2 Wattmeter Method Proof - Zach Stone, P.E.

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Figure 1 - Two Wattmeter Method Balanced and Positive Sequence System

Proof I) - The sum of the power measured by wattmeter A and wattmeter B is the total
three-phase real power (I know this is true for both balanced and unbalanced, but the
following proves only for balanced).

Pap WA WB
Pap VAB IAI cos 300 0 Very Is cos 300 0

Balanced VAB Veb Vil IIB Icl Ill

Pap VL Ll Cos 300 VL

0 Ll Cos 300 0

Pap VL Cos 300 0 Cos 300 0

Product sum
rig Identity
Cosa cos3 2005 22B cos hzB

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 Pap VL Ll Cos 300 0 Cos 300 0

Cos 300 0 COS 300 0

9 300 0 13 300 0

Cosa cos3 2005 22B COS LI

COS 300 0 COS 300 0 300 0 cos 300 0
20051300
02 23040
Cos 300 0 COS 300 07 2005 300 cos 2

Cos 300 0 COS 300 0 2

É COSA
Cos 300 0 COS 300 0 B cost

Pap VL Ll Cos 300 0 Cos 300 0

Pap VL Lt B cost

Pap B VL Cost

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Proof II) - The di erence of the power measured by wattmeter B and wattmeter A (WB - WA)
is the sine of the power angle times the line voltage and line current.

B WA VAB IAI cos 300 0 Very Icl cos 300 0

Balanced VAB
Veb Vil IIB Icl Ill

W VL al cos 300 Vi
0 al cos 30010
W ve al cos 300 O Cos 30010

Product sum
rig Identity
Cosa Cosa 25in hatB sin 2B

cos 300 O Cos 30010

9 300 0 13 30 0

Cosa Cosa 25in LEB sin 2B

300 0 0 300 0
cos 300 0 Cos 300 O 25in 230 sin 2300 0

Cos 300 0 Cos 30010 25in 30015in 2

cos 300 0 Cos 30010 2 12Sint o

cos 300 0 Cos 30010 sin L O
cos 300 0 Cos 3001 O 1 Sino

cos 300 0 Cos 30010 Sino

B WA VL a Cos 300 0 Cos 300 o

B WA VL al Sino
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Proof III) - Solving for the power angle theta using only the real power measured by
wattmeter A (WA) and wattmeter (B) using the results of proofs I and II.

B WA B VL a cost

B WA VL al Sino

B WA k il sing

Wa B VL cost
B

B WA Sino
B y Bcost

B WA
B WA f tant

tan 3 B WA
B WA

and
tan 3 B WA
B WA

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Proof IV) - Solving for the reactive power (Q) using only the real power measured by
wattmeter A (WA) and wattmeter (B) using the results of proof III.

top
ant Yp
Q Piano

Q WA Wis Tant

tan B WA
3 from
B WA

B WA
Q WA WB 3

B WA

Q 3
B WA

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