The method introduced here enables appliances to detect voltage drop issues on the electricity supplied to them. As it becomes a machine task, rather than a human task it can be performed continually and for long periods of time. This technology will enable detection of glowing connections on the wiring. This will increase the safety and efficiency of electrical usage.
The term “voltage drop” here refers to the voltage that drops on the wiring, connectors and contacts that conduct electrical power from an entry point of a circuit to an electrical load.
The importance of measuring voltage drop
As stated above, this voltage drop introduces issues of safety and efficiency. Safety issues result from heating of wiring and connectors. Issues of efficiency are present as a result of the voltage that drops on the wiring. In an ideal electrical circuit the voltage at the entry to the circuit will be identical to the voltage at the loads. But, as the wiring and conductors between the entry point and the load have a non-zero resistance, the momentary voltage at the loads deviates from the voltage at the panel box, depending on networktype ( R / L / C) and the resistance of the wiring itself.
The following figure depicts the actual AC sine at a load vs. the AC sine at the entry to the electrical facility:
More technical data is available at the application note: