EDM Avistar PhaseTrakker AP30 User manual

AP30
Phase Identification System
For the Power Industry
User’s Guide

EDM International, Inc.
4001 Automation Way
Fort Collins, CO 80525 USA
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[email protected]
www.edmlink.com
Technical Support
[phone]
[email protected]
PhaseTrakkerTM is a trademark of EDM International, Inc. in the United States and
other countries. Other product names mentioned herein may be the trademarks
of their respective owners.
PhaseTrakker AP30 is made in the U.S.A. and protected by U.S. Patent #
6,642,700.
Copyright ©2010, 2011, 2012 by EDM International, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this guide may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of EDM
International, Inc.
Version August 10, 2012

i
CONTENTS
Cautions and Warnings...................................................................1
System Overview..............................................................................2
Common Applications........................................................................................2
What’s in the Box.............................................................................3
Quick Start.........................................................................................4
Installing the Reference Unit...........................................................5
Placing the Reference Unit ................................................................................5
Naming the Reference Unit (Optional) ...........................................................6
Setting Up the Field Unit.................................................................7
Entering Network Address for Each Reference Unit......................................7
Selecting the Time Zone.....................................................................................9
Setting Phase Preferences (Optional)..........................................................10
Setting Phase Sequence...................................................................................... 11
Setting Phase Labels............................................................................................ 12
Setting Phase Angles........................................................................................... 13
Updating the Preferred Roaming List (Optional).......................................13
Changing Backlight Power Save Setting (Optional).................................14
Operating the Hotstick Unit.........................................................15
Calibrating the Field Unit............................................................. 17
Deciding When to Calibrate Again..............................................................19
Using the Field Unit.......................................................................20
Power-Up..........................................................................................................20
Identifying Phases............................................................................................21
“No Match” Readings.....................................................................................23
Adjusting for Phase Shift................................................................................24
Unreferenced Readings...................................................................................25
Viewing Records ..............................................................................................27
Field Unit Sounds.............................................................................................28
Using a Secondary Reference Unit................................................................29
Charging the Field Unit Battery.....................................................................30
Phase Measurement Tips..............................................................31
Handling “No Match” Readings....................................................................31
Single-Phase Transformers.............................................................................32
Three-Phase Transformer Banks....................................................................33
Three-Phase Transformers, Delta-Wye........................................................34
PhaseTrakker Utility...................................................................... 35
Installing the PhaseTrakker Utility.................................................................35
Using the Utility with Reference Unit.............................................................36
Checking Reference Unit Status......................................................................... 36
Verifying the Reference Unit Network Address.............................................. 36

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Configuring the Reference Unit.......................................................................... 36
Using the Utility with Field Unit......................................................................37
Retrieving Records from the Field Unit............................................................. 38
Clearing Records on the Field Unit.................................................................... 39
Setting the Field Unit Configuration.................................................................. 39
Saving Field Unit Configuration to a File......................................................... 44
Loading a Saved Field Unit Configuration...................................................... 45
Troubleshooting.............................................................................. 46
Reference Unit..................................................................................................46
Field Unit...........................................................................................................46
PhaseTrakker Utility ........................................................................................47
Compatibility with AP10 and AP20...........................................48
AP30 Phasing Conventions........................................................... 50
ABC Sequence...................................................................................................... 50
ACB Sequence...................................................................................................... 51
Phase Angles....................................................................................................51
Specifications..................................................................................52
System...............................................................................................................52
Reference Unit..................................................................................................52
Field Unit...........................................................................................................52
Hotstick Unit.....................................................................................................52
Accessories......................................................................................53
Accessories Available for AP30....................................................................53
How to Order...................................................................................................53
Warranty and Service..................................................................54
Limited Warranty............................................................................................54
Service and Support........................................................................................54
Service Contracts.............................................................................................54

PhaseTrakker AP30 Cautions and Warnings
1
Cautions and Warnings
NOTICE
Before operating the AP30 system, thoroughly read, understand, and follow this
manual. Save this manual – do not delete or destroy.
CAUTION
The equipment covered in this manual should be used and serviced only by com-
petent personnel familiar with and following good work and safety practices.
This equipment is for use by such personnel, and the manual is not intended as a
substitute for adequate training and experience in safe procedures for this type
of equipment.
These instructions neither cover all the details or situations in equipment use, nor
do they provide for every possible contingency to be encountered in relation to
installation, operation, or maintenance. Should additional information and de-
tails be desired, or if situations arise that are not covered adequately for the
user’s purpose, the specifics should be referred to EDM International, Inc.
WARNING
On voltages above 300 V, the AP30 Hotstick Unit must be used in conjunction
with an approved insulated stick. Failure to do so could result in injury or death.
During use at voltages above 300 V, the entire Hotstick Unit should be consid-
ered energized. Do not let the Hotstick Unit or universal fitting touch any
grounded contact point. For 15 kV and below, maintain minimum 3” clearance
between the Hotstick Unit and ground. Above 15 kV maintain a minimum of 5”
clearance. A ground contact will damage the Hotstick Unit and could cause in-
jury.

System Overview PhaseTrakkerTM AP30
2
System Overview
The PhaseTrakkerTM AP30 consists of three components that communicate with
each other.
Common Applications
•Phase tagging
•Data logging for system mapping
•Phasing when energizing new construction
•Phasing at switches and interconnects
•Phasing at protective relays, revenue meters, and transformers
•Optimizing load balances
AP30 Reference Unit
5 ms
X 360° = 109°
5 ms
16.7 ms
2:57:40
AP30 Field Unit
10.6 ms
X 360° = 229°
10.6 ms
16.7 ms
2:57:40
Measured phase is -120° “B”
109° Reference
-229° Field
-120° Difference
Wireless
Network FM Wireless
GPS
Timing
Hotstick Unit

PhaseTrakkerTM AP30 What’s in the Box
3
What’s in the Box
You should have received the following items with your AP30 system:
Field Unit
User’s AC Adapter Auto Adapter USB Cable
Guide
Utility Log 1 Year
Software Sheets Network Service
Hotstick Unit
(located in Field Unit
storage compartment)
Hooks Probe Tip Test Lead Spare Batteries
Reference Unit
Rack Mount or
Portable Case
User’s AC Power Cord USB Cable
Guide
GPS/Cell 50’ Antenna Utility 1 Year
Antenna Cable Software Network Service

Quick Start PhaseTrakker AP30
4
Quick Start
When you receive your AP30 system, the wireless network devices are already
provisioned and ready to use.
Install
Reference Unit Place in suitable location with 120V AC,
and mount antenna (Page 5)
Optional:
Customize Name Connect USB cable to a PC running
the PhaseTrakker Utility (Page 6)
Set Up
Field Unit Enter Network address of Reference Unit and
Time Zone using on-screen menus (Page 7)
Optional:
Set Preferences Set phase preferences using
on-screen menus (Page 10)
Use on-screen menus and place
Hotstick Unit on known Phase 0°
(Page 17)
Calibrate
Field Unit
Be
g
in Phasin
g
!(Page 20)

PhaseTrakker AP30 Installing the Reference Unit
5
Installing the Reference Unit
Installing the Reference Unit is easy:
Choose a suitable location and optionally
configure it with a custom name.
Placing the Reference Unit
There are some important considerations in placing the AP30 Reference Unit.
•120 V AC single-phase power source
oDirect power - must be powered from the grid with no UPS or
battery backup
oPermanent power - if the reference phase is changed, all field
units must be recalibrated
oClean power – excessive harmonics on the reference voltage
inhibit phasing operations
•Roof mount for GPS/cellular antenna - access to run cables and mount-
ing place for antenna with clear view of sky
•Cellular Service - good network signal is required for reliable Refer-
ence Unit operation (the Network LED will blink if the signal is weak)
Some examples of suitable locations to place the Reference Unit are:
•Substation
•Work Center or Communications Center
•Office
AC power can be supplied to the rack mount Reference Unit either by using the
supplied power cord or by wiring directly to terminals on the back panel (shown
below), and setting the AC IN SELECT switch accordingly. The Alarm switch is
triggered if the unit loses either GPS or Network signals. AC Power Cord
Connection
Network Antenna
GPS Antenna (Threaded Connector)
(Bayonet Connector) AC Power Input
Alarm (switch)
Selector Switch
Alternate AC Power Connection
N – Neutral
GND – Ground
L - Line
COM - Common
NC - Normally Closed
NO - Normally Open

Installing the Reference Unit PhaseTrakker AP30
6
The portable Reference Unit (below) receives AC power supplied through the AC
power cord only, and does not provide an Alarm switch.
Network Antenna
(Threaded Connector)
GPS Antenna AC Power Cord
Connection
(Bayonet Connector)
Naming the Reference Unit (Optional)
By default, the Reference Unit is set with system frequency of 60 Hz and the
name “RUnnnnnnnnnnn”, where nnnnnnnnnnn is the Electronic Serial Number (ESN)
of the unit’s wireless networking device. The PhaseTrakker Utility is needed only
to change the Reference Unit system frequency (50 or 60 Hz) or enter a custom-
ized name (alphanumeric, up to 16 characters).

PhaseTrakker AP30 Setting Up the Field Unit
7
Setting Up the Field Unit
The AP30 Field Unit requires some initial set-up:
1. Enter network address of each Reference Unit
2. Select time zone
3. Set phase preferences (optional)
4. Calibrate using known Phase A (0°)
Entering Network Address for Each Reference Unit
On power-up, the Field Unit acquires a GPS fix, registers on the network and
attempts to connect to the configured Reference Units. If there are no Reference
Units configured, the Read tab displays the following screen:
Enter the Network Address of the Primary Reference Unit.
To verify the Network Address of the Reference Unit, connect a PC to the Refer-
ence Unit and start the PhaseTrakker Utility software.

Setting Up the Field Unit PhaseTrakker AP30
8
If a Secondary Reference Unit (backup) is to be configured, navigate to enter the
Network Address as follows:
(for second unit listed)
You can check the status of the configured Reference Units by navigating to the
Reference Unit summary screen as shown:

PhaseTrakker AP30 Setting Up the Field Unit
9
Selecting the Time Zone
The Field Unit Time Zone can be set by navigating the menu as follows:
Touch the area of the map corresponding to your time zone and select standard
or daylight savings time. Touch the CUSTOM button to set a different time zone.

Setting Up the Field Unit PhaseTrakker AP30
10
Setting Phase Preferences (Optional)
Before Phase Preferences are selected, it is helpful to understand the AP30 Field
Unit display. Three-phase power consists of a set of three AC power sources
whose cycles arrive in a fixed sequence at any given point in time. The Field Unit
Phase Preferences menus refer to these sources as 1st Phase, 2nd Phase, and
3rd Phase, according to arrival time. A variety of conventions are in use to de-
scribe these phases with labels and angles. The AP30 Field Unit Read screen
displays custom phase labels and phase angles according to the selected Phase
Preferences. The Field Unit displays any characters for phase labels, in the order
that reflects the time sequence. The order these are shown on the display is always
in time sequence: The top position is the 1st Phase in the sequence, the middle posi-
tion is the 2nd Phase, and the bottom position is the 3rd Phase.
Top position is always
1st Phase in time sequence
(1 beep) 1st Phase
Label 1st Phase Angle
Middle position is always
2nd Phase in time sequence
(2 beeps)* 2nd Phase
Label 2nd Phase Angle
The vertical ordering in the choices displayed in the Phase Preferences menus
reflects the order that will be displayed on the Read screen.
The preferences for phase identification are specified in the Setup menu. The
AP30 allows phase sequence, labels and angles to be customized using the Phase
Preferences menus.
Bottom position is always
3rd Phase in time sequence
(3 beeps)*
3rd Phase
Label 3rd Phase Angle
* 2nd and 3rd Phase beeps are switched when Sequence is set to ACB for AP20 compatibility

PhaseTrakker AP30 Setting Up the Field Unit
11
The Phase Preferences menu displays the current settings with buttons to edit
changes.
Setting Phase Sequence
The Edit Sequence menu allows a convenient way to exchange the labels as-
signed to the 2nd and 3rd Phases. The Angles assigned to these phases remain
unchanged. The default labels A B C are shown in this example, but the menu
will display the actual phase labels configured.
If ”ACB” is selected, the AP30 Field Unit displays A in the top position, C in the
middle, and B at the bottom, reflecting their order in time sequence. The unit
sounds 1 beep for A, 2 beeps for C, and 3 beeps for B, also reflecting their or-
der in time sequence. The previous Field Unit model, AP20, had a fixed front
panel display that could not be changed to reflect the configured phase se-
quence. If “ACB for AP20” is selected in the screen above, the AP30 sounds 1
beep for A, 3 beeps for C, and 2 beeps for B, as the AP20 did.
Changing the phase sequence does not affect records already stored in the Field
Unit.

Setting Up the Field Unit PhaseTrakker AP30
12
Setting Phase Labels
The Phase Settings menu also allows the user to customize the labels displayed
for phases. Any single letter or numeral can be selected to label a phase. The
phases are listed from top to bottom in time sequence order: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
The vertical order in the choices displayed reflects the order that will be dis-
played on the Read screen.
Some of the labels commonly used are listed as button choices, and a Custom
button allows other labels to be specified. The Custom label menu also displays
the currently configured phase angles.
To simply exchange the labels assigned to the 2nd and 3rd Phases, the Edit Se-
quence menu can be used instead of using the Custom label menu.
A change of labels assigned to phases does not affect records already stored in
the Field Unit.

PhaseTrakker AP30 Setting Up the Field Unit
13
Setting Phase Angles
The phase angles displayed can be represented by different values that can be
selected by the user. The 1st Phase is always 0°, while the 2nd and 3rd Phases can
be assigned different angle values according to desired preference. The phases
are listed from top to bottom in time sequence order: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The verti-
cal order in the choices displayed reflects the order that will be displayed on the
Read screen.
The Phase Angles choice can be changed at any time. A change to the Phase
Angles preference automatically applies to all the stored records on the Field
Unit.
Updating the Preferred Roaming List (Optional)
For Field Units equipped with a Verizon Wireless network device, a recom-
mended step is to update the Preferred Roaming List (PRL). This step must be
performed in a Verizon Wireless home area with adequate signal strength. It is
recommended that the PRL be updated in the area the Field Unit will be used,
and can be updated anytime to ensure optimal performance.
The Update PRL button will not appear for AT&T Wireless network devices, if the
device is roaming, or if the signal strength is too low. After initiating the update,
the Field Unit should be left undisturbed for 3 minutes. The status of the update is
indicated on the Network Status screen. If an update fails, repeat the process.

Setting Up the Field Unit PhaseTrakker AP30
14
Changing Backlight Power Save Setting (Optional)
The preferences for phase identification can be specified in the Setup menu. The
AP30 allows phase sequence, labels and angles to be customized.

PhaseTrakker AP30 Operating the Hotstick Unit
15
Operating the Hotstick Unit
The Hotstick Unit turns on automatically when the tip touches live volt-
age of 4 kV AC or above. A power switch on the faceplate turns on
the unit for use at lower voltages and at high voltages when the tip
does not touch the energized part. A momentary touch will test the
battery (LED illuminates), and a prolonged touch turns the unit on.
The Hotstick Unit turns off automatically 1 minute after AC voltage is
removed.
Momentary touch
tests battery Status LED
Prolonged touch
turns unit on
The Status LED signals the Hotstick Unit status:
•Off – Hotstick Unit is OFF and waiting for AC voltage
•Flashing – Hotstick Unit is ON and waiting for AC voltage
•On steady – Hotstick Unit is transmitting signal to the Field Unit
•Fast blinks then off – Low battery
When used at voltages above 100 kV, the Hotstick Unit Hook or Probe should
not touch the energized part. Proximity to the energized part is sufficient to
sense higher voltage, but the TEST/ON switch must be used to turn the unit on.
For best results, position the Hotstick Unit Hook or Probe as follows:
Phase-to-Phase Voltage Distance from energized part
•Below 100 kV--------------------------Touching
•100 kV to 230 kV---------------------About 2 feet
•230 kV to 345 kV---------------------About 4 feet
•345 kV----------------------------------About 15 feet
•500 kV----------------------------------About 25 feet
Select a measurement point as far as possible from other energized lines. Prox-
imity to E-fields from nearby energized sources can cause interference on the
Hotstick Unit sensor and skew phase angle measurements.
For best transmission of the Hotstick Unit signal to the Field Unit, orient the Hot-
stick Unit so the face plate is aimed at the Field Unit (as indicated by the arrows
on the Hotstick Unit label). For best reception by the Field Unit, turn it so that the
opened lid is perpendicular to the direction of signals from the Hotstick Unit.

Operating the Hotstick Unit PhaseTrakker AP30
16
Reception can be improved further by elevating the Field Unit off the ground
(placing it on a cement block, for example).
A probe tip attachment is provided for use in URD cabinets and other situations
where the Hook attachment is inconvenient.
The Hotstick Unit sensor can be removed from the rubber boot and used at low
voltages with the supplied Test Lead. The Test Lead snaps onto a stud on the
back of the sensor. The Test Lead must not be used above 300 V. The TEST/ON
switch must be used to turn the Hotstick Unit on for use at low voltages.
For best results when using the Hotstick Unit sensor with the test lead, hold your
hand flat or place the sensor on a level surface.
The Hotstick Unit operates on a 9 V battery. To replace the battery, remove the
Hotstick Unit sensor from the rubber boot and remove the battery compartment
cover on the back of the unit.