Unable to Recharge the prepaid meter

Solution: Connectivity Check: Confirm the meter is successfully communicating with the server. Serial Number Verification (SmartComm): Access the SmartComm Customer Master and ensure the serial number recorded matches the physical serial number of the connected meter. Duplicate Configuration Check: Verify that no two meters are incorrectly configured with the exact same serial number in the system.

Email Configuration SMTP Details Outlook

Solution: SMTP Host/Server Name: For Outlook.com: smtp-mail.outlook.com For Office 365/Microsoft 365: smtp.office365.com SMTP Port:587 (recommended) Encryption Method: STARTTLS Authentication: Your email account needs to be authenticated, so enable login or use the ""My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication"" option in your email client. Username: Your full Outlook email address (e.g., yourname@outlook.com or yourname@domain.com) Password: Blank

Email Configuration App Password creation for Gmail account

Reason - Gmail will work only with a secure encrypted app password Solution: Go to your Google Account settings. Navigate to the Security tab. If you don't have it enabled, turn on Two-Step Verification. Find and click on App passwords. Select an app name (like ""SMTP"" or ""Mail Client"") and click Generate. Copy the generated 16-character password and use it in your mail client's password field instead of your main Gmail password.

Email Configuration SMTP Details Gmail

Solution: Gmail SMTP Settings SMTP Server: smtp.gmail.com Port: 587: (requires STARTTLS/TLS) 465: (requires SSL) Authentication: Required Username: Your full Gmail address (e.g., user@gmail.com) Password: An App Password generated from your Google Account security settings Security/Connection: TLS or SSL, depending on the port chosen

Transfer existing sensor to a different gateway

Reason - Loss of old data stored under device id created Solution: To prevent data loss, edit the sensor and use the "Move to Gateway" option to transfer the sensor to a different gateway.

Asset list is not available in the filter

Reason - The asset is not assigned to the organization Solution: Check the asset selection settings in organization settings

Reason - Sensor/gateway limit exceeded Solution: Check license information for sensor/gateway limit

Cannot change the ip address of gateway

Reason - The ip address should is not available Solution: 1. if company network is being used check the accesibility to access 2. check if set ip is with in subnet range 3. Check if Primary and Secondary DNS is correct as per network settings 4. Set the Default Gateway IP to match the router's IP or the company network's default gateway IP.

3rd part meter not communication

Reason - 1. Memory map configuration wrong 2. (10 power -4 )Conversion factor is not available in third party memory map configuration 3. Data on modscan and software is matching but not matching with meter display readings Solution: 1. Verify data via Modscan, check wiring, confirm the meter parameter's datatype/function code in the memory map, and ensure the gateway supports that parameter datatype. 2. Can be added from conversion factor available in Master settings

Could not download certificate

Reason - All mandatory fields are not saved in organisation info settings Solution: All details should be given in mandatory field of organisation settings

Monitoring True Power factor using DPM

Updated: Sep 08, 2026 | 6 min read

Technical Articles

Published: Jul 14, 2026 by Divyesh B. Vaghasiya

Technical Articles

Click on any topic to jump to that section

Power factor is the cosine of angle between the voltage sine wave and the current sine wave. It is the ratio of True power (kW) to Apparent Power (kVA).

Power Factor (PF) = kW/kVA

Depending on which value of voltage and current we consider, there are different types of power factors:

1) Displacement PF - The power factor which is due to the phase shift between voltage and current at the fundamental frequency is known as displacement power factor.

Displacement PF = P/(V₁I₁)

2) Distortion PF - The power factor which includes the effect of harmonics present in the system is called distortion power factor.

3) True PF - It is defined as the ratio of average power to apparent power. Both the above power factors together combine to form the True power factor.

True PF = Displacement PF x Distortion PF

True PF = P/V_rmsI_rms

Understanding the various types of power factor is very important because all three have different implications.

True PF = Displacement PF x Distortion PF

Power factor improvement methods using capacitors will help to improve displacement pf. However, if the system is polluted by harmonics, it will reflect in lower distortion power factor. True power factor is the product of displacement and distortion power factor.^[1]

Harmonic levels are measured as Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). Higher THD implies lower distortion PF. The graph here depicts the impact of THD levels on the true power factor of nonlinear loads.

The following table shows how different types of power factor vary with THD.

THD-I	Displacement PF (assumed to be compensated by equivalent Capacitors)	Distortion PF	True PF
5%	0.999	0.999	0.998
30%	0.999	0.958	0.957
40%	0.999	0.929	0.928

THD-I	Displacement PF (assumed to be compensated by equivalent Capacitors)	Distortion PF	True PF
5%	0.999	0.999	0.998
30%	0.999	0.958	0.957
40%	0.999	0.929	0.928

Overall, it will reflect in lower pf value. Hence, even if the displacement PF is corrected up to unity, the true PF will remain low because of poor distortion PF.

Our Digital panel meters have the flexibility to display displacement PF as well as True PF.

How to select True PF?

Digital Panel meters offers selection of PF types by means of VA selection methods. To achieve this, enter in programming mode of DPM and drill down to VA selection option.

1. Displacement PF

To display Displacement PF, select Vector Harmonics VA. Factory default is vector harmonics method.

2. True PF

To display True PF, select Arithmetic VA.

Arithmetic VA=Voltage*Current

APFC panels with detuned filters can effectively increase the displacement PF to unity. But true power factor will remain low due to low distortion PF. Thus, to improve distortion PF, Active Harmonic Filter should be used to mitigate harmonics.^[1]

Monitoring of displacement or true power factors can be achieved using L&T Electrical & Automation’s Digital Panel meter series using the above selection method. To continuously monitor these, SmartComm EMS is recommended along with a host of other energy management benefits.

[1] L&T Electrical & Automation's VArticle Issue 33 - Harmonics and its impacts on power factor - Distortion Power Factor

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About the Author

Divyesh B. Vaghasiya,

Senior Product Management and Marketing professional

Divyesh B. Vaghasiya is a Senior Product Management and Marketing professional focused on Industrial IoT, Energy Management, and Smart Technologies. With 13+ years of experience in the electrical and automation industry, he combines deep technical knowledge with strategic business thinking. He shares perspectives on emerging technologies, product management, sustainability, and digital transformation, helping businesses navigate the evolving energy landscape.