Understand what disturbs the electrical system, and why
When equipment trips, restarts or overheats without a clear cause, the relevant event may be brief or occur elsewhere in the system. We measure electrical quantities together with load and operating conditions to establish a traceable cause.
The disturbance often becomes visible only when something stops working
A trip or restart is an outcome, not an explanation. The triggering condition may be a voltage dip, transient, harmonic distortion, unbalance or an interaction between the supply and the load.
A useful investigation must therefore capture the right electrical quantities at the right points and relate them to what the facility was doing at that moment.
What is observed?
Trips, resets, overheating, flicker, alarms or recurring production interruptions.
When does it occur?
During starting, switching, changes in production or apparently normal operation.
Where does it originate?
Upstream supply, local distribution, a load or the interaction between several parts of the system.
From the point of connection to the individual disturbance source
Measurement scope and locations are selected from the symptoms, system topology and the decision that must be supported.
Voltage and current
RMS values, load variation and relationships between phases provide the operating context for an event.
- Voltage and current levels
- Phase relationships
- Load variation
Harmonics and distortion
We assess harmonic spectra and distortion against the location, load and applicable requirements in Sweden.
- Harmonic spectrum
- THD and individual components
- Source direction and propagation
Dips and interruptions
Magnitude, duration and timing are compared with equipment behaviour and process events.
- Voltage dips
- Short and long interruptions
- Equipment response
Transients and switching events
Fast events require suitable instruments, triggering and sampling to be captured rather than averaged away.
- Switching transients
- Impulse events
- Time correlation
Unbalance and phase loading
Voltage and current unbalance can affect motors, drives and protective devices even when average values appear normal.
- Negative sequence
- Phase loading
- Thermal consequences
Source and propagation
Measurements at more than one point distinguish a local source from a disturbance entering through the supply.
- Multiple measurement points
- Event direction
- System interaction
The waveform and the timeline must be read together
An electrical event is meaningful only when its location, duration and operating context are known. A dip that coincides with a motor start has a different investigation path from a dip entering at the point of connection.
We therefore document both the measured event and the conditions under which it occurred.
Events repeat with a certain load, shift, production state or switching sequence.
A trigger captures enough pre-event and post-event data to reconstruct the sequence.
Trend data shows a slow deterioration that individual spot measurements would miss.
From unexplained disturbance to verified cause
The investigation is designed around a question, not around a predetermined instrument or remedy.
Investigation and analysis
We define the event, map the electrical system and select measurement points and trigger conditions.
- Prepare: Review topology, loads, event logs and known operating conditions.
- Measure: Capture representative data with methods suitable for the event.
- Analyse: Correlate electrical data with equipment and process behaviour.
Measure and verify
The result is converted into a proportionate technical measure.
- Specify: Describe the cause, uncertainty and required action.
- Implement: CLEPS performs or coordinates agreed work in Sweden.
- Verify: Repeat the relevant measurements and show whether the disturbance has changed.
Technical evidence that can be acted upon
The report separates observed symptoms, measured events, likely sources and verified conclusions. Applicable Swedish requirements and the limits of the evidence are stated explicitly.
Depending on scope, the delivery may include:
- System topology and measurement-point plan
- Time-correlated event and trend data
- Harmonic, dip, transient and unbalance analysis
- Documented operating conditions and uncertainty
- Assessment against applicable requirements in Sweden
- Prioritised corrective measures
- Verification plan and follow-up measurements
The measured waveform is tied to its position in the system and to the operating sequence that surrounded it.
The same relevant quantities are compared after implementation to verify the result.
A disturbance is not resolved until the result is verified
After the corrective measure, we repeat the relevant measurements under comparable operating conditions. Where the issue is intermittent or evolving, measurement can remain in place for continuous follow-up.
Power-quality measurement in context
Start with the disturbance you observe
Tell us what happens, where it happens and what has already been checked. CLEPS works in Sweden; availability and delivery conditions are confirmed for each assignment.
Talk to us