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PQube Power Quality Analyzer
The PQube power quality analyzer is a tiny, user-friendly power quality recorder with built-in power, energy, and carbon emissions monitoring. With the PQube, there is no software required - all recorded data is written directly onto an SD memory card in a number of ready-to-use formats including HTML web pages, spreadsheets (Excel-compatible CSV files), pictures (GIF images, eg for power/energy trends and waveforms on power quality events), text, XML and PQDIF (the IEEE standard for power quality data files.)
New Firmware Upgrades (FREE)
There's new FREE firmware upgrades for your PQubes, too. We've been listening to all your needs, so Firmware 2.0 adds improved IEC flicker measurements, split single-phase power configuration, improved VAR recordings, VAR-hours, and more. You can now double the RMS recording interval for events -- useful for wind turbine standards and FIDVR recordings. You can even set up new brief summary emails, for all you traditional beeper users, or if you need to send alarm emails to managers. All the details at http://powerstandards.com/Download/PQube_2_0_Documentation.zip. The new firmware is FREE, and it's compatible with every PQube in the world.
What's Included:
New Firmware Upgrades (FREE)
There's new FREE firmware upgrades for your PQubes, too. We've been listening to all your needs, so Firmware 2.0 adds improved IEC flicker measurements, split single-phase power configuration, improved VAR recordings, VAR-hours, and more. You can now double the RMS recording interval for events -- useful for wind turbine standards and FIDVR recordings. You can even set up new brief summary emails, for all you traditional beeper users, or if you need to send alarm emails to managers. All the details at http://powerstandards.com/Download/PQube_2_0_Documentation.zip. The new firmware is FREE, and it's compatible with every PQube in the world.
Key Features
- Three-phase and single-phase monitoring up to 690V, 50/60/400Hz.
- Auto power configuration (patent pending).
- Power Quality monitoring: “Your PQube is like the black box on an aircraft: if anything goes wrong with the power, it records all the details.”
- Voltage dips, swells, and interruptions – waveforms and RMS graphs.
- Over-frequency and under-frequency events.
- 1-microsecond high-frequency impulse detection.
- THD, TDD, and time-triggered snapshots.
- Voltage and current unbalance.
- RMS Flicker – Pinst, PST, PLT.
- Detailed event recording, plus daily, weekly, monthly trends. Cumulative probability, histograms, and more.
- Energy monitoring: “The most accurate little monitor on the market. Complete energy information.”
- Watts, VA, VAR’s, true Power Factor, Watt-hours, VA-hours.
- Daily and accumulated CO2, and CO2 rate (patent pending).
- Peaks: single-cycle peak, 1-minute, and 15-minute averages.
- CT ratios support up to 50,000 amps . PT ratios support up to 6,900,000 volts.
- Daily, weekly, monthly trends. Load duration curves and more.
- No software required! The PQube automatically writes these files on a standard digital camera SD card:
- Spreadsheets: CSV Excel®-compatible files; events, trends, statistics.
- Pictures: Event and trend/statistics graphs – dual-language picture graphs output directly from PQube in typical GIF format
- PQDIF: the IEEE’s standard for power quality data files.
- Text, XML, and HTML summaries: perfect for interfacing with other programs.
- Easy data retrieval:
- Sneakernet: Pop out SD card, just like a digital camera, and copy files to your PC.
- Ethernet:
- Email for easy approval by IT department. Automatically sends you events, trends, and statistics in the language of your choice.
- Built-in web server – retrieve meters, files, and more.
- FTP server for easy file transfer.
- Modbus-TCP.
- Additional channels: two analog inputs, one digital input, one relay output, and two temperature-humidity monitoring channels.
- 256 samples-per-cycle measurements on all channels.
- About 1 gigabyte per year of data. PQube comes standard with 4-gigabyte SD-card for data storage. Can use 8-gigabyte SD cards.
- Full color display. 25+ languages, date/time setup, recent events, meters, and more.
- DIN-rail or panel mount.
- Built-in Li-Ion UPS. Power from 24 VAC, 24-48VDC, or optional 100~240 VAC power supply.
- FREE individual NIST calibration certificate for every PQube!
PQube Reviews
Here are some great reviews about the PQube around the industry:Additional Modules
There are a number of additional plug-in modules available for the PQube that increase it's capabilities. | PS1 AC Power Supply - enables the PQube to be powered by 100~240V AC power |
 | XCT4 Current Transformer Module - enables the PQube to monitor current so that power quality events on current can be detected. Also enables power/energy parameters to be measured. Choose this module where external 5A CTs are to be used. |
 | CT4 Current Sensing Module - enables the PQube to monitor current so that power quality events on current can be detected.Choose this module where 5A secondary CTs are already installed. |
 | ETH1 Ethernet Module - enables network communications (LAN/WAN/Internet) are required for remote access to the meter. Includes built-in automated emails, web server and FTP server. |
 | TH1 Temperature & Humidity Module - enables up to two channels of temperature/RH to be monitored |
What's Included:
- 1 x 4GB SanDisk SD memory card
The Good:
The Bad:
The Bottom Line:
The Bad:
The Bottom Line:
Full Review
| Inputs | |
| Mains Voltage Measuring Channels | |
| Connection | L1, L2, L3, N PQube screw terminals [9], [11], [13], [15] |
| Frequency Range | 40Hz~70Hz and 320Hz ~ 560Hz. Nominal 50Hz, 60Hz, or 400 Hz auto, 320-560Hz manually selected |
| Mains Configuration | Single-phase, delta, wye or star. User selected or auto-selected |
| Range of Nominal Input Voltage | 100VAC~690VAC L-L (69VAC~400VAC L-N) User selected or auto-selected |
| Measurement Channels | Line-to-Neutral, Line-to-Line, Neutral-to-Earth |
| Sampling Rate | 256 samples per cycle, phase-locked to input frequency |
| Measurement range | 0 VAC ~ 900 VAC L-L (520 VAC L-N) |
| Accuracy | ±0.05% rdg ±0.05% FS typical (10% ~ 150% of nominal). Every PQube factory tested at better than ±0.04%rdg ±0.04%FS. Note: FS is based on measurement range. |
| RMS measurement method | True single-cycle RMS, phase-locked to each channel, updated every 1/2 cycle. URMS˝ per IEC 61000-4-30 Class A. Also 10/12 cycle true-RMS per IEC 61000-4-30 Class A. |
| HF Impulse detection | L1-E, L2-E, L3-E. ±450Vpk nominal threshold detected through 2-pole high-pass 4.8 kHz nominal filter. Every PQube factory tested with 1-µsecond 10%-to-90% impulses; trigger required at ±650Vpk, must not trigger ±250Vpk. |
| Unbalance - voltage | Measurement method ANSI C84.1. Range: 0.0% - 100.0% Accuracy: ±0.1%. |
| THD - voltage | Measurement method: Discrete Fourier Transform of phase-locked 256-samples-per cycle. Range: 0.0% - 100.0% Accuracy: ±0.2% at test waveform having typical harmonic content (5% 5th, 2.5% 7th, 1.5% 9th, and 1% 11th). Samples measured through 6-pole low-pass analog anti-alias filter, 3 dB frequency 4.7 kHz. |
| RMS Flicker | Pinst – average absolute difference between URMS˝ and 1-second RMS, in percent of nominal, multiplied by scaling factor for improved compatibility with Incandescent Flicker in IEC 61000-4-15. PST – mean value of Pinst over previous 10 minutes, synchronized to real-time clock. PLT – mean value of Pinst over previous 2 hours, synchronized to real-time clock. Range 0.0 ~ 20.0 . Accuracy ±0.1. |
| Isolation | PQube provides more than 7500 VDC isolation to Earth. UL/IEC 61010 reinforced insulation. |
| PT Input Ratio Range | 1:1 to 10000:1 |
| Installation category | CAT IV UL/IEC 61010 for voltages up to 300VAC L-N (equivalent to 480VAC L-L), CAT III for higher voltages. Pollution Degree 2 |
| Analog Input Channels | |
| Connection | AN1, AN2 PQube screw terminals [22], [30] |
| Nominal Input | 0~30VAC or ±60VDC (to Earth) max |
| Full Scale | 70VAC, ±100VDC |
| Measurement Channels | AN1-Earth, AN2-Earth, AN1-AN2 |
| User-specified Input Ratio | 1:1 to 10000:1 |
| Sampling Rate | 12.8kHz or 15.4kHz (measured at same rate as mains voltage measuring channels) |
| Accuracy | ±0.2% rdg ±0.2% FS typical (10% ~ 100% FS). Every PQube factory tested at better than ±0.1% rdg ±0.1% FS AC. |
| Digital Input | |
| Connection | DIG1 PQube screw terminal [24] |
| Rating | 60VDC to Earth |
| Wetting | 5.4VDC at 3µA |
| Threshold | 1.5V±0.2V with respect to PQube's Earth terminal, with 0.3V hysteresis typical |
| Sampling Rate | 12.8kHz or 15.4kHz (sampled at same rate as mains voltage measuring channels) |
| Frequency Measurement | |
| Range | 40Hz to 70Hz and 320Hz to 560Hz |
| Accuracy | ±0.01Hz, steady state |
| Method | Cycle-by-cycle zero-crossing detection on L1-E or L2-E (auto-selected). Firmware phase-locked for frequency slew rate up to 5 Hz/sec. For 50/60 Hz, measured through an 9-pole low-pass analog filter, 3 dB frequency 76 Hz. For 400 Hz, measured through 7-pole low-pass filter, 3 dB frequency 1 kHz. Poles and 3 dB frequency are auto-selected based on nominal frequency. |
| Optional Current Measuring Modules | |
| CT4 | |
| Measurement Type | Pass-through (built-in current transformers) |
| Accuracy | ±0.2% rdg ±0.2% FS typical (10% ~ 120% FS). Every PQube factory tested at better than ±0.15% rdg ±0.15% FS. |
| Burden | less than 0.1VA |
| Conductors | 0.34 inches (8,6mm) max. diameter, 600V UL-recognized insulation required |
| XCT4 | |
| Measurement Type | External current transformer |
| CT input ratio range | 1:1 to 10000:1 |
| Accuracy - excluding external CT's | ±0.2% rdg ±0.2% FS typical (10% ~ 120% FS). Every PQube factory tested at better than ±0.15% rdg ±0.15% FS. |
| Burden | Less than 0.1VA |
| Wire connection | Min. 20AWG (0,52 mm2), Max. 14AWG (2.1mm2). 600V UL- recognized insulation required |
| XCT4-0.333V-00, XCT4-1V-00, XCT4-5V-00, and XCT4-10V-00 | |
| Measurement Type | External current transformer |
| CT input ratio range | 1:1 to 10000:1 |
| Nominal | 0.333V RMS, 1V RMS, 5V RMS, and 10V RMS |
| Crest Factor | 3.5 (± 1.17V peak, 3.5V peak, 17.5V peak, and 35V peak) |
| Sampling Rate | 12.8kHz or 15.4kHz (measured at same rate as mains voltage measuring channels) |
| Accuracy - excluding external CT's | ±0.2% rdg ±0.2% FS typical (10% ~ 120% FS). Every PQube factory tested at better than ±0.1% rdg ±0.1% FS. |
| Wire connection | Min. 20AWG (0,52 mm2), Max. 14AWG (2,1mm2). 600V UL- recognized insulation required |
| Max screw torque | 5 inch-pounds (0,6Nm) |
| Instrument Power | |
| Screw Terminals | (AC or DC) PQube POWER screw terminals [23], [31] |
| AC Input | 24VAC ± 20% 50/60 Hz |
| DC Input | 24-48VDC ± 20% (polarity independent) |
| Power Required | 5VA max |
| Internal UPS | |
| Type | Lithium Polymer Battery (replacement batteries available from PSL) |
| Capacity | 600mAH (30 minutes typical with new, fully-charged battery) |
| Backup period | User controlled. 1 to 10 minutes, 3 minute default. |
| Optional PS1 Plug-in Module | |
| AC Input | 100~240VAC ± 10%. 50/60 Hz |
| Power Required | 25VA max |
| Isolation | Module provides more than 3200VDC isolation to all other circuits |
| Power measurements | |
| Definitions | |
| Watts (power) | Sum of true instantaneous per-phase power |
| Volt-Amps (apparent power) | Sum of per-phase product of RMS voltage and RMS current, taken over the measurement interval |
| Power Factor (tPF) | True power factor – ratio of Watts to Volt-Amps. |
| VAR’s (volt-amps reactive) | Budeanu definition |
| Carbon (CO2 rate and accumulated) | Based on patent-pending algorithm using watts and user-selected proportions of generator sources, and user-supplied carbon generation rates for each source. |
| Current unbalance | Measurement method ANSI C84.1. |
| Accuracy excluding external CT’s | |
| Watts (power) | ±0.2% at unity power factor, nominal voltage, 20% ~ 100% FS current. Class 0.5 ANSI C12.20-1998. Better than ±0.25% rdg ±0.25% FS (10% ~ 120% FS), for phase angle Θfundamental = ±30° (angle between fundamental voltage and fundamental current). Accuracy calculation: sum of voltage accuracy, plus current accuracy, plus phase angle correction which is guaranteed less than ±0.025% x (1 / cos(Θfundamental)). |
| Volt-Amps (apparent power) | Better than ±0.25% rdg ±0.25% FS typical (10% ~ 120% FS) |
| Measurement interval | |
| Measurement interval | Phase-locked, 10-cycles (50 Hz nominal) or 12-cycles (60 Hz nominal). Approximately 5 readings per second. Actual readings per second dependent on actual frequency. |
| Operating Environment | |
| Ambient Conditions – Operating | -20°C ~ 50°C, 10%~90% RH |
| Transient Voltages - 100kHz ring wave | 6 kV pk, IEC 61180, IEC 61000-4-5. Applied to voltage measuring terminals with Performance Evaluation Class 1. (When applied to optional power supply mains terminal, supply’s fuse may operate in PE Class 3 at test levels greater than 4 kV.) |
| EFT Burst Immunity | 4 kV pk, IEC 61000-4-4, Performance Evaluation Class 1. Applied to power measuring terminals and optional PS1 power supply mains terminals |
| RF Field Strength Immunity | 3V / m, IEC 61000-4-3 Test Level 2 |
| Magnetic Field Strength Immunity | 30A / m, IEC 61000-4-8 Test Level 4 |
| Ingress Protection Rating (IP Rating) | IP20H, IEC 60529 |
| Agency Approvals and Listings | |
| UL (Underwriters Laboratories) | UL-recognized, cULus – File Number E220936 |
| RoHS | Certified – PSL Construction File PQube-001 |
| CE | Certified – PSL Construction File PQube-001, TUV CB Test Certificate US-TUVR-4368-A2 |
| EMC | Certified – 20080102-01-CE, 20080326-01-RI |
| TUV Bauart-mark | Certified – TUV Report 30880881.009 |
PQube Report Writer
PSL Engineering has invested over a year developing the amazing PQube Report Writer, and we're releasing it to you and your customers. The price? FREE. (We're not generous - we just want to help you sell more PQubes.)
This easy-to-use Windows program uses PQube recordings to write a Compliance Report in Microsoft Word. It comes with the EN50160 Standard built in, but you can easily add your own standards. And it comes with English, French, German, Polish, Portuguese, and more - you can easily add your own language too.
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Popularity: 31.30%
Customer Ratings: 
5.0 of 5 (1 reviews)
5.0 of 5 (1 reviews)
Recommended: YES: 1 | NO: 0
PQube tells all
Unicorner RECOMMENDS THIS PRODUCT
October 12, 2009
The Good:
LOTS of useful info
The Bad:
Haven't found any
The Bottom Line:
Highly recommend if you suspect supply line problems (or even if you don't)
LOTS of useful info
The Bad:
Haven't found any
The Bottom Line:
Highly recommend if you suspect supply line problems (or even if you don't)
