An electric meter is a metering device designed to control the consumed electricity. It is necessary for the energy supplying organization for settlements with populations and enterprises. This value is measured in kilowatt hours. Based on the data displayed on the electric meter, the population pays for the service on a monthly basis.
Causes of meter failure
Electric meters have a limited lifespan, and sometimes fail before the deadlines announced by the manufacturer. One of the main reasons for replacing a device is its malfunction.
Repair of electricity meters cannot be carried out independently. This is due to the need to violate the integrity of the protective seal of the controlling organization and the manufacturer of the seal, which is prosecuted.
The most common reasons why devices fail:
- The results of numerous checks by special controllers showed that the accuracy class of the device becomes less than 2.0. If the indicator is 2.0 and higher, as written in the accompanying documentation, as well as the operational period has not yet expired, the device can continue to be used.
- Due to heating, the contacts were disabled, possibly burned out completely.
- The meter is overloaded, as evidenced by a loud buzz, a change in the color of the inspection window, as well as the appearance of an unpleasant smell of burnt insulation.
- The integrity of the insulating layer on the wires is broken.
- A red light blinks on the electricity meter or slows down / stops the rotation of the disk of an electric device when the load is off. The norm is a single blinking of the light bulb or one turn of the disk for 15 minutes after the network has been de-energized.
- The integrity of the instrument housing was violated. In this case, it will be necessary to replace the device with a new one, since the cases cannot be repaired.
Subject to replacement are devices whose power is lower than the current one, which is fraught with the occurrence of emergency situations.
Types of apparent breakdowns of metering device
If the meter stops, do not worry and panic. This is the usual regular situation that many tenants face.
There are many types of breakdowns, all of which are caused by network instability, overload, mechanical stress and damage. In order to determine the breakdown, in most cases it is enough to inspect the device.
- The electric meter burned out. The contacts and the body are fused, a distinct smell of burning is felt. Typically, this process is accompanied by burnout of the electrical wires that have been connected to the device. In this case, it is impossible to restore it, just change it.
- As a result of mechanical impact, the integrity of the case was violated. Through the sight glass or the case itself, through cracks, various chips and dents formed. In this case, the meter is subject to full or partial replacement.
- As a result of overheating, the contact pads burned out. This problem is caused by a weakening of the contacts between the output and input circuits of the network. The problem can be fixed without removing the counter.
- The meter was regularly overloaded. Induction counters are characterized by one phenomenon - the appearance of buzzing, the sight glass is cloudy for all devices, the smell of burnt insulation is felt. In this case, the meter is also not repairable; it is required to install new equipment designed for higher capacities.
- The meter continues to rotate the wheel with the load off completely. The reasons for this phenomenon may be damage to the integrity of the internal parts, as well as circuits. Perhaps the equipment will be subject to repair.
All of the listed types of breakdowns are explicit.
There are cases in which you need to immediately put a new electric meter:
- The meter has worked out its operational life.
- Accuracy class less than 2.0.
Sometimes there are no obvious signs of a malfunctioning device.
How to independently calculate the hidden cause of a breakdown
If there are no signs of a malfunction of the meter, then you can verify that the equipment is working independently. You will need to turn off electrical appliances and make sure that there is no voltage at the output. The disk should stop spinning.
Counters can be equipped with different scales. For example, if the panel shows that 1 kWh = 5,000 revolutions, then for 1 revolution it winds Sss = 1/5 000 kWh.
After preparations for the minimum load of the home network, a 75 W lamp is connected to the outlet and the number of revolutions made by the disk is counted over 5 minutes.
The power consumption should be A1 = 0.00625 kWh. It is calculated by multiplying the amount of time and power. The meter will display A2 = Sss * N, where the first is the power consumption per 1 revolution, and the second is the number of revolutions for 5 minutes. For example, N = 31, then A1 = A2. Appliances designed to operate in a domestic environment may tolerate errors. If the error is less than the difference between A1 and A2, the technique works properly.
Also, to check the suitability of the meter, you should check the status of the contacts, whether the connections are reliable.
Where to go
If the meter does not show data, first of all, you need to inform the energy supplying organization about this.
If the device in the room poses even the slightest danger: it bursts, makes noise, blinks, smokes or smells burnt, you must definitely turn off the voltage supply at the input.
The next stage is to independently come to the organization and fill out an application on the model, on the basis of which the employees of RES should come home and fix the problem. The statement at the top should indicate the approximate number and time of appearance.
Upon arrival, the inspector draws up a malfunction report on the electric meter. Previously, he carefully examines him and takes the last testimony. It is imperative that when drawing up the act, it is necessary to clarify what reason for the breakdown is indicated so that in the future there will not be disagreements and conflict situations on this basis.
Procedure
If the electricity meter in the apartment breaks down, the algorithm of actions is simple, the main thing is to do everything quickly. This is due to the fact that electricity can be in the house, but the meter will not fix it. As a result, you can get a large fine for the theft of electricity. The algorithm of the tenant and the electrician should be as follows:
- A specialist who arrives at the site is trying to establish the cause of the breakdown, if possible eliminates it or installs a new meter. In municipal apartment buildings, electricity meters are installed for free. In all other cases, you will have to purchase an electric meter yourself. If the device is to be repaired but cannot be repaired on site, it is dismantled and transferred to a laboratory that is authorized to carry out such work. At the end of the work, it is installed in its original place.
- Based on the work performed, the electrician must draw up an act that describes in detail the nature of the breakdown and the appearance of the device. Before you sign, carefully familiarize yourself with the written.Particular attention is paid to the section where it is written about protective seals, whether there is information that they were damaged. In the future, this will avoid accusations. The compiled document is transferred to the management company and RES to record the results of the work done.
- If the electric meter has been replaced by a new one, it must be sealed. This procedure can only be carried out by an authorized employee of the energy supply company. Until a protective seal is installed, the device is considered not put into operation, payment is carried out according to the standards approved by the state apparatus of the Russian Federation. Information on the date of work is recorded in the act of installing a protective seal, and it determines the time period for the state inspection of the electric meter in accordance with the established regulations.
In new buildings, subject to all requirements of the PUE, you can install metering devices yourself. Check the performance and seal must employees RES.
