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Why Notching Disrupts Power Quality and How to Stop It
This white paper explores how notching develops, what warning signs to watch for, and why early detection is essential to protecting equipment and maintaining reliable power quality. Wave notching is a subtle but disruptive form of voltage distortion, caused when power electronic devices like rectifiers or converters switch between phases. During commutation, momentary overlaps create notches in the waveform—brief drops that introduce high-frequency harmonics. The result? Flickering lights, unexpected breaker trips, erratic PLC behavior, and even overheating in motors and transformers.
Key topics include:
- What wave notching is and why it occurs during commutation
- How harmonics from notching affect transformers, motors, and sensitive electronics
- Warning signs to watch for—from flickering lights to false sensor readings
- Proven solutions: line reactors, filters, transformers, and modern electronics
Why utilities should care:
Notching is more than a waveform anomaly. It drives harmonics, equipment malfunctions, and reliability issues across a system. Understanding its causes, recognizing its warning signs, and applying targeted mitigation strategies supports long-term equipment health, reduced downtime, and improved power quality performance.
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