Poor power quality rarely appears as its own line on an electricity bill, but it can raise the charges a facility already pays by increasing current, losses and power-factor or demand penalties. When a bill climbs the tariff is blamed first — yet low power factor, harmonic distortion and voltage imbalance make a plant draw more current than the useful work it produces requires. This article ...
Harmonics are extra currents and voltages at integer multiples of the supply frequency that non-linear loads draw on top of the fundamental sine wave. Their effect is costly: transformers, motors and neutral conductors overheat, relays mis-trip, and equipment life shortens even below rated load. This guide covers measurement at the point of common coupling (PCC) and how to compare the main mitigat...