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Power Line Quality Monitor that does not cost a fortune

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nealix:
@Kean:

Thanks for that note about the PQR D50 from PowerTronics.  I emailed some questions to the company,
and based on reply, I may test-drive one from Amazon next week.   I understand that it is an older
design with software from the windows 2000 days, but it is certainly newer than the D3000 model.
Good thing about test driving from Amazon, is that I can return it easy if the unit does not live
up to the datasheet, and also pay no shipping.

@Gregg:   Also thanks for the offer on the D3000.

Thanks again.  Both of these suggestions meet the needs and original question.

Cheers,

Neal

nealix:

--- Quote from: tautech on March 19, 2022, 01:07:47 am ---
--- Quote from: nealix on March 19, 2022, 12:12:31 am ---Thanks guys, well aware of all this about LED lighting.    The original post still stands as a question.
Does anyone know of AC Power Quality Monitor / Logger that does not cost a fortune?


--- End quote ---
Whattabout a $499 DSO with logging ?
https://siglentna.com/application-note/datalogging-with-the-four-channel-sds1000x-e-oscilloscope-models/

--- End quote ---

@Tautech:

Not a bad idea, and I already have one, thanks :-)   BUT;
In order to get what a power line quality logger does, you would need the scope to
do both of these in parallel all day long:

A.    Each minute, log and timestamp the RMS voltage.
and
B.    A tree of trigger events to also log anytime they occur:
     1.  Trigger on surge (slow rise above 120 volts) and log data.
     2.  Trigger on sag (slow dip below 120VAC and log data.
     3.  Trigger on spike (rapid pulse like rise above 120VAC and log.
     4.  Trigger on cycle drop outs and log data.
     5.  Trigger on common mode noise and log event data.
     6.  Trigger on high frequency noise and log event data.

While I could sit with my scope all Saturday and manually play with all these
types of trigger events (some with added external circuits), that is not time
effective for me.   The Power Line Quality Monitors will sit there all week
logging any of these types of disturbances, so I can go shopping, work,
eating, playing, etc.

Cheers,

Neal

tautech:
Neal
I strongly suspect you can do most of that with one or more of the Logic triggers.
Grab the User manual:
https://siglentna.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2021/08/SDS1000X-ESDS1000X-U_UserManual_EN05B.pdf

Just outta bed so something to check later today.

Kean:
Yes, the Powertronics devices seem to have changed enclosures and form factors multiple times over the years but internally they are very likely to be based around the same tried and true design (if it ain't broke...)

The software does look a bit dated, but it should still run on a modern Windows PC.  And thankfully (hopefully!) it isn't like you need to use the software day-in and day-out.

If you check the PQR50/52 manual that can be downloaded from their website support section you will see from about halfway through they document the serial communications command set used by their software.  So even if you don't use Windows, or hit some compatibility issue, the documentation is excellent and gives you a workaround.

bdunham7:
Just a thought before you get in too deep--what type of breaker panel do you have?  If you have Zinsco/Sylvania or Federal Pacific service panel, you likely have arcing bus bars. 

Also, you're going to need to correlate any 'events' to the actual flickering otherwise you'll just have a lot of data that you don't know is relevant to the issue.  Your LED/dimmer combo may be sensitive to certain things, but not others.  I've seen flickering LED issues many times and it has never been a PQ issue, at least not an electric company power issue.

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