Single-phase alternating current (AC) is a main technology for efficient energy delivery across the world. Among its uses are lighting, low power electric motors or heating. It is characterized by a sinusoidal shape and varies in time so that the same pattern is continuously repeated.
This energy system is characterized by a voltage with the following shape:
In a similar way, the demanded current by a load is typically represented by a sinusoidal function, but its waveform depends on the linearity of the load.
Through the openZmeter analyzer you can observe the waveform of the voltage and the current, as well as their values. A lot of information is provided in the Analysis section and, within its drop-down menu, Voltage or Current items.
In the top right corner of the selected window you can choose how often the data is collected (aggregations) and the timespan. You can also export the collected values to csv format or maximize the graph to carefully analyze the provided values.
On the left side of the window you can see some statistics associated to the voltage signal. The same can be done in the Current section.
Finally, in the lower part of the window, the waveform of the single-phase AC wave can be displayed. You can see the voltage and current signal individually or grouped in the same graph.
For a more detailed explanation please consult our video below.