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Safety Information
Read all safety and instruction statements before using the product. Failing to
follow the safety guidelines can cause severe injury or death.
Varcorders are designed for use on live, overhead lines with 0 to 69KV. All
procedures ap pro pri ate for the line voltage are to be taken, including proper
work techniques, equipment, and Personal Protection Equipment.
The Varcorder should be deployed and retrieved only by certifi ed personnel
who have been trained for live-line, high voltage work by their organization.
The Varcorder is to be installed and removed from the line with a suitable
shotgun or switch stick style hot stick. The hot stick is considered the sole
voltage isolation device.
The hot stick length must be correct for line voltage per minimum approach
distances stated in published OSHA regulations and/or provided by the utility.
The cover plate, chuck, and entire Varcorder are to be considered at the same
potential. Putting the cover plate, chuck, or other parts of the Varcorder
within the air gap of adjacent phases or ground could cause a phase to phase
or phase to ground fault.
Do not alter the product in any manner.
Theory of Operation
The Varcorder deploys on a line to measure and record True RMS Amps and Power
Factor on overhead lines. The Varcorder uses the same current sensor technology
as the original SensorLink
®
Ampstik
®
, which does not use magnetic materials and
has no moving parts. True Power Factor is calculated by measuring the electric fi eld
in comparison with the current reported from the amp sensor. The electric fi eld
waveform characteristics give accurate readings for Power Factor calculation.
Measurements are taken at user defi ned intervals. In Softlink software the user
selects how often to sample and log the data.
Remove the units from the line to download the data via IrDA. With the optional
Transcorder, data may be downloaded via radio with the unit deployed on the line.
SoftLink software will calculate the VARs after the user applies a nominal phase to
ground voltage constant in Softlink.
For accurate Power Factor, direct connection to the bare conductor is required.