Hey there guys I was hoping to get some input.
I installed some capacitors to motor connections to improve power factor. They worked great and I got all my loads up to mid 90's, one from 30% to 97%!
However I am now getting calls whenever a motor would start never by computers UPS faults out and goes on battery power then back to normal. It was one at the start then two, now I have 5 computer ups units doing it. They unplug the ups and plug in the computer to normal power everything is fine, but with the UPS it starts to fault out. The UPS units are all 120volt and the motors and capacitors are 600 volts, so if it is a signal problem its going through the transformers as well. These problems are in three different buildings coming from one main electrical source.
Any input would be great.
THANKS

__________________
MIKE
SHAKE THE TREE

Hey Mike,

Does the customer have a way to communicate with the UPS units via software? If they have been manufacturered in the last 5 years, the included software (with most units) can really point you in the right direction. Even the cheap ones can tell you the reason for the transfer to the internal battery.

That would be the easiest move to keep from having to spend much initial time on site.

Who knows.....this issue may not even be related to your previous work, but obviously you automatically assume so.

Tom

Hey Mike,
You got a 434 now so you can use the transient mode on it.Just remember to have it zoomed out all the way because you will get a clipped photo if you dont. How big are these caps? I would guess if they are big enough they could distort the wave long enough that the ups is taking over.

Hey Tom, Ivan
Yeah after posting that I left to the site and was able to take some readings. I also call a place where I get some capacitors and he was able to point me in the right way. Ivan the funny thing is I dont think that that big at all. I will fill you in later on today-Sorry got to run!

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MIKE
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Interesting, hmmmmmm............

Can you get a scope to trend at the distribution panel?

Hey there guys
Sorry had been to busy to post the findings. Yes I cracked out te 434 and did some looking (oh yes you can trend with a scope at the mains nemo) I coundn't find any Harmonics in the system. I phoned into a capacitor company and told him that the capacitors were just installed this week and now the ups's are faulting out. He told me that most UPS's work on a 6 pluse system and the capacitors could be sending that the UPS's think its a power loss. OR could be or caused by a current inrush-which I didn't reallt think capacitors did. The capacitors for the most part are not big, however there are 6 small cap banks tied right on the motor contacts. The guy said I could try and wrap the leads 6 times to see if it is a inrush thing or this inrush coil( I will post next) However base on what I told him, sound like its a inrush thing

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MIKE
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Here is a picture of the coil

Attached Images

 

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MIKE
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AKA a choke.

Sounds like you are on to something......

Mike:

Looks like the freeway loops I was driving this mornig!

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Bill

The time I got to the site I had to set the motors on then run back to the readings and since I am still trying to get the 434 to use the power logger software the scopemeter software-I swear makes you so mad or confused, that you will go buy the dumb 2k firmware upgrade. ANYWAYS to watch the logging part on this software three windows pop up, one for each phase.
The only thing I still would like to see is the motor inrush, with and without the capacitors. Which I didn't get. However I ordered these coil things, hope they work.

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MIKE
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