Two Minute Tips  

Location, Location, Location

Noah Bethel | Vice President-Product Development, PdMA Corporation

Location, Location, Location

When performing a Power Test with the EMAX, there are many parameters to consider. With proper loading, current imbalance is an ideal leading indicator of a system anomaly. But current imbalance has been referred to as a burglar alarm because, like a burglar alarm, it is a broad indicator and doesn’t often give you details about the exact source of the alarm. However, EMAX voltage readings can cut the possible sources in half, giving you a much better idea of the severity of a current imbalance. If a high-voltage imbalance along with the current imbalance is present, the fault is upstream toward the transformer. No voltage imbalance indicates the source of the current imbalance is downstream toward the motor. Once you have determined the source is downstream, you can use impedance imbalance to further isolate the fault to the power circuit or motor. An impedance imbalance equal or less than the current imbalance leans toward the power circuit like a high-resistance connection. An impedance imbalance much higher than the current imbalance leans toward the stator windings as the source of the anomaly.

To see a case study on using current and test location as a troubleshooting tool go to:

http://www.pdma.com/webinars/PetroChem/PetroChem.mp4

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About the Author

Noah Bethel Vice President-Product Development, PdMA Corporation

Noah has over twenty-five years of broad operations and electrical systems maintenance experience in industrial, commercial, and military settings ranging from nuclear submarines to world class amusement parks. His experience includes high and low voltage, AC and DC, power generation, power distribution, motors, and motor controllers. Noah is currently in charge of product development for new and existing PdM technology at PdMA Corporation.

Noah is a graduate of the University of the State of New York and the Naval Nuclear Power School and Training Unit. He is a Certified Maintenance Reliability Professional, with field experience in motor circuit analysis, current signature, power analysis, thermography, vibration analysis, oil analysis and ultrasonic testing.