Testing Electricity Meters

[Nicky Murtagh]

I have been asked by the owner of a caravan site to go round and check all the meters onsite to make sure they are working properly. Has anybody been asked to do this before? What is the best way to test them? I was thinking to plug something in which has a big load and watch the numbers going up?has anybody any other ideas?

Cheers

 

[Spoon]

I'm keeping an eye on this one as I'm interested to see how its done and if there is a special way of testing them.
I'd just plug in a heater at home for 10 mins and see what reading I get on the meter. Then I'd do the same in each caravan and see if I get a similar reading.... or is there more to it??

 

[Charlie_]

Calibrated ammeter and volt meter.
Plug in s fixer load, test the values, with out power and check it against the kWh meter

 

[Wilko]

Hi - I’m thinking heater load plus meter. Hopefully both go up the same amount
100A Single Phase Digital Check Meter | ElectricalDirect - https://www.electricaldirect.co.uk/product/100a-single-phase-digital-check-meter-436268?vat=1&shopping=true&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1ej-h9Kq4gIVyr_tCh1gyg2YEAQYASABEgLCSvD_BwE

 

[James]

When he says he wants them checked to make sure they are working properly, is this that he is concerned some aren’t working at all or is he after a calibration certificate for each so he can bill from the meters? You can rent load banks that have calibration certificates.

 

[Nicky Murtagh]

When he says he wants them checked to make sure they are working properly, is this that he is concerned some aren’t working at all or is he after a calibration certificate for each so he can bill from the meters? You can rent load banks that have calibration certificates.

I think he just suspects some of them aren't working correcctly, he doesnt need certs or anything.

 

[Nicky Murtagh]

Calibrated ammeter and volt meter.
Plug in s fixer load, test the values, with out power and check it against the kWh meter

What is 'S Fixer Load'??

 

[Nicky Murtagh]

Thanks for the replies, could you just use clapm meter and heater for a load, then calculate the kwh, from the ampage on clamp meter?

 

[Taylortwocities]

What is 'S Fixer Load'??

I expect it’s
A fixed load
When typed on a smart phone.

 

[PEG]

I would imagine,a proper test would include a range of loads,from smallest,to largest. This was common with meters of old.
The biggest error with mechanical meters,was their inaccuracy at lower loads,therefore not recording the majority of a days use.

I know of many properties,where you can stick on most of the downstairs lights,LED's,i know,but the meter wheel remains frozen

 

[Zerax]

Alot depends on how accurate you want to be with the test... it's very easy to check it within say 10%... harder within say 5%... and I would guess some very controlled bench testing to get it less than 1%

 

[PEG]

Just a quick calculation,shows a 1% error,as in 1A on 100A supply,is £250 over 365 days.

It would be this type of error,which accrued costs in either direction,not the short burst of kettle/shower use

 

[Wilko]

I thought I’d do a quick look up on what is considered accurate enough -

https://assets.publishing.service.g...lectricity_Determination_Report_2003-2014.pdf

Do read the report, but here’s an excerpt

 

[Zerax]

I thought I’d do a quick look up on what is considered accurate enough -

https://assets.publishing.service.g...lectricity_Determination_Report_2003-2014.pdf

Do read the report, but here’s an excerpt

View attachment 49476

Thanks... so not very accurate then...

 

[Wilko]

Thanks... so not very accurate then...

Trying to be glass half full - it might be that meters are in fact quite accurate and well within this range. Or not ...