How to check the correct operation of the meter ?

How often perform validation?

So, if you are familiar with one of the following situations, you should lose no time to check if the shakes electric meter in a private home or apartment: even though you use the appliances in the same mode as before

1. electricity consumption has increased dramatically.In addition, new appliances have been purchased and correspondingly connected to the network.
2. opposite situation - you are less likely to use steel appliances, but electricity consumption has not decreased (for example, during your long absence).
3. electricity consumption is very high, much higher than it might be in reality.For example, if you are in an apartment there is nothing more powerful than a teapot, and electricity consumption is the same as that of a neighbor, who daily uses either air conditioning oil heater.

If you are familiar with the above mentioned situation, read the tips below, and immediately proceed to the verification of the meter on the self-propelled and accounting error.To test the device, you will need a stopwatch, a calculator, a multimeter and a 100-watt incandescent bulb.

Step 1 - Check the correct connection

The first thing you should check whether the electric meter is connected to the network 220 or 380 volts.Wiring diagram of single-phase meter, we have described to you.It looks like this:

If in your case the connection does not match the example, you need as quickly as possible to solve this problem.Illegal connection entails not only a possible malfunction of the electric meter, but the imposition of hefty fines.

All wires are connected as it should?Go to the more severe test of the device - in the self-propelled.

Step 2 - Confirm that the drive is not spinning freely

To check the electric meter at home on a self-propelled, enough to turn off all the circuit breakers, which are located below the counter and service outlets, the group lighting and some electrical appliances in the house.The individual is not automatic?Just switch off from the wall socket all the appliances and light switches translate to "Off." Mode.The idea is that in such a situation, you should not have power consumption.We are waiting for 10-15 minutes and perform a visual inspection - looking, blinking a lamp on the front panel, or if the disc is spinning in the counter mechanism.

If defective electric meter, flashing should not occur (maximum can blink once every 5-10 minutes), and the drive to stop (or make one revolution in 10 minutes).Otherwise, your electricity meter has not been tested on a self-propelled by the momentum and the need to call the service company, which is able to more thoroughly check the electric meter in the laboratory.

Step 3 - Count the measurement error

To check the correct operation of the electric meter is necessary to calculate its accounting error.To do this you need an ordinary incandescent lamp (as a load), multimeter, calculator and stopwatch.Immediately we recommend to read about how to use a multimeter, if you do not know.You must use an electronic model (not dial instrument or clamp meter).

So checking technology as follows:

1. Measure supply voltage using a multimeter.To learn how to measure the voltage at the wall outlet, we were told in the corresponding article.220 Volt you will hardly, therefore, write on a sheet the actual value - for example, 223 volts.
2. Measure power lamp current.To do this, place the tester in the ammeter mode and connect it to the light bulb.For example, take a value of 0.43 A.
3. Discover the real power of the bulb - voltage multiply the strength of the current.In this case, 223 * 0.4 = 96 watts.As you can see, has a deviation of 4% of the technical characteristics of incandescent lamps.In addition, calculate the resistance of the lamp - 223 / 0.4 (we got 557.5 ohms).
4. Now you have to check the meter itself.When connected to the network, measure the lamp, at least, how long the electric meter will flash 10 times, or 10 times the scroll dial.At the same time you have to control the supply voltage at this time.For example, the counter 10 turns made exactly 2 minutes (120 seconds), and the voltage and the remaining 223 volts.
5. Locate the meter on the front panel of its constant, which is denoted by "3200 imp / kWh" or other value.
6. According to the formula P = U * U / R, calculate the actual energy consumption.So you can check how many lamp consumes at present.For example, 223/223 * 89 W 557.5 will
7. Find out how many watts have been spent for the audit period (120 seconds).To do this, (89 W * 120 s) / 3600. We got 2, 97 watt-hour.
8. Check the meter error in the calculation is performed on the "1000 * Number of revolutions / A (a constant specified on the front panel)" .K example 1000 * 10/3200 get 3.13 Wh.
9. Determine the error.For this purpose (2,97-3,13) / 3.13 * 100 = -5%.This result means that the meter error is not significant, becausea tolerance of up to 10%.In our experiment, the counter has passed validation evidence.
   

   calculation formula option 2

Video instructions for calculation and measurement part:

That's the way you can check the electricity meter multimeter at home.As you can see, technology is quite simple and can handle the calculations even a schoolboy, not to mention the home master self-taught.

Step 4 - Check the magnetization

Often Internet users asking how to check the electric meter Energomera, Mercury or the Neva on the magnetization.The fact is that if you decide to stop the power meter magnet, and the model in an electronic device installed anti-magnetic seal, the test is very simple - a sticker or a special indicator changes its color.As a result - when it's checked, you can easily be accused of malpractice.

If you have more than a simple counter model is working properly after the magnet, you can use a thin needle - if it will be attracted to the panel, then the electric meter is magnetized.Usually 2-3 days after you remove the magnet from the dial, the magnetization passes.If the problem persists, you can buy a special demagnitizator as in the photo below:

This concludes our test unit electricity metering technology.Now you know how to check the electric meter at home and what kind of equipment you need to do!