N4L PPA500(PPA510,PPA520,PPA530) High Cost-Performance Basic Benchtop Power Analyzer

Model：PPA510,PPA520,PPA530 Country of Origin：UK

Category：Power meter

Overview：

The PPA500 joins Newtons4th's range of precision power analyzers, meeting the demand for low-cost, high-performance power analyzers. The PPA500 series is aimed primarily at applications requiring accurate measurement without complex features, making it ideal for education, production or test environments. The unit benefits from a full-color TFT display that offers greater flexibility than fixed digital displays, combined with a level of performance, ease of use and value that surpasses any comparable product.

Features

Specifications

Application Notes

Functions & Configuration

PPA500 – Compact Power Analyzer

High-Performance Compact Power Analyzer

The PPA500 joins Newtons4th's range of precision power analyzers, meeting the demand for a low-cost, high-performance power analyzer. The PPA500 series is primarily aimed at applications requiring accurate measurement without complex features, making it ideal for education, production or test environments. The unit benefits from a full-color TFT display that offers greater flexibility than fixed numeric displays, combined with a level of performance, ease of use and value that surpasses any comparable product.

The PPA500 shares much of the technology used in the PPA1500 series, achieving performance levels previously only attainable in higher-cost instruments, while maintaining the intuitive operation and clear measurement presentation for which the PPA series is renowned. The PPA500 is only half-rack width and 2U high, yet offers 1, 2 or 3 phase configurations. There is also the option to mount the unit in a 19-inch rack, where two units can be placed side by side to provide a 2U 6-phase solution; please see our accessories page for more details.

Thanks to an innovative design, the PPA500 compact power analyzer is able to deliver high performance at low cost. Features such as the planar shunt (a shunt design topology developed by N4L) and FPGA-based real-time gapless analysis technology all contribute to making the PPA500 an outstanding product. The low cost of the PPA500 power analyzer provides an excellent opportunity for system integrators seeking accurate, traceable and reliable power analysis.

All PPA500 units come standard with UKAS ISO17025 accreditation, carried out at N4L's accredited ISO17025 laboratory in the UK.

Product Images

PPA500 Compact Power Analyzer showing 3-phase power readings — The PPA500 power analyzer is the ideal solution for system integrators seeking low-cost and high-performance power consumption analysis

PPA500 Compact Power Analyzer showing watts, volts, amps and frequency — The PPA500 power analyzer is the ideal solution for system integrators seeking low-cost and high-performance power consumption analysis

PPA500 rear connections, including isolated voltage and current inputs — The PPA500 power analyzer offers 0.05% nominal accuracy, a level of accuracy typically only seen in significantly higher-cost instruments

ISO17025 Calibration and Verification

Every PPA500 power analyzer supplied by N4L comes with a UKAS-accredited calibration certificate up to 850Hz, as well as a UKAS-traceable calibration certificate up to 500kHz. N4L has developed a number of custom power calibrators to verify the accuracy of every power analyzer it supplies across its entire frequency range, which is very rare in the instrumentation industry. In addition, a UKAS-accredited closed-loop calorimeter developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford (UK) has validated the performance of N4L's custom-designed power calibration rigs with a very low level of uncertainty, providing absolute confidence that the wideband performance of all N4L power analyzers is market-leading.

Calibration Options

1. Standard Recalibration – Included with new instruments – Included in RMA calibration wideband calibration (DC-2MHz), optimizes measurement across all ranges over the entire instrument bandwidth. Traceable to UKAS but not "accredited".	4. UKAS IEC61000 H+F Calibration – Available as an option with new instruments or RMA calibration UKAS-accredited calibration for PPA55x1 series units , including all popular type-test protocols for full compatibility with harmonic and flicker testing. This option can only be specified in addition to Option 1 and Option 2 calibration.
2. UKAS (ISO17025) Calibration – Included with new instruments – Available as an option with RMA calibration UKAS-accredited voltage, current, phase (PF) and power calibration over the range 55-850Hz. In addition to the calibration certificate, the PPA will be fitted with a UKAS calibration label. This option can only be specified in addition to Option 1.	5. PPA55xx-TE Calibration – Included with PPA-TE orders – Available as an option with RMA calibration UKAS calibration Includes a range of low power factor tests down to 0.01 PF over the 16-450Hz frequency range. This option can only be specified in addition to Option 1 and Option 2 calibration
3. System Calibration – Available as an option with new instruments or RMA calibration UKAS-accredited PPA calibration as well as external sensors. This option is separate from Options 1 and 2; when system calibration is required, Options 1 and 2 must be specified separately. Note: This is an end-to-end calibration of the PPA+sensor "system" at nine N4L-defined test points. (3 current levels @ 3 different frequencies)	6. UKAS Calorimeter Power Calibration – Available as an option with new instruments or RMA calibration UKAS-accredited power calibration by calorimetry . Available at customer-requested frequencies, from 45Hz to 2MHz, with sinusoidal or harmonically distorted waveforms. This option can only be specified in addition to Option 1 and Option 2 calibration

Features and Benefits

0.05% basic accuracy (traceable to ISO17025)	Frequency range DC and 10mHz to 500kHz
High-precision internal shunts with better accuracy than any external shunt	10 millidegree phase accuracy – essential for low power factor applications
20 Arms (300 Apk) and 1000 Vrms (2500 Vpk) direct inputs	Unique x10 gain mode for standby power measurement
High-speed sampling on all channels	True real-time analysis with no measurement gaps
1, 2 or 3 phase versions	High-contrast full-color graphical display
Simple BNC connection for N4L shunts, suitable for high-current applications	RS232, USB, LAN, expansion and auxiliary ports

Parameters
x10	0.01 degree + (0.02 degree/kHz)
x10	[0.1% + 0.1%/pf + （0.02%/kHz）/pf]Rdg + 0.1% VA Rng
Weight	3.3 kg (1-phase), 4 kg (3-phase)
Voltage input
Standard accessories
Sampling rate	All channels 1Ms/s, real-time gapless
Safety isolation	1000Vrms or DC (CATII), 600Vrms or DC (CATIII)
PPA500-HC 30-arm shunt, 4mm safety connectors	Normal: 300mApk ~ 1000Apk (30Arms) (8 ranges = 300mA, 1A, 3A, 10A, 30A, 300A, 1KA) x10: 30mApk ~ 100Apk (8 ranges = 30mA, 100mA, 300mA, 1A, 3A, 10A, 30A, 100A)
PPA500 20Arms shunt, 4mm safety connectors	Normal: 100mApk ~ 300Apk (20Arms) (8 ranges = 100mA, 300mA, 1A, 3A, 10A, 30A, 100A, 300A) x10: 10mApk ~ 30Apk (8 ranges = 10mA, 30mA, 100mA, 300mA, 1A, 3A, 10A, 30A)
Power supply	90 ~ 265Vrms, 50 ~ 60Hz, 40VA max
Power accuracy
Phase accuracy
Other documents	Calibration certificate, quick start guide
Operating conditions	Ambient temperature 5 to 40 degrees (or intake air temperature when rack mounted), 20-90% non-condensing relative humidity.
Normal	0.01 degree + (0.01 degree/kHz)
Normal	[0.1% + 0.1%/pf + （0.01%/kHz）/pf]Rdg + 0.1% VA Rng
Memory	RAM up to 16,000 records
Mechanical & Environmental
Measurement parameters	W, VA, Var, pf, V & A – rms, rectified mean, AC, DC, peak, inrush, crest factor, form, star-to-delta conversion, delta-to-star conversion
Results in	Power, RS232, USB
Internal shunt accuracy HC 30Arms	Normal: 0.05% reading + 0.1% Rng + (0.005% x kHz) + 1mA x10: 0.05% reading + 0.1% Rng + (0.01% x kHz) + 300uA
Internal shunt accuracy 20Arms	Normal: 0.05% reading + 0.1% Rng + (0.005% x kHz) + 500uA x10: 0.05% reading + 0.1% range + (0.01% x kHz) + 100uA
Internal ranges	Normal: 1Vpk ~ 2500Vpk (8 ranges = 1V, 3V, 10V, 30V, 100V, 300V, 1KV, 3KV) x10 100mVpk ~ 300Vpk (8 ranges = 100mV, 300mV, 1V, 3V, 10V, 30V，300V，300V）
Internal accuracy	Normal: 0.05% reading + 0.1% Rng + (0.005%xkHz) + 5mV x10: 0.05% reading + 0.1% Rng + (0.01%xkHz) + 1mV
Manual	User manual, communication manual
IEC-compliant mode	IEC62301/EN50564 standby power mode
General
Frequency range
External voltage input accuracy	0.05% Rdg + 0.1% Rng + （0.005%xkHz） + 5uV
External voltage BNC input range	1mVpk ~ 3Vpk [BNC connector 3Vpk max input] 8 ranges = 1mV, 3mV, 10mV, 30mV, 100mV, 300mV, 1V, 3V
External current input accuracy	0.05% reading + 0.1% RH + (0.005%/kHz) + 5uV
External current BNC input range	1mVpk ~ 3Vpk 8 ranges = 1mV, 3mV, 10mV, 30mV, 100mV, 300mV, 1V, 3V
Display	480×272 dot full-color TFT, white LED backlight
Dimensions	92H x 215W x 312D mm (excluding feet)
Data logging window	Gapless analysis, minimum window 10ms
Data logging	(Up to 4 user-selectable measurement functions (60 with PC software)
Current input
Crest factor	20 (voltage and current)
Connection clips	4mm terminated crocodile clips – 1 red, 1 yellow and 2 black per phase
Connection Cable	20A (standard) or 30A (HC version) 1.5m long 4mm stackable terminals. 1x red, 1x yellow, 2x black per phase
Communication ports	RS232, LAN, USB, extension (auxiliary)
Common mode rejection ratio – CMRR	250V @ 50Hz – ≥ 1mA （150dB）100V @ 100kHz – ≥ 3mA （130dB）
Bandwidth	DC, 10mHz ~ 500kHz x10 DC， 10mHz ~ 100kHz
Application modes	Ballasts, inrush, standby power
40 Hz ~ 850 Hz	As above, range error reduced from +0.1% V, A, VA Rng to +0.05% V, A, VA RNG
	Frequency (Hz), Phase (degrees), Fundamental, Impedance
	Harmonics, THD, TIF, THF, TRD, TDD
	Integral value, data logging value, sum value and neutral value

PPA500 power analyzer options, software and accessories

Communication interfaces:

Standard: USB, RS232 and LAN communication ports
Optional: GPIB communication port

Probe and probe accessory options:

UrukupUltra-low capacitance probe (active, for DUT probes susceptible to capacitive loading) – 1.5pF, 1000Vrms, DC to 2MHz, 1000:1
TT-HV250 high-voltage probe (passive) – 2.5kVpk, 100:1
TT-HVP15HF high voltage probe – 15kVpk, 1000:1
ATT10– 10:1 attenuator (for cases where the voltage probe output does not meet the PPA external input 3Vpk maximum rating) – for connection to the PPA external input and external attenuating probes.
ATT20– 20:1 attenuator (for cases where the voltage probe output does not meet the PPA external input 3Vpk maximum rating) – for connection to the PPA external input and external attenuator probes.

Expansion port and accessory options:

PCIS– Phase-controlled inrush (used when the DUT source needs to be controlled relative to phase angle)

Lead, connection and interface options:

20AOne-phase connection lead set (standard) – 20A, 1.5m long + crocodile clips
36 ASingle-phase connection lead set – 36A rated current, 1.5m long + crocodile clips
Voltage breakout lead set – 3 x 2m BNC to BNC with 4mm banana voltage breakout + 2 x voltage low shorting leads (for use when the distance between analyzer and DUT is large and HF series external shunts are used, facilitating shorted voltage connections.
Universal breakout box – Single-phase 10Arms universal breakout box
RS232 cable (standard) – 9-pin null modem cable
USB cable (standard) – 2m long A male to B male USB cable

Carrying case:

PPA5/15xx soft carrying case – black nylon padded case with accessory compartment, handle and strap
PPA5/15xx hard carrying caseCase – PPA5/15xx hard aluminum flight case with accessory compartment, handle and locks (ideal for aircraft racks)

Rack mount kit option:

PPA5/15xx Rack mounting kit (specify dual, left, center or right configuration) – 19" rack mounting kit for PPA5/15xx

Calibration and documentation (new units standard with UKAS ISO17025 certificate):

Standard Recalibration(ISO17025 traceable) – single-phase PPA (PPA510)
Standard Recalibration(ISO17025 traceable) - two-phase and three-phase PPA (PPA520 and PPA530)
ISO17025 UKAS Calibration + standard calibration – Single-phase PPA (PPA510)
ISO17025 UKAS Calibration+ Standard Calibration – Single Phase PPA （PPA520 & PPA530）
Loan PPA5xx instruments available on request during calibration or repair (available in Europe only)
Spare user manual – hard copy of user and communication manuals

Current measurement options:

N4L HF SeriesShunts – 1Arms ~ 500Arms rating, DC ~ 1MHz resistive shunts.
N4L WR series Rogowski current sensors – Rated current 1A ~ 10000A, 1Hz to 1MHz Rogowski coils
Zero-flux current sensors (currentoutput) – 600A rating, DC ~ 250kHz
AC+DC Hall effect current clamp – various current ratings and bandwidths available
AC current clamp – various current ratings and bandwidths available

PC software (free):

PPALoG – Power analyzer data logging software (up to 64 parameters measured simultaneously, up to 12 phases) (PPA Data Logger User ManualPDF，3.31Mb）
PPA standby powerSoftware – compliant with IEC62301 and EN50564 standards

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