Both residential and office premises need a clear accounting of electricity costs. PU for this purpose can be used different - mechanical or electrical. The last type of counters is becoming more and more popular nowadays. This type of instrument is characterized by long service life and high accuracy.
There are many brands of electric PUs on the market today. And one of the most reliable devices of this variety, of course, is the Mercury counter. Electrical appliances of this variety can be seen today in many homes, apartments and offices.
Who releases
The domestic company Inateks is engaged in the production of these meters. Its department, which produces various kinds of household appliances under the Mercury trademark, has existed since 2000. For almost two decades, Inatex specialists have developed hundreds of various electrical devices necessary for use both at home and at work.
Today, the Inatex group of companies supplies the market with onlythe most reliable electrical measuring equipment - very functional, modern design. More than 120 models have been supplied to the market by the company up to the present day.
Development history
When creating electric meters "Mercury", the company "Inateks" took into account, first of all, the experience of other manufacturers. The main development goals were to obtain a metering device:
- reliable;
- with modern element base;
- low cost;
- with advanced functionality.
As a result, the company's specialists created a meter, which until now has no analogues on the Russian market. Reviews of PU of this brand from consumers actually deserve mostly only good ones.
In the manufacture of PU "Mercury" components from such manufacturers as, for example, Holtek, Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics are used. The power supply of these meters does not contain high-voltage pulse elements, which increases their reliability and makes them inexpensive. These devices measure the parameters according to the principle of digital signal processing. Their functionality is increased by software, not hardware. All this, of course, has a beneficial effect, including on the performance of devices.
Benefits of using Mercury counters
The majority of consumers refer to the advantages of devices of this brand:
- multifunctionality;
- low cost;
- easy to install and use;
- good build quality.
In addition, the Mercury electric meters are praised by the owners of houses and apartments for the high reliability of data transmission. At present, there are more than 900,000 users of such equipment in the countries of the former CIS. Counters of this brand pay off when installed indoors for about three years. Of course, the term is not particularly long.
Types of counters "Mercury"
Currently, Inatex supplies the market with the following types of metering devices:
- transformer connection meters;
-
accounting for active-reactive energy;
- with built-in modems.
Of course, if desired, consumers have the opportunity to purchase both single-tariff and multi-tariff metering devices from this manufacturer. Also, if necessary, in addition to the Mercury counter, you can buy a remote control. Use of such a device is allowed from a distance of up to 25 meters.
Of course, consumers, if desired, can purchase both a single-phase electric meter "Mercury" and a three-phase one. The first type of metering devices is usually used in city apartments and offices. Three-phase meters are used in enterprises and large country houses.
Most Popular Models
Meters of this brand are considered reliable assingle-phase and three-phase. In the first case, the most popular model among consumers is Mercury 201.5. It is this counter in 2017 that apartment owners buy and install most often. The most popular model of a three-phase meter manufactured by Inateks is Mercury 231 AM-01. Also, the model 230 from this manufacturer deserved simply excellent reviews from consumers.
Specifications for model 201.5
The electrical energy meter "Mercury 201.5" is used most often in domestic conditions. This model is mounted on a DIN rail, which, in turn, is fixed through a special plate using self-tapping screws. The presence of such an addition, of course, greatly facilitates the task of installing the device. There are several modifications of the Mercury 201.5 counter on the market today. For example, consumers can purchase an LCD or remote control option.
This model has an accuracy class of 1.0 and a calibration interval of 16 years. Among other things, counters 201.5 are also frost-resistant. Therefore, they can be used, including in unheated rooms or even on the street. Technical characteristics of the electric meter "Mercury 201.5" can be found in the table below.
| Parameter | Indicator |
| Rated voltage | 5 volts |
| Frequencynetworks | 50Hz |
| Display device | OU |
| Range of possible use temperatures | From -40 to +55 oC |
| Dimensions | 105x105x65mm |
| Weight | No more than 350 grams |
| Warranty | 6 years |
| Possible service life | 30 years |
Technical characteristics of the meter 231 AM-01
This model is very well suited for installation, for example, in a large country house. It can be used in both three- and four-wire networks. If necessary, the counter "Mercury 231 AM-01" can be integrated into ASKUE. The accuracy class of this device is 0.5 or 0.1.
The advantages of this model, among other things, include rich functionality. For example, the counter 231 AM-01 has:
- self-diagnosis function with indication;
- indicator of availability and consumption of electricity.
Integer values for this model display 5 reels, tenths - 1. Below is a table with the technical characteristics of this model.
| Parameter | Meaning |
| Rated voltage | 3220/380V |
| Number of tariffs | 1 |
| Check interval | 10 years |
| Mass | No more than 800 grams |
| Dimensions | 142x157x65 |
Three-phase electricity meter "Mercury 230"
This multifunctional and rather expensive model is most actively used at manufacturing enterprises, in dacha cooperatives, housing and communal services structures. These devices are used for multi-tariff metering of consumed electricity in three-phase networks. Also this model has the following functionality:
- accumulation and storage of received data;
- output visual information on the display;
- Measurement of additional parameters characterizing the quality of the supplied electricity;
- transmission of information over the electrical network.
Technical characteristics of the electric meter "Mercury" three-phase can be found in the table.
| Parameter | Meaning |
| Accuracy class | 0.5 or 0.1 |
| Number of tariffs | 4 |
| Number of tariff months | 12 |
| Data security | Permanent information - 40 years, operational - 10 years |
| Operating temperature range | -40 - +55 oC |
| Dimensions | 258x170x74 mm |
| Manufacturer's warranty | 3 years. |
Three-phase electric meter "Mercury 230", thus, the model is reliable, durable and easy to use.
Where to buy
When purchasing an electric meter "Mercury", among other things, you should make sure that a certificate is attached to it. Meters of this brand are sold, like any other, usually in specialized electrical stores. In any case, it is recommended to buy Mercury meters only from official Incotex dealers. Firstly, in this case it will be possible to purchase a quality model with a guarantee. And secondly, meters from Incotex dealers are much cheaper than from resellers.
Consumer Reviews
Opinion about the meters "Mercury" among the owners of houses, apartments and production workers has developed, as already mentioned, not bad. These devices, according to many consumers, are of high quality and reliable. The advantages of these counters include, first of all, their relatively low cost. The price for them is lower than for similar products of many other companies, including domestic ones. Another advantage of thesecounters, it is considered that complete with them, unlike competitors' products, there is a mounting plate. That is, the purchased counter can be immediately installed in place. For this, it is not even necessary to invite a specialist.
Another advantage of the PU "Mercury" is the convenience of taking readings. The numbers on the display of these counters are very large. Therefore, in order to determine the amount of electricity consumed, it is not necessary, for example, to stand on a chair.
Small size and weight are, of course, also what consumers attribute to the pluses of these PUs. Well, of course, the advantage of this counter is its full compliance with the requirements of GOST. Consumers almost never have problems with incorrect calculation of electricity when using Mercury devices.
The disadvantages of counters from this manufacturer, the owners of houses and apartments include, first of all, a short warranty period. For similar devices of other brands, it is usually larger. Also, some consumers note the fact that defective samples are sometimes found in batches of Mercury electric meters. Many owners of country houses strongly discourage the use of these devices at sub-zero temperatures. In this case, they may unfortunately give inaccurate readings.
