It pays to know the difficulties that can arise when testing and evaluating ground systems for solar panel arrays and wind farms. Jeff Jowett, Megger Industrial wind turbines are typically 280 ft high and getting taller. Their height makes them prime targets for lightning strokes that peak in less than 10 µsec while producing tens […]
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Clamp meter optimized for photovoltaic system tests
A solar clamp meter can measure up to 2,000 Vdc and 1,500 Vac (using PVHV leads) during installation, maintenance, monitoring and testing of photovoltaic systems and standard ac or dc electrical equipment. The DCM1500S can also measure ac and dc current up to 1,500 A and offers a true RMS reading on the ac range […]
Low-resistance ohm meter excels at tests with long leads
A digital low-resistance ohmmeter can deliver reliable results when using long test leads. The DLRO2, a 2-A handheld tester, is a candidate for use in production line testing and industrial applications. This robust and intuitive handheld instrument offers a ‘difference meter’ that allows for quick data comparisons. Applications that require long test leads are not […]
Finding fiber-optic cable anomalies
Optical fiber is a form of waveguide. The lateral dimension of a waveguide depends upon the wavelength of the signal conveyed. A waveguide is not capable of carrying a wavelength much larger than its diameter. Optical fibers are characterized by their core diameters. In single-mode fiber, the standard core diameter is 9 μm. Standard multi-mode […]
Poor earth ground on satellite dishes can put you in orbit
In a satellite dish, as sometimes used to receive internet signals transmitted via satellite, the signal transmitted by a satellite transponder is reflected by and propagated through a circular or rectangular tube, which is part of the feedhorn. This tube, like all waveguides, has dimensions based on the wavelength of the signal. Its purpose is […]
Measuring signals on transmission lines
Reflections typically arise when a beam of light strikes a polished flat reflective body whose surface is perpendicular to the beam of light. Then the transmitted light minus loss in two-way transit, appears at the source. This is similar but not exactly equivalent to an electrical signal traveling through a conductive medium that has an […]
Better instrumentation for insulation testing
Megohmmeter measurements can now be more accurate, rapid and safer than ever before. JEFF JOWETT, MEGGER A considerable number of electronics personnel working throughout the electrical industry are military trained. And many of them learned on a simple hand-cranked analog meter, properly termed a megohmmeter, or insulation tester. These testers were typically 500-V units that […]
Handheld power quality analyzer handles debugging tasks
The MPQ1000 handheld power quality analyzer has features which make it a good candidate for troubleshooting, compliance testing and energy audits. Auto CT identification eliminates potential errors caused by wrong CT range settings. The analyzer will automatically identify the CT and verify it is connected correctly. Users can also create their own company standard templates […]
