# Fundamental and harmonic power

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#### alphacat

##### New Member
I use a power measurement IC which can perform the following measurements (among others):
- Fundamental Active Power.
- Harmonic Active Power.

What does each represent?

Thanks fellas.

#### BrownOut

##### Banned
Fundamental power often referes to the desired signal produced by the device or system. For example, if you measure the mains of a US domestic power outlet, it would refer to a 60 Hz sine wave. Harmonic power is the distortion from the ideal sine wave. It comes as a result of a fourier distrubution of harmonic frequencies that make up the distortion.

However, if the system is designed to produce a wave other than a sine wave, then the harmonics may not be distortion, rather they are intentionally produced harmonics.

Last edited:

#### crutschow

##### Well-Known Member
To amplify on BrownOut's post, harmonics are frequencies that are multiples of the fundamental sine wave. Thus the second harmonic of a 60Hz sine wave is 120Hz, the third harmonic is 180Hz, etc.

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