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

[Christopher Warfel]

I think the power factor will be very close to one for split phase.  
What's the inverter specs say w/r to this? Chris

On 4/27/2023 5:10 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?
>
> image.png
>
> Best,
>
> August
> Luminalt
>
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-- 
             Christopher Warfel
                      ENTECH Engineering, Inc.
PO Box 871, Block Island, RI 02807
                                 401-466-8978
<http://entech-engineering.com>

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