Designing Instrumentation for Electric Power Grids: Practical considerations that are often overlooked

When designing a measuring instrument for electric power grids, it is a common mistake to think that meeting the normal specifications - cost, accuracy, measurement rate, measured parameters, size, weight, and the like - is sufficient. This paper briefly discusses other practical considerations that are often overlooked, but are important for a successful instrument: safety, operating environment, grounding, labelling, front panel design, enclosures, emissions & immunity, fasteners, mechanical shock and vibration, predictable component failures, component suppliers and instrument life cycle, tech support and documentation, and managing expectations.