An evaluation of instrumentation used to measure AC power system magnetic fields

Instrumentation designed for measuring power system magnetic fields was evaluated. The instruments tested varied from simple single-axis survey meters to microcontroller-based instruments designed for long-term data collection and analysis. A series of tests was designed and used to evaluate each instrument. These included calibration and harmonic response tests, tests of susceptibility to high 60-Hz electric fields and electromagnetic interference, and the measurement of fields typical of power transmission line, appliance, substation, and office/shop environments. Results for each of these tests are presented and discussed. The performance of most of the instruments was satisfactory