Why Use True RMS Meters?

By Frank Prah, CMS

A case study at an Eddie Bauer store in St. Louis, Mo. can readily provide information to support the case for True RMS Meters. At this location the fluorescent lighting throughout the store was flicking in an intense fashion. This was annoying to the store personnel, as well as the shoppers. When an individual electronic ballast was replaced upon failure, the lamps associated with the ballast seemed to operate normally again, without the intense flickering. The problem appeared to be in the electronic ballast. Checking the electrical panel with a standard amp meter revealed no apparent overload. Did we have a defective ballast, since the flickering occurred throughout most of the store? However, checking the same circuits with an Amprobe True RMS amp-meter showed that the neutrals were overloaded. Additional neutrals were run and the loads balanced, resolving the problem entirely. The cost of this solution versus replacing all the ballasts throughout the store represented better than an 800% savings to the customer. It should also be noted that replacing all ballasts would have only resolved the problem temporarily, and the new ballasts would have been damaged in time as well. Electrical problems are the cause of over 60% of all HVAC service calls. A good electrical maintenance program is vital to both retail store lighting and retail store HVAC equipment. To balance loads today, you need a True RMS meter to accurately measure current draw. See definition of RMS below In Power in AC circuits. TRUE-RMS METERS Troubleshooting branch circuits with electronic components can be difficult if you do not have the right tools. New solid state components often conduct nonsinusoidal (distorted) or non-linear loads. In other words, the current occurs in short pulses rather than the smooth sine wave drawn by a standard induction motor. The current wave shape can have a drastic effect on an amperage reading.

Basically, there are two types of current clamps commonly available: Average Responding and True RMS. The average responding meters are widely used and are lower cost. They give a correct reading for linear loads such as standard induction motors, resistance heating, and incandescent lights. But when loads are non-linear, containing semiconductors, the average responding meters typically read low. When troubleshooting a branch circuit that suffers from circuit breaker tripping (or fuses blowing), the cause of the trouble can usually be separated into one of three categories:
1. 2. 3.

Too much current. (overloaded circuit) Too much heat in the electrical enclosure. Faulty circuit breaker or fuse.

Your first instinct will probably be to measure the current with an amp meter while the load is on. If the current is within the circuit rating, you may be tempted to replace the circuit breaker. Before you replace the breaker, make two other observations: First analyze the load. If the load contains power semiconductors, rectifiers, SCRs, etc., be suspicious of the amp meter reading. Second, look at the front panel of the amp meter. Does it say True RMS? If you cant find the words True RMS on the meter, you probably have an average responding amp meter. If you are trying to measure current draw by a nonlinear load containing semiconductors, without a True RMS meter you are likely to reach the wrong conclusion: that the problem is a faulty circuit breaker. Replacing the breaker wont help. If your bottom line depends on keeping maintenance cost as low as possible use contractors that have and use True RMS meters. POWER IN A-C CIRCUITS The power in an electric circuit does not depend on the current alone. Power is the product of both current and voltage. In direct current or DC circuits, power is simple to measure, since both voltage and current are constant and in the same direction. But in an AC circuit, voltage and current are continually varying, from zero up to their maximums, then back to zero again. Therefore, the effective voltage and current will be less than their maximum values. Values such as 120 volts and 10 amps are the Effective Values (also called Root-Mean-Square, or RMS values), which are equal to .707 times the maximum values. A few years ago most electrical loads were linear. Electrical loads used power on all parts of sine wave. With the advent of electronics in lighting, computing, and variable speed motors to name a few, things have changed. A computer

power supply draws current in short pulses and this is referred to as a non-linear load. Non-linear loads draw high peak currents causing harmonics in the load current. This may result in unexplained circuit breaker tripping or dangerous overheating of neutral conductors and transformers. Currents containing harmonics can only be measured accurately with a True RMS (TRMS) instrument. A TRMS instrument will read accurately under all load conditions. An average responding multimeter or clamp-on meter will read a sine wave accurately as long as we have linear loads without harmonics. Up until a few years ago, TRMS meters were very expensive. Today, they are not only more accurate and reliable, but also are more affordable. An average responding multimeter or clamp-on meter will indicate amperage of a non-linear load below the actual load, except for square waveforms where it reads high. I have seen readings taken with both a RMS and a TRMS meter varies as much as 38%. Today, you need a TRMS meter to accurately measure current draw. CIRCUIT LOADING For dependability and long life of electrical equipment most electricians like to see a circuit loaded to only .8 of its rated capacity. If you had a 20-amp circuit and multiply it by .8 you would get 16 or the highest amp draw the electrician would like the circuit to handle. Industrial multipliers are lower, somewhere between .70 and .75. What does this do for you? By keeping the load low in each circuit, the panel, the wiring, and connections do not overheat. When they heat up they expand and they contract when they cool down. This expansion and contraction loosens connections resulting in a higher resistance connection causing still more heat. Keeping the steady state amp draw low will also allow for inrush amp draw values associated with startup. In the case in electric motors, these values can be as high as six times the steady state or run amps for a few seconds during startup.

PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRICAL PANELS Electrical panels should be checked at least once a year. The checklist should include the following: Tighten line and load side lugs on main disconnect and or main breaker. Tighten lugs on all breakers. Tighten load screws on all breakers. Tighten screws to panel buss on all panels. Take True RMS Amprobe readings of all branch circuits and main feeds while the store is totally energized. Balance loads. Tighten all ground connection in all panels.

By following a regular comprehensive preventative maintenance program on your electrical system, you can improve safety and reduce your electrical breakdowns, which will improve your bottom line.