Experimental characterization of personal computers harmonic impact on power quality

Abstract The paper reports some experimental measurement results concerning harmonic content of current absorbed by Personal Computers (PC). The measurements provided different samples of PC's being monitored at short time interval lengths (2 s). The relatively large quantity of measurement results has permitted a statistical characterization of the harmonic content with both different modes of operation and various upstream system characteristics. Curves obtained from the measurement results processing have been proposed which give a parametrical estimate of the mutual influence between harmonics produced by PCs and the supply system characteristics at the point of common coupling.