Class A measurement
Fluke 1770/1775/1777 — IEC 61000-4-30 Class A accuracy. The standard utilities and international audits accept without argument.
// IEEE 519-2022 + EN 50160 audit
IEEE 519 Power Quality Audits in Panama
We measure harmonics, flicker, unbalance and voltage events with Class A Fluke instrumentation. You get the complete report, the identification of each source and a mitigation proposal with estimated payback.
- Class A Fluke 1770/1775/1777 instrumentation
- 7-day measurement at the Point of Common Coupling
- IEEE 519-2022 + EN 50160 + ITIC + K-factor report
- Concrete recommendations with cost and payback
// The problem
Signs that you need to act
If you recognize one or more of these symptoms in your plant, there is a measurable, fixable root cause. We identify it in a single site visit.
- 01
Unexplained UPS and VFD trips
High-order harmonics or poorly attenuated transients trip electronic protections. Without measurement there is no diagnosis — only endless equipment replacement.
- 02
Transformers running hot
Harmonics raise eddy-current losses in the core (high K-factor). A 1000 kVA transformer may need derating to 700 kVA effective. Replacing it costs 10× more than filtering the harmonics.
- 03
The utility rejects your load
New rules require IEEE 519 compliance before energizing large loads. With no prior study, the project stops in the last mile.
// What you get
How we help you
Concrete services, not generic ones. Every item comes with verifiable scope and documented deliverables.
Complete analysis
THD/TDD, individual harmonics, K-factor, Pst/Plt flicker, unbalance, voltage events (sags/swells) classified per ITIC and IEEE 1159.
Source identification
Spectral analysis to tell the sources apart: 6-pulse VFDs, rectifiers, arc furnaces, LED lighting, UPS units. The mitigation depends on the source.
Mitigation proposal
Technical and economic comparison: passive AHF vs active AAF vs AFE drive. With estimated cost, payback and alternatives — no commercial bias.
Regulatory compliance
Report structured for submission to the utility or to a corporate audit. Auditable format with the raw data.
Agente Eléctrico
Our own tool: it ingests the Fluke data, applies the current IEEE 519 tables and generates the report automatically. Speed without giving up rigor.
// Process
How we work
Every step hands something concrete to the next one. No "internal phases" without an output.
01
Short technical visit
Review of the single-line diagram, identification of the PCC and the critical points, definition of scope and number of measurement points.
02
Instrument setup
Connection of the Fluke analyzer with non-invasive flexible CTs. No plant shutdown, no load interruption.
03
7-day measurement
Continuous capture over a full week, so it includes normal operation, weekends and maintenance.
04
Analysis and report
Data processing, comparison against the limits, source identification, K-factor and loss calculation, prioritized recommendations.
05
Executive presentation
A session with your technical and management team: critical findings, mitigation options, budget and next step.
// Frequently asked questions
What we get asked most
Quick answers to the questions technical teams in Panama ask us most often.
Q01 When do I need an IEEE 519 study?
When the utility requires you to meet the harmonic limits before energizing a new load, when you are buying large VFDs (>100 kVA) and don't know whether you need filters, when you have recurring failures with no explanation (UPS trips, transformer overheating, control electronics failures), or when you are deploying regenerative drives.
Q02 What instrumentation do you measure with?
Fluke 1770 / 1775 / 1777 analyzers — the sector standard, IEC 61000-4-30 Class A accuracy. We measure at the PCC (Point of Common Coupling) over complete 7-day cycles to capture the weekly variation (operating peaks, weekends, maintenance). The raw data is auditable.
Q03 What does the IEEE 519 report include?
A cover page with the reference standard, an executive summary with a green/yellow/red traffic light, complete voltage and current statistics, a table of individual harmonics per phase, evaluation against the TDD/THD limits, comparison with EN 50160 (the stricter European standard), ITIC classification of voltage events, identification of harmonic sources by spectral pattern, K-factor and loss calculation, and prioritized recommendations.
Q04 What mitigation do you propose if there are problems?
It depends on the specific problem. For current harmonics: passive AHF filters (cheaper, good for stable loads), active AAF filters (dynamic, compensating reactive current and harmonics at the same time), or AFE drives (regeneration plus THDi <5% at the source). For flicker and unbalance: correct transformer sizing, load redistribution, STATCOM. Each option with estimated cost and payback.
Q05 How much does an IEEE 519 study cost?
It depends on plant size, number of measurement points and duration. A typical study (1 point at the service entrance, 7 days of measurement, complete report) is in the low thousands of dollars. Plants with several transformers or PCCs scale proportionally. A specific quote follows a short technical visit.
Q06 Can the study be submitted to the utility?
Yes. The report follows the structure local utilities require to demonstrate compliance before energizing new loads. If there is non-compliance, the report documents the root cause and the proposed mitigation — useful when negotiating a schedule to bring the installation into compliance.
Schedule your power quality study
A Beiton engineer visits your plant with no commitment. We assess scope, duration and budget before quoting.