What is the Best Power Quality Analyzer For You? 7 Options to Choose From

You know you need a new analyzer, but which one? Are they all the same? Probably not, but what’s the difference? These are difficult questions that many professionals encounter at some point. You know you need to get the job done, but the rest can be confusing. Let’s break down your best options:

#1 PS4550 Start out with the best! The PS4500 is the top of the line, so if you and your company want the best of the best power quality analyzer, this is the only one for you. It features excellent power monitoring and analysis coupled with sophisticated triggering and event capture.  The PS4500 will allow you to eliminate errors and increase your productivity from start to finish of every single job.

#2 PS3550 Maybe you don’t need something elite, but you need a top workhorse to work hard so you don’t have to! For around half the cost of the PS4500, you still get TestPlan Manager integration, SureStart connections expert, Data Setup wizard, and ReportWriter wizard. Efficiency and affordability make the PS3500 a fantastic option!

#3 PS2550 Don’t rule out the PS2550 to get the job done right. This may be an entry-level Power Analyzer, but it still does great work. SureStart warns you of any connection issues prior to starting the logging. The display allows spot-checking of the important measurement data and its included SD card provides data and communications redundancy. 

#4 PS4500 This analyzer is a versatile, easy-to-use tool that is ideal for comprehensive power quality studies, energy audits, load studies, harmonic analysis, and more. It couples small size with sophisticated triggering and event capture to answer your power quality questions. 

#5 PS3500 Get complete power usage and energy cost analysis in a compact, rugged package. The PowerSight PS3500 measures voltage, current, KW, KVA, KVAR, true power factor, displacement power factor, KWh, Hz, elapsed and estimated cost, duty cycle, unbalance, and more!

#6 PS3000 Thisis a versatile, easy-to-use power monitor suitable for energy and demand power studies. It is a data logger, energy and demand meter, harmonics analyzer and "live-view" scope and multimeter all in one! If you’ve got someone new to the field using the analyzer, this is a great first one to use. 

#7 PS250 From setup, to data gathering, to a comprehensive final report, this is a complete power logging solution. It is easy to see why this is such a popular option. It has four current and three voltage channels to directly measure all phases and neutral in single, two-phase, three-phase, split delta, 2PT/2CT, DC, 45-66 Hz, and 360-440 Hz. 

Hopefully, this list makes it a little more clear as to the exact solution you and your company needs for your jobs. If you still have some questions, like perhaps which (if any) power monitoring accessories you need to go along with the analyzer, be sure to reach out to an industry expert and ask!

About This Author

Summit Technology Joined: April 22nd, 2019