Application Note

4 Fluke Corporation Saving energy through load balancing and load scheduling
You should always begin mon-
itoring at the service entrance
to determine total energy usage.
Set the averaging time in the
power logger to 15 minutes if
that is the time used by your
utility. Consult with your utility
to determine the actual averag-
ing time as 30 minutes may also
be used. Also, monitor power for
an entire billing cycle of thirty
days; that will provide the most
comprehensive information.
Consider repeating this on a
seasonal basis, as power con-
sumption requirements change.
Import the data to the PC upon
completion of the logging ses-
sion and use the “Power” tab
and the “Energy” tab to search
for periods where energy usage
exceeds desired limits. Identify
the equipment creating the peak
demand charges by observing
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©2008 Fluke Corporation.
Specifications subject to change without notice.
Printed in U.S.A. 11/2008 3399303 A-EN-N Rev A
Modification of this document is not permitted
without written permission from Fluke Corporation.
Fluke. Keeping your world
up and running.
®
Figure 4. Power Log Power Tab. The Power Log Power tab plots total power values
including kW, kVA, kVAR and power factor against time. Determining power usage at
specific points in time is the first step in controlling demand.
excessive uses of “Active Power”
(kW) on the Power tab. (See
Figure 4, Power Log Power Tab.)
Adjust plant operations and
processes as necessary, to mini-
mize demand charges. Do not
be intimidated by the amount of
data. Spend some time breaking
the data down into manageable
time frames and use the check-
boxes at the top of the menu to
indicate only one or two param-
eters at a time on your graph.
Engineers, electricians and
technicians play a large role in
reducing plant energy costs. If
you will set up a power qual-
ity instrument to record needed
voltage and power values, and
use software to analyze the
recorded data, you can reap the
benefits of significant energy
savings through proper load bal-
ancing and load scheduling.