Power Quality: The Gold Standard of Electricity 🏆
Defining Power Quality
What is power quality? and why it matters. At its simplest, power quality refers to the ability of electrical power to be delivered in a form that allows equipment to run safely, reliably, and efficiently. High-quality electricity means stable voltage and frequency, with a clean, consistent power supply free from disturbances. Poor power quality, on the other hand, can lead to costly downtime, damaged equipment, and wasted energy.
In today’s energy-conscious environment, power quality is no longer just an engineering concern. It is a board-level issue. Businesses must achieve efficiency, maintain uptime, and ensure compliance with environmental and carbon reporting schemes, all while grappling with surging energy costs.
Identifying Common Problems
When power quality falters, the symptoms can be wide-ranging. Among the most frequent issues are:
- Voltage sags and swells – short-term drops or rises that can trip sensitive equipment.
- Harmonics and waveform distortion – caused by non-linear loads such as IT equipment, LED lighting, and variable speed drives.
- Power factor and its impact – poor power factor results in wasted energy, higher bills, and unnecessary strain on networks.
- Electrical noise – small disturbances that accumulate into larger operational problems.
- Voltage spikes/transients – sudden surges damaging electronic components.
- Brownouts – prolonged undervoltage conditions that shorten equipment lifespan.
Each of these problems has a measurable impact. For example, in one school energy audit, triplen harmonics (such as 3rd, 9th harmonic) from IT equipment and UPS systems caused neutral conductor heating, while out-of-hours loads like heaters running overnight wasted thousands of pounds annually.
Check out more on this here: https://cauk.tv/report-to-the-head-teachers-study/.
Explaining Causes
Poor power quality rarely happens by chance. It is usually the result of predictable conditions that can be identified and corrected once they are properly measured.
One of the most common culprits is the increasing use of non-linear loads. Equipment such as LED lighting, IT servers, UPS systems, and electric vehicle chargers all draw power in irregular patterns, distorting the electrical waveform and introducing harmonics into the supply. These distortions may be invisible to the naked eye, but they gradually increase heating in conductors and transformers, reduce the efficiency of motors, and can even cause nuisance tripping of protective devices.
Another source of inefficiency comes from inductive and capacitive loads. Motors, compressors, welders, and older fluorescent lighting all rely on magnetic fields, which shift the timing between voltage and current. The result is a poor power factor. A low power factor forces a site to draw more current than it really needs, which inflates electricity bills and puts unnecessary strain on cabling and switchgear. Over time, this can lead to premature failure of equipment that appears otherwise healthy.
External forces also play a role. Lightning strikes and grid switching events can cause sudden surges, known as transients, which travel through distribution systems at high speed. These spikes may only last microseconds, but they can degrade sensitive electronics, corrupt data, or shorten the lifespan of control equipment.
Finally, many businesses still operate with outdated infrastructure. Electrical panels, wiring, and distribution systems that were fit for purpose decades ago are often ill-equipped to handle the rapidly changing demands of today’s mixed loads. Imbalances between phases, undersized cables, and ageing correction equipment all contribute to unstable supplies, hidden energy losses, and higher maintenance costs.
The good news is that each of these causes can be monitored and quantified. Once you have the data, the path to corrective action - whether that means harmonic filtering, power factor correction, or surge protection - becomes clear.
Discussing Solutions
Fortunately, the solutions to poor power quality are proven and accessible:
- Harmonic filters reduce waveform distortion.
- Power factor correction (PFC) ensures electricity is used efficiently, cutting waste.
- Surge protectors and UPS systems shield critical infrastructure.
- Voltage regulators smooth out sags, swells, and brownouts.
- Most importantly, regular power quality monitoring provides the insight needed to apply the right solution at the right time.
As Julian Grant of Chauvin Arnoux UK puts in Power and Energy Logging “In the energy game, you can’t manage what you can’t measure”
Link to this: https://cauk.tv/articles/power-energy-logging/
The Gold Standard of Electricity 🏆
For businesses, the gold standard is stable voltage and frequency delivered via a clean, consistent power supply. Achieving this unlocks greater efficiency, extends equipment life, and reduces costs. It also builds resilience against rising energy prices and regulatory requirements, such as the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) scheme, which compels thousands of UK companies to monitor and disclose their energy use.
Read more about it here: https://cauk.tv/the-streamlined-energy-carbon-reporting-scheme-secr-is-here/
Real-World Case Studies
Each example proves the same point. Only by measuring and monitoring power quality can inefficiencies be identified and corrected.
Why Chauvin Arnoux?
Chauvin Arnoux offers the most comprehensive range of power and energy loggers and analysers on the market, each designed to reveal, monitor, and solve power quality issues. The range includes:
- PEL51 POWER-ENERGY LOGGER – Single-phase, ultra-compact logger ideal for quick audits and sub-metering.
- PEL52 POWER-ENERGY LOGGER – Two-channel model for wider coverage.
- PEL115 POWER LOGGER – IP67 all-terrain logger for harsh environments.
- PEL113 POWER LOGGER – Versatile, quadruple display logger with advanced harmonic measurement.
- PEL112 POWER LOGGER – Compact logger without display, suitable for semi-permanent installation.
- CA 8345 POWER ANALYSER – Class A, IEC 61000-4-30 compliant, multiple comms modes, the benchmark for power quality studies.
- CA 8331, 8333, 8336, 8436 – Three-phase analysers covering a range of needs from simplified monitoring to IP67 protection.
Spotlight on Key Instruments
PEL51 – Simple, Smart, Effective
The PEL51 is perfect for energy managers who need compact, easy-to-deploy logging. It records voltage, current, power, and energy values, with Wi-Fi communication for instant access
[View datasheet]
PEL113 – The Workhorse
The PEL113 provides comprehensive three-phase monitoring, measuring everything from power factor to harmonics. Its flexible connections and network integration make it indispensable for detailed audits
▶ Unbox, learn, and power up with the Chauvin Arnoux PEL113:
[View datasheet]
CA 8345 – The Class A Gold Standard
The CA 8345 Power Analyser is IEC 61000-4-30 compliant, making it the gold standard for diagnosing and certifying power quality. With multiple communication modes, it is trusted for the most demanding industrial and utility environments
[View datasheet]
From Measurement to Transformation
The evidence is overwhelming. Businesses that monitor and improve power quality:
- Cut energy costs by 20 to 50%.
- Extend equipment life.
- Improve resilience to rising energy costs.
- Ensure compliance with regulations.
- Reduce carbon emissions.
Whether you are a school balancing budgets, a manufacturer expanding production, or a service provider seeking resilience, the message is clear. Power quality is the foundation of energy efficiency.
The Takeaway
Power quality is not optional. It is essential. By identifying common problems like voltage sags and harmonics, understanding their causes, and applying proven solutions, organisations can secure a clean, consistent power supply that reduces waste and delivers long-term savings.
Chauvin Arnoux’s range of PEL loggers and Class A analysers, especially the PEL51, PEL113, and CA 8345, empower businesses to measure, monitor, and master their electricity. In doing so, they achieve the gold standard of electricity 🏆. That means stable voltage and frequency, enabling safer, greener, and more profitable operations.
Isn’t it time your business unlocked the hidden savings in your electrical supply?