Enhancing Power System Analytics: Real-World Applications and Improvements of the OpenZmeterGPS for Synchronized Measurements

Synchronized measurements of voltage and current in power systems are essential to understanding network events and improving power quality. However, achieving consistent synchronization across multiple measurement points is challenging due to the different nature of the devices involved. This paper presents new improvements and real-world applications of the open-source hardware platform OpenZmeterGPS (ozmGPS) for GPS-synchronized measurements of voltage and current waveforms that achieve microsecond-level synchronization. When a distributed network of these devices is deployed, power system events can be accurately located and analyzed. Validation on a test distribution network shows the system’s capability to capture and align real power quality events. This paper also highlights the importance of precise synchronization in power system measurements and highlights the potential of open-source software and hardware approaches to improve grid analytics and monitoring and promote cost-effective scalability solutions.