8211; Part 1 &#8211; Harmonics</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[		<div data-elementor-type="wp-post" data-elementor-id="9477" class="elementor elementor-9477">
						<section class="elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-be39d4e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="be39d4e" data-element_type="section" data-settings="{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;opacity-tilt&quot;}">
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					<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">Power Quality Issues - Part 1 - Harmonics</h2>				</div>
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									<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="296" data-end="805">Harmonics issues within an electrical installation frequently go overlooked due to a lack of understanding or awareness of them. This then often leads site and facility managers experiencing problems within their installations to focus on the symptoms rather than the underlying cause of those problems. In this, the first in a series of short articles on power quality issues, Julian Grant – General Manager at Chauvin Arnoux UK, explains the causes, symptoms and some solutions to the problems of harmonics.</p><p data-start="807" data-end="1421">Within the last 30 years there has been a big increase in the number of non-linear loads connected to the electrical network, including computers and associated IT equipment, uninterruptable power supplies, variable speed motor drives, electronic lighting ballasts, and LED lighting, to name just a few. The growing use of such equipment and the application of electronics in nearly all electrical loads are beginning to have some worrying effects on the electricity supply. It is estimated that today over 95% of the harmonic interference within an installation is generated by equipment within that installation.</p></div></div>								</div>
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				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2c9a898 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="2c9a898" data-element_type="section">
						<div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no">
					<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-c1ffbe5" data-id="c1ffbe5" data-element_type="column">
			<div class="elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated">
						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-da7bf20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="da7bf20" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="1423" data-end="1624">When a linear electrical load is connected to the supply it draws a sinusoidal current at the same frequency as the voltage, however, non-linear loads draw currents that are not necessarily sinusoidal.</p><p data-start="1626" data-end="1983">The current waveform can become quite complex, depending on the type of load and its interaction with other components in the installation. These non-linear loads increase current, and in severe cases voltage, distortion in the electrical supply, which can lead to significant energy losses, shortened equipment lifespans, and reduced efficiency of devices.</p><p data-start="1626" data-end="1983">Waveform distortion can be mathematically analysed to show that it is generally equivalent to superimposing additional frequency components onto the original 50Hz sinewave. These frequencies are harmonics of the fundamental frequency, and can sometimes propagate outwards from the non-linear loads causing problems elsewhere on the electrical installation.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="456" height="447" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Harmonic-breakdown.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-image-995" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Harmonic-breakdown.jpg 456w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Harmonic-breakdown-300x294.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 456px) 100vw, 456px" />															</div>
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		</section>
				<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ed1b469 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="ed1b469" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="2343" data-end="2489">Regardless of how complex the current waveform becomes it is possible to deconstruct it into a series of simple sine waves using Fourier analysis.</p><p data-start="2491" data-end="2780">One of the measures often used to indicate the amount of harmonic distortion present in an electrical installation is total harmonic current distortion or THDi. This is a ratio of the sum of all the harmonic currents to the current at the fundamental frequency described by the equation:</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="492" height="127" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Harmonic-formula.png" class="attachment-full size-full wp-image-1170" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Harmonic-formula.png 492w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Harmonic-formula-300x77.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 492px) 100vw, 492px" />															</div>
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				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-84c4c8f elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="84c4c8f" data-element_type="section">
						<div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no">
					<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-31d6336" data-id="31d6336" data-element_type="column">
			<div class="elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated">
						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-b4c5185 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="b4c5185" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="2782" data-end="2964">Harmonic currents have negative effects on almost all items on the electrical system by upsetting sensitive electronic devices and causing dielectric thermal and mechanical stresses.</p><p data-start="2966" data-end="3296">The most significant of these include computer and other IT equipment crashes and lockouts, flickering lights, electronic card failures in process control equipment, power factor correction equipment failure, high load switching failure, neutral conductor overheating, unexpected circuit breaker operation and inaccurate metering.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="550" height="446" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Electronic-card-failure.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-image-994" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Electronic-card-failure.jpg 550w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Electronic-card-failure-300x243.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px" />															</div>
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				<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-ead030f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="ead030f" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="3298" data-end="3861">Some of these, such as flickering lights and IT equipment crashes are, at the least, an irritant to businesses. Electronic card failures on production lines or process control equipment can cost businesses in unplanned down-time. Worst of all though, failure of power factor correction and electrical distribution equipment, cables, transformers, motors and standby generators can be catastrophic. At the least the presence of harmonics will cause reduced electrical efficiency within the installation and excessive power consumption which you will be paying for.</p><p data-start="3863" data-end="4349">The internal resistance of a capacitor reduces as frequency rises, and at high frequencies can appear almost as a short circuit. Power factor correction capacitors are generally designed to operate at the fundamental frequency, and the lower impedance seen by the higher frequency harmonic currents result in an increased amount of capacitor overheating. It is also possible to experience permanent damage to capacitors due to parallel resonance occurring between them and transformers.</p><p data-start="4351" data-end="4536">Resistive heating is proportional to the square of the harmonic order, and so it follows that the greater the number of higher order harmonics that exist the greater the heating effect.</p><p data-start="4538" data-end="4832">At the least this will lead to large increases in iron losses, and therefore power consumption, in rotating machines and transformers, as well as increased eddy current losses in transformers. In the worst cases fires in wiring and distribution systems or even catastrophic transformer failure.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-ea7b49a elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="ea7b49a" data-element_type="section">
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					<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1c78f66" data-id="1c78f66" data-element_type="column">
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						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-a27e43a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="a27e43a" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="4834" data-end="5288">Apart from losses due to heating effects, motors in particular can be significantly negatively impacted by harmonics due to torsional oscillation of the motor shaft. Torque in AC motors is produced by the interaction between the air gap magnetic field and induced currents in the rotor. When a motor is supplied non-sinusoidal voltages and currents, the air gap magnetic fields and the rotor currents will obviously contain harmonic frequency components.</p><p data-start="5290" data-end="5809">The harmonics are grouped into positive, negative and zero sequence components. Positive sequence harmonics (1, 4, 7, 10, 13, etc.) produce magnetic fields and currents rotating in the same direction as the fundamental frequency harmonic. Negative sequence harmonics (2, 5, 8, 11, 14, etc.) develop magnetic fields and currents that rotate in a direction opposite to the positive frequency set, and zero sequence harmonics (3, 9, 15, 21, etc.) do not develop usable torque, but produce additional losses in the machine.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="550" height="344" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Transformer-failure.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-image-998" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Transformer-failure.jpg 550w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Transformer-failure-300x188.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px" />															</div>
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				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-ff0b999 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="ff0b999" data-element_type="section">
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					<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-e040f62" data-id="e040f62" data-element_type="column">
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						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-8c69af9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="8c69af9" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p data-start="5811" data-end="6350">The interaction between the positive and negative sequence magnetic fields and currents produce torsional oscillations of the motor shaft. These oscillations result in shaft vibrations, and if the frequency of oscillations coincides with the natural mechanical frequency of the shaft, they become amplified and severe damage to the motor shaft may occur. It is sometimes possible to literally hear a transformer or motor “sing or growl” due to these vibrations and this is often one of the first observed indications of a harmonic problem.</p><p data-start="6352" data-end="6751">Some of the most troublesome harmonics are the 3rd, and odd multiples of the 3rd, i.e. the 9th, 15th etc. These harmonics are called “triplens”. The triplen harmonics on each phase are all in phase with each other which will cause them to add rather than cancel in the neutral conductor of a three phase four wire system. This can overload the neutral if it is not sized to handle this type of load.</p><p data-start="6753" data-end="7163">Fortunately, the identification and measurement of harmonics is easily achieved using a power quality analyser or power and energy logger (PEL) with harmonic capabilities, and while they cannot be eliminated, since they are generated by the various loads in the installation, they can be confined to an area as close to the polluting load as possible in order to prevent them from reaching the overall network.</p><p data-start="7165" data-end="7542">The main methods used involve installing passive or active filtering or isolating systems designed to limit the deterioration of energy quality and other harmful effects as well as the use of tuned power factor correction equipment. Once the harmonics are “under control”, the associated problems, power losses, equipment failures and outages, and energy costs will be reduced.</p><p data-start="7544" data-end="7817">Harmonics can be a major issue in the modern electrical installation, becoming increasingly more important as more switching and smart loads are introduced. Harmonics must be monitored regularly in order to verify their levels and prevent potential failures or high losses.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1992" height="3472" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/PEL-scaled.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-image-996" alt="" />															</div>
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		<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/power-quality-issues-part-1-harmonics/">Power Quality Issues &#8211; Part 1 &#8211; Harmonics</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
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		<title>How an 11-Day Energy Audit Uncovered Long-Term SavingsReport to the head teacher’s study!</title>
		<link>https://cauk.net/report-to-the-head-teachers-study/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Romuald Lebionka]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2025 09:47:48 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorised]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cauk.tv/?p=7494</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>It’s all very well to write about what portable energy loggers (PELs) can do and the sort of benefits they might provide but how do things work out in a real application? To answer that question, an 11-day energy monitoring exercise was carried out at a secondary school in Kent. Julian Grant of Chauvin Arnoux discusses the results.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/report-to-the-head-teachers-study/">How an 11-Day Energy Audit Uncovered Long-Term SavingsReport to the head teacher’s study!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
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					<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">How an 11-Day Energy Audit Uncovered Long-Term Savings</h2>				</div>
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									<p><strong>It’s easy to talk about the potential of power and energy loggers (PELs), how they help track energy usage, highlight inefficiencies, and save costs. But how do they perform in real-world conditions?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Our team at Chauvin Arnoux UK, shared practical insights which were revealed during an 11-day energy monitoring session at a secondary school in Kent.</strong></p>								</div>
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									<p>Most organisations and businesses are used to working with tight budgets, but schools are probably dealing with some of the tightest ones out there. So, it&#8217;s crucial to get the most out of every (£) pound they spend. And since energy bills take up a large chunk of their budget, focusing on energy efficiency becomes a top priority.</p><p>That’s why we partnered with a secondary school of 700 students to carry out an in-depth energy audit. The goal? To identify opportunities for improving efficiency and cutting costs.</p><p>The school’s governors were keen to take action, so we decided to install a Chauvin Arnoux three-phase power and energy logger at the school’s main incoming supply. This would give us the data we needed to spot areas where savings could be achieved.</p><p>This innovative data logger uses flexible current transformers, clamp-on connections, and a magnetic base for quick and easy mounting. Thanks to its design, it was installed with minimal disruption. The device was left in place for eleven days, capturing a complete set of data from both school days and weekends.</p><p>The results were both insightful and practical. One of the key findings was a significant imbalance in phase currents, as shown in Figure 1. The peak current on one phase reached 219.2 A, compared to 172.8 A on the second phase and 150.3 A on the third, which highlights a clear issue with how the school’s loads — mostly single-phase are unevenly distributed across the phases. This is undesirable as imbalance increases the current in the neutral conductor and can result in excessive heating. Current imbalance can also lead to local voltage imbalance at various points in the installation, which may affect the efficient operation of three-phase loads like motors.</p>								</div>
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				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-c36e519 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="c36e519" data-element_type="section">
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					<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f74ef73" data-id="f74ef73" data-element_type="column">
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						<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-81d6b22 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="81d6b22" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p>Also notable was the high level of harmonics in the supply system. As seen in Figure 2, the third and fifth harmonics were particularly high. Given the growing numbers of ‘electronic’ loads in today’s schools, it’s not surprising. Personal computers, office equipment and LED lighting tend to introduce third harmonics, while uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) and servers are a common source of fifth harmonics. That said, harmonics can still pose a risk as they may cause unexpected heating in neutral conductors and can interfere with the proper functioning of electronic equipment.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="371" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Figure-1-1024x475.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-4667" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Figure-1-1024x475.jpg 1024w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Figure-1-300x139.jpg 300w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Figure-1-768x356.jpg 768w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Figure-1.jpg 1217w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />															</div>
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				<section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-07e6f9b elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no" data-id="07e6f9b" data-element_type="section">
						<div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no">
					<div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-05e2f89" data-id="05e2f89" data-element_type="column">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p>Perhaps the most surprising discovery from the logged data can be seen in Figure 1. As would be expected, peak current usage occurs during regular school hours when the building is occupied. But what really stood out was that even during evenings and weekends, when the school was closed, around 30 A per phase were still being drawn. While some of this probably relates to things like emergency lighting and is therefore unavoidable, the overall figure was unexpectedly high.</p><p> </p><p>The school then investigated this out-of-hours consumption and found that the portable electric space heaters, which were being used to supplement the poorly performing HVAC system in part of the school, were often being left on during the night and at the weekend.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="485" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Figure-2-1024x621.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-4668" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Figure-2-1024x621.jpg 1024w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Figure-2-300x182.jpg 300w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Figure-2-768x465.jpg 768w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Figure-2.jpg 1178w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />															</div>
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				<div class="elementor-element elementor-element-3e3fcf8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="3e3fcf8" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
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									<div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12"><div class="vc_column-inner"><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><p>This turned out to be a classic example of a quick, zero-cost energy saving opportunity. The solution? Simply encouraging teachers to be more mindful about switching off heaters at the end of the day.</p><p>One final parameter that was carefully evaluated during the monitoring period was power factor, but this was found to be good at all times, with little opportunity for further improvement. This was probably because the school had few inductive loads, and those were balanced out by capacitive loads such as LED lighting. But in other settings, including other schools, the situation might be very different. That’s why it’s always important to pay close attention to power factor results during any energy monitoring exercise.</p><p>Moreover, this data logging activity delivered clear, actionable recommendations that promise significant benefits moving forward.</p><p>Switching off portable heaters outside of school hours has already been put into action, though it’s only a temporary fix. In the long term, far greater energy savings are expected by upgrading the school’s HVAC system. The goal is to improve overall efficiency to the point where portable heaters are no longer needed at all. There may be other unnecessary out-of-hours energy loads too like lights and computers left on when no one’s around. The school can further investigate and consider simple solutions, such as occupancy sensors for lighting and timed switches to automatically power down computers at the end of the day.</p><p>Next, high levels of harmonics certainly need to be addressed. It would be beneficial to identify the individual sources and, where necessary, fit filters. The result will be cleaner supplies, reduced cable heating and longer equipment life.</p><p>Lastly, the school can look at redistributing single-phase loads on the power system to provide better balance between phases. Again, this would reduce heating in neutral conductors, and help ensure that any three-phase loads on the system operate efficiently.</p><p>Monitoring power quality and usage at the school in Kent turned out to be a straightforward and low-cost exercise that had zero impact on day-to-day operations. What it did deliver, however, was a wealth of valuable insights that will help the school use electricity more efficiently and cut down on energy costs. So, to answer the question raised at the start: are power and energy loggers useful in real-world settings? Absolutely. They’re an incredibly effective for identifying energy-saving opportunities.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>								</div>
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		<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/report-to-the-head-teachers-study/">How an 11-Day Energy Audit Uncovered Long-Term SavingsReport to the head teacher’s study!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
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		<title>WATT a Turnaround: Power Logging Slashed Energy Use by 50%</title>
		<link>https://cauk.net/measure-monitor-and-save/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Romuald Lebionka]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Sep 2025 18:21:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorised]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cauk.tv/?p=7484</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Even before energy prices started their recent almost exponential climb, businesses could cut their energy bills dramatically simply by analysing their energy usage and identifying opportunities for improvement. Following this approach, a major processor of fresh fruit cut its energy bills in half, as Julian Grant of Chauvin Arnoux explains.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/measure-monitor-and-save/">WATT a Turnaround: Power Logging Slashed Energy Use by 50%</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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					<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">WATT a Turnaround: Power Logging Slashed Energy Use by 50%</h2>				</div>
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					<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">(Originally published on Professional Electrician & Installer Magazine)</h2>				</div>
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									<p>Even before the recent surge in energy prices, many businesses had the potential to slash their energy bills, often significantly, just by taking a closer look at how they were using power. By analysing their energy consumption and spotting areas for improvement, companies could uncover simple, cost-effective ways to boost efficiency. One major fresh fruit processor did exactly that, and the results were impressive: they cut their energy costs by 50%. Here&#8217;s how they did it!</p>								</div>
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									<p>While the fruit processor was not aware of any specific energy-related issues, they recognised the value in identifying the major energy consumers within the factory and exploring opportunities for energy savings and efficiency improvements. The first step was to engage Smart Energy Solutions NI, an expert in energy efficiency, to inspect the production processes and, where possible, take manual readings from panel meters to provide an indication of energy usage. Discussions were also held with the Operations Manager at the factory to determine which items of equipment were likely consuming more energy. The data collected was used to design a real-time, cloud-based monitoring solution for key circuits. This allowed energy reduction efforts to be precisely focused on the areas with the greatest potential for savings.</p><p>Continuous monitoring enables quick and reliable assessment of energy efficiency measures taken, while also allowing their long-term performance to be verified months or even years after implementation. As part of the initial steps in the project, Chauvin Arnoux three-phase power and energy loggers (PELs) were installed on the plant’s main power-consuming equipment. Almost right away, the data revealed something both interesting and alarming: the refrigeration system for the main cold store was running non-stop, racking up an energy bill of around £650 per week based on the energy prices at the time. When the cold store service provider was called in to investigate, they discovered the system had been set to manual override — likely a result of some earlier issue with the control system.</p>								</div>
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									<p>A new control system was installed for the cold store, featuring an energy-efficient variable speed drive for the compressor. Following the upgrade, energy performance was carefully monitored, and the results spoke for itself. Energy usage dropped by more than half, cutting costs down to just £300 per week. Smart Energy Solutions subsequently installed a full energy monitoring system, covering the incoming main supply, two cold stores, a deep chill store, three production lines, and two compressors. They carried out all aspects of the work, including network cabling, IT configuration, cabling to mains cable chamber, hard-wiring the current transformer connections, and providing a three-phase reference supply.</p>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="534" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PEL104stuck-1024x684.jpeg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-2051" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PEL104stuck-1024x684.jpeg 1024w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PEL104stuck-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PEL104stuck-768x513.jpeg 768w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PEL104stuck-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PEL104stuck.jpeg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />															</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="865" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/optimisation.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-4746" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/optimisation.png 866w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/optimisation-278x300.png 278w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/optimisation-768x830.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />															</div>
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									<p>This work led to the installation of a 288 kVA voltage optimisation system, sized specifically to allow headroom for future expansion of the plant. Savings from this measure alone were predicted to be around 6% of the energy bills, which meant, even with the constantly rising energy prices, the voltage optimisation system could recover its costs in under three years.</p><p> </p><p>With all the energy-saving measures in place, especially the new control system for the main cold store, the fruit processing plant cut energy bills by a remarkable 50%. Could other businesses achieve similar results? Absolutely. But without accurate and reliable power and energy monitoring solutions such as the PEL113, those opportunities remain unexplored. So, ask yourself: could a small investment in understanding your energy usage unlock big savings? The answer could be the key to unlocking major savings for your business. Visit cauk.tv/pel-series/ to learn more.</p>								</div>
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		<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/measure-monitor-and-save/">WATT a Turnaround: Power Logging Slashed Energy Use by 50%</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
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		<title>How the right power and energy logger can help identify issues with maximum demand and harmonics.</title>
		<link>https://cauk.net/maximum-demand-and-load-monitoring/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Romuald Lebionka]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Sep 2025 17:41:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorised]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cauk.tv/?p=7479</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Many domestic installations today are seeing changes in the nature of the electrical equipment being installed in them, or requested to be installed in them, and notably the addition of some fairly high current loads, including most recently heat pumps and EV charge points.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/maximum-demand-and-load-monitoring/">How the right power and energy logger can help identify issues with maximum demand and harmonics.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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									<p>Many modern homes are experiencing shifts in the types of electrical equipment being installed or requested, particularly with the introduction of high-power devices. Notable additions include heat pumps and EV charging stations, which contribute to an increase in overall electrical demand.</p><p>Domestic air source heat pumps can typically consume from 3 kW to 7 kW (13 A to 30 A) of electricity, dependent on the size of the unit, the temperature settings, the weather conditions, and the thermal insulation efficiency of the property.</p><p>Add a single-phase home EV charger, which could require another 7 kW (30 A), and bearing in mind all the other potential “electricity hungry” appliances in the installation, such as showers, water heaters, hot tubs, ovens, etc. and it’s easy to see the issue.</p>								</div>
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									<p><strong>Little room for additional loads </strong></p><p>In the best of cases the installation will already be served by a 100 A main fuse, however, it’s more likely that an 80 A or even 60 A fuse may be present. Either way, conventional maximum demand and diversity calculations, as described in the On-Site Guide, are increasingly revealing situations where a large part of the capacity may already be already taken up, leaving insufficient headroom for any desired or required additional loads.</p><p>In the 60 A/80 A main fuse scenario, a larger fuse could be requested, but the immediate granting of these may not necessarily be straightforward, or cost-free, depending on the local supply capacity and the nature and rating of the equipment and cable feeding the property.</p><p><em>So where does that leave the property owner and the electrical installer? </em></p>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="600" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/DomesticEVcharger-1024x768.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-4697" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/DomesticEVcharger-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/DomesticEVcharger-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/DomesticEVcharger-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/DomesticEVcharger-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/DomesticEVcharger-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />															</div>
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									<p>Well, there is potentially another way to look at the maximum demand of the installation, referred to by the Energy Network Association (ENA) in its guidance on connecting electric vehicles and heat pumps to the network, and that is to measure and monitor it.</p><p>In this scenario electricity demand data is measured and recorded, ideally over a two-week period at ten-minute intervals, before being analysed to arrive at an accurate maximum demand figure.</p><p>This “evidenced” load assessment will often reveal spare capacity, where diversity calculations did not, or at the least could indicate the times when spare capacity may be available.</p><p>This could, for example, enable the fitting of a smart EV charger that incorporates load monitoring to ensure maximum demand isn’t exceeded, and with the knowledge that it will actually be able to charge an electric vehicle for significant periods of time without being throttled down.</p>								</div>
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									<p><strong>Getting a more detailed picture </strong></p><p>A simple and non-intrusive way to monitor and measure energy use over time would be to temporarily install a modern portable energy logger (PEL), such as the PEL113 from Chauvin Arnoux.</p><p>PELs can be installed quickly and non-intrusively at the distribution board, in many cases without even having to turn off the supply. They will log electrical energy data over any time period you choose – hours, days or weeks – so that you can get a detailed picture of the electricity usage.</p>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="534" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PEL104stuck-1024x684.jpeg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-2051" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PEL104stuck-1024x684.jpeg 1024w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PEL104stuck-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PEL104stuck-768x513.jpeg 768w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PEL104stuck-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PEL104stuck.jpeg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />															</div>
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									<p>But that’s not all a PEL will tell you. Another important concern with EV charge points, for example, are harmonics. The supply system is AC, but to charge a vehicle battery you need a DC supply, so at some point in the charging system – either in the charger itself or in the vehicle – there is going to be a rectifier.</p><p>Rectifiers are inherently non-linear loads that generate harmonics, and if the harmonics in the installation are too great all sorts of strange anomalies, and a general reduction in the electrical efficiency of the installation, may occur.</p><p>A PEL will give you accurate information about any harmonics that already exist in the installation, perhaps as a result of LED lighting, IT equipment, or the plethora of other non-linear loads that exist today, once again logging this information over a period of time.</p><p>When it comes to retrieving information from a PEL (aside from the obvious process of going to the installation and downloading the contents from the unit’s internal memory via a USB connection) the latest generation PEL113 from Chauvin Arnoux offers additional communication options such as Ethernet RJ45 or Wi-Fi.</p>								</div>
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		<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/maximum-demand-and-load-monitoring/">How the right power and energy logger can help identify issues with maximum demand and harmonics.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
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		<title>The Invisible Costs of Inefficiency in Industrial Systems</title>
		<link>https://cauk.net/the-invisible-costs-of-inefficiency-in-industrial-systems/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Romuald Lebionka]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Sep 2025 09:33:56 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorised]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cauk.tv/?p=9083</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Monitoring energy consumption has become essential for organisations aiming to cut expenses and improve operational efficiency — particularly in the face of rising electricity prices.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/the-invisible-costs-of-inefficiency-in-industrial-systems/">The Invisible Costs of Inefficiency in Industrial Systems</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
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					<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">The Invisible Costs of Inefficiency in Industrial Systems</h2>				</div>
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									<p>Monitoring energy consumption has become essential for organisations aiming to cut expenses and improve operational efficiency — particularly in the face of rising electricity prices.</p><p>Tracking power usage across a facility helps businesses shine a light on hidden inefficiencies that drag down performance and drive-up costs. It reveals the real culprits behind soaring energy bills and frequent equipment breakdowns, turning guesswork into actionable insight.</p>								</div>
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									<p>Elliot Ajose, Regional Sales &amp; Technical Manager at Chauvin Arnoux UK, highlights the most common issues in today’s industrial setups and shows how engineers and maintenance teams can use smart energy monitoring devices to uncover and fix them.</p><p>In recent years, studies by the Carbon Trust have shown that businesses can slash energy use by up to 20% simply by upgrading outdated equipment and adopting smart solutions like variable-speed drives for fans, pumps, and motors. Meanwhile, a British Gas survey of smart meters across 6,000 UK SMEs found that &#8220;out-of-hours&#8221; electricity usage accounted for 46% of total consumption. This was due to lighting, heating, and IT equipment being left on in unoccupied offices, as well as car park lighting operating around the clock.</p><p>Office equipment plays a significant role in energy consumption. Simply turning off non-essential equipment at the end of the day can result in 12% energy savings. Moreover, leaving office equipment on standby during weekends and bank holidays can cost an average SME up to £6,000 per year.</p><p>While many businesses have already benefited from switching to LED lighting, further savings can be achieved through occupancy sensors, which can cut electricity use by an additional 30%. Using daylight sensors or photocells to adjust artificial lighting based on natural light availability can lead to another 40% reduction in electricity consumption.</p><p>Beyond efficiency measures, 50% of UK industrial facilities still suffer from poor Power Factor and load balancing. Power Factor measures how efficiently electrical power is used, while load balancing ensures an even distribution of electrical loads across the three supply phases. Both factors contribute significantly to increased energy losses and higher consumption.</p>								</div>
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									<p>Identifying and addressing these inefficiencies requires a Power and Energy Logger (PEL). Whether troubleshooting specific problems or proactively optimising power distribution, PELs should be as essential to a building maintenance technician as a multimeter or thermometer.</p><p>Modern PELs are compact, lightweight electronic instruments designed to collect electrical data efficiently. They can be temporarily installed in distribution panels or various locations within a facility without interrupting the mains supply or shutting down operations. This makes them invaluable for ongoing monitoring and energy audits.</p>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="450" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/PEL113-1024x576.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-9084" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/PEL113-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/PEL113-300x169.png 300w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/PEL113-768x432.png 768w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/PEL113-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/PEL113-600x338.png 600w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/PEL113.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />															</div>
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									<p>PELs are highly versatile, capable of monitoring specific equipment or entire departments. They use Rogowski coil current sensors that loop around conductors, and magnetic voltage probes that attach to MCB screw heads, ensuring a completely non-intrusive installation. Importantly, PELs can be installed by a qualified electrician without requiring them to switch off the power.</p><p>PELs gather and log critical electrical parameters such as three-phase current, voltage, power, and energy consumption over customisable periods ranging from seconds to months. Advanced models, such as the Chauvin Arnoux PEL113, also measure Power Factor, Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), and individual current and voltage harmonic levels, storing millions of data points accessible locally or remotely via USB, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or internet connections.</p>								</div>
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									<p>Once local monitoring is complete, some PELs can be semi-permanently installed inside cabinets at the main supply point. They can be self-powered from the installation itself and, when connected to a local network, allow continuous monitoring with configurable alarms for immediate issue detection.</p><p>For businesses requiring permanent energy monitoring, retrofitting older installations with panel-mounted equipment often involves costly downtime and extensive modifications. Instead, semi-permanently installing a PEL can be a cost-effective alternative, offering real-time monitoring from a PC. This enables businesses to track energy usage, Power Factor, and harmonic content over time while setting up alerts for potential issues.</p>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="539" src="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MagProbe-connected1.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-9086" alt="" srcset="https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MagProbe-connected1.jpg 1014w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MagProbe-connected1-300x202.jpg 300w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MagProbe-connected1-768x517.jpg 768w, https://cauk.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MagProbe-connected1-600x404.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />															</div>
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									<p>A well-implemented PEL solution provides an efficient and flexible approach to energy management, helping businesses reduce costs and improve operational efficiency. To learn more about optimising electricity consumption and cutting expenses.</p>								</div>
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		<p>The post <a href="https://cauk.net/the-invisible-costs-of-inefficiency-in-industrial-systems/">The Invisible Costs of Inefficiency in Industrial Systems</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cauk.net">Chauvin Arnoux UK</a>.</p>
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