UNIVERSIDAD DEL NORTE

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERINGS

Power Electronics IEN 7140

Lab 1: Current waveforms in home appliances

Luis Torres, ltorres@uninorte.edu.co

I. Objective compared to when it is actually printing. Capture

The purpose of this practice is to measure the
current waveform of a home appliance. Such
waveform is part of the so-called load signature
of the appliance. Recognizing which set of
appliances are working based on the overall
current drawn from the main supply at home is a
non-intrusive manner to characterize the
consumption behaviour of users.
II. Select appliances
Choose two appliances:
one linear and inductive load,
the other should be a non-linear, such as
an electronic device.
III. Measurement method
the waveforms for all relevant states.
IV. Power computations
Perform the computation to find out :
average power consumed (P)
average reactive power required (Q)
distorsion volt-amps (D)
full apparent power (S)
harmonic distorsion THD in the worst
case
V. Report and defense
Prepare a mximum 4 pages report showing the
appliances, relevant findings, waveforms, and
power computations required.

Although an non-intrusive measurement method Be ready to defend your results and support your
would be prefered, in this practice we can use an measurements and computations with
intrusive method based on a shunt resistor in simulations, or using more sophisticated
series with the load. Perform a voltage measument devices.
measurement with the oscilloscope of a typical
consumption cycle (or period). Due dates are on the course syllabus!

Be aware that the devices may be in different VI. Reference material

states, and the consumption pattern will vary for
each state. For instance, a printer draws a very The lecturer will provide some papers on the
different current waveform when it is resting, as topic.