Harmonics from a domestic customer with different lamp technologies

This paper presents the results of a set of measurements to study changes in harmonic emission from a domestic customer due to the introduction of energy-efficient lamps (CFL and LED lamps). This emission has been studied through both magnitude and complex harmonic current. We can see that the emission depends on the lamps that are connected as a background. Sometimes adding a new device reduces the harmonic sometimes it increases it. The harmonic current produced by aggregate loads is significantly smaller than the algebraic sum of the harmonic current produced by each one separately. Therefore, it can be some cancellation effect not only between devices, but also among customers. Overall, the measurements confirm the conclusion that there is some increase in harmonic emission due to the replacement of incandescent lamps by CFLs and LED lamps, but that there is no reason for concern.