An electric meter is a metering device designed to control consumed electricity. It is necessary for the energy supplying organization for settlements with the population, enterprises. This value is measured in kilowatt-hours. Based on the data displayed on the electric meter, the population pays for the service every month.
Causes of malfunctions of the electricity meter
Electric meters have a limited service life, and sometimes fail earlier than the terms stated by the manufacturer. One of the main reasons for replacing a device is its malfunction.
Repair of electricity meters cannot be carried out on your own. This is due to the need to violate the integrity of the security seal of the controlling organization and the manufacturer of the seal, which is punishable by law.
The most common reasons why devices fail are:
- The results of numerous tests by special controllers have shown that the accuracy class of the device becomes less than 2.0. If the indicator is 2.0 or higher, as it is written in the accompanying documentation, as well as the operating period has not yet expired, the device can continue to be used.
- Due to heating, the contacts were disabled, possibly completely burnt out.
- The meter is overloaded, as evidenced by a loud hum, a change in the color of the viewing window, as well as the appearance of an unpleasant smell of burnt insulation.
- The integrity of the insulating layer on the wires is broken.
- On the electricity meter, a red light flashes or deceleration / stopping of rotation of the disk of an electrical device when the load is disconnected. The norm is a single blink of a light bulb or one turn of the disk within 15 minutes after the network has been de-energized.
- The integrity of the instrument case has been compromised. In this case, it will be necessary to replace the device with a new one, since the housings cannot be repaired.
Devices whose power is lower than the current one are subject to replacement, which is fraught with emergencies.
Types of obvious breakdowns of the metering device
There are many types of breakdowns, all of them are caused by network instability, overload, mechanical stress and damage. To determine a breakdown, in most cases, it is enough just to inspect the device.
- The electric meter burned out. Contacts and body are melted, there is a distinct burning smell. As a rule, this process is accompanied by burnout of electrical wires that were connected to the device. In this case, it is impossible to restore it, only change it.
- As a result of mechanical action, the integrity of the hull was violated. Through cracks, various chips and dents formed on the sight glass or the case itself. In this case, the meter must be completely or partially replaced.
- As a result of overheating, the contact pads are burnt. This problem is caused by loosening of contacts between the output and input circuits of the network. The problem can be eliminated without dismantling the meter.
- The meter was regularly overloaded. For induction meters, one phenomenon is characteristic - the appearance of a buzz, the sight glass of all devices becomes cloudy, there is a smell of burnt insulation.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 when the load is completely disconnected. The reasons for this phenomenon can be damage to the integrity of the internal parts, as well as circuits. The equipment may need to be repaired.
All of the listed types of breakdowns are obvious.
There are cases in which you need to immediately install a new electric meter:
- The meter has expired its operational life.
- The accuracy class of the device is less than 2.0.
Sometimes there are no obvious signs of incorrect operation of the device.
How to independently calculate the hidden cause of a breakdown
If there are no signs of a metering device malfunction, then you can make sure that the equipment is working properly. You will need to turn off electrical devices and make sure that there is no voltage at the output. The disc should stop spinning.
Counters can be equipped with different scales. For example, if the panel displays that 1 kWh = 5,000 revolutions, then for 1 revolution it winds up CC = 1/5000 kWh.
After preparatory measures for the minimum load of the home network, a 75 W lamp is connected to the outlet and the number of revolutions produced by the disc is counted for 5 minutes.
Electricity consumption should be A1 = 0.00625 kWh. Calculated by multiplying the amount of time and power. The meter will display A2 = Ссч * N, where the first is the power consumption for 1 revolution, and the second is the number of revolutions for 5 minutes. For example, N = 31, then A1 = A2. Appliances intended for use in a domestic environment may be subject to inaccuracies. If the error is less than the difference between A1 and A2, the equipment is working properly.
Also, to check the suitability of the meter, you should check the condition of the contacts, whether the connections are reliable.
Where to go
If the electricity meter does not show data, first of all, you need to inform the energy supplying organization about it.
If the device in the room poses even the slightest danger: it crackles, makes noise, blinks, smokes or smells burnt, it is imperative to turn off the voltage supply at the input.
The next step is to independently come to the organization and fill out an application according to the model, on the basis of which the employees of the RES must come home and fix the problem. The application must indicate the approximate number and time of attendance at the top.
Upon arrival, the inspector draws up a report on the malfunction of the electric meter. Beforehand, he carefully examines it and takes the last testimony. It is imperative that when drawing up an act, it is necessary to clarify what reason for the breakdown is indicated, so that in the future there will be no disagreements and conflict situations on this basis.
Procedure
If the electric 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 there may be electricity in the house, but the meter will not record it. As a result, you can get a large fine for theft of electricity. The algorithm of actions of the tenant and the electrician should be as follows:
- The specialist who arrived at the site is trying to establish the cause of the breakdown, if possible, eliminate it or install a new metering device. In municipal apartment buildings, electricity meters are installed free of charge. In all other cases, you will have to purchase an electric meter yourself. If the device needs to be repaired, but it 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.
- The electrician, on the basis of the work performed, must draw up an act, which describes in detail the nature of the breakdown and the appearance of the device. Before signing, carefully familiarize themselves with the written.Particular attention is paid to the section where it is written about the security seals, if there is information that they have been damaged. In the future, this will avoid accusations. The drawn up document is transferred to the management company and the RES to record the results of the work done.
- If the electric meter has been replaced with a new one, it must be sealed without fail. This procedure can only be carried out by an authorized employee of the energy supply company. Until the security seal is installed, the device is considered not put into operation, payment is made according to the norms approved by the state apparatus of the Russian Federation. In the act of installing a security seal, information on the date of the work is recorded, it is this that determines the period for the state inspection of the electric meter according to the established regulations.
In new buildings, subject to all the requirements of the PUE, you can install metering devices yourself. The employees of the RES should check the operability and carry out the sealing.
