Harmonics
Updated 2026-10-27
Data records
- In IEEE 1159-2019 harmonics are sinusoidal voltages or currents at frequencies that are integer multiples of the fundamental supply frequency; combined with the fundamental they produce waveform distortion, and they arise from the nonlinear characteristics of devices and loads.
- IEEE 1159-2019 names rectified-input switching power supplies as a major harmonic contributor, models diode bridges and line-commutated converters as harmonic current sources, and models pulse-width modulated inverters and rotating machines as harmonic voltage sources behind their internal impedance.
- IEEE 519-2022 defines harmonics as the components of order greater than one in the Fourier series of a periodic quantity.
Sources
- IEEE 1159-2019, Recommended Practice for Monitoring Electric Power Quality, 2019 edition, IEEE. Cited: clause 4.4.5.2. Held as: Purchased single-user copy. Publisher page for IEEE 1159-2019Publisher information page
- IEEE 519-2022, Harmonic Control in Electric Power Systems, 2022 edition, IEEE. Cited: clause 3.1. Held as: Purchased single-user copy. Publisher page for IEEE 519-2022Publisher information page
Obtaining the documents
- IEEE 1159-2019: available from the publisher
- IEEE 519-2022: available from the publisher
Changelog (3 entries)
| Date | Revision | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-27 | created (gloss.harmonics.ieee1159.definition) | |
| 2026-10-27 | created (gloss.harmonics.ieee1159.sources) | |
| 2026-10-27 | created (gloss.harmonics.ieee519.definition) |
Cite this page
Cite the governing standard for the fact itself; cite this page as the finding aid.
"Harmonics." Power Quality Reference. 2026-10-27. https://www.powerqualityreference.com/glossary/harmonics/.
Power Quality Reference, Harmonics (Oct. 27, 2026), https://www.powerqualityreference.com/glossary/harmonics/.
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howpublished = {\url{https://www.powerqualityreference.com/glossary/harmonics/}},
organization = {Power Quality Reference},
publisher = {Power Quality Reference},
year = {2026},
note = {last substantive change 2026-10-27}
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