Power-quality measurement in your home.

What does this measurement involve?

Power-quality measurement is an instrument-based examination of the quality of the voltage supplied to the electrical installation of a flat or house. We install a professional recording instrument (Fluke VR1710) on the network, which continuously and without interruption records every event for days or even weeks. It does not take a snapshot. It also records what happens on your network at two o’clock in the morning within a single second.

During the measurement it records, among other things:

• voltage behaviour (minimum, maximum and average) with a timestamp accurate to the second,
• overvoltages, voltage dips and interruptions,
• transients—the lightning-fast voltage surges that damage electronics unnoticed.
• harmonic distortion (THD) caused by modern switch-mode loads and inverters.
• flicker, meaning voltage fluctuations that cause lamps to flicker.

At the end of the measurement, you receive an easy-to-understand evaluation illustrated with graphs, showing in black and white what is happening on your network.

When is it needed?

For example, if there are many solar systems in a street, the network may sometimes become overloaded and the voltage may rise above the permitted 253 V. Persistently high voltage prematurely ages every appliance in the household. The power-quality measurement report documents exactly when and by how much the voltage exceeded the limits or fell below the minimum.

If devices fail for no apparent reason. Power supplies, LED light sources, refrigerators, air conditioners and computers: when these fail one after another, hidden overvoltages or transients are often responsible. The measurement shows whether the fault comes from the network or should be sought inside the building.

If you have a dispute with the provider. Network voltage must remain within the tolerance specified by the standard. You cannot see what is happening in the socket, but the recorded measurement data is objective, timestamped evidence supporting your complaint. The service does not constitute an expert opinion and the distribution-system operator is not obliged to accept it. We give you the measurement results and the calibration certificate of the instrument used. You can take these to a registered electrical engineer who is a member of the Chamber of Engineers; that engineer may recommend a new measurement or certify the described findings from the results, allowing you to submit a complaint to your provider.

If you experience disturbing phenomena. Flickering lighting, humming appliances, equipment switching off without reason, or electronics “going crazy” at night. A power-quality issue may be behind all of these, and continuous recording can identify it precisely. Lamp flicker is more than annoying. Light fluctuation that may no longer be visible to the naked eye can contribute to headaches, eye strain and concentration problems. The measurement shows whether the flicker is caused by voltage fluctuations in the network or whether the fault lies in the light source or power supply.

How does it work?

Installing the instrument is quick and does not require a power cut. After consultation, you decide how long you want us to record events on your network. This may be one day or as long as two weeks. We plug the pre-programmed analyser into a wall socket. A pulsing pale-green LED confirms operation, so we do not recommend using it in a bedroom or anywhere this may disturb you. During this period you may use your electrical installation in exactly the same way as before; in fact, this is essential for more accurate measurement results.

What do you receive after the measurement?

Once the recording has finished, you may request digital results or an authenticated report. We evaluate the results for you and discuss them with you in person or by telephone. If requested, we propose a technical solution to any problem identified.