Power Analysis

With the proliferation of electronic ballasts in fluorescent lighting, variable frequency drives for motors, “efficient” power supplies for computers and monitors, etc., we no longer enjoy 60 Hz sine-wave power from the utility. If you look at the waveform of your incoming power (need a special instrument for this) you would most likely see a wave form that looked more like the pictures on the left, instead of the picture at the right, which is what we are all suppose to be getting from the electric utility. The problem is that each year, more and more of the equipment we install in our facilities actually distorts the power and this can have a disruptive affect on both your operations and your utility bill, causing you to pay more than you should. In the pictures below, the first and second pictures show the kinds of distortion we typically see at the utility/facility power connection while the third picture shows a normal 60 Hz sine-wave coming from the utility.