Electrical Engineering Techniques

Power Quality Analysis

How to Measure Total Harmonic Distortion in Power Systems

Learn how to measure Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) in power systems with formulas, examples, and FAQs.

How to Measure Total Harmonic Distortion in Power Systems

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) is a critical parameter in power systems that measures the distortion caused by harmonics in electrical signals. High THD can lead to inefficiency, overheating, and equipment malfunction. This article provides a detailed guide on measuring THD, including the necessary equations, technical analysis, and an example calculation. What is Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)? THD quantifies the distortion in a waveform compared to a pure sinusoidal wave. It is expressed as the ratio of the root mean square (RMS) value of all harmonic components to the RMS value of the fundamental frequency component: THD Formula: \[ \text{THD} = \frac{\sqrt{\sum_{n=2}^{\infty} V_n^2}}{V_1} \times 100\% \] Here: V n : RMS value of the n th harmonic voltage V 1 : RMS value of the fundamental frequency voltage Importance of Measuring THD Maintaining low THD levels in a power system ensures optimal performance and longevity of equipment. Power systems with high THD can experience: Overheating…

About the author

Prasun Barua is a graduate engineer in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with a passion for simplifying complex technical concepts for learners and professionals alike. He has authored numerous highly regarded books covering a wide range of elec…

Post a Comment

<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.blogger.com/static/v1/widgets/552934507-widgets.js"></script>
<script type='text/javascript'>
window['__wavt'] = 'AOuZoY5HSaXQB2gxrRI9N7bhWFN7n9LUaQ:1758339987969';_WidgetManager._Init('//www.blogger.com/rearrange?blogID\x3d2109991347955854802','//www.prasunbarua.com/2025/01/how-to-measure-total-harmonic.html?amp\x3d1','2109991347955854802');
_WidgetManager._SetDataContext([{'name': 'blog', 'data': {'blogId': '2109991347955854802', 'title': 'Prasun Barua ', 'url': 'https://www.prasunbarua.com/2025/01/how-to-measure-total-harmonic.html?amp\x3d1', 'canonicalUrl': 'https://www.prasunbarua.com/2025/01/how-to-measure-total-harmonic.html', 'homepageUrl': 'https://www.prasunbarua.com/?amp\x3d1', 'searchUrl': 'https://www.prasunbarua.com/search', 'canonicalHomepageUrl': 'https://www.prasunbarua.com/', 'blogspotFaviconUrl': 'https://www.prasunbarua.com/favicon.ico', 'bloggerUrl': 'https://www.blogger.com', 'hasCustomDomain': true, 'httpsEnabled': true, 'enabledCommentProfileImages': true, 'gPlusViewType': 'FILTERED_POSTMOD', 'adultContent': false, 'analyticsAccountNumber': 'G-JTY29NBCB8', 'analytics4': true, 'encoding': 'UTF-8', 'locale': 'en', 'localeUnderscoreDelimited': 'en', 'languageDirection': 'ltr', 'isPrivate': false, 'isMobile': false, 'isMobileRequest': false, 'mobileClass': '', 'isPrivateBlog': false, 'isDynamicViewsAvailable': true, 'feedLinks': '\x3clink rel\x3d\x22alternate\x22 type\x3d\x22application/atom+xml\x22 title\x3d\x22Prasun Barua  - Atom\x22 href\x3d\x22https://www.prasunbarua.com/feeds/posts/default\x22 /\x3e\n\x3clink rel\x3d\x22alternate\x22 type\x3d\x22application/rss+xml\x22 title\x3d\x22Prasun Barua  - RSS\x22 href\x3d\x22https://www.prasunbarua.com/feeds/posts/default?alt\x3drss\x22 /\x3e\n\x3clink rel\x3d\x22service.post\x22 type\x3d\x22application/atom+xml\x22 title\x3d\x22Prasun Barua  - Atom\x22 href\x3d\x22https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2109991347955854802/posts/default\x22 /\x3e\n\n\x3clink rel\x3d\x22alternate\x22 type\x3d\x22application/atom+xml\x22 title\x3d\x22Prasun Barua  - Atom\x22 href\x3d\x22https://www.prasunbarua.com/feeds/7117391552398202884/comments/default\x22 /\x3e\n', 'meTag': '', 'adsenseClientId': 'ca-pub-8736637194399168', 'adsenseHostId': 'ca-host-pub-1556223355139109', 'adsenseHasAds': true, 'adsenseAutoAds': true, 'boqCommentIframeForm': true, 'loginRedirectParam': '', 'view': '', 'dynamicViewsCommentsSrc': '//www.blogblog.com/dynamicviews/4224c15c4e7c9321/js/comments.js', 'dynamicViewsScriptSrc': '//www.blogblog.com/dynamicviews/bfbc640b7e303482', 'plusOneApiSrc': 'https://apis.google.com/js/platform.js', 'disableGComments': true, 'interstitialAccepted': false, 'sharing': {'platforms': [{'name': 'Get link', 'key': 'link', 'shareMessage': 'Get link', 'target': ''}, {'name': 'Facebook', 'key': 'facebook', 'shareMessage': 'Share to Facebook', 'target': 'facebook'}, {'name': 'BlogThis!', 'key': 'blogThis', 'shareMessage': 'BlogThis!', 'target': 'blog'}, {'name': 'X', 'key': 'twitter', 'shareMessage': 'Share to X', 'target': 'twitter'}, {'name': 'Pinterest', 'key': 'pinterest', 'shareMessage': 'Share to Pinterest', 'target': 'pinterest'}, {'name': 'Email', 'key': 'email', 'shareMessage': 'Email', 'target': 'email'}], 'disableGooglePlus': true, 'googlePlusShareButtonWidth': 0, 'googlePlusBootstrap': '\x3cscript type\x3d\x22text/javascript\x22\x3ewindow.___gcfg \x3d {\x27lang\x27: \x27en\x27};\x3c/script\x3e'}, 'hasCustomJumpLinkMessage': true, 'jumpLinkMessage': 'Read', 'pageType': 'item', 'postId': '7117391552398202884', 'postImageThumbnailUrl': 'https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYo3uvudVtWqKOtgPkyZ4vvgsZ4X2e0Z3kgiM9nGoxGUg_sLAphq88gT1hfwnh6CMpZFhM_-Su9PG_yfAL8eh48yaHaGEbgBoY1uaVGmwj_83WlMMtpoRa7jEL5qcPIanwzv3WZ_mMtvoSHpWFBGjsQTz7QOsU1NwAde_xAXluc2yP-Au0Ib1BZjltUpE/s72-w640-c-h360/How%20to%20Measure%20Total%20Harmonic%20Distortion%20in%20Power%20Systems%20(2).jpg', 'postImageUrl': 'https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYo3uvudVtWqKOtgPkyZ4vvgsZ4X2e0Z3kgiM9nGoxGUg_sLAphq88gT1hfwnh6CMpZFhM_-Su9PG_yfAL8eh48yaHaGEbgBoY1uaVGmwj_83WlMMtpoRa7jEL5qcPIanwzv3WZ_mMtvoSHpWFBGjsQTz7QOsU1NwAde_xAXluc2yP-Au0Ib1BZjltUpE/w640-h360/How%20to%20Measure%20Total%20Harmonic%20Distortion%20in%20Power%20Systems%20(2).jpg', 'pageName': 'How to Measure Total Harmonic Distortion in Power Systems', 'pageTitle': 'Prasun Barua : How to Measure Total Harmonic Distortion in Power Systems', 'metaDescription': 'Learn how to measure Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) in power systems with formulas, examples, and FAQs.'}}, {'name': 'features', 'data': {}}, {'name': 'messages', 'data': {'edit': 'Edit', 'linkCopiedToClipboard': 'Link copied to clipboard!', 'ok': 'Ok', 'postLink': 'Post Link'}}, {'name': 'template', 'data': {'name': 'custom', 'localizedName': 'Custom', 'isResponsive': true, 'isAlternateRendering': false, 'isCustom': true}}, {'name': 'view', 'data': {'classic': {'name': 'classic', 'url': '?view\x3dclassic'}, 'flipcard': {'name': 'flipcard', 'url': '?view\x3dflipcard'}, 'magazine': {'name': 'magazine', 'url': '?view\x3dmagazine'}, 'mosaic': {'name': 'mosaic', 'url': '?view\x3dmosaic'}, 'sidebar': {'name': 'sidebar', 'url': '?view\x3dsidebar'}, 'snapshot': {'name': 'snapshot', 'url': '?view\x3dsnapshot'}, 'timeslide': {'name': 'timeslide', 'url': '?view\x3dtimeslide'}, 'isMobile': false, 'title': 'How to Measure Total Harmonic Distortion in Power Systems', 'description': 'Learn how to measure Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) in power systems with formulas, examples, and FAQs.', 'featuredImage': 'https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYo3uvudVtWqKOtgPkyZ4vvgsZ4X2e0Z3kgiM9nGoxGUg_sLAphq88gT1hfwnh6CMpZFhM_-Su9PG_yfAL8eh48yaHaGEbgBoY1uaVGmwj_83WlMMtpoRa7jEL5qcPIanwzv3WZ_mMtvoSHpWFBGjsQTz7QOsU1NwAde_xAXluc2yP-Au0Ib1BZjltUpE/w640-h360/How%20to%20Measure%20Total%20Harmonic%20Distortion%20in%20Power%20Systems%20(2).jpg', 'url': 'https://www.prasunbarua.com/2025/01/how-to-measure-total-harmonic.html?amp\x3d1', 'type': 'item', 'isSingleItem': true, 'isMultipleItems': false, 'isError': false, 'isPage': false, 'isPost': true, 'isHomepage': false, 'isArchive': false, 'isLabelSearch': false, 'postId': 7117391552398202884}}, {'name': 'widgets', 'data': [{'title': 'Prasun Barua  (Header)', 'type': 'Header', 'sectionId': 'sec_Header_Title', 'id': 'Header01'}, {'title': 'Looking for something?', 'type': 'BlogSearch', 'sectionId': 'sec_Header_Search', 'id': 'BlogSearch01'}, {'title': 'Header Icon', 'type': 'TextList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Header_Icon', 'id': 'TextList01'}, {'title': '', 'type': 'Profile', 'sectionId': 'sec_Header_Icon', 'id': 'Profile01'}, {'title': 'Bookmark Posts', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Header_Icon', 'id': 'LinkList02'}, {'title': 'Navigation Menu (Simple)', 'type': 'PageList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Nav_Widgets_1', 'id': 'PageList01'}, {'title': 'Tabbed Menu', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Under_Header', 'id': 'LinkList05'}, {'title': 'Labels Description', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Under_Header', 'id': 'LinkList07'}, {'title': 'Blog Posts', 'type': 'Blog', 'sectionId': 'sec_Main_Widgets', 'id': 'Blog01', 'posts': [{'id': '7117391552398202884', 'title': 'How to Measure Total Harmonic Distortion in Power Systems', 'featuredImage': 'https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYo3uvudVtWqKOtgPkyZ4vvgsZ4X2e0Z3kgiM9nGoxGUg_sLAphq88gT1hfwnh6CMpZFhM_-Su9PG_yfAL8eh48yaHaGEbgBoY1uaVGmwj_83WlMMtpoRa7jEL5qcPIanwzv3WZ_mMtvoSHpWFBGjsQTz7QOsU1NwAde_xAXluc2yP-Au0Ib1BZjltUpE/w640-h360/How%20to%20Measure%20Total%20Harmonic%20Distortion%20in%20Power%20Systems%20(2).jpg', 'showInlineAds': false}], 'footerBylines': [{'regionName': 'footer1', 'items': [{'name': 'author', 'label': 'Published by'}, {'name': 'timestamp', 'label': 'On'}, {'name': 'comments', 'label': 'Comment'}, {'name': 'share', 'label': ''}]}, {'regionName': 'footer2', 'items': [{'name': 'labels', 'label': 'in'}]}, {'regionName': 'footer3', 'items': [{'name': 'location', 'label': 'Location:'}]}], 'allBylineItems': [{'name': 'author', 'label': 'Published by'}, {'name': 'timestamp', 'label': 'On'}, {'name': 'comments', 'label': 'Comment'}, {'name': 'share', 'label': ''}, {'name': 'labels', 'label': 'in'}, {'name': 'location', 'label': 'Location:'}]}, {'title': 'Table of contents', 'type': 'HTML', 'sectionId': 'sec_Main_Widgets', 'id': 'HTML11'}, {'title': 'Popular Posts', 'type': 'PopularPosts', 'sectionId': 'sec_Side_Widgets', 'id': 'PopularPosts01', 'posts': [{'title': 'How to Build a Simple Solar Tracker for Maximum Efficiency', 'id': 7215709196054122949}, {'title': 'What is Continuity in Electricity and How to Test Continuity with a Multimeter?', 'id': 5645806620584109331}, {'title': 'How to Calculate Cable Size in Sq Mm: A Comprehensive Guide', 'id': 5505182960623520934}, {'title': 'What Is Reactive Power and Why Is It Important in Power Systems?', 'id': 7918976861674359801}, {'title': 'How to Do Commercial Electrical Load Calculations', 'id': 762704462247755736}]}, {'title': 'Labels', 'type': 'Label', 'sectionId': 'sec_Side_Widgets', 'id': 'Label01'}, {'title': 'Take me back', 'type': 'HTML', 'sectionId': 'sec_Error_404', 'id': 'HTML404'}, {'title': 'Prasun Barua', 'type': 'Image', 'sectionId': 'sec_Footer_Organization', 'id': 'Image21'}, {'title': 'Social Media Links', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Footer_Organization', 'id': 'LinkList21'}, {'title': 'Pages', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Footer_Widgets', 'id': 'LinkList22'}, {'title': 'Explore', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Footer_Widgets', 'id': 'LinkList23'}, {'title': 'Credit', 'type': 'HTML', 'sectionId': 'sec_Footer_Bottom', 'id': 'HTML21'}, {'title': 'Mobile Menu', 'type': 'TextList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Mobile_Menu', 'id': 'TextList99'}, {'title': 'Labels', 'type': 'Label', 'sectionId': 'sec_Theme_Hidden', 'id': 'Label41'}, {'title': '\u09af\u09cb\u0997\u09be\u09af\u09cb\u0997 \u09ab\u09b0\u09cd\u09ae', 'type': 'ContactForm', 'sectionId': 'sec_Theme_Hidden', 'id': 'ContactForm41'}, {'title': 'Pageviews last month', 'type': 'Stats', 'sectionId': 'sec_Theme_Hidden', 'id': 'Stats41'}]}]);
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_HeaderView', new _WidgetInfo('Header01', 'sec_Header_Title', document.getElementById('Header01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_BlogSearchView', new _WidgetInfo('BlogSearch01', 'sec_Header_Search', document.getElementById('BlogSearch01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_TextListView', new _WidgetInfo('TextList01', 'sec_Header_Icon', document.getElementById('TextList01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_ProfileView', new _WidgetInfo('Profile01', 'sec_Header_Icon', document.getElementById('Profile01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList02', 'sec_Header_Icon', document.getElementById('LinkList02'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_PageListView', new _WidgetInfo('PageList01', 'sec_Nav_Widgets_1', document.getElementById('PageList01'), {'title': 'Navigation Menu (Simple)', 'links': [{'isCurrentPage': false, 'href': 'https://www.prasunbarua.com/', 'id': '0', 'title': 'Home'}, {'isCurrentPage': false, 'href': 'https://www.prasunbarua.com/p/about.html?amp\x3d1', 'id': '4671355189679507864', 'title': 'About'}, {'isCurrentPage': false, 'href': 'https://www.prasunbarua.com/p/blog-archive.html?amp\x3d1', 'id': '961325708692677582', 'title': 'Archive'}, {'isCurrentPage': false, 'href': 'https://www.prasunbarua.com/p/sitemap.html?amp\x3d1', 'id': '3123546275232652879', 'title': 'Sitemap'}, {'isCurrentPage': false, 'href': 'https://www.prasunbarua.com/p/contact.html?amp\x3d1', 'id': '8011943488416645236', 'title': 'Contact'}], 'mobile': false, 'showPlaceholder': true, 'hasCurrentPage': false}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList05', 'sec_Under_Header', document.getElementById('LinkList05'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList07', 'sec_Under_Header', document.getElementById('LinkList07'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_BlogView', new _WidgetInfo('Blog01', 'sec_Main_Widgets', document.getElementById('Blog01'), {'cmtInteractionsEnabled': false, 'lightboxEnabled': true, 'lightboxModuleUrl': 'https://www.blogger.com/static/v1/jsbin/1879773127-lbx.js', 'lightboxCssUrl': 'https://www.blogger.com/static/v1/v-css/828616780-lightbox_bundle.css'}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_HTMLView', new _WidgetInfo('HTML11', 'sec_Main_Widgets', document.getElementById('HTML11'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_PopularPostsView', new _WidgetInfo('PopularPosts01', 'sec_Side_Widgets', document.getElementById('PopularPosts01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LabelView', new _WidgetInfo('Label01', 'sec_Side_Widgets', document.getElementById('Label01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_HTMLView', new _WidgetInfo('HTML404', 'sec_Error_404', document.getElementById('HTML404'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_ImageView', new _WidgetInfo('Image21', 'sec_Footer_Organization', document.getElementById('Image21'), {'resize': true}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList21', 'sec_Footer_Organization', document.getElementById('LinkList21'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList22', 'sec_Footer_Widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList22'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList23', 'sec_Footer_Widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList23'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_HTMLView', new _WidgetInfo('HTML21', 'sec_Footer_Bottom', document.getElementById('HTML21'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_TextListView', new _WidgetInfo('TextList99', 'sec_Mobile_Menu', document.getElementById('TextList99'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LabelView', new _WidgetInfo('Label41', 'sec_Theme_Hidden', document.getElementById('Label41'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_ContactFormView', new _WidgetInfo('ContactForm41', 'sec_Theme_Hidden', document.getElementById('ContactForm41'), {'contactFormMessageSendingMsg': 'Sending...', 'contactFormMessageSentMsg': 'Your message has been sent.', 'contactFormMessageNotSentMsg': 'Message could not be sent. Please try again later.', 'contactFormInvalidEmailMsg': 'A valid email address is required.', 'contactFormEmptyMessageMsg': 'Message field cannot be empty.', 'title': '\u09af\u09cb\u0997\u09be\u09af\u09cb\u0997 \u09ab\u09b0\u09cd\u09ae', 'blogId': '2109991347955854802', 'contactFormNameMsg': 'Name', 'contactFormEmailMsg': 'Email', 'contactFormMessageMsg': 'Message', 'contactFormSendMsg': 'Send', 'contactFormToken': 'AOuZoY4AKJG61AXRatyacfsDAbDxrFzznQ:1758339987970', 'submitUrl': 'https://www.blogger.com/contact-form.do'}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_StatsView', new _WidgetInfo('Stats41', 'sec_Theme_Hidden', document.getElementById('Stats41'), {'title': 'Pageviews last month', 'showGraphicalCounter': false, 'showAnimatedCounter': false, 'showSparkline': true, 'statsUrl': '//www.prasunbarua.com/b/stats?amp\x3d1\x26style\x3dBLACK_TRANSPARENT\x26timeRange\x3dLAST_WEEK\x26token\x3dAPq4FmAmkk_vtyEvvePgR7GNBGWJGIcvEfagNNFbf5Ql28B_zFqcNVNVhrWueEWgxf8Z9I89308_Sr71x1PodK--faydPPNDtQ'}, 'displayModeFull'));
</script>
</body>