31
SECTION VII: FAQs
What is the maximum distance for modbus communication?
Modbus can reach a distance up to 1200 yards with data rates at 100 kbps.
What is the purpose of setting a scalar value?
Each modbus register is only 16 bits wide and is in integer format without any fixed number of decimal
points. Simply putting a value directly into one of these registers would limit the smallest number to be
1, and only allow for a maximum value of 65535. To handle larger numbers, or numbers with better
resolution, we use a scalar value that is used to apply a factor to the 16 bit register value.
One (or more) of the PhaseChek
™
LEDs is red. What does this mean?
Any number of red lights indicates the PowerScout
™
3 is wired incorrectly. Review the table in
PhaseChek
in Section III of this manual for a description of the indicator lights.
How is the PowerScout 3 powered?
All PowerScout instruments are line-powered. An internal power supply attached between L1 and L2
provides power to the unit.
How many PowerScout 3 instruments can be connected together?
Up to 254 PowerScout 3 meters can be connected together.
How is hexadecimal (HEX) to decimal converted?
Use the Hexadecimal to Decimal conversion table in the Appendix section of this manual.
What is true RMS?
RMS stands for "Root-Mean-Square." True RMS is the AC voltage/current that will produce the
equivalent amount of heat in a resistor as a DC voltage/current, whether sinusoidal or not. For example,
if a resistive heating element is rated at 15 kW of heat at 240VAC RMS, then the heat would be the same
if we applied 240V of DC instead of AC. A meter without true RMS will incorrectly read distorted
waveforms. All DENT Instruments meters measure true RMS.
How accurate is the PowerScout 3?
The PowerScout 3 accuracy is greater than 1%.
What is the maximum distance for RoCoil CTs?
The maximum distance for RoCoil is 100 ft.
Can a 3-phase balanced load be monitored with one CT?
This is not the best way to measure a three phase load, but there is an Amp Multiplier register (44605)
that can be set for three which will multiply the current by three and therefore amps, watts, VA, VARs
will be 3X greater.
Summary of Contents for PowerScout 3
Page 19: ...15 Figure IV 1 Single Phase Two Wire N white L1 black L2 red L3 blue ...
Page 20: ...16 Figure IV 2 Single Phase Three Wire N white L1 black L2 red L3 blue ...
Page 21: ...17 Figure IV 3 Three Phase Three Wire Delta N white L1 black L2 red L3 blue ...
Page 22: ...18 Figure IV 4 Three Phase Four Wire Wye N white L1 black L2 red L3 blue ...
Page 23: ...19 Figure IV 5 Three Phase Four Wire Delta N white L1 black L2 red L3 blue ...
