Connecting a power logger to a LIVE 600A 3 phase fuse board | REC004

[@petehiggins33]

A reactive load of -3.5kVAR corresponds to a capacitance of about 200uF hanging directly on the mains. It's a big capacitance and I can't think of anything that would do that, so I suspect that there might be a faulty grid tie inverter connected which is failing to match the phase of the supply. It might be an idea to repeat this measurement at night when there's no solar power.

[@residualelectrical]

Check the latest video, it looks like you’re correct!

[@we-are-electric1445]

Unless there is a lot of electronics connected you would expect (on balance) the load to be more inductive rather than capacitive.

[@three-phase562]

Interesting that the VAr reading on the first PEL was negative indicating a capacitive load rather than inductive. The second PEL to the plant room was showing inductive VAr, 0.9 pf is pretty respectable for motor plant. Would be interesting to see what the pf closer to the intake is, as the capacitive loading should counteract the inductive loading. For connections into boards like this I have a set of fly leads made up with 4mm safety sockets on them that connect direct into the leads to save taping the crocodile clips in place. For Red Spot fuses, I have a set with the 4mm sockets built into the fuse carrier.

[@residualelectrical]

Nice, can you send me some pics of those? They sound great!

[@retozaugg3775]

You said that there is a bit of PV connected to the board with the bad power factor. One time we had a case, where the inverter was faulty. It produced a huge apparent power and was tripping the 25 A fuses, but the meter only read a few amps active power.

[@tangojango44]

If the load and generation are closely matched, then irregular power factors are quite common. It would be worth turning off the solar and re-checking those readings. Though at 5pm you wouldn't expect much of an influence.

[@gokugeorge011]

I will be very glad if you can make me your apprentice 🙏🙏 ..i have a electrical backround.

[@gokugeorge011]

I will be very glad if you can make me your apprentice 🙏🙏 ..i have a electrical backround.

[@001Elan]

Hey Mike great vid mate followed since you started , so thought I’d kindly point out …. Wearing your arc flash is a good example to the majority who don’t, but without your balaclava it’s fairly irrelevant, your head is well within the theoretical arc flash zone which means second degree burns if all goes up ! On hands that’s a problem , on your neck and face ??!!! Please take care , keep safe

[@residualelectrical]

Thanks elan!

[@Ash-gw2bk]

We love to see it I told you I’d be back 👌

[@John_Faultless]

Great video mate. It's really good to see someone explaining the potential losses due to low power factor. Look forward to the results 🫡

[@residualelectrical]

Thanks John!

[@russellslater4037]

Fantastic, I've finally got my head around PF. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@residualelectrical]

Glad it’s helped!

[@Ronny86_]

Nice video Mike! Looking forward to the next one

[@residualelectrical]

Thanks Ronny!

[@rcoombs100]

Hi there, thanks for the vid. What size fuses did you replace the originals with when you powered up?

[@lewisbrand]

Most LED luminaires are around 0.8 power factor or less.

[@_eusty]

5:53 made you jump!

[@0liver0verson9]

huh?

[@ShalomBrother]

Your shaping like your disarming a 💣

[@residualelectrical]

Search and destroy 🪖

[@Fishfingersarnie]

Any plans for a BMS? would save all of the confusion in the future and allow for live readings at any point.

[@residualelectrical]

Sure would, I don’t think they would install one though.

[@0liver0verson9]

Very interesting stuff. So it's possible a supply can alter the cost of electricity? Or is the "power factor" related to something else? I work with meters and obviously some customers dispute meter reads and bills. This usually results in a 2nd check meter being installed to run concurrently. I wasn't aware of other factors on the supply side that alter bills, if that's what you're investigating.

[@Ronny86_]

It’s to do with real power and apparent power. Basically the property is wasting electric that could be used but instead it’s not. It’s nothing to do with the meter side of things but more the equipment using the power. And power factor isn’t really used in domestic properites

[@0liver0verson9]

@@Ronny86_ ok thanks, all good to know

[@cameronmantell9959]

@@0liver0verson9 Yea, Ronny is right: nothing to do with supply but depends what loads are installed. Inductive loads like induction motors will lag the power factor by nature, dropping the power factor. Lagging power factor reduces real power, but the supply company still needs to pay to transport the total current (real + reactive). They are only concerned with VA through the lines, so they effectively charge you more than the real power you are using. Only really applies to commercial properties that would have lots of inductive loads (e.g. lots of induction motors)

[@0liver0verson9]

@@cameronmantell9959 Well I just learnt something! Cheers

[@scotchy88]

Im surprised the supply authority hasn’t come knocking on their front door!

[@Uk_Grid_Engineering]

This is the issue with solar, tye inverters are all designed to produce a perfect power factor, when a prem has an amount of reactive power and an amount of real power, the solar can offset the real but cannot change the reactive, that remains constant, hence why the oower factor is worse with solar

[@residualelectrical]

Just read the white paper, thanks man!

[@cliveramsbotty6077]

does direction of flow matter when im using my clamp meter to measure current?

[@MrMaxyield]

AC amps and DC amps should be measured separately... There are 2 separate positions on a meter to measure each one respectively...

[@three-phase562]

He is measuring power, so the meter needs to know the direction of the current to differentiate between exporting an importing electricity. Hence the clamps have a direction arrow, so you put them all in the same direction. For normal clamp use on AC to measure current only, it doesn't matter quite so much.

[@ShalomBrother]

No

[@cliveramsbotty6077]

@@three-phase562 thanks

[@we-are-electric1445]

That 0.33 PF looks suspicious !

[@walseee]

BOOOOSH

[@hvsparky]

Great video pal 💪🏼💪🏼

[@residualelectrical]

Thanks mate!

[@1992Craigster]

Noice

[@samuelchamberlain2584]

Crap led drivers ?

[@residualelectrical]

Possible, but the PF is a lot better at night so can’t be those alone!