Power monitor identifies where and when electricity is used

5 May 2004 Test & Measurement

Pico Technology, specialists in PC-based instrumentation, has added the EL040, three channel AC current monitoring device to its range of data acquisition and datalogging products.

The EL040 unit is supplied as part of a mains supply monitoring kit and is ideal for measuring single and 3-phase supplies as well as machine monitoring, balancing 3-phase supplies and carrying out energy efficiency studies. The mains supply monitoring kit contains: the power monitor, an EnviroMon datalogger, three current clamps, a network cable and a power supply.

Says Mike Green, managing director of Pico Technology: "With the present drive towards energy efficiency, the EL040 will find uses both in industry and at home. Current monitoring gives detailed information about where and when electricity is used. Armed with this information, it is easy to see how to eliminate waste and thus reduce costs."

The EL040 unit can be used to monitor up to three AC signals from the outputs of the AC current clamp transformers (TA011). Up to 10 EL040 units can be connected to an EL005 datalogger by using a network cable (maximum length 400 m). The logger records readings at user programmed intervals (from one sample every minute up to one sample every 240 minutes), and can also trigger alarms when conditions preset by the user are exceeded. Impressively, up to 250 000 measurements can be recorded.

Monitoring supply currents in industry, as well as around the home, can highlight areas of excessive current consumption. Once the problem has been identified, measures can be implemented to reduce this excess. As machinery gets older, the current consumed will often increase as parts become worn and the machinery becomes inefficient. Using the EL040-based mains supply monitoring kit can be a cost-effective means of anticipating machinery failure through changes in power consumption.

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