Other Programs. Other programs can be used, such as 1.2.2.4, 1.2.4.8, 1.1.2.2, etc. The
meaning of the numbers, as can be deduced from the preceding cases, gives the power ratio
between the rst stage, which receives a value of 1, and the subsequent stages (2 means twice
as much power, 4 means four times as much power, etc.).
The unit can be used to congure programs from 1.1.1.1 to 1.9.9.9.
4�1�5� PLUG AND PLAY�
When a reactive energy regulator is installed, a series of parameters must be congured for its
correct operation. Some of these parameters might be difcult to discover, for example, the volt-
age phases or the correspondence between measured current and its voltage, as well as the
current transformer ratio. The Controller MASTER control VAR FAST includes an automatic
process, which intelligently works out necessary parameters such as:
Connection type: detects the connection type used from among the possible options:
3U.3C, 3U.1C and 2U.1C.
Phase: identies the correspondence between the voltages and the currents connect-
ed, regardless of the connection type detected previously.
Number of stages installed and Program: sequentially connects all the stages to
work out how many stages are installed and calculates the program, in other words, the
power ratio between the capacitors.
C/K: calculates the ratio between the current transformer and the power of the small-
est step.
4�1�6 CONNECTION TIME (Ton) AND RECONNECTION TIME (Trec)�
The Connection time, Ton, denes the shortest possible time between changes in the status
of the stages, in other words, between connections and disconnections. Therefore, the congu-
ration of this parameter has a direct impact on the compensation speed, in other words, on the
capacity for monitoring load changes. Setting a shorter connection time improves the power
factor correction when the load can change quickly.
However, a shorter Ton will lead to a higher number of connections per time unit, possibly
shortening the useful life of the associated components (thyristors, capacitors). To assess the
number of connections, the Controller MASTER control VAR FAST uses individual energy
meters for each stage.
The Reconnection time, Trec, is the shortest possible time between disconnecting a stage
and reconnecting it. This time is necessary for the capacitor to discharge enough so that, when
it is reconnected, it does not cause overcurrents in the system.
Both Ton and Trec have different time bases for the Controller MASTER control VAR (in sec-
onds) and for the Controller MASTER control VAR FAST (in network cycles).
4�1�7 THD AND HARMONICS
Non-linear loads, such as those in rectiers, inverters, variable speed drivers, furnaces, etc.,
absorb non-sinusoidal periodic currents from the mains. These currents are made up of a fun-
damental component with a frequency of 50 or 60 Hz, plus a series of overlapping currents with
frequencies that are multiples of the fundamental frequency; these are dened as harmonics.
The result is a deformation of the current and, thus, of the voltage, which leads to a series of
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