[RE-wrenches] active vs apparent power readings with solar

[Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar]

My metrology experience is he needs to prove it with a second meter. In 
a lab setting, at least 2 of 3 calibrated meters need to agree.

I would also ask Fluke. They have been really good over the years. Good 
Luck.

Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
"we go where powerlines don't"
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
e-mail  offgridsolar at sti.net
text 209 813 0060

On 2023-04-27 2:10 pm, August Goers via RE-wrenches wrote:

> Hi Wrenches,
> 
> We have a residential site with grid tied solar where there is an 
> electrician involved who has gotten into taking site readings and 
> thinks there is a power factor problem. My gut on it is that there is 
> some sort of measurement reading error, and that the power factor 
> should be around 1.
> 
> The electrician is using a Fluke 3540FC power monitor and has provided 
> a spreadsheet comparing active power to apparent power and calculating 
> power factor. See below (you might have to open the image and zoom in 
> to read it). This measurement was taken with a PV system running, 
> presumably sending some power back to the grid.  Note that the phase B 
> active power measurement is negative (PV exporting to grid) and that 
> the apparent power is positive. This nets in a power factor that is 
> crazy low of 0.05.
> 
> Does anyone have experience about whether a meter like this can 
> properly measure these readings - maybe there is a setting error or it 
> can't deal with negative readings?
> 
> Best,
> 
> August
> Luminalt
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