30 Day load test

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Duke E

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Washington
I need to add an additional 400 amp load on an existing 1200 amp 208 distribution system. In lieu of completing another nightmarish load calculation; the building officials are allowing me to record 7 days load on the system. After 7 days recording they will allow a permit to be issued while the meter continues for the complete 30 days.

Where can I access a meter that will record all phases simultaneously and keep record? (not an Emon-Dmon)
I?m presently in the state of Washington.


ps: WooT! is nice to finally be here.:grin:
 
Duke E said:
I need to add an additional 400 amp load on an existing 1200 amp 208 distribution system. In lieu of completing another nightmarish load calculation; the building officials are allowing me to record 7 days load on the system. After 7 days recording they will allow a permit to be issued while the meter continues for the complete 30 days.

Where can I access a meter that will record all phases simultaneously and keep record? (not an Emon-Dmon)
I?m presently in the state of Washington.


ps: WooT! is nice to finally be here.:grin:
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Call these guys, they have the right equipment to do the study, ask for Dan.
http://www.westernelectricalservices.com/
 
Electrorents, and about 1/2 a dozen others will rent you equipment (there is a learning curve) or simplify your life and contract with a firm that has the equipment and can compile a professional report having done this numerous times.

Where you located?
 
Duke E said:
I need to add an additional 400 amp load on an existing 1200 amp 208 distribution system. In lieu of completing another nightmarish load calculation; the building officials are allowing me to record 7 days load on the system. After 7 days recording they will allow a permit to be issued while the meter continues for the complete 30 days.

Where can I access a meter that will record all phases simultaneously and keep record? (not an Emon-Dmon)
I?m presently in the state of Washington.


ps: WooT! is nice to finally be here.:grin:
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Hmmmmmm...

Without a year worth of data, how can you be sure?
 
They are close and available to do testing required. Their 30 day pricing was just shy of the cost to purchase a recording meter outright. If this is a cost that I can pass on to the customer, I'll use them in a heartbeat.
 
zog said:
Sure, welcome to the forum? Are they close to you? Dan is a PE and has done hundreds of these tests.
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Not that it matters but you do not have to be a PE to do this work, and in reality he should also be a licensed electrician or utilize an electrician in some areas, to perform this work.

Had a firm hire me the other day to tell the PE the size of the main CB. The CB had adjustable LSIG and he could not determine the Main size based on the settings. He specialized in Energy Management and Peak Shaving.
 
brian john said:
Not that it matters but you do not have to be a PE to do this work, and in reality he should also be a licensed electrician or utilize an electrician in some areas, to perform this work.
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Right, I didnt mean to imply that you do need to be, Dan is also a NETA tech and testing guru.

brian john said:
Had a firm hire me the other day to tell the PE the size of the main CB. The CB had adjustable LSIG and he could not determine the Main size based on the settings. He specialized in Energy Management and Peak Shaving.
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Yep, have run into many of those guys too.
 
Duke E said:
. . . Where can I access a meter that will record all phases simultaneously and keep record? . .
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I would be willing to bet that the serving electric utility has both the demand and reactive for the last year. If you get copies of the electric bills for the last year, I suspect you will have everything you need. :smile:
 
zog said:
Not me, a PE can have many different areas of expertise. Ever seen the test? HEat transfer and fluid flow, physics, materials, etc....
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I know, I have reviewed a sample test.

But this was his area of expertise, he is charging big bucks for an energy audit and ideas for peak shaving. Which IMO should lead at least to some basic understanding of electrical distribution systems.
 
brian john said:
I know, I have reviewed a sample test.

But this was his area of expertise, he is charging big bucks for an energy audit and ideas for peak shaving. Which IMO should lead at least to some basic understanding of electrical distribution systems.
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I would hope so, scary sometimes who is doing what out there.
 
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After carefully weighing my options I?ve decided to purchase a Fluke 1735. The purchase cost for this unit is 4x the rental and 2x the cost to hire a PE to perform the task.

My city officials have not required a PE or independent service to complete the load analysis on jobs of the past. I?m certainly hoping this doesn?t change now. If it does, I know who to call.
 
Duke E said:
After carefully weighing my options I?ve decided to purchase a Fluke 1735. The purchase cost for this unit is 4x the rental and 2x the cost to hire a PE to perform the task.

My city officials have not required a PE or independent service to complete the load analysis on jobs of the past. I?m certainly hoping this doesn?t change now. If it does, I know who to call.
Click to expand...

Different animal, the 1735 might do the job but it is a $2,500 meter, the companies that do this for a living use several $20,000 meters (RPM's) with expensive software and run ny laptops computers, the reporting is much more detailed, it all depends on what your needs are.
 
I do appreciate your input Zog, Thank you.
I understand that the services offered from professional engineers would be more extensive and detailed in their final product. At this time I am solely in need of a basic load summary. As confident as I am in my ability to accurately calculate the demand on a service; I?m betting that this (cheap) tool will be much more accurate.
 
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