- Power Measurement Modem User's Guide
ION 7500 / ION 7600 User’s Guide Mains Signaling Voltage
Power Quality: ION Meters and EN50160 Technical Note Page 321
Mains Signaling Voltage
In some countries, power transmission and distribution systems are also used to
carry communication signals. If the magnitude of these signals becomes too large,
they have the potential to interfere with the operation of electrical equipment in
much the same way that excessive harmonic and interharmonic voltages do. The
purpose of this measurement component is to ensure that these signals do not
exceed defined levels. EN 50160 defines three types of mains signals:
1. Ripple control: frequencies between 110 to 3000 Hz
2. Power line carrier: frequencies between 3 to 148.5 kHz
3. Marking signals: short transients superimposed at select points on the voltage
waveform
The meter can monitor ripple control signals between 110 Hz and 3000 Hz. The
meter performs signaling voltage measurements using interharmonic voltages
near the user-defined signaling frequencies. You can specify three frequencies to
be monitored; the default is 1060Hz.
NOTE
Some common ripple control frequencies in Europe include 183 Hz, 191 Hz, 425 Hz and 1060 Hz.
The signaling voltage measurement is the mean voltage (not RMS) over a fixed
interval of 3 seconds.
Observation period of one day with fixed steps of 3 seconds.
N = number of 3-second intervals in which the supply voltage is within ±15% of
nominal.
N
1
= number of intervals in which the mean value of the signalling voltage
exceeds the curve defined in the EN 50160 standard and the supply voltage is
within ±15% of nominal.
Mains signaling voltage complies with the standard if N
1
/N <= 1% during the
observation period (1 day by default).
EN 50160 data (current observation period): the meter generates the N and N
1
counts for each phase as described above. These counters are reset at the beginning
of the next observation period.
EN 50160 data (previous observation period): the meter stores the N and N
1
counter values at the end of each observation period before these counters are
reset. These 6 registers are also stored in a data recorder for each observation
period.
Events: the meter creates a message in the Event log every time the N
1
counter for
each phase increases.