Detecting Momentary Dips in Current

How about an ammeter linked to a chart recorder?

or an oscilloscope with a current probe.

It helps if you know how short the "momentary dip" is likely to be.

A current transformer (CT) is the best device for signal detection.

The sample rate of your monitoring needs to be no less than 10 times as fast as your fundamental frequency (of the AC waveform or event, which ever is fastest). Or, you can convert your AC level into a DC voltage with a response that is faster than your change in current ("current dip"). More description would be helpful.

By some electronic system, your choices are: chart recorder, data acquisition system, alarm device, op amp comparator, and so on.

I would ask these questions of you:

1. How will you use the information?

2. Will you be alarming some process, shutting down a device or controlling a process?

3. How much are you willing to invest in the monitoring system?

If your budget is simple and inexpensive, a current sensor with chart recorder as explained above would suffice. If you will be controlling a process, I suggest a SCADA system or PLC with the appropriate end devices and data aquistition to measure, record and control. It all comes down to how much you want to invest.

You may contact me for a detailed design based on your requirements.

Greetings.

There are a number of electrical monitoring devices that print out a graph, or give data output that tell high, low, dropouts, etc.

E=IR, P=IE

E=Volts, I=Current in Amps, R= Resistance, P=Power in Watts

Depending on your budget Fluke has a 3 phase power Power Quality Analyzer. Also a clamp on single phase model 345 that is a combination meter.

AEMC SDL V401 is a 4 channel data logger with software.

Look at PQMeterStore.com

"fluke power analyser" is the only solution for your situation

Depends upon how momentary is the dip but you can try this circuit.

Put resistance Rs in series to current path,Voltmeter will show an upward deflection from few seconds to many seconds.

Regards:

As asked above:

1. How will you use the information?

3. How much are you willing to invest in the monitoring system?

I will add:

Dip in which type of Current? AC or DC ?

You really mean CURRENT or talking in general & mean Voltages?

look in Power-Monitoring Equipment Section if to check Dips, Brown-outs, Black-outs in Utillity Power.

There are Recorders for this purpose in the Electric-Power market, with paper shart-Recorders; running

a role of paper 2 very slow-speed; & prints all the parameters of power-conditions.

A single small unit; having back-up memory for time & data; recorder runs on power.

Regards