[labnetwork] Power monitoring

[Dan P. Woodie]

Michael,

At Cornell, we had purchased a 3-phase power analyzer which could do data logging and be easily moved around for checking on motors, vacuum pumps, etc. It was fairly pricey and is probably overkill for what you need, but it was useful to have to trace down various issues with 2-phase and 3-phase tools over the years (https://www.fluke.com/en-us/product/electrical-testing/power-quality/1773-1775-1777). To track building power issues, we had installed a Powerside PQube 3<https://powerside.com/products/power-quality-measurement-solutions/pqube-3-power-analyzers/> which can send alerts through email whenever power events are seen on the building. You can also find smaller units from Omega designed to log when motors start and stop and similar items for much cheaper.

Dan

Daniel Woodie
Director, Micro/Nano Fabrication Center, Princeton Materials Institute

From: labnetwork <labnetwork-bounces at mtl.mit.edu> On Behalf Of Johnson, Michael W
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2024 10:29 AM
To: Fab Network <labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu>
Subject: [labnetwork] Power monitoring

Hello folks,

We have a problem with a large compressor in a building that keeps shutting down at almost the same time on weekends. I feel like the problem may be some regular anomaly with the three phase power feeding it.

Can somebody recommend a simple product or method to record the power characteristics so we can go back and review the recorded data to see what, if anything, is going on? We have NMR's and other instruments that record when the compressed air is lost. It would be very helpful to then review recorded sine wave or other useful information to determine if we have a power problem or if the issue is actually something else.

It really feels like a regular voltage loss that only happens on Saturday afternoons when not much is going on in the building. This is causing a lot of problems.

Appreciate any help with this.

-Michael.
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