The quality of the electric meter depends on how accurately it will fix the electricity consumption. And this directly affects the amount that the owner will pay for its use. Therefore, it is important to choose this device correctly.
Varieties of equipment
Electric meters are classified into two main types – induction and electrical. The first type is installed in most apartments in houses of old Soviet building. This is a fairly reliable and durable equipment. Control over electricity consumption is carried out through the emergence of a magnetic field between the coils of this device when current passes through them. The greater the voltage, the faster the disk rotates, and therefore the figure grows on the scoreboard scale.
Electric meters are more complicated. Information about current and voltage power enters the device directly, through various microcircuits. Such equipment is much more accurate, but not so durable and reliable.
Counter parameters that are worth paying attention to when buying
For an ordinary user, the most important ones can be considered such characteristics as the accuracy class, reliability, phase and current strength that the device is designed for, as well as the way to fasten it.
Induction models should have an accuracy class not lower than 2.0. This is a normatively established standard. This equipment is almost impossible to adjust to greater accuracy. Electronic structures in this regard are much more perfect. The accuracy class of such devices can be from 0.5. Such a characteristic as reliability is determined by the so -called verification. Over time, the materials from which the electric meter is made wear out. And therefore the class of accuracy is also changing. In order to determine the suitability of equipment for use and such measures are carried out. For induction models, the period between verification is about 16 years, electronic 8 – 16 years.
As for the phase, the corresponding equipment is also selected for each specific house. In old buildings, single -phase wiring is usually used. Therefore, you need to choose a counter, on which 220 is indicated. Models of marked 220/380 – three -phase. For an apartment in which the voltage required for consumers does not exceed 15 kW, you can choose a design designed for current strength of 50 A. This will be quite enough. If a greater voltage is needed, then you need to replace the electric meter with 100 A.
By the method of fastening, these design are divided into screw and dinreic. In the first case, everything is simple. In the second, it will be necessary to additionally buy a special box in which the device is placed.