Power factor correction

[SmartOES]

Also, I just tried calibrating one of my circuits to 4670 but I received the following message:

Setting calibration for unit 200872 to be 4670 (stage 3/3): Failed

I simply entered "4670" into the calibration field and clicked "Calibrate." Am I doing something wrong?

FYI, the smart socket plug-ins are reporting wattage of ~44% that reported by CT30 clamps on 120V circuits here.

[SmartOES]

Hello? Any help with this issue please? Calibration is generating errors for me.

[Amit.Lakhani]

Can you let me know the number on the back of the unit and what type of unit it is? So I can investigate further.

Thanks,
Amit.

[SmartOES]

The unit is a 16-channel smart meter, S/N 10007. I receive the error when I try to apply power factor correction to any channel on the meter.

Thanks!

[SmartOES]

To be clear, I experience the same error on other smart meter units as well.

[Amit.Lakhani]

Hi,

With 16 channel smart meter's you can only send commands to the first socket, the other sockets are actually virtual sockets created by our software.

Try sending the command to the first socket and it should work.

Let me know how it goes,
Amit

[SmartOES]

Thanks, Amit! I was now able to calibrate without an error. Are there any plans to allow for channel-by-channel calibration?

Also, I need some help choosing the right calibration value. The smart socket plug-ins are reporting wattage of ~44% that reported by CT30 clamps on 120V circuits here. Other than trial and error, how can I calculate the right calibration value?

[Amit.Lakhani]

Are there any plans to allow for channel-by-channel calibration?

Yes, this is something in the pipe line, however I can't give an exact date of when this will be implemented. Keep an eye on the forums as I will be announcing any significant changes we make.

Other than trial and error, how can I calculate the right calibration value?

This is best explained with a simple example, and then you should be able to apply it to your setup.

Power Correction

power-correction.jpg (7.65 KiB) Viewed 78 times

If we had the setup as in the diagram the formula would be:

Power Factor Correction = (P5 - P16) / P16

e.g. if we read P5 = 21642w and P16 = 183w we calculate as follows: (21642 - 183) / 183 = 117

So we enter 117 into the power factor correction box.

I hope this helps,
Amit.

[SmartOES]

Thanks for the explanation; that is very helpful! However, in my quest to ascertain the correct power factor multiplier for CT30s @ 120V (the vast majority of our circuits here in the US), it doesn't quite work out. The smart socket consistently reads about half the power as the smart meter.

Example: a hair drier rated for 1375 watts. Smart socket: 1324w. Smart meter (CT30) with no other load on that circuit: 3041w.

By your formula then the power factor multiplier is: (1324 - 3041) / 3041 == -0.56 which I assume is an invalid multiplier as all the others are positive integers.

How should I proceed?

[lifepaths]

Try taking the malfuc for the clamp based on 240v which we will for this excercise call M and try the following:

M * 120v/240v = new malfuc

As I see it the malfuc amplifies the reading coming in from the CT and calculates the power (W) based on a static 240v.

Therefore adjusting the malfuc in relation to the relevant voltage makes more sense.

In your example the malfuc would be the:

4850 (30a@240v suggested) * 120v/240v = 2425 or half the malfuc for 240v suggestions for the CT.

Let me know how it works.

Regards

Adrian