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Discussion board help and admin topics => What is Over Unity and Free Energy => Topic started by: poynt99 on January 29, 2011, 10:54:23 PM

Title: Power Measurement - Misconceptions
Post by: poynt99 on January 29, 2011, 10:54:23 PM
Let's look at this post by Lawrence Tseung:

Quote from: ltseung888
When to use rms value for comparison?

There appears to be some misunderstanding of rms value and exactly when to use it.

The answer is as follows:
1.   The term rms stands for root mean square.  For a true sine wave, there will be values on the positive side and the same values will appear on the negative side.  If we take the mean or average value, the result is zero.
2.   Since we cannot compare two zero sine waves with the mean value, the industry devised the concept of root mean square.  Essentially, the value is taken (either positive or negative) and then the value is multiplied by itself or squared.
3.   For a positive number (e.g. 5), the squared value is 25 positive.  For a negative number (e.g. -5), the squared value is also 25 positive.  Thus, only the actual numeric value is effectively used.
4.   In sampling a waveform, there may be many (e.g. 100) sampling points.  There will be 100 squared numbers.  The mean of these 100 squared numbers is taken.  Then the square root function is applied.
5.   Thus different sine waves can be compared with the rms value.

Once we understand the basic method, we know that we should apply this technique in the case when the voltage or current has positive and negative components.  In fact, even if we are not sure, we can use the rms value for comparison purposes.  We cannot go wrong in all cases!

Thus when the PhysicsProf and his experienced University colleague displayed their screen shots, they chose to display the rms Power value.  That is the CORRECT and scientifically acceptable display.

Hope this explanation helps all.  Science is reason and understanding.  Science is not dogma or the belief or experience of an individual or a group of individuals no matter their position or background.


The concept of RMS is a somewhat confusing topic among both amateurs and professionals. In short, RMS is an equivalent DC value. The following will hopefully clearly illustrate why the last 3 paragraphs in the above quote should be reconsidered.

Using a very basic example of a 60Hz sine wave, let's look at two different methods of measuring the REAL power in the simple circuit shown in the pictures. Utilized are separate voltage and current sources so that the phase relationship between them can be readily changed. The two wave forms are initially in perfect phase, and are multiplied together to produce an instantaneous power trace, just as would happen with our scope measurement. This exercise could readily be done to equal validity on the bench with real circuitry and test equipment, but it is much easier and more precise to accomplish with a circuit simulation.


The following first example uses two DMMs (not shown) with a simple circuit such as the top one shown in the schematic rms_ave_01.gif. The current would be measured with a DMM in series with the circuit. With R1 as a pure resistance, and no reactive components present, the phase relationship between the voltage and current is "zero", therefore the DMM method is valid in this case.

Given: (60Hz sine wave, continuous, non-reactive circuit) ("p" is "peak") (RMS values as measured with a standard or RMS-capable DMM)
1) Voltage: 10Vp = 7.07VRMS
2) Current: 200mAp = 141.4mARMS
3) Power: VRMS x IRMS = 1W = REAL power in R1.

So, we have taken the RMS of the voltage and current, and their product gives us the REAL power dissipated in R1. Note that we have not performed any computation on the resulting power value, it was derived only from the voltage and current. With a purely resistive circuit where no phase shift occurs, two DMM's can be used to accurately measure the V and I values.


Let's now compare this measurement with one made using the oscilloscope method, where we sample the voltage and current wave forms of each generator (V1 and I1) at a sufficiently high rate.

1) Voltage: The scope is set to indicate the RMS value of the displayed wave form voltage measurement, and it displays 7.07VRMS
2) Current: The scope is set to indicate the RMS value of the displayed wave form current measurement, and it displays 141.4mARMS
3) Power: The scope is set to multiply in real time, the voltage and current wave forms to produce a third wave form trace showing us the instantaneous power. The scope is set to indicate the RMS value of the displayed wave form power computation, and it displays 1.22W
4) The scope is set to indicate the MEAN value of the displayed wave form power computation, and it displays 1.00W

Note that the MEAN setting produced the correct result of 1W, whereas the RMS setting did not. The following pictures illustrate this example, as well as the results with a progressive increase in the phase differential between the voltage and current. Rather than MEAN, the abbreviation AVG is used to denote "average" which is the terminology used in PSpice, and which is the equivalent to "MEAN".

In Summary (see the zip file):

rms_ave_01.gif illustrates the two generators used throughout these last tests, and indicates that the phase relationship between the voltage and current is zero in this first case. The amplitudes are set to the same values as the example with the DMM's.

rms_ave_02.gif illustrates the instantaneous power trace at the top (green trace) and the resulting RMS and AVG computations. This again illustrates the example given above where the phase is zero and the AVG computation gives the correct result.

rms_ave_03.gif illustrates the voltage and current with a 45º phase differential.

rms_ave_04.gif illustrates the instantaneous power trace at the top (green trace) and the resulting RMS and AVG computations. Note that the instantaneous power trace now deviates slightly below the 0 mark, but still exhibits a 2Wp-p swing. The bottom plot clearly indicates the discrepancy between the RMS and AVG computations, the RMS being 1W and the AVG being 0.707W. The reader may recall that the power factor for phase-shifted wave forms is: PF=COS (q), where "q" is the phase angle. In this case we have PF=COS (45) and PF=0.707, so the AVG computation is correct in this case also.

rms_ave_05.gif illustrates the voltage and current with a 90º phase differential.

rms_ave_06.gif illustrates the instantaneous power trace at the top (green trace) and the resulting RMS and AVG computations. Note that the instantaneous power trace now deviates evenly below and above the 0 mark, but still exhibits a 2Wp-p swing. The bottom plot clearly indicates the discrepancy between the RMS and AVG computations, the RMS being 0.707W and the AVG being 0.00W. In this case we have PF=COS (90) and PF=0.00, so the AVG computation is again correct. The RMS computation has provided a gross error in terms of indicating the REAL power in the circuit.

Whether or not the RMS computation on an instantaneous power wave form can and should be used for comparisons, or even at all, is left to the reader.

.99
Title: Re: Power Measurement - Misconceptions
Post by: spinn_MP on January 29, 2011, 11:50:02 PM
Oh, Lawrence is preaching about the 'RMS' measurements?
And, you're trying to correct him?
Why?


Title: Re: Power Measurement - Misconceptions
Post by: Omnibus on January 30, 2011, 04:09:12 AM
@poynt99,

Good job. If after this Lawrence continues to insist on his rms measurements it would be just pathetic.

Probably, if time permits, it would help if you could show him what the discrepancy would be with something like 80o phase shift. That may be more close to his data.

Further, I'd be curious to see what your result for the avg would be for the same signals at positive and negative voltage offsets compared to zero voltage offset (just voltage offset, no current offset in any of these cases).
Title: Re: Power Measurement - Misconceptions
Post by: poynt99 on January 30, 2011, 06:47:21 PM
Thanks Omni.

Those parameter changes are easy enough to do. Perhaps I'll post that soon.

But wait, it gets even more interesting; Lawrence has challenged me to a "fight" about this MEAN vs. RMS issue at OUR.

Might be interesting to see what transpires  :)

.99
Title: Re: Power Measurement - Misconceptions
Post by: XS-NRG on January 30, 2011, 06:52:48 PM
Go Away Pony.
You don't need to post here you have got your own barn.


Title: Re: Power Measurement - Misconceptions
Post by: poynt99 on January 31, 2011, 12:04:04 AM
Go Away Pony.
You don't need to post here you have got your own barn.

marco, you're wasting your time with these posts and harassing PM's to me.

I didn't realize that smear campaigns (XS-NRG signature) against members here was an acceptable practice and allowed according to the forum TOS. I don't believe I've done or said anything that should have provoked this.

Stefan, is this really permitted?

.99
Title: Re: Power Measurement - Misconceptions
Post by: XS-NRG on January 31, 2011, 12:08:22 AM
haha now your out of options aren't you  ::)
HAHAHA  ;D

Rules Rules Poynty Rules  ::)

Go to your own crib man!
We do not need you here...
You are of the leaving and then "crawling back type"
Title: Re: Power Measurement - Misconceptions
Post by: WilbyInebriated on January 31, 2011, 12:22:04 AM
xsnrg
none of your posts in this thread address the topic. why are your responses always logical fallacies? if you have some skill then apply it (like poynt is doing with this thread) instead of implying it... that being said, i fully expect you to continue with your elementary schoolyard games.
Title: Re: Power Measurement - Misconceptions
Post by: XS-NRG on January 31, 2011, 12:27:36 AM
Why don't you too sign up @ OUR Wilby...?

Then you both can discuss Lawrence's work  :)
Maybe Pony will teach you how to become a SPY  8)
And after that Lawrence can teach you how to become a CLOWN !!!  ;D
Title: Re: Power Measurement - Misconceptions
Post by: poynt99 on February 01, 2011, 07:27:08 PM
Oh, Lawrence is preaching about the 'RMS' measurements?
And, you're trying to correct him?
Why?

Because there's the real potential for many people to learn from this.

Why are you trying to correct me?

.99
Title: Re: Power Measurement - Misconceptions
Post by: Omnibus on February 01, 2011, 07:49:50 PM
Because there's the real potential for many people to learn from this.

Why are you trying to correct me?

.99

Oh, don't bother with @spinner_MP, @MrMag or @XS-NRG. They are just nuisance. What you're doing is great and I'm really looking forward to see your analysis especially of the AVG value in a RC circuit when the voltage (not the current) has an offset compared to the result with no voltage offset.
Title: Re: Power Measurement - Misconceptions
Post by: poynt99 on February 01, 2011, 09:39:31 PM
Omnibus requested I perform some sim runs with something closer to 80º phase angle (I used 75º), and also a run with a DC offset in the circuit. See the following for the results:


rms_ave_07.gif illustrates the voltage and current with a 75º phase differential. Offset is 0V and 0A.

rms_ave_08.gif illustrates the instantaneous power trace at the top (green trace) and the resulting RMS and AVG computations. Note that the instantaneous power trace now deviates almost symmetrically about the 0 mark, but still exhibits a 2Wp-p swing. The bottom plot clearly indicates the discrepancy between the RMS and AVG computations, the RMS being 0.753W and the AVG being 0.259W. The reader may recall that the power factor for phase-shifted wave forms is: PF=COS (q), where "q" is the phase angle. In this case we have PF=COS (75) and PF=0.259, so once again the AVG computation provides a correct result, while the RMS does not.

rms_ave_09.gif illustrates the voltage and current again with a 75º phase differential. This time the offset is 2VDC and 40mADC (with a DC offset voltage, there will be a DC current in the circuit).

rms_ave_10.gif illustrates the instantaneous power trace at the top (green trace) and the resulting RMS and AVG computations. Note that the instantaneous power trace normally shows a symmetrical wave form that is double the voltage/current frequency, but it is now asymmetrical in form due to the offset in voltage and current.

In order to obtain the total dissipated power in the circuit, we simply add the previous power values obtained when there was no offset present (see above), to the power produced by the offset alone. This is easily accomplished because the offset is a pure DC value, and is computed to be:

2VDC * 40mADC = 80mW.

Therefore, the new plots should indicate 80mw + 753mW = 833mW for the RMS plot, and 80mW + 259mW = 339mW for the AVG plot.

The bottom plot not only indicates the discrepancy between the RMS and AVG computations, (the RMS being 0.904W and the AVG being 0.342W), but the RMS computation with the DC offset has produced an even worse error than before, whereas the AVG computation is nearly exact to what we would expect for the REAL power in the circuit. The RMS power computation produced an erroneous increase of about 151mW rather than the correct ~80mW increase produced by the AVG computation.

.99
Title: Re: Power Measurement - Misconceptions
Post by: XS-NRG on February 01, 2011, 10:26:49 PM

Oh, don't bother with @spinner_MP, @MrMag or @XS-NRG. They are just nuisance.


Just nuisance with working devices.
Mine doesn't need all this crap it just runs itself no calculation needed.
At least my name isn't Lawrence  :D
Title: Re: Power Measurement - Misconceptions
Post by: Omnibus on February 01, 2011, 10:28:27 PM
Thanks @poynt99. Will have to see these data later on my laptop because the iPad I'm using now can't unzip the downloaded files.

One thing, however, makes an impression. The data with the voltage offset also have current offset. Would it be possible to calculate AVG of data with only voltage offset and no current offset as is the case with an RC circuit and compare it with AVG without any offset (neither V, nor I offset)?
Title: Re: Power Measurement - Misconceptions
Post by: poynt99 on February 01, 2011, 10:50:56 PM
Thanks @poynt99. Will have to see these data later on my laptop because the iPad I'm using now can't unzip the downloaded files.

One thing, however, makes an impression. The data with the voltage offset also have current offset. Would it be possible to calculate AVG of data with only voltage offset and no current offset as is the case with an RC circuit and compare it with AVG without any offset (neither V, nor I offset)?

Can you explain this further, I don't follow what you are asking in regards to an RC circuit possibly having an offset voltage but not an offset current.

With a series C and shunt R, the voltage across R will eventually (10 tau say) not have an offset.

.99
Title: Re: Power Measurement - Misconceptions
Post by: Omnibus on February 01, 2011, 11:06:59 PM
You're right about the voltage across the resistor but the question is about the voltage across both the cap and the resistor. Would be interesting to see what you'll get in that case.