applications/applications/determining existing loads
Application Document PROVEN DATA LOGGING SOLUTIONS Determining Existing Loads In order to add to existing electrical systems, the Electrical Code requires a load study to determine “actual maximum demand” over a 1-year period or by exception 30-days. ACR Data Loggers are an ideal tool for providing either short or long term load studies. Having the quickest turnaround, the 30-day load study is the easiest way to determine peak current flow to speed up projects. The month long recording method relies on knowing that all contributing loads have been considered by collecting name plate ratings and totalizing the loads – seasonal demand is then calculated. As the electrical code states, the preferred method is to record data for 1 year so all periodic patterns are considered including heating and cooling giving conclusive results – this also eliminates the need to do research on equipment inventory. Either way, installing a single channel AC Current Data Logger attached to the highest loaded phase is all that is required. A 10-year self-powered data logger is ideal as it will fit inside any electrical panel. It measures Amperage 24/7-365 days a year providing a graph showing peak demand amperage.
Challenge: Find a way to conduct load studies for projects with a minimum of effort while getting accurate results. The ideal plan is to prerecord feeder current – this is especially practical in facilities that are ever changing such as retail and commercial buildings. Industrial plants however tend to be modernized less frequently but often take longer to plan so deploying a recorder early in the design phase will allow calculations to be verified before the upgrade. Are you faced with? Ŷ High expectations on retrofit timelines Ŷ Providing a quality work at lower cost Ŷ Fitting bulky recorders into full panels Capital improvement projects require knowledge that is lost over time and needs to be gained back quickly without errors while still meeting deadlines. Finding the right tools to do the job gives the technician a competitive edge while making the job easier. When measuring electrical demand, the tools that are most prevalent are shoe boxed sized metering devices that are hard to fit inside already crowded electrical panels. Typical recording sessions:
Duration Interval Readings Recommended Backup 30-day (1month) 2 minute 21,600 Once per month NEC 220.87 15 minute 2,880 30 day load study 340 days 15 minute* 32,767 Twice per year 365-day (1year) 20 minute 26,280 Once per year *Code requires measure of average power demand over 15 minute interval ACR 24/7/365
10yr Battery
Toll-Free 1.800.663.7845 Phone 1.604.591.1128 [email protected]
www.acrsystems.com ISO9001:2000 Certified © ACR Systems Inc.
Document No. 00-0682 Release Date 6/3/09 Page 1/2 Revision A
Solution: The most non-evasive solution is to use a single-channel self-contained AC Current Data Logger attached a hot leg. This is accomplished by either clamping around conductors and bus bar on circuits up to 500 Amps directly or clamping onto the secondary circuit of an intermediate Current Transducer (CT) for larger Amperage draws – the step down transformer type CT is often found on client side sub-meters. The strategy is to monitor the phase with the highest current knowing that the loads are properly balanced. Reducing the solution’s complexity makes it affordable to monitor on a permanent basis; the data is available instantaneously when needed. Projects can be accelerated as useable information is available throughout.
CAUTION: INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT SHOULD ALWAYS BE DONE BY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL
Deploying the data logger and downloading the information is easy... DANGER: ALWAYS WEAR ADEQUATE SAFETY PROTECTION 1. Setup the ACR OWL300 logger using TrendReader software to the desired Sampling Interval making sure the Equation matches the probe’s model and switch selection i.e. A60/65FL 250A. 2. Simply place the ACR OWL300 logger on the inside surface of the electrical panel (the logger has a magnetic strip on the back for easy attachment). 2. Squeeze the Current Clamp opening the jaws and place around the conductor leading to the circuit in question. 3. Use the Optical Wand Interface Cable to Backup the information collected by the data logger.
TIPS: The graphs produced can be used in the inspection report as picture proof that 1-year of demand recording has been analyzed. TrendReader software allows a compound equation to be written so that when monitoring a step down CT a ratio factor can be applied to the reading. In the case of a 500:5 Amp ratio, the compound line equation is: ANSWER0 = SOURCE0 * 100.
Ordering Information: Equipment OWL300 Data Logger A60FL AC Current Probe A70FL AC Current Probe A65FL AC Current Probe A75FL AC Current Probe TrendReader 2 Serial Interface Pkg. TrendReader 2 USB Interface Pkg.
Description 32 KB, 1 Channel AC Current 60Hz, Ranges: 0-5/25/100/250A, 1in/25mm ID 60Hz, Ranges: 0-10/50/250/500A, 2in/50mm ID 50Hz, Ranges: 0-5/25/100/250A, 1in/25mm ID 50Hz, Ranges: 0-10/50/250/500A, 2in/50mm ID Software on CD, LIC-101 Interface Cable Software on CD, LIC-102 Interface Cable
Catalog No. 01-0252 01-0000 01-0001 01-0002 01-0003 01-0023 01-0232
ID = Inside Diameter
ACR 24/7/365
10yr Battery
Toll-Free 1.800.663.7845 Phone 1.604.591.1128 [email protected]
www.acrsystems.com ISO9001:2000 Certified © ACR Systems Inc.
Document No. 00-0682 Release Date 6/3/09 Page 2/2 Revision A
Challenge: Find a way to conduct load studies for projects with a minimum of effort while getting accurate results. The ideal plan is to prerecord feeder current – this is especially practical in facilities that are ever changing such as retail and commercial buildings. Industrial plants however tend to be modernized less frequently but often take longer to plan so deploying a recorder early in the design phase will allow calculations to be verified before the upgrade. Are you faced with? Ŷ High expectations on retrofit timelines Ŷ Providing a quality work at lower cost Ŷ Fitting bulky recorders into full panels Capital improvement projects require knowledge that is lost over time and needs to be gained back quickly without errors while still meeting deadlines. Finding the right tools to do the job gives the technician a competitive edge while making the job easier. When measuring electrical demand, the tools that are most prevalent are shoe boxed sized metering devices that are hard to fit inside already crowded electrical panels. Typical recording sessions:
Duration Interval Readings Recommended Backup 30-day (1month) 2 minute 21,600 Once per month NEC 220.87 15 minute 2,880 30 day load study 340 days 15 minute* 32,767 Twice per year 365-day (1year) 20 minute 26,280 Once per year *Code requires measure of average power demand over 15 minute interval ACR 24/7/365
10yr Battery
Toll-Free 1.800.663.7845 Phone 1.604.591.1128 [email protected]
www.acrsystems.com ISO9001:2000 Certified © ACR Systems Inc.
Document No. 00-0682 Release Date 6/3/09 Page 1/2 Revision A
Solution: The most non-evasive solution is to use a single-channel self-contained AC Current Data Logger attached a hot leg. This is accomplished by either clamping around conductors and bus bar on circuits up to 500 Amps directly or clamping onto the secondary circuit of an intermediate Current Transducer (CT) for larger Amperage draws – the step down transformer type CT is often found on client side sub-meters. The strategy is to monitor the phase with the highest current knowing that the loads are properly balanced. Reducing the solution’s complexity makes it affordable to monitor on a permanent basis; the data is available instantaneously when needed. Projects can be accelerated as useable information is available throughout.
CAUTION: INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT SHOULD ALWAYS BE DONE BY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL
Deploying the data logger and downloading the information is easy... DANGER: ALWAYS WEAR ADEQUATE SAFETY PROTECTION 1. Setup the ACR OWL300 logger using TrendReader software to the desired Sampling Interval making sure the Equation matches the probe’s model and switch selection i.e. A60/65FL 250A. 2. Simply place the ACR OWL300 logger on the inside surface of the electrical panel (the logger has a magnetic strip on the back for easy attachment). 2. Squeeze the Current Clamp opening the jaws and place around the conductor leading to the circuit in question. 3. Use the Optical Wand Interface Cable to Backup the information collected by the data logger.
TIPS: The graphs produced can be used in the inspection report as picture proof that 1-year of demand recording has been analyzed. TrendReader software allows a compound equation to be written so that when monitoring a step down CT a ratio factor can be applied to the reading. In the case of a 500:5 Amp ratio, the compound line equation is: ANSWER0 = SOURCE0 * 100.
Ordering Information: Equipment OWL300 Data Logger A60FL AC Current Probe A70FL AC Current Probe A65FL AC Current Probe A75FL AC Current Probe TrendReader 2 Serial Interface Pkg. TrendReader 2 USB Interface Pkg.
Description 32 KB, 1 Channel AC Current 60Hz, Ranges: 0-5/25/100/250A, 1in/25mm ID 60Hz, Ranges: 0-10/50/250/500A, 2in/50mm ID 50Hz, Ranges: 0-5/25/100/250A, 1in/25mm ID 50Hz, Ranges: 0-10/50/250/500A, 2in/50mm ID Software on CD, LIC-101 Interface Cable Software on CD, LIC-102 Interface Cable
Catalog No. 01-0252 01-0000 01-0001 01-0002 01-0003 01-0023 01-0232
ID = Inside Diameter
ACR 24/7/365
10yr Battery
Toll-Free 1.800.663.7845 Phone 1.604.591.1128 [email protected]
www.acrsystems.com ISO9001:2000 Certified © ACR Systems Inc.
Document No. 00-0682 Release Date 6/3/09 Page 2/2 Revision A
