Simplify High-Voltage Power Measurement with the Yokogawa WT1500

July 29, 2026

Do you need to perform accurate power measurements across high-voltage electric vehicle, renewable energy or energy storage systems without making your test setup unnecessarily complex? If so, the new Yokogawa WT1500 High-Precision Power Analyzer offers a compact and scalable solution.
 
Designed for demanding testing environments, the WT1500 combines four-channel power measurement, direct high-voltage measurement, wide-bandwidth capability and motor evaluation support in a space-saving instrument. It helps engineers simplify system integration while maintaining the measurement confidence required for next-generation electrified and energy technologies.
 
Why Accurate Power Measurement Matters
 
Power conversion is central to applications such as electric vehicles, energy storage systems and renewable energy infrastructure. In an electric vehicle, for example, the direct-current power supplied by the battery must be converted into three-phase alternating-current power to drive the motor. In renewable energy and energy storage applications, power conversion systems regulate the transfer of energy between generation, storage and the electrical grid.
 
The efficiency of these systems depends on the performance of components including batteries, inverters, converters and motors. Even small power losses can affect energy consumption, operating range, thermal management and overall system performance. Accurate measurement is therefore essential throughout research, development, validation and production.
 
Direct High-Voltage Power Measurement
 
One of the main challenges is the increasing voltage level used in modern power systems. Target voltages can reach several thousand volts, meaning conventional test setups may require specialized external high-voltage dividers.
 
However, high-voltage dividers can introduce additional measurement errors. They also increase the amount of wiring, equipment and installation space required within the test system. Every additional component can make the measurement chain more difficult to configure, verify and maintain.
 
The WT1500 addresses this challenge with a high voltage input element that supports direct measurement up to 2000 V. This enables engineers to measure high-voltage power systems directly, reducing or eliminating the need for external voltage dividers.
 
Wide-Bandwidth Measurement for Complex Waveforms
 
High voltage is only one part of the measurement challenge. Modern inverters and electric motors also generate increasingly complex waveforms containing high-frequency components. These signals must be measured accurately to evaluate power conversion efficiency and understand losses throughout the system.
 
For these applications, the WT1500 supports a wide bandwidth input element with a measurement range of up to 2 MHz. This capability enables engineers to capture the complex waveforms generated by modern inverter-driven motors and power electronic systems.
 
High-voltage and wide-bandwidth input elements can be combined within the same WT1500 unit. Both element types also share a common current sensor input, giving engineers the flexibility to configure the instrument according to the voltage level, bandwidth and measurement characteristics of the application.
 
Integrated Motor and Inverter Evaluation
 
Consider the evaluation of an electrified vehicle powertrain. Measuring the overall efficiency of the system may require simultaneous measurements at the battery, inverter and motor. Electrical input and output power must be evaluated together with mechanical parameters such as motor speed, torque and rotation angle.
 
In conventional setups, power measurements and resolver signals may be acquired separately and then synchronized using a personal computer. This can add complexity to the measurement process and make it more difficult to align the data accurately.
 
The WT1500 supports both encoder and resolver signal inputs, allowing motor evaluation data to be measured alongside electrical power. This helps engineers conduct motor and inverter efficiency testing without requiring separate resolver measurement equipment.
 
The instrument supports up to four power measurements and four motor evaluations within a compact 2U chassis. This makes it suitable for rack-mounted test systems where equipment space is limited and multiple instruments must be integrated into a single validation environment.

 
Scalable Measurement up to 20 Power Channels
 
For applications that require more than four power channels, the WT1500 provides a scalable measurement architecture. Up to five WT1500 units can be synchronized, enabling simultaneous measurement across as many as 20 power channels.
 
One unit acts as the main controller, managing the configuration of the connected subunits and consolidating the acquired data. This enables engineers to expand the measurement system as the number of power conversion stages, motors or energy flows increases.
 
Multi-unit synchronization is particularly useful for complex applications such as dual-inverter motor systems, multi-motor powertrains, eAxle validation, energy storage systems and power conversion installations. Instead of replacing the entire measurement platform when additional channels are required, engineers can add WT1500 units to match the scale of the test system.
 
Integration into Modern Validation Systems
 
Modern validation systems also require power analyzers to communicate effectively with other instruments, control systems and data-acquisition platforms. The WT1500 supports IEEE-1588 time synchronization, data output to CAN and CAN-FD bus, and low-latency data transmission using UDP communication.
 
A range of interfaces supports remote control through a personal computer, external monitor or tablet. The instrument also includes a compact front panel for straightforward connection setup and standalone operation.

 
Flexible Current Sensor Connectivity
 
Current measurement flexibility is another important consideration. Different applications may require current sensors ranging from low-current probes to high-current, penetration-type or split-core sensors.
 
The WT1500 includes four dedicated current sensor input terminals that also provide power to connected current sensors. Together with a range of current adapters, these inputs support multiple sensor types, including alternating-current and direct-current sensors, split-core sensors and alternating-current clamp probes.
 
Scalable High-Voltage Validation for Next-Generation Systems
 
Ultimately, the WT1500 provides a balance of high-precision measurement, high-voltage capability, wide-bandwidth performance and scalable system integration. It is designed to help engineers reduce test complexity while obtaining the measurements needed to evaluate power, efficiency and motor performance.
 
Whether you are developing electric vehicles, eAxle systems, batteries, renewable energy installations, energy storage systems, power conversion systems or semiconductor-based power electronics, the WT1500 provides a flexible platform for scalable high-voltage validation.
 
For further information about the Yokogawa WT1500 High-Precision Power Analyzer, click here. 

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