Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Electrocorder?
Electrocorders are a range of electrical data loggers, supporting current and/or voltage recording.  They allow users to monitor and record voltages and/or currents in electrical systems with dates and times.The loggers store this data to internal memory for later analysis using Electrosoft, the supplied Windows based software. The Electrocorder allows users to quickly and cost effectively monitor supplies.  The data you've logged is also used to provide Power and Energy readings.

Why is the Electrocorder different?
The Electrocorder range use a constant sampling technique, unlike the single snapshot reading of most competitors. When the loggers start to record, they sample every channel 16 times per cycle (a cycle is 16ms at 60Hz and 20ms at 50Hz). At the end of each averaging period, 3 quantities are saved for each channel, the True RMS average, the Max, which is the highest cycle value during the period and the Min, lowest cycle value. This means that it will record all the peaks and troughs which are one cycle or longer.

Can it detect spikes?
YES, it will see events of 1 cycle (16/20ms, 60/50Hz) or longer. It will record a single minimum and a single maximum voltage cycle (16/20ms) during each averaging period. If the averaging period were set to 10 seconds, the Electrocorder would sample every cycle 32 times and at the end of each 10 second period, calculate an RMS average,also during the 10 second period it would record the lowest and highest cycle value. Domestic customers do not normally see events less than one cycle!

Does it measure true RMS voltage?
YES, it samples every voltage cycle 32 times and calculates the RMS value at the end of each averaging period. It can be set to measure to EN 50160:1994 (10 minute rolling average).

Can the software be run on Linux, Apple OS X/iOS, or Android?
No, only PC with Windows at present; many customers have had success using emulation or virtualisation platform to run Electrosoft however, with Linux and OS X.

How is Power and Energy calculated if the Voltage and Power Factor is not measured?
As the Voltage is generally stable on sites where there are no problems, you don't normally require the voltage reading to produce Energy and Power analysis - just the current readings.  Enter the typical Voltage and Power Factor level of your site into Electrosoft and it'll do the rest.  

If you have a site where there are known electrical problems (e.g. faulty equipment, utility supplier is not providing to EN50160:1994 voltage specification) you should utilise an EC-7VAR-RS Logger instead, for full 3-phase voltage and current analysis.  Because many electrical utility companies utilise Electrocorders for troubleshooting, using our loggers means you'll be taken seriously when trying to resolve complaints with recorded data.  Recording only a single voltage phase is simply insufficient for fault finding, as the phase voltages will often be unbalanced if there are issues!

How do I setup the Electrocorder to log data?
Just connect it to a PC with our Electrosoft software and follow the on-screen instructions for the setup procedure.  Our tamper-proof system means that end users can't alter or view settings or data whilst the logger is operating - all that's required is to connect it and press the Start button!  The measurement range can also be changed if required.

How do I know which measurement range to utilise?
This will generally depend on the size of the site you're measuring - if you're unsure of the typical current level and unable to take any readings yourself, you should utilise the rated capacity of the incoming supply as your benchmark.

I left my Electrocorder to record current data, but came back and it recorded 0A - why is this?
Assuming there are no faults, this is typically because the level of current you've tried to record is too low for the transducers to pick up, which will result in 0A (or an erratic low current value) being recorded.  You can confirm the noise floor of each Electrocorder on its datasheet.  You may need to change the current range you're measuring at, or using a lower-end model for e.g. domestic and small industrial properties.  Winding the conductor around the transducer a number of times will also multiply the measured value accordingly and may help with measurement.

Why doesn't the Electrocorder use Rechargeable batteries?
In order to maximise battery life in harsh conditions, the Electrocorder utilises non-rechargeable primary cells (alkaline).  This provides longer operating times (including reduced losses due to internal self-discharge) and more resilience to temperature conditions.  It also means you don't have to worry about managing charge levels when dispatching loggers.  It also means there's generally no requirement for special handling conditions when dispatching the logger via courier services, as there are no lithium-based or other volatile batteries utilised.

Why is 3-Phase Voltage recording important for Fault Finding?
While it isn't necessary to record the Voltage levels for energy audits and load surveys, when trying to troubleshoot or fault-find installations, it becomes essential.  Faults will often be indicated by issues like excessive phase unbalance or voltage drops when high current is requested (shown by our Volt Drop/Rise analysis in Electrosoft) - without full voltage logging, you will miss these critical clues and spend much longer attempting to fix the problem.

For more Frequently Asked Questions, click here to download our PDF!