Knowledge is “Real Power.”

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How Cardinal Power's Experts Improve Your Power Quality

  • Icon representing Cardinal Power's certified power quality experts and services.

    Cardinal Power’s team of certified power quality experts partners with industry leaders to deliver advanced power quality studies, in-depth system analysis, and precise investigations into electrical infrastructure. We identify and resolve critical power quality issues such as voltage fluctuations, harmonics, and transient disruptions, ensuring seamless equipment performance and energy efficiency. Our expertise helps businesses prevent costly downtime, extend equipment lifespan, and optimize electrical system reliability.

  • Icon symbolizing Cardinal Power as a one-stop-shop for power quality solutions, provided by certified power quality experts.

    At Cardinal Power, we are your trusted power quality experts, offering complete solutions to enhance electrical system efficiency and reliability. Our comprehensive power quality analysis identifies existing issues, predicts potential disruptions, and uncovers energy efficiency opportunities. Beyond assessments, we provide industry-leading power factor correction equipment, harmonic filters, and customized power quality solutions tailored to your needs. With expert power quality testing, seamless equipment installation, and continuous monitoring, we help safeguard your system against voltage fluctuations, downtime, and costly inefficiencies.

  • Icon representing Cardinal Power’s expertise in handling power quality projects of all sizes and complexities.

    Cardinal Power’s certified power quality experts manage projects of all sizes, complexities, and voltages—whether it's installing a single uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for a home office or designing and constructing a BES substation. As a trusted leader in power quality solutions, we specialize in voltage stability, harmonic mitigation, and power factor correction, ensuring that electrical infrastructure operates at peak efficiency. No matter the scope, our experts provide tailored solutions that enhance reliability, minimize downtime, and protect critical equipment from power quality disturbances.

What Cardinal Power’s Power Quality Experts Offer

  • Power Quality Study

    Cardinal Power leverages CHK Miro PQ45s to gather critical power quality data, including harmonics, transient captures, power factors, and event sine wave captures. Our certified Power Quality Experts (CPQs) analyze this data to create customized mitigation strategies tailored to your unique electrical challenges. From power factor correction to harmonic distortion and transient voltage solutions, we deliver precise, reliable strategies to optimize your power quality and system performance.

    CHK Miro PQ45 Power Quality Analyzer used by Cardinal Power to capture harmonics, transient events, and power factors for tailored solutions.
  • Energy Efficiency

    Cardinal Power utilizes the data collected from our power quality studies and power quality analysis to resolve electrical issues and identify energy efficiency opportunities. By implementing comprehensive power quality solutions, including power factor correction and harmonic mitigation, we help customers save 10-20% on their bottom line. Our expert recommendations ensure that your electrical systems are optimized for maximum performance and cost savings.

    Optimized electrical systems powered by Cardinal Power’s comprehensive power quality solutions, ensuring cost savings and efficiency.
  • Partial/Sonic Discharge Study

    Compressed air leaks are a major cause of energy waste, accounting for 20-30% of a compressor's output loss. These inefficiencies not only increase energy costs but also cause operational issues like fluctuating pressure and reduced equipment lifespan. Cardinal Power employs advanced Sonic Discharge cameras to pinpoint leaks in compressed air systems. By calculating kWh rates and compressor run times, our technology provides real-time cost assessments for each leak. This data enables precise solutions to mitigate energy waste and improve system performance. For example, a single leak could cost up to $8,000 annually.

    Example of a compressed air leak costing $8,000 annually, identified with Sonic Discharge cameras by Cardinal Power.
  • Product Procurement

    After completing a power quality analysis, Cardinal Power identifies the root cause of any issues and provides a tailored solution. If correctional products like power factor correction units, harmonic filters, or surge protection devices are required, we offer them at competitive rates with minimal lead times. Our priority is resolving power quality issues efficiently, minimizing downtime, and optimizing your system’s performance for long-term reliability.

    Power quality correction products like harmonic filters and surge protection devices provided by Cardinal Power.

Our Services

  • Power Quality Analyzers are essential tools for collecting precise data, including RMS voltage, current levels, sine wave patterns, and distortion captures. With this information, Cardinal Power’s engineers can identify and address specific power quality anomalies like voltage sags, swells, and transients. Our analysis also examines critical factors such as harmonic content, harmonic order, and power factors, ensuring a comprehensive power quality assessment and effective mitigation strategies tailored to your needs.

  • Thermologists use advanced infrared scanning technology to inspect your facility's electrical gear. This process identifies issues such as loose or improper connections, failing equipment, insulation breakdown, high harmonic content, and other potential power quality problems. Infrared scans are essential for maintaining the reliability and safety of your electrical systems, helping to prevent costly failures and minimize downtime.

  • This technology is an integral part of our cost savings and energy efficiency study. The infrared camera is used to identify leaks in compressed air systems, which are a common source of energy waste. By inputting the kWh rate and compressor run time, the camera can calculate in real-time the cost of each specific leak, providing you with actionable data to optimize your energy usage and reduce unnecessary expenses.

  • Preparing for a large event? The last thing you need is a power outage disrupting your plans. Cardinal Power provides comprehensive power quality analysis and real-time power quality monitoring to ensure your electrical systems operate seamlessly throughout your event. Our proactive approach prevents interruptions, keeping the lights on and ensuring everything runs smoothly during critical moments. Trust Cardinal Power to make your event a success.

  • An arc flash hazard analysis identifies the location and severity of arc flash risks within your electrical system and provides tailored mitigation strategies. This critical assessment helps determine potential dangers, evaluate the level of risk, and recommend effective measures to minimize hazards. By conducting an arc flash analysis, Cardinal Power ensures the safety of your personnel and equipment while enhancing the reliability of your electrical systems.

  • The goal of a short circuit and coordination study is to protect critical electrical equipment such as power transformers, switchgear, substations, motor control centers, and panelboards. This study ensures that the appropriate types, ampere ratings, and device settings are selected to minimize service interruptions during overloads and short-circuit conditions. By conducting this analysis, Cardinal Power enhances the reliability and safety of your electrical systems, reducing the risk of costly downtime and equipment damage.

  • Cardinal Power works in partnership with electric utilities to maximize the reliability of power supply systems. Through the implementation of our tailored power quality solutions, we help utilities significantly improve reliability indices, including CAIDI, SAIDI, and MAIFI. These enhancements lead to better system performance, reduced outages, and increased customer satisfaction, ensuring a stable and efficient power supply for all.

  • Power Quality Analyzers can be permanently installed with advanced communication capabilities via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. These systems provide on-demand access to critical data and can be configured to send automatic alerts for predefined triggers, such as over/under voltage, harmonic distortion, or transient events. Continuous monitoring enables prompt identification and resolution of power quality issues, ensuring optimal performance and reliability of your electrical systems.

  • Stray voltage is the unintended presence of electrical potential between two objects that should ideally have no voltage difference. This phenomenon can cause significant power quality issues, equipment malfunctions, and safety risks. Addressing stray voltage promptly is essential for maintaining system reliability, protecting equipment, and ensuring safety in both residential and industrial settings.

  • A crucial step in accurate power quality analysis is performing a comprehensive evaluation of potential issues within a facility before installing Power Quality Analyzers. This pre-installation assessment identifies electrical problems such as harmonics, voltage fluctuations, and stray voltage, ensuring analyzers are strategically placed to monitor and resolve power quality concerns effectively.

  • Cost savings analysis is essential for businesses to optimize resource use and maximize return on investment. This process is particularly valuable for identifying inefficiencies in energy and power quality management, such as poor power factor correction, excessive harmonic distortion, or unaddressed electrical issues. By pinpointing these problem areas, businesses can focus on future optimization efforts to improve energy efficiency, reduce operational costs, and enhance overall performance.

  • Solar PV farms capture solar energy to generate large-scale electricity using photovoltaic (PV) or concentrated solar power (CSP) systems. These innovative technologies convert sunlight into efficient, usable electrical energy. Whether your solar project is large or small, Cardinal Power provides end-to-end services, including design, construction, and detailed power quality analysis, to ensure optimal performance, reliability, and energy efficiency.

  • Ground testing is the critical process of verifying that the resistance between your grounding system and the earth meets the specifications of the National Electrical Code (NEC) and other relevant power quality guidelines. Proper ground testing ensures safety, compliance, and the effective operation of your electrical system.

  • Updating or retrofitting existing hardware with advanced equipment, sensors, or services allows your systems to leverage the latest technologies. This process, known as equipment retrofit, enhances power quality monitoring, energy efficiency, and automation capabilities while extending the life and functionality of your current infrastructure. Retrofitting ensures your system remains reliable, efficient, and aligned with modern standards.

Knowledge is “Real Power”: Introduction to Power Quality

By Mark A. Shirah, CPQ

Power quality is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. In Knowledge is Real Power: Introduction to Power Quality, Certified Power Quality Expert Mark A. Shirah breaks down this complex subject into simple, practical terms. Drawing from over 30 years of real-world experience, Shirah uses relatable case studies to explain how power quality impacts homes, businesses, and utilities alike. Whether you’re a lineman, engineer, or facility manager, this book is an essential guide to understanding and improving power reliability in today’s high-tech world.

Get your copy and discover how knowledge truly is power.

Trainings

Contact us today to discuss our virtual or In person training!

Team gathered around a computer during a power quality training session at Cardinal Power.
Industry expert leading a customized Cardinal Power training session to enhance skills and knowledge.

Cardinal Power offers customized training packages for your business and employee-specific needs. With 20 different pre-made and vetted training classes to choose from, CEU and PDH credits offered, and teaching performed by industry leader Mark A. Shirah, we will ensure that your educational needs are met and exceeded.

A little about Cardinal PQ

Company Vision

At Cardinal Power, our vision is to revolutionize the electrical engineering industry by redefining the standards of power quality solutions. We envision a future where businesses thrive with optimized electrical systems, maximizing efficiency and minimizing downtime, all while increasing their bottom line.

Background image for the Company Mission Section showcasing Cardinal Power’s commitment to power quality solutions and energy efficiency.

Company Mission

Our mission at Cardinal Power is to be the premier provider of power quality solutions, leveraging our decades of expertise and our unique certification in power quality to enhance equipment lifespan, reduce downtime, and increase energy efficiency for our clients. We are committed to delivering unparalleled service, driven by innovation, transparency, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Power Quality Expertise for Homes and Industry

Cardinal Power’s co-founders, Cody and Mark Shirah, recently appeared on PBS to discuss the critical role of power quality in protecting homes and businesses. As two of only 181 certified power quality experts worldwide, they shared insights on how their innovative solutions safeguard essential equipment and prevent costly downtime. From small residential needs to large-scale industrial solutions, Cardinal Power is dedicated to helping clients achieve reliable and efficient power quality. Watch the interview to learn how their expertise can benefit your home or business.