EMDEX Transient Counter

Continuing research into Power Frequency Magnetic Fields has demonstrated the need for more sophisticated magnetic field measurements. The vast majority of present day measurements are made on magnetic fields created from 50/60 Hz currents created by power delivery systems. As our understanding of these systems increases, interest has also increased in measuring other aspects of the magnetic field associated with these systems. One such magnetic field phenomena that has seen increasing interest is known as "transients".

Transients are abrupt changes in the magnetic field. These changes are often caused by turning various devices - such as microwaves, blenders, televisions, and even lights - off or on. These "on" or "off" events can cause significant high speed changes in the power frequency magnetic field. These transient events vary widely and often involve complex fields.

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) commissioned Enertech to develop the transient event counter. This counter measures all magnetic fields from 2,000 Hz to 220,000 Hz and compares their amplitude against two thresholds (the counter is designed to exclude normal power frequency magnetic fields from 50 Hz to 1000 Hz). The thresholds are calibrated in the lab to 0.05 mG (5 nT) and 0.5 mG (50 nT), but other settings can be set during calibration in our lab. The Transient Counter continuously measures the magnetic fields at its probe and counts all events that create fields above these thresholds. Events are stored in on-board memory every 10 seconds. This data can be downloaded to a PC for analysis.

Individual transient events can be complex with thresholds exceeded many times during a single transient event. To reduce the chance of recording the same transient event more than once, the Transient Counter is designed to register only one count for each "event". This is accomplished by forcing a 0.002 second (sec) delay between counted events. The Transient Counter registers transient events at a maximum rate of 400 events per second.

To obtain additional information, contact Sales at Enertech Consultants, 300 Orchard City Drive, Suite#132, Campbell, California 95008. Telephone: (408) 866-7266, FAX: (408) 866-7279, E-Mail: ETCSales@enertech.net, or complete our on-line support form

.