Using Industrial Test Equipment in an Undergraduate Electrical Machinery Lab Setting

To prepare engineers and engineering technologists for the “real world” work environment, it would be best if test equipment similar to that being used in industry was used in the laboratory. The problem with this is that most of the machines – transformers, motors, and generators – in undergraduate laboratories are considerably smaller than those in industry. Transformers are typically in the tens, or, at most, hundreds of volt-amperes and rotating machines are typically fractional horsepower. This means that in the lab the currents are usually in the milliampere range. Industrial test equipment is usually designed to measure in the kVA range. For example, the standard current probes on Fluke power meters are designed for 600 A. The smallest current probe available from Fluke that can handle both AC and DC is designed for 30 A. This paper will discuss a method to allow industrial test equipment to be used in undergraduate labs. Our solution is to use multiple turns of wire (bobbins) in the current probes. Since these devices are not readily available, as part of the solution, an engineering design class was tasked to develop the bobbins that are used. The experiences of the students in the design of this solution are also presented. In the design process, several iterations of the bobbins were performed by one instructor/class while the bobbins were being used by another instructor/class. Finally, it is hoped that other universities can use the designs presented in their laboratories. Tags: Industrial test equipment; undergraduate electrical machinery labs; voltage, current, and power measurements