N4L Precision Power Analyzers

N4L Power Analyzers utilize the latest signal processing technology. Providing fast, accurate and repeatable measurements in the most demanding of applications. Whether you need to measure the efficiency of a variable speed motor drive or the losses in a transformer, N4L has a power analyzer measurement solution for you. Combining years of experience in high-frequency measurement instrumentation with innovative developments in analog and digital design techniques to produce a new generation of the class-leading precision power analyzer. All Power Analyzers from N4L feature real-time no gap analysis as well as high sampling rates throughout all fundamental frequencies facilitating wide band gapless measurements on any input waveform. All Power Analyzers are provided with a UKAS ISO17025 calibration certificate, issued by our internal UKAS Laboratory (Calibration Laboratory No. 7949).

What is a Power Analyzer?

A Power Analyzer is a precision test instrument that measures the power consumption or generation (in Watts) of a device, circuit or subsystem. Modern Power Analyzers are also able to determine the power factor, harmonic distortion, peak, mean and many more parameters of a signal.

A Power Analyzer samples the voltage and current waveforms entering or exiting a device under test(DUT), this sampling process typically occurs every 0.5us to 1us depending upon the analyzer model being used, some lower specification models from other manufacturers may sample as low as 100ks/s. Once sampled, the data is processed by a dedicated high-speed digital signal processor (which can also be implemented on modern FPGAs) and the various derived parameters are calculated.

One important difference between oscilloscopes/data acquisition cards and true power analyzers is that a high-end power analyzer (such as an N4L PPA) can record, store, process and delete samples "on the fly”. This means there is never a gap in the sampling process as the memory buffer is continually emptied after the samples are processed. This is uncommon and yet absolutely necessary for accurate power measurements.

N4L’s High Precision Power Measurement Signal Chain

N4L’s High Precision Signal Chain

N4L Power Analyzers can transfer raw sample points at full resolution across the isolation barrier. Traditional power analyzers do not transfer this "high speed” data as the isolation stage represents a bottleneck, other analyzers, therefore, perform computations prior to data transfer to the main CPU card.

The benefit of transferring raw data samples across the isolation barrier means that the FPGA and DSP can perform inter-phase parallel signal processing across phases. The result is exceptional phase accuracy through the implementation of a real-time DFT performed upon the raw data samples. The nominal phase accuracy of the PPA5500-TE is 0.003º. A dedicated frequency detection DSP continuously tracks the input frequency and is capable of parallel filtering the input signal. This is beneficial if PWM type waveforms are to be analyzed, in all cases, the parallel filtering process does not affect the raw data used to calculate the measured parameters, it only applies filters to the data used for frequency detection.

Key reasons to choose N4L:

• Best high-frequency performance on market – the key to achieving accurate power measurements of devices containing high distortion/switching frequencies
• Best Phase accuracy on market – traceable to ISO17025
• Best CMRR (Common mode rejection) on market – Important for floating differential measurements, for example when measurement current upon high common-mode potentials
• Only Power analyzer manufacturer to offer power calibration up to 2MHz accredited to ISO17025
• Designed and Manufactured in the UK to ISO9001:2015 quality standards
• Exceptional low power standby measurements compliant to IEC62301
• Compliance to IEC61000-3-2, IEC61000-3-3, IEC61000-3-11 and IEC61000-3-12
• Frequency synchronization range from 10mHz up to 2MHz (PPA5500)

Key measurements available with N4A PPA’s:

• AC Input to DC Bus power efficiency
• DC Bus to Inverter Output power efficiency
• Electrical to Mechanical efficiency using torque and speed inputs
• Current waveform distortion analysis
• Simultaneous wide-band and Fundamental measurement of electrical parameters
• Connection to high current external sensors such as LEM Zero flux transducers.
• Complete ISO17025 system calibration of signal chain including; PPA, Interface box and External current transducer
• Sophisticated parallel frequency filtering for dedicated frequency tracking DSP, providing rapid frequency tracking during acceleration/deceleration

• AC Input to DC output power efficiency
• DC Input to DC output power efficiency
• Separate DC content and AC ripple voltage analysis
• Inrush analysis
• PPA3500 – Simultaneous power and integrator/scope analysis
• Very low signal sensitivity
• Fast measurement updates down to 2ms
• High sample rates to ensure wide measurement bandwidth

Why choose N4L Power Analyzers for LED driver analysis?

• All instruments are ISO17025 accredited
• N4L offer fastest update rate in class
• The maximum sampling rate is always maintained, regardless of update rate
• PPA’s can separate DC content and AC ripple
• Gapless analysis ensures all data is analyzed
• Extremely stable measurements even at low signal levels

Standby Power Measurement Overview;

• ISO17025 traceable measurements
• EN50564 + IEC62301 compliant
• AC Sources also available from N4L
• Start, Stop + Reporting function from custom-designed software package – supplied free of charge with every instrument
• The software also analyses the AC source for compliance during the test
• Cyclic, Non-cyclic, varying power and limited duration modes all catered for
• Breakout box available for simple, safe connection

IEC61000 Harmonics and Flicker Analysis [PPA5500, PPA55x1]

The PPA55x1(fully compliant) and PPA5530(pre-compliant) offer IEC61000-3-3, IEC61000-3-2, IEC61000-3-11 and IEC61000-3-12 compliance testing against the latest standards. N4L has developed a comprehensive ISO17025 calibration protocol that is available upon request to cover all aspects of IEC61000 harmonics and flicker. In particular, the d(t) tests performed as part of N4L’s IEC61000 ISO17025(UKAS) calibration protocol are unique to the industry as it is extremely uncommon to find coverage of d(t) tests within an accredited calibration procedure.

Why select N4L PPA55x1 power analyzers for your IEC61000 compliance tests?

• Most comprehensive ISO17025 accredited calibration in industry
• You deal with the manufacturer of the flicker meter/harmonic analyzer directly, rather than a system integrator
• Highly accurate
• AC sources and Impedance networks also available
• AC Sourceable to be calibrated on-site by PPA – no need to ship AC source for calibration
• PPA verifies compliance of AC source during IEC61000 test
• PPA can also be used as a general-purpose/development power analyzer in many applications
• PPA accepts up to 50Arms internally, higher currents can be catered for with external current transducers

PPA5500-TE overview;

• IEC60076-1 compliant
• 0.003deg phase accuracy
• 0.55% watts accuracy at PF = 0.01
• All accuracies accredited to ISO17025
• 3-year warranty
• Highly stable measurement
• Interface to external voltage/current transducers
• Harmonic analysis
• Compatibility with ADI40 temperature/DC sensor interface

Inductance Loss Analysis [PPA4500, PPA5500]

The PPA4500 and PPA5500 feature market-leading phase accuracy, as such they are well suited to inductor(choke) loss analysis at both low and high frequencies. Typical power factors during inductor loss analysis are very low, as such great demand is placed upon the accurate measurement of the phase shift between voltage and current to calculate the correct watts dissipation of the inductor or choke.

• Market-leading low power factor performance
• Able to measure extremely low watts values upon a high VA range
• Bandwidth up to 2MHz (PPA5500)
• Excellent dynamic range
• High CMRR(150dB), essential for floating current measurements on top of high-frequency noise
• Up to 50Arms internal current measurement range

Solar Inverter Design and Test [PPA500, PPA1500, PPA3500, PPA4500, PPA5500]

Evaluation of solar inverter systems requires an instrument to synchronize to both DC waveforms (output of the solar cell) as well as AC waveforms (output of the inverter). This means the analyzer needs at least two independent frequency measurement channels, all PPA’s are capable of such measurements. In addition to this, it is vitally important for the power analyzer to acquire data from each channel synchronously. This ensures that power measurements and subsequent efficiency measurements are made using data that occurs during the same window in time, it is very common for power analyzers to not acquire data synchronously from each channel which leads to incorrect efficiency measurements. All N4L power analyzers can also be used for harmonic analysis of the inverter output waveform to verify compliance with relevant standards.

Extended Comparison Table of Complete Power Analyzer Range

 Standard         Option         Not Available

	Low Cost - PPA500	Compact - PPA1500	1~6 Phase - PPA3500	High Performance - PPA4500	Top of Class - PPA5500
Basic Accuracy
V, A rdg Error	0.05%	0.05%	0.04%	0.03%	0.01%
Power rdg Error	0.1%	0.1%	0.06%	0.04%	0.02%
Phase Options
Internal Shunts	1~3	1~3	1~6	1~3	1~3
Master/Slave	-	-	-	4~6	4~6
Bandwidth
20A & 30A Shunt	DC ~ 500kHz	DC ~ 1MHz	DC~1MHz	-	-
10A & 30A Shunt	-	-	-	DC ~ 2MHz	DC ~ 2MHz
50A Shunt	-	-	-	DC ~ 1MHz	DC ~ 1MHz
Voltage Input
Max Input Voltage	2500Vpk(1000Vrms)	2500Vpk(1000Vrms)	2500Vpk(1000Vrms)	3000Vpk(1000Vrms)	3000Vpk(1000Vrms)
Direct Current Input
10Arms Model	-	-	-
20Arms Model				-	-
30Arms Model
50Arms Model	-	-	-
No. of Ranges	8	8	10	8	9
Features
Scope and Graph Modes	-
USB Memory Port
LAN Port
GPIB Port	-	-
RS232 Port
Real-Time Clock
19in Rack Mount Option
Torque and Speed	-	-
IEC61000 Mode (Harmonics and Flicker)	-	-	-	-	Pre Compliance PPA55x1 Full Compliance
Delta -Star & Star-Delta Conversion	-	-		-
PWM Motor Drive Mode	-	(Limited Functionality)
Oscilloscope	-
Transformer Mode	-	-	-
PWM Filter Options	-	2	7	7	7
Speed/Harmonics/Sec Computation	300/sec	300/sec	600/sec	600/sec	1800/sec
Internal Datalogging	4 Parameters	4 Parameters	32 Parameters	16 Parameters	16 Parameters
Datalog Records	16000	16000	5M	5M	10M
ADB0100.1.8 Interharmonic Mode	-	-	-	-
Internal Memory	192kB	192kB	500MB	500MB	1GB
Harmonics	50	50	100	100	417
Minimum Window Size	10ms	2ms	5ms	10ms	2ms
Dimensions Excl. Feet (HxWxD mm)	92 x 215 x 312	92 x 215 x 312	92 x 404 x 346	130 x 400 x 315	130 x 400 x 315
Weight	3.3 - 4k g	3.3 - 4 kg	5 - 7kg	5.4 - 6kg	5.4 - 6kg

Calibration and Warranty