- Location
- Massachusetts
There is nothing in that picture that would make me hesitate to power a load through that for the time it takes to take some measurements.
To each their own.
Troubleshooting question
- Thread starter gar
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There is nothing in that picture that would make me hesitate to power a load through that for the time it takes to take some measurements.
To each their own.
ELA
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrical Test Engineer
short duration - high current pulse load
short duration - high current pulse load
I believe they probably already exist, a high current pulse for a duration long enough to measure but less than the average circuit breakers trip curve will not tolerate. The higher current more drastically highlights resistive connections. Sort of like hi-potting with a higher voltage but with higher load current instead.
The short duration pulsed load reduces concerns over heating of connections.
Since the duration is short and average power dissipated lower the load resistor can be smaller.
Safety monitor circuit assures load never gets too hot.
Ideally there is a companion tool to measure the short duration pulsed voltage drop created. Might get away with min hold function on a DVM.
short duration - high current pulse load
I believe they probably already exist, a high current pulse for a duration long enough to measure but less than the average circuit breakers trip curve will not tolerate. The higher current more drastically highlights resistive connections. Sort of like hi-potting with a higher voltage but with higher load current instead.
The short duration pulsed load reduces concerns over heating of connections.
Since the duration is short and average power dissipated lower the load resistor can be smaller.
Safety monitor circuit assures load never gets too hot.
Ideally there is a companion tool to measure the short duration pulsed voltage drop created. Might get away with min hold function on a DVM.
gar
Senior Member
- Location
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Occupation
- EE
161010-2233 EDT
ELA:
With a 1 ohm resistor on a 120 V circuit we can get a 120 A test load. With a 1/2 cycle pulse and a rep rate of 1/second, then average power is 120 W. A suitable min-max meter will provide the voltages to determine impedance. This also provides a higher magnet field for testing for stray current paths.
To lower the resistor power dissipation we can reduce the pulse on time to less than a half cycle, or slow down the rep rate.
This kind of test should not be done on circuits with a poor neutral.
.
ELA:
With a 1 ohm resistor on a 120 V circuit we can get a 120 A test load. With a 1/2 cycle pulse and a rep rate of 1/second, then average power is 120 W. A suitable min-max meter will provide the voltages to determine impedance. This also provides a higher magnet field for testing for stray current paths.
To lower the resistor power dissipation we can reduce the pulse on time to less than a half cycle, or slow down the rep rate.
This kind of test should not be done on circuits with a poor neutral.
.
- Status