Electric Reliability Troubleshooting Guide

Electric Reliability Troubleshooting Guide Device Symptom Electrical Aggravating Cause of Solutions Disturbance Factors Disturbance Adjustable speed drive Trips off line Voltage sags Inadequate wiring Motor start, routine utility event Reprogram ASD, Retrofit with ride- (ASD) Transients Overloaded circuit (fault, capacitor switching) through device Low or high voltage Install line reactance* Install surge suppression Computer Computer lock- Sags Inadequate wiring Motors starting Electrically separate disturbing loads ups Transients Bad data cable lightning, photocopiers, from computer circuits Electrical noise Mis-wired outlet printers, routine utility activities Install surge protection Fix/improve wiring Use optical isolator for data lines Computer resets Sags, Interruptions Poor wiring Motors starting Electrically separate disturbing loads Reboots Low voltage Routine utility events from computer circuits Install power conditioner/UPS Data errors Transients Bad ground Electrical lines, transformers, Install surge protection Electrical noise electrical equipment such as Improve grounding, use optical isolator motors, lighting, and for data links photocopiers, static discharge, lightning Computer monitor Wavy screen Radiated electrical noise Unbalanced electrical circuit High electrical current close to Increase the distance from electrical (electric magnetic fields) Faulty ground monitor – generally electrical current to monitor cables, bus work, or a Shielding a possibility but generally very transformer physically very expensive close (in the wall or next room) Control system Inoperative or Electrical interference Electronic lighting Try a different carrier frequency if Power Line Carrier inconsistent possible (PLC) operation Don’t use PLC for control Control system Inoperative or Radiated electrical interference Signal and power wiring in Electronic lighting Try separating wiring Discrete wiring inconsistent close physical location Harmonic producing Install noise filter operation Poor shielding equipment Improve shielding Radio sources (cell phones) Digital clocks Lose memory, Sag, Interruption Poor wiring , overloaded Motor starting, tripped circuit Replace/install battery back-up blinks circuit breaker, routine utility event Runs fast Transients Electronic air cleaners, Install surge protector with “sine wave Harmonics tracking” Discontinue using disturbing appliance Try a different clock Hearing aid Hum, buzz Radiated noise Electronic lighting Modify or replace hearing aid Courtesy of Dranetz-BMI Electric Reliability Troubleshooting Guide Device Symptom Electrical Aggravating Cause of Solutions Disturbance Factors Disturbance Motor without ASD Motor Under voltage Inadequate wiring Overloaded circuit Reduce circuit loading and/or increase overheating/ Voltage unbalance High harmonic loads Unbalanced circuit wiring/transformer size burning out Harmonics Harmonic producing loads Install harmonic filter (computers, adjustable speed drives) Motor with ASD Winding failures Transients Long cable lengths between Interaction between rapid Install filter on drive output Bearing failures ASD and motor voltage pulses and inductance Install shaft grounding device ASD operating at high in cable frequency (>10 kHz) High frequency switching capacitively couples voltage to shaft Photocopier/ fax/ Data errors, lost Sags Poor wiring, grounding, Motors starting and stopping, Relocate device to different circuit printer memory Transients overloaded circuit, low lightning, routine utility Install surge protection voltage activities Power factor correction Blown fuses or Harmonics Harmonic producing loads, Install harmonic filters capacitors capacitor cases resonant conditions Radio Buzz or static Electrical noise Bad wiring or ground Electronic lighting, arcing Try moving radio to different contacts (thermostat), location/circuit appliances Install noise filter at radio Security system False trips or Noise Low voltage, overloaded Motors starting, light dimmers, Try relocating system to a different malfunction Transients circuit photocopiers/printers, circuit Bad wiring, ground lightning, routine utility Install surge protection with a noise activities filter Install a UPS Telephone system Damage Transients Poor grounding Lightning, routine utility Improve grounding system activities Install surge protection Static, buzz, hum Noise Mis-wired outlet Electronic equipment Relocate equipment Noise (radiated) Poor ground (lighting, appliances) Install a noise filter at phone equipment Harmonics Install harmonic filter Loses calls Interruptions Low voltage, overloaded Motor starts, routine utility Install UPS at main telephone switch Sags circuit events Telephone answering Loses memory Sags Low voltage, overloaded Routine utility events Relocate machine to different circuit machine Interruptions circuit Motor starts Install battery back-up Courtesy of Dranetz-BMI