S&C Investigates Mysterious Phenomena at High-Tech R&D Facility.

A high-tech R&D facility was experiencing problems with several computer workstation CRT monitors located in various areas of their new office complex. The monitors installed in offices directly behind an electrical service closet exhibited significant distortion and flicker on the displays. The company speculated that the magnetic flux generated by a transformer in this closet was the root of the problem. After implementing solutions suggested by the transformer manufacturer and engaging the services of an environmental consulting firm, the facility management turned to S&C’s team of experts for assistance with the still-unresolved issue.

S&C performed various tests including magnetic field measurements, power quality analyses, and a special test custom-developed for this scenario. The special test enabled S&C engineers to observe, in real-time, the effects of the magnetic field on different CRT monitors.

Neither the magnetic field measurements nor the power quality analyses were conclusive. All values from the measurements were within acceptable limits and would not be expected to cause problems with any connected equipment. The custom-designed testing, however, led to a breakthrough. As a result of these tests, S&C observed that the flicker was caused by a combination of a low-magnitude magnetic field and the power frequency.

These two factors interfered with the computer monitor, which has a refresh rate different from the power frequency. Based on this investigation, S&C offered several recommendations to the customer, from switching the CRT’s screen refresh rate to superior shielding methods for the transformer in the service closet. The recommendations provided a quantifiable basis by which the customer could, at long last, resolve the problem.

Contact S&C to learn how we can find solutions for problems at your facilities.