The PSL Story
Power Standards Lab is the global hub of engineering information about electric power measurement and immunity to electric power disturbances.
On a typical day, engineers at PSL answer technical questions about power measurement from more than 10 countries; certify the immunity of multi-million-dollar equipment to voltage sags; and deliver dozens of new PQube Power Monitors that record every aspect of power consumption and disturbances all over the world.
PSL By The Numbers
34% of PSL employees are Engineers.
PSL employees speak 14 languages, as either first or second language.
PSL is responsible for maintaining
3 IEC standards
and
1 SEMI standard
PSL is responsible for liaison between the IEEE and the IEC on 54 standards.
100% of PSL is owned privately. 80% is controlled by Employees and our associates.
Between 2009 and 2014, PSL grew by 440%.
PSL products are used in 58 countries.
For PSL's PQ1 Power Quality Sensor, the historic Mean Time Between Failure is more than 1,000,000 hours.
PSL's lightning generator bursts out 6,000 volts at 3,000 amps.
PSL's ultimate Laboratory Standards, the PSL Volt and the PSL Ohm, are actually 1.00000096 volts and 0.099999863 ohms.
PSL tests insulation in its instruments at up to 15,000 volts,and critical current conductors at up to 600 amps(and larger too, like the voltage).
Globally, more than 32,500 engineers have signed up to receive PSL's Newsletter.
PSL's Power Quality Teaching Toy program is used by more than 150 Engineering programs at global universities.
PSL Timeline
  • 2000 - Alex McEachern and Barry Tangney start Power Standards Lab in Emeryville, California, in a garage next to a soap factory.
  • 2001 - First PSL voltage sag generator introduced.
  • 2003 - PQ1 Power Quality Sensor introduced.
  • 2004 - McEachern becomes Convenor of IEC 61000-4-30 (Power Quality Measurement Methods) standard
  • 2004 - Industrial Power Corruptor introduced.
  • 2005 - PSL expands into large new building in Alameda, California.
  • 2006 - McEachern becomes Chairman of SEMI F47 standard.
  • 2008 - PQube Power Monitor introduced.
  • 2009 - First IEC Working Group meeting held at Power Standards Lab.
  • 2010 - PSL expands into 2020 Challenger Drive, in Alameda.
  • 2011 - First International PSL Distributor Meeting held in Alameda; 15 countries participate
  • 2012 - PSL selected as the Certification authority by all leading worldwide manufacturers of power quality instruments
  • 2013 - The U.S. Department of Energy chooses PSL to develop a new micro-synchrophasor instrument. Second International Distributor Meeting, 21 countries participate.
  • 2014 - PSL expands to 980 Atlantic Avenue, tripling its space and expanding into a modern new manufacturing building in Alameda.
  • 2015 - Third International PSL Distributor Meeting held in Alameda, 33 countries participate. PSL introduces the PQube 3 - the best power quality and energy instrument ever made.