{"id":10327,"date":"2022-04-07T12:15:49","date_gmt":"2022-04-07T12:15:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/powerside.com\/?p=10327"},"modified":"2025-10-28T21:13:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T21:13:19","slug":"pqube-3-application-note-railway-metrorail-finding-solving-ac-dc-power-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/pqube-3-application-note-railway-metrorail-finding-solving-ac-dc-power-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"PQube<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> 3 Application Note \u2013 Railway and MetroRail &#8211; Finding and Solving AC and DC Power Problems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From Jerusalem Light Rail to the Hong Kong Subway, from Silicon Valley California to Belgium, rugged little PQube\u00ae 3 monitors have become the first choice for recording power disturbances.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">PQube\u00ae 3 \u2013 A power monitor specifically configured for railway use!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every <a href=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/products\/power-quality-measurement-solutions\/pqube-3-power-analyzers\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"69\">PQube\u00ae 3<\/a> automatically adapts to 16.667 Hz, 50 Hz, 60 Hz, and 400 Hz \u2013 and DC too, <strong>up to 1200 volts<\/strong>. And every PQube\u00ae 3 automatically sends you an email with detailed graphs and reports in your own language: <strong>no software required.<\/strong>&nbsp;Just look in your inbox!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Electromechanical point switching \u2013 predicting failures with your PQube\u00ae 3\u2019s AC current signatures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What could you do with the signatures of the current flowing into the motors that drive your electromechanical (or electro-pneumatic) switches? Well, your PQube\u00ae 3 has 8 standard current channels, and each one can trigger on the current inrush caused by the motor start. You\u2019ll get a graph (and an Excel\u00ae file) with the detailed before-and-after current signature. A large inrush current indicates trouble starting the motor \u2013 check the bearings for wear. And if the signature shows that current flows through the motor for a few seconds longer than usual, you probably have a mechanical failure developing. <strong>You can actually predict failures before they happen!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/PQube-3-phase-current-trigger-Inrush.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1001px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1001\/716;\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/PQube-3-phase-current-trigger-Inrush.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">AC-DC rectifiers, transformer overheating,<br>unbalance, and harmonic currents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every PQube\u00ae 3 includes the full IEC suite of harmonic measurements, and both IEEE and IEC unbalance measurements \u2013 it\u2019s perfect for transformer\/rectifier monitoring. When utility power transformers overheat, it can be difficult to determine if you have a temporary overload problem, or a harmonics current problem, or perhaps an intermittent current unbalance problem. <strong>You\u2019ll diagnose all of these problems easily with your PQube\u00ae3 from the comfort of your office, even if the problems come and&nbsp;go.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/P3004210_2022-02-07_T_12-00-36-951_Snapshot_Current_Harmonic.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1000px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1000\/846;\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/P3004210_2022-02-07_T_12-00-36-951_Snapshot_Current_Harmonic.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Detects every kind of power disturbance \u2013 AC and&nbsp;DC<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/600-volt-or-1kV-DC-bus.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 735px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 735\/298;\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/600-volt-or-1kV-DC-bus.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can easily set your PQube 3 to trigger on sags\/dips and swells, of course, but you can also trigger on current inrush, and a current threshold, and Rapid Voltage Change, and frequency, and even High Frequency Impulses <strong>as fast as one microsecond<\/strong>.&nbsp;Your PQube comes with a detailed NIST-Trace Certificate, guaranteeing that there will be no questions about its better-than-0.1% accuracy. Fully UL-listed, CE-marked, and Certified \u2013 and made in the USA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sometimes you need to monitor a 600-volt or 1kV DC bus \u2013 no problem, the PQube 3 is designed for this. <\/strong>You\u2019ll get cross triggered disturbance recordings showing you oscilloscope waveforms, simultaneously, on your AC supply and your DC bus. And you\u2019ll get power readings on both sides so you can quickly see rectifier efficiency, and predict rectifier failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/P3007359_2021-12-12_T_01-18-48-296_Voltage_Sag_Waveform-677x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 677px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 677\/1024;\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/P3007359_2021-12-12_T_01-18-48-296_Voltage_Sag_Waveform-677x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Earth current monitoring \u2013 why does it trip?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes a powerful AC monitoring instrument isn\u2019t enough. Fortunately, your standard PQube 3 can also monitor four DC channels, too! It can even monitor DC current, including difficult-to-solve transient DC earth currents when trains enter or leave the station. <strong>Place a PQube\u00ae 3 monitor at troublesome stations, and wait for your emails to arrive.<\/strong> You\u2019ll figure out what\u2019s happening in no time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Wiring-Diagram-Railway-Application-1024x730.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/730;\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Wiring-Diagram-Railway-Application-1024x730.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Intermittent control &amp; communication failures \u2013 could it be power disturbances?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nothing is more frustrating than trying to diagnose intermittent control failures. If you can\u2019t reproduce them, how can you fix them? Well, you can simplify the problem by using PQube 3s to monitor the AC voltage, and DC supplies, inside your controls. You\u2019ll find out if you have power disturbances, you\u2019ll learn exactly what they are so you can choose the correct solution, and \u2013 if you don\u2019t have power disturbances \u2013 your PQube 3 will document how clean your power is with its daily trends-and statistics reports \u2013 <strong>no software required.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dignose-intermittent-control-failures.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"353\" height=\"256\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 353px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 353\/256;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dignose-intermittent-control-failures.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"353\" height=\"256\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Escalators \u2013 dangerous sudden stops, caused by voltage sags<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When escalators (moving stairs) stop abruptly, passengers can be hurt. One fairly common cause is that the Variable Frequency Drive that operates the escalator shut off due to a voltage sag. To defend yourself, you need documented factual data from PQube 3: exactly when did the sag happen, how deep was it, and how long did it last? You can even use this information to budget for increasing escalator immunity to voltage sags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/escalators-dangerous-stops-caused-by-voltage-sags.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"347\" height=\"219\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 347px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 347\/219;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/escalators-dangerous-stops-caused-by-voltage-sags.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"347\" height=\"219\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Remote graphing and more than 1,000 meters \u2013 all&nbsp;free!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every PQube 3 instrument implements more than 1,000 different ModBus meters \u2013 everything from simple voltage, current, and frequency to temperature, humidity, barometric pressure (use it to detect air flow failure in underground tunnels!), and even X-Y-Z mechanical acceleration. Powerside provides a free, easy-to-use Modbus program for your Windows PC. You can also use the built-in website inside every PQube&nbsp;3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/mWl2fxf69ov03Z-1024x281.jpeg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/281;\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/mWl2fxf69ov03Z-1024x281.jpeg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Easy to install \u2013 train cabin, control panel, rectifier<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your PQube 3 mounts on any standard 35mm DIN-rail, or you can purchase an indoor or outdoor enclosure. And your PQube 3 is fully Certified almost everywhere in the world, making installation completely worry-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Check out <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/products\/power-quality-measurement-solutions\/pqube-3-power-analyzers\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"69\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/powerside.com\/products\/power-quality-measurement-solutions\/pqube-3-power-analyzers\/<\/a><strong>&nbsp;for more information.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"pb-2 wp-block-paragraph\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/QJQIu9RFrx1qpM.png\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 535px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 535\/315;\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/QJQIu9RFrx1qpM.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 738px) 100vw, 738px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/PQube3e.png 738w, https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/PQube3e-300x142.png 300w, https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/PQube3e-600x285.png 600w\" width=\"738\" height=\"350\" data-src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/PQube3e.png\" alt=\"PQube3e\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 738px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 738\/350;\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 738px) 100vw, 738px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/PQube3e.png 738w, https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/PQube3e-300x142.png 300w, https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/PQube3e-600x285.png 600w\" width=\"738\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/PQube3e.png\" alt=\"PQube3e\"><\/noscript><a role=\"button\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/6800592.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net\/hubfs\/6800592\/Powerside_PQube_3_Railway_Application_Note_April-2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><br><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fe48e5de wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Powerside-Application-Note-Solving-Power-Problems-Railway-Industry.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Download Full App Note<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From Jerusalem Light Rail to the Hong Kong Subway, from Silicon Valley California to Belgium, rugged little PQube\u00ae 3 monitors have become the first choice for recording power disturbances. PQube\u00ae 3 \u2013 A power monitor specifically configured for railway use! Every PQube\u00ae 3 automatically adapts to 16.667 Hz, 50 Hz, 60 Hz, and 400 Hz <a href=\"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/pqube-3-application-note-railway-metrorail-finding-solving-ac-dc-power-problems\/\" class=\"more-link\">&#8230;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  PQube&lt;sup&gt;\u00ae&lt;\/sup&gt; 3 Application Note \u2013 Railway and MetroRail &#8211; Finding and Solving AC and DC Power Problems<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10579,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,130],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-application-notes","category-pqube-3-power-analyzers"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10327","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10327"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10327\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16601,"href":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10327\/revisions\/16601"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10327"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/PWS\/PWS101\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}