What are the terms of operation of electric meters in an apartment

Electricity metering devices - electric meters are technical devices responsible for the correct calculation of the consumed current. The shelf life of the electric meter is determined by special standards. After the expiration of the specified period, the device must be replaced, the service company can send a corresponding notification. To avoid a violation and the imposition of penalties, you should familiarize yourself with the general requirements in advance.

Varieties of electricity metering devices

The principle of operation of any meter consists in the interaction of several elements: input and output contacts, internal circuit (mechanical, electronic). By the network used, devices are distinguished that switch with alternating voltage or direct voltage circuits. The first are more common, are divided into the following types:

• induction (used for over 150 years);
• electronic (modern metering devices);
• hybrid (combine the functions of the previous two types).

New connections are made using electronic devices. The masters also recommend changing the old induction options for more modern devices.

General requirements for counters

Any of these types of electrical metering devices must meet several mandatory requirements:

• compliance with the register - a list of imported and domestic brands of manufacturers that have passed attestation, certification and approved for installation on the territory of the Russian Federation;
• registration after the commissioning of a new device or the modernization of an old one (any changes, internal or external, are considered), it is important to check the compliance of the device readings with the data recorded in the certificate;
• mounting height - no more than 1.7 meters from the floor level;
• the corresponding service life of the electric meter in the apartment.

If the device fails the check on at least one of the points, its readings are not taken into account. Penalties may apply. This is especially true for large industrial facilities with a significant level of consumed light.

Replacement guidelines

Outdated models or those that have been used for a long time cannot be replaced, repaired or verified by the state. Replacement is performed in a period called the check interval. The allowable period is 16 years from the date of the last check. Another situation is an obvious breakdown of an electrical device. Replacement in this case is made immediately. Documents on the basis of which the process takes place:

• Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 442 of May 04, 2012 - determines the level of accuracy of instruments, the required indicator is 2.0 and higher;
• the decision of the State Standard, the letter of the State Energy Supervision Service of 2000 - dictate the procedure for replacing technical metering devices.

If the residential premises are in the possession of the consumer, the replacement of devices at the end of the life of the electric meter is carried out at his expense.

However, if technical devices are on the balance sheet of the energy supply company or the owner of an apartment building (municipal, state, other property), reinstallation is carried out at their expense. Responsibilities for the maintenance and maintenance of meters are enshrined in the Civil Code of the Russian Federation (Articles 543, 210), as well as in the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354.

The need to replace old electric meters

For enterprises and citizens, different norms have been established, which depend on the power of the consumed electricity. The service life of the electric meter and the procedure for its replacement are significantly different.

For citizens

Until now, classic induction-type devices have been installed in the apartments of many users - they serve properly, the readings are correct. There are doubts as to whether such a device needs to be replaced. An explanation is given by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation: the main thing is that the meter corresponds to the accuracy class of such equipment, at the moment - 2.0 and more.

The service life of a conventional electric meter is approximately 25-30 years. It is indicated in the technical documentation for the device. If this has not been preserved, you should contact the electrical company for clarification, or find the model on the Internet and compare the data.

If the service life of the electricity meter has not expired and the accuracy class meets the standards, replacement is not required. However, the checks should take place according to the current plan.

For enterprises and organizations

Requirements for large objects are regulated by clause 139 "Basic provisions of the functioning of retail markets". In accordance with this normative act, the ratio of the parameters should be as follows:

• power up to 670 kW - accuracy level 1.0 and more;
• above the specified power limit - 0.5.

An important point - electric meters for organizations should keep readings by the hour, the period should be equal to four months (120 days).

Mandatory replacement of electrical devices

In some cases, it will not be possible to take advantage of the "loopholes". The law establishes a clear list of devices that must be replaced. First of all, these include the following situations:

• planned change of electrical metering devices, which is carried out in connection with the update of the network requirements or as a result of other work;
• breakdown, occurrence of malfunctions, failures, incorrect display of indicators;
• replacement is necessary due to the expiration of the electricity meter (the specific period is indicated in the technical documents).

The law does not establish requirements for choosing a type of electric meter. You can put and register any - induction, electronic, hybrid.

Differences between the expiration date and the interchecking and warranty

The running of the electricity meter begins at the time of sealing. Registration in this situation is carried out automatically by employees of the checking organization. However, this period does not necessarily coincide with the dates indicated in the technical data sheet.

Usually, the documentation indicates the average shelf life of an electric meter in a house or apartment, which is 25-30 years. This period means that, according to the manufacturer's assumptions, the device will work properly within the specified time. Thus, the shelf life of electrical metering devices is calculated and noted.

Several key dates are noted in the passport, which affect the timing of replacing the meters:

• the date the device was put into operation;
• time of next verification.

The difference between the indicated numbers is the intercheck interval, or abbreviated as the MPI. Compliance with the verification periods is essential. The nuance lies in the fact that some breakdowns may appear only after a certain time. These moments cannot be tracked with the naked eye. Moreover, a citizen who is not associated with an electrician will not notice the change. The check interval depends on the model of the electric meter:

• single-phase - 2 years;
• three-phase - 1 year;
• electronic - 4-15 years.

Also, the setting of the check-up period depends on the nature of the check being carried out. Metrological control carries out verification of instruments with a frequency of 16 years, technical control is appointed at least once every 6 years. Organizations serving electrical networks can set separate periods (depending on the work carried out, repairs, updates).

The start of the verification interval is considered to be the date when the equipment was sealed, and not when it was manufactured at the factory.

The warranty period is set by the manufacturer. Within a specified period, the buyer can receive a free repair or replacement. The average duration is 5 years. It is necessary to find out when buying, different manufacturers set different time frames.

The technical passport is one of the most important documents. The dates and results of examinations are indicated here. It also allows you to take advantage of the warranty period.

The procedure for checking the electric meter

Checking of metering devices for electricity consumption is carried out by masters specially authorized by the relevant organizations. For the presence of errors in fixing the readings of the device, they are verified:

• at the time of production - primary;
• at the end of the interchecking intervals, the data of the electric meter and control devices are compared - periodic;
• in the event of emergency situations (loss or breakage of the seal, loss of the technical passport of the device, the occurrence of doubts about the correctness of the readings, etc.) - extraordinary.

Companies whose employees have the right to be inspected and sealed are classified as energy-saving or metrological. It can be difficult to decide on the latter - to find out the organization responsible for the site, to contact, to agree. However, the services of such firms are usually cheaper than a full-time electrician.

The process does not require dismantling the equipment; verification is carried out at the location of the device. Employees carry out work using special measuring devices - ohmmeter, wattmeter, which are alternately connected to the contacts of the meter in several modes. In addition to the correctness of the readings, the sensitivity of the terminals is checked, the serviceability of the case and the examination of the appearance of the product.

If, according to the results of the check, it turns out that the current device gives readings with an error, it is recommended to replace the electricity meter with a new one. Repair of such equipment is expensive, and a faulty master will not seal it.

Service life of the electricity meter

The most common types of reading devices are inductive and electronic. Hybrid use is not recommended by the master. Due to the different design, the periods and requirements differ, after how many years it is necessary to change the installed meters for electricity.

Induction (mechanical)

The principle of operation of this type of metering device is to use electromagnetic induction. Inside there is a coil through which an electric current passes and creates a magnetic field, which, in turn, causes the disk with the fixed numbers to move.Accordingly, the more electrons flow through the coil, the faster the disk rotates and the numbers move. This device has been used to calculate electricity since the end of the 19th century, but has not lost its relevance and performance.

The shelf life of induction-type apartment devices is 30 years, which is due to the design and strength of the materials.

Electronic

Modern counters show a higher accuracy class, which means data fixation with minimal error. The main design difference is the absence of moving elements. In theory, such a feature should increase the service life of the device. But this condition has not yet been verified in practice - electronic meters began to be installed relatively recently.

The service life declared by the designers is 25-30 years. However, the data is still being specified.

Hybrid

Devices of this type are often referred to as models, the appearance of which combines the elements of the previous two. Electricians say that hybrid meters, as a separate class of devices, do not exist. The filling is either mechanical or electronic. For example, a hybrid device is a device with a magnetic coil and a display installed outside.

For mixed electric meters, the service life is set depending on the "filling" - 25-30 years. Such devices are cheaper due to the arrangement of various elements.

The service life of electric meters is the approximate length of time during which the device should work flawlessly. Installed by the manufacturer, indicated in the device passport and is 25-30 years old (depending on the model). The master can determine the exact moment of replacement. If a breakdown is recorded, it is better to replace the device - the repair is expensive and time-consuming.