Any homeowner must install water, electricity, gas, etc. metering devices. If there is a delay in the installation of heat and water metering devices, then the installation of an electricity meter should be completed first.
How to choose an electricity meter?
Absolutely all companies that produce such devices give them a warranty period of sixteen years, and this is a lot and suggests that frequent replacement is not required.
But on the rare occasions when it does come down to buying a new meter, a customer without complete information may make the wrong choice. Which electricity meter is better to put? First you need to familiarize yourself with the principle of operation of the electric meter, as well as with the existing model range.
Induction electricity meter
There are two types of electricity meters: induction and electronic. What e-mail the counter is best to use, decide by reading the informationbelow.
So, the first type of devices is mechanical. The composition of the induction meter includes a voltage coil, a metal disk and a current coil. Due to the magnetic field that appears due to the interaction of the two coils, the metal disk begins to rotate, also rotating the wheels with numbers showing the amount of electrical energy expended.
Such devices have their pros and cons. The advantages include their relatively low cost and long service life, and the disadvantages are the error in the readings of about 2%. But the long period of presence of this type of meters on the market overshadows a rather large percentage of the error and makes them quite popular among buyers. Therefore, to answer the question of which counter is better, let's look at the second type of device.
Electronic counter
The electronic apparatus is fundamentally different from the above. It completely lacks any signs of mechanics, and the current is directly supplied to microcircuits and semiconductors. These microcircuits show the amount of electricity consumed, displaying numbers on the built-in electronic display. The main positive characteristics of such a measuring device are its small size, more accurate data, electronic display, ease of reading and the ability to calculate consumption for several different tariff plans. And the high cost and relatively short service life are unpleasant additions to it.
Single-phase electricity meters
By the type of network to whichconnection is in progress, electricity meters are divided into single-phase and three-phase.
Single-phase meters are connected to a two-wire single-phase network. The total load on the network along with the number of wires are the main factors. Single-phase metering devices are used when electricity consumption does not exceed 10 kV. Gives out such a counter 220 V.
Three-phase devices
These meters are connected to three-phase networks, which becomes clear from their name. Since a large amount of energy is needed for their operation, three-phase electricity meters have found their application in factories or switchboard multi-storey residential buildings.
Which is better to install in a private house? Most often they put it single-phase. They can also be connected to a three-phase network, but only then such a device will be needed for each phase. The installation of a three-phase meter can only be justified by the use of some equipment with a high demand for electricity, such as a welding machine or something like that. At the output, the meter produces 380 V and protects the building from power surges.
Classification by rate
According to the tariff, there are also different electricity meters. Which is better?
- Single tariff. Calculates only one selected tariff. Often used in everyday life.
- Two-tariff. Allows you to calculate the energy consumed by two tariff plans, for example, one tariff during the day, completely different at night. Used in various factories and organizations where work is carried out in two shifts.
- Multi-tariff. Calculates energy at several tariffs at once and reduces costs.
Classification by type of energy
Single-phase devices measure exclusively active energy passing through them, and three-phase devices, in addition to active, also measure reactive energy, also taking into account the direction of flows. This helps to save a lot on large objects.
Electricity meters: which one is better?
To select the best meter you need to consider some device parameters and learn a few things about the network.
- To decide on the choice of a single- or two-phase meter, you need to find out the type of power supply where you intend to put the meter. To do this, you just need to pay attention to the old meter: if it says 220/230V, then you should purchase a single-phase one, and if 220/380V or 230/400V - a three-phase one.
- Which electric meters can withstand the load better? Many people are interested in this question. In the house, a conventional device operates at a load not exceeding 60A and a power of 15 kW. If suddenly the network exceeds these figures, then it is worth purchasing a device with a maximum load of 100A. Parameters can usually be seen on building entry machines.
- You must determine the number of tariffs yourself. If it is profitable for you to pay for several, then before installing special devices in the relevant authorities, you need to clarify whether they are able to provide it to you. Otherwise, the purchased equipment is simply not useful.
- Before choosing, you must also turn yourattention to the mounting option. Although this does not affect the quality of the meter in any way, it can complicate the installation. If you decide to install a meter inside an apartment with a modular machine and an RCD in one plastic box (HagerGolf, Volta, Vector or Energy) or in one ShchRN iron shield, then you will need a one- or three-phase meter on a modular din-rail (not all DIN-rail devices are inherently modular). In a plastic box for mounting an electricity meter, three bolts or an adapter plate are used. And which electricity meter is better to put outside the building, in the measurement and protection unit? For this, BIZ, ShchU-1N-9, Shchur-8 are better suited. You have a choice: either purchase a counter for mounting on a din-rail, or on a flat surface. But if you choose to install on a din-rail, you will still need to buy it. The same will happen when installing metering devices in a metal shield such as SCHURN or SCHRUN.
- The best meter is said to have various additional abilities, such as backlighting, counting in the absence of voltage, or broadcasting information on the display. However, these functions will not affect the quality of work or the performance of the device. Whether they will or not is up to you.
- Absolutely all devices, without exception, before entering the market, undergo state testing (operability and accuracy of measurements) at the manufacturing plant. Upon successful verification, a seal is placed in the passport of the device, and a state seal is placed on the case. Also, the date of verification must be in the passport, and onthe seal itself - the quarter and year of testing. Another meter must be sealed and installed by the energy supply company within a period not exceeding two years, and for a three-phase such period is reduced to a year. You also need a mandatory periodic check of the accuracy of the meter counts and its performance. That is why for such devices there is a so-called check interval, which for electronic metering devices is from ten to sixteen years, starting from the date of production.
- When purchasing a device that calculates electricity, you must not forget to look at the accuracy class. This indicator allows you to find out the maximum error that the counter can allow in the calculations. On average, this figure for residential buildings is 2%.
Companies producing the best electricity meters
According to official data from Abarcad, headquartered in Moscow, in 2012 more than eight million electricity meters were made in the Russian Federation, of which the lion's share (90%) was single-phase devices. This suggests that electricity meters are often replaced in the household sector.
Which is better to use? It is known that more than ¾ of all products in Russia are produced by three Russian companies. Among them are the Energomera concern (Stavropol), the Incotex company (Moscow) and the Moscow Plant of Measuring Instruments holding. The leading place in this trio is taken by Energomera with 40% of production in the asset, followed by Incotex and Moscow Plant of Measuring Instruments with 29and 7% respectively. The price of domestic meters is much lower than foreign ones, but the difference in quality is not very noticeable.
Electricity meter market leaders
In order for you to decide which counter is better to install, consider these companies in a little more detail:
- Concern from Stavropol "Energomera" owns a couple of plants not only in Russia but also in neighboring countries. Specializes in the production of high quality energy meters of all kinds, the price of which varies from 13 to 330 units in European currency.
- Incotex is a large domestic organization with factories in the Russian Federation and beyond. The speci alty of this company is the development and assembly of electronic devices, which include electricity meters of all kinds.
- "Moscow Plant of Measuring Instruments" (MZIP). An old enterprise engaged in the production of electricity meters and various radio equipment. Devices produced include single- and two-phase electricity meters.
