EQ Wave v1 — Technical Specifications

For an overview of v1 architecture and capabilities, see EQ Wave v1.

Hardware Architecture

See EQ Wave v1 Overview for hardware version history, key characteristics, and platform integration.

Key Components

Hardware

• Dedicated power quality measurement IC
  • 24-bit, 32 kHz, 7-channel, simultaneous-sampling ΔΣ ADC
  • 101 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), ~16.5-bit effective number of bits (ENOB)
  • Built-in signal processing including calculation of many PQ metrics
• ARM Cortex-M4 processor with FPU
• Optical networking at 100 Mbps (100Base-FX)
  • Firecomms OptoLock® connector
  • IEEE 1588 precision time protocol (PTP) support
• Precision timing mode GNSS receiver (optional)
• Wide-range AC-to-DC power supply module (optional)
• microSD card interface (optional)

Software Stack

Sensor Firmware

• Operating System: Real-time operating system with TCP/IP networking
• Application Layer: Custom interrupt-driven, low-latency (< 2 ms) data acquisition system for concurrent services on separate TCP ports:
  • PMon on port 1535
  • CPOW on port 1534
• Standard Metrics (expandable upon request):
  • RMS voltage and current (all phases)
  • Active, reactive, and apparent power
  • Power factor and displacement power factor
  • Frequency measurement
  • Total harmonic distortion (THD)
  • Individual harmonic components
  • Voltage and current unbalance
  • Peak voltage and current values

Gateway Software — EQ Watch

EQ Wave sensors stream data to a gateway running EQ Watch, the edge software platform that handles data collection, storage, preprocessing, and the data API. EQ Sight provides the web-based visualization interface. Both run on all gateway hardware (Compulab, Raspberry Pi, or customer-provided Linux computers).

For AI-powered analytics (anomaly detection, root cause analysis, predictive models), EQ Syntropy runs on a GPU-equipped computer at the edge or on Energy Quotient’s managed servers.

See the Deployment Options for gateway hardware choices, AI capabilities, and data storage options.

Future Features

• Modbus TCP server
• MQTT publisher
• Zenoh protocol support for remote configuration and control
• PTP support
• GNSS timestamp integration
• Runtime query engine (patent pending)
• Over-the-network firmware update

Electrical Specifications

Voltage Input Specifications

• Nominal Voltage: 480V (600V RMS max per UL 1059 Group D)
• Voltage Measurement Range (V1, V2, V3 relative to V0): up to 600V RMS
• Voltage Ratings:
  • 300V under UL 1059 Group C
  • Designed to IEC 61010-1 CAT III / pollution degree 3 (not formally qualified)
• Input Impedance: 4 MΩ (Vx to V0)
• Voltage Division Factor: 1335.833333
• Supported Systems:
  • 600V Delta (line-referenced) with PGA=1, 57.4% overvoltage margin
  • 480V Delta (line-referenced) with PGA=1, 96.8% overvoltage margin
  • 600/346V 4-wire Wye (center-referenced) with PGA=2, 36.3% overvoltage margin
  • 480/277V 4-wire Wye (center-referenced) with PGA=2, 70.4% overvoltage margin
  • 240V (line-referenced) with PGA=2, 96.8% overvoltage margin
  • 240/120V 3-wire (neutral-referenced) with PGA=4, 96.8% overvoltage margin

Current Input Specifications

• Input Architecture: Instrumentation amplifiers with configurable termination
• Input Impedance: 68 kΩ (differential)
• Default Termination: 68 kΩ resistor to ground on each side
• Default Configuration: Current transducers (optimized for voltage output sensors)
• Supported Sensors:
  • Current transducers (default configuration)
  • Current transformers (CT secondaries - configurable upon request)
  • Rogowski coils (configurable upon request)
  • High-impedance inputs (configurable upon request)
• Recommended Current Transducers: Socomec Accu-CT series
• Typical CT: 5A secondary
• Typical Rogowski: 100mV/A output

Data Acquisition

• ADC Resolution: 24-bit Sigma-Delta
• ENOB: ~16.5 bits typical (based on 101dB SNR specification)
• Sample Rate: 32 kHz for each of 7 channels (simultaneous across channels)
• Frequency Range: 45–65 Hz
• Channels: 3 voltage + 4 current (7 total)
• Latency: Sub-cycle latency
• Streams: Simultaneous streams of AC metrics and waveform data

Measurement Accuracy

• Voltage Accuracy: ±0.18% (pre-calibration)
• Current Accuracy: ±0.14% (pre-calibration, excluding external sensor error)
• Thermal Drift:
  • Voltage: up to 70 ppm/K total
  • Current: up to 35 ppm/K total

Power Supply

• Power Supply Voltage: 85–528 VAC or 5–36 VDC (VDC +/-)
• DC Input: 5–36V DC (v1.2+)
• AC Input (v1.2 with PS1):
  • Voltage Range: 85–528V AC (L-N or L-L configuration)
  • Nominal: 85–480V AC (PS1 module rated)
  • Protection: 2A slow blow fuse included
• Power Consumption:
  • 3.3W AC typical
  • 2.4W DC typical
• Additional Load: 4 MΩ per voltage line (69 μA @ 277V = 19 mW per line)
• Backup Power (v1.2): Supercapacitor backup providing ~8 seconds of operation
• DC Output (optional): Up to 1.7W available when PS1 is populated (12 VDC export if AC-powered)

Isolation & Safety

• Voltage Isolation: 2.1 kV RMS to ground
• Insulation Resistance: >1 GΩ
• Galvanic Isolation: Voltage front-end is galvanically isolated from backend electronics
• Ground Isolation: No internal ground leakage current; ground connection limited to isolated section
• Safety Standards: All voltage connections isolated from DC input/output, ground, and CT inputs
• Two-Stage Measurement Isolation: Through fiber optics and internal barrier

Environmental

• Operating Temperature: -40°C to +70°C (based on lowest component rating of 80°C with 10°C internal rise)
• Enclosure: Polycarbonate, industrial grade
• Form Factor: Compact (140 × 89 × 41 mm)
• Mounting: DIN rail or wall mount

Expansion Features (Hardware Present)

• microSD Card Interface: Hardware present but not yet supported in firmware
• GNSS Receiver: Not installed, but footprint available for castellated component
  • Can be field-installed for precision time synchronization
  • Firmware support planned for future releases

Communication

• Primary Interface: 100Base-FX over 2.2 mm duplex plastic optical fiber (POF)
• Alternate: 100Base-TX Ethernet via media converter
• Protocols: TCP/IP
• Data Services:
  • TCP port 1535: Power monitoring metrics (PMon)
  • TCP port 1534: Continuous point-on-wave data (CPOW)
• Performance:
  • Power monitoring with 10/12 cycle updates
  • Continuous waveform streaming at 2ms intervals
  • <2ms latency for streaming data
  • Gap-less data recording capability
  • Low-latency ½ cycle reporting
• Protocol: Custom low-latency binary protocol optimized for real-time data streaming

Installation & Connection Guidelines

POF Cable Installation (OptoLock Connector)

1. Cable Preparation: Make a clean, straight cut using the supplied cutting tool
2. Webbing Split: Split the cable webbing approximately 1 cm from the end
3. Connector Release: Pull out the OptoLock connector retainer
4. Cable Insertion: Push the prepared cable fully into the connector
5. Secure Connection: Press the retainer back in to secure the cable

4-Wire Wye Systems (3-Phase with Neutral)

• Voltage Connections: Connect neutral to V0, lines to V1, V2, V3
• Power Supply: Connect L/L1 to L1 terminal, N to N/L2 terminal
• Wiring Recommendation: Use separate wires for AC power supply and voltage measurement to avoid spurious readings from ~3W power draw

3-Wire Delta Systems

• Voltage Connections: Connect L1 to V1, L2 to both V0 and V2, L3 to V3
• Firmware Configuration: Contact EQ to update firmware for L-L measurement reporting (soon to be remotely configurable)

Split-Phase Systems (2-Phase with Neutral)

• Voltage Connections: Connect neutral to V0, lines to V1 and V2 (leave V3 unused)
• Configuration: Similar to 4-wire Wye but with only two active phases
• Typical Applications: North American residential 240V/120V systems

Single-Phase Systems

• With Neutral Available: Connect neutral to V0, line to V1 (leave V2, V3 unused)
• Without Neutral (2-Wire): Connect L1 to V1, L2 to V0 (like Delta configuration without third wire)
• Configuration: Similar to Wye or Delta depending on neutral availability

Grounding & Noise Performance

• Optimal Grounding: Connect VDC- (minus) to Ground for improved noise performance
• Ground Isolation: Unlike other power quality meters, no internal ground leakage current
• Ground Connection: Ground limited to isolated section after voltage measurement only

Firmware Roadmap (v1.x Series)

Near-Term Features

• Remote Configuration: EEPROM-based settings storage enabling dynamic sensor parameter adjustment without reflashing firmware
• Enhanced Data Services: Standardized port allocation (1534=CPOW, 1535=PMon, 1536=Console, 1537=SMon)
• GNSS Integration: Firmware support for optional GNSS receiver module

Planned Features

• Zenoh Protocol: Remote configuration and control via Zenoh-Pico

v1.x Limitations

• Remote Firmware Updates: Not supported in v1
  • Remote configuration and parameter updates supported
  • Physical access required for firmware updates
• Advanced Features: Some features reserved for v2.0 architecture

v2.0 Migration Path

• Remote Flash Updates: Full over-the-network firmware update capability
• Enhanced Processing: FPGA-based architecture enables advanced features
• Expanded Memory: Support for larger feature sets and local data storage

Additional Resources

Related Documentation

• Firecomms OptoLock® series (POF connector)
• POF cable: Mitsubishi ESKA® 2.2 mm duplex (FF-GHCP 4002), available from FiberFin in North America
• Media converter kit (FF-FYENT-KSU): includes media converter, USB power cable, USB power supply, POF cutting tool, and Cat5e patch cable; also available from FiberFin