PM8420 Disturbance direction detection stopped performing analysis

[leon_ist_co_za_]

Hi Experts,

We have multiple customers where PM8420 meters are installed and configured to record sag and swell events. The disturbance direction detection indicators are deployed on the single line diagrams in PME and is displaying the events correctly. The problem is some meters stopped to perform the disturbance direction detection analysis. On all meters where the DDD analysis stopped, the DDD analysis was working until an auxiliary supply power loss and the meter power cycled. The meters still continued to record sag and swell events however the DDD analysis in not being performed.

I have used ION Setup to change the disturbance direction detection module to an off-line state and back to on-line state however this did not have any effect. Thus far the only solution was to reload the template to the meter but this is not a viable solution to reload meters each time the DDD analysis stop.

At one of the customers there are two PM8240 installed on incomers on the same bus bar. The one meter power cycled which the DDD stopped performing the analysis and the other is still operating as normal. Both the meters firmware is V3.1 with template 8000_V3.1.

The problem is not isolated to the v3.1 firmware or V3.1 template as the other customers meters are using a variety of firmware V1.4 to V2.2.

Has anyone experienced the same on the PM8240 and what can I do the resolve the matter?

Attached are snippets of the SagSwell Log and Event Log when the power cycle occurred. Also snippets from designer of the SagSwell module outputs and DDD module inputs and outputs.

Sag Swell Log before and after power cycle event

Event Log before and after power cycle event

Sag/Swell module outputs (Designer)

DDD Module inputs (Designer)

DDD module outputs (Designer)

[Charles_Murison]

Hello @leon_ist_co_za_ ,

Are you able to power cycle the PM8000 meter which monitoring system is online?
Did the meters power up while monitoring system was up or down? 
Notice that There is disturbance end event but no disturbance start event.

Regards,

Charles

[leon_ist_co_za_]

Hi @Charles_Murison,

I don't have direct access to the PM8000 to power cycle the meter. The meter was connected to a PME 2020 CU3 system and the system was online when the meter powered up.

I've notice on the meter which power cycled, the Sag/Swell module counters reset during the power cycle which could explain why the disturbance start is missing. The Sag/Swell module event count is 24 however the V Sg/Sw Counter module count is 114. The other PM8000 on the same bus bar has the same count on both modules.

Regards,

Leon

[Charles_Murison]

Hello Leon,

When looking at pulse outputs (ION Setup or Designer), the number you see there is 0 when the meter powers on. This applies to all pulse registers. So seeing a different between the pulse counts and the counter module is expected.

Have you worked with Technical support to extract DGD and DGE logs (not to be posted here) from the meter in question?

Regards,

Charles

[leon_ist_co_za_]

Hi @Charles_Murison,

I did work with tech support however only the meter event log and PME diagnostic files were requested. Thereafter the instruction was to change the DDD module to offline and back online through ION Setup but it did not resolve the problem.

The DGD and DGE logs were not requested and I am not familiar with them.

Regards,

Leon

[Charles_Murison]

Hello @leon_ist_co_za_ ,

Will need to contact support to resume the case. They likely will need to do a remote session with you to run some commands via SSH terminal.

Regards,

Charles