Calibration interval of electric meters. Classification of electric energy meters

Every month, each family receives a receipt for the payment of electricity. One it is calculated on the basis of the indicators of the individual meter, the other - on a common house electricity meter . When people buy housing for themselves, especially when it comes to the secondary real estate market, as a rule, they do not think about what kind of meter is installed in their apartment or house, to what date its operation is possible. And sooner or later, the prescription of the energy sales company comes to the conclusion that the time interval for the meter's inter-calibration interval has come, or that its replacement is required.

That's when a lot of questions appear. Where to begin? Where to go? Whom to call? If you buy a new device, which one is better from the variety of goods and services on the market? Let's try to understand this question in more detail.

What is an electricity meter?

This device is designed to measure consumed by the owners of residential, industrial, factory, office premises of AC or DC electricity. After conducting a multitude of experiments by scientists from different parts of the world, the first electric meter for alternating current was put into mass operation in 1888.

Classification by type of construction

It is customary to distinguish induction, electronic, electrodynamic counters.

Induction, which is also electromechanical, the device takes into account the active energy of the alternating current. The device of the electric meter is a current coil and a voltage coil, the magnetic field between which drives the disk element. The higher the current and voltage in the network, the faster the plate rotates, counting out the electrical energy. The device is single-phase and three-phase. Issued single-rate. More suitable for low energy consumption. In many homes, there are still old electricity meters of this type. And I must say that they are very reliable - their service life exceeds fifteen years! In view of the fact that they had no alternative, there are about 50 million induction installed devices in the country. Among the negative sides of the device is the fact that it can give evidence with inaccuracy, as well as poorly protected from unauthorized use of electricity.

In place of induction steel to produce a more compact electronic meter, it is also static. Such a device directly measures the current and voltage, transmitting data to a digital indicator and to the device memory. More suitable for apartments, businesses, offices with high power consumption. Can be installed in cold rooms, on the street, as it tolerates low temperature conditions. Allows to make the expense of an electricity on different zones of days: it is issued odnotarifnym and two-tariff. That is, a person can program the device for different periods of time. In comparison with the induction option, the static device has a reliable protection from the theft of electricity, and is also characterized by a higher cost. But at the same time, the electronic power meter is less reliable.

Electrodynamic, also hybrid, is rarely used. It is actual for electric trains, electrified railways.

Each device has an inter-calibration interval. It ranges between 6-16 years. After the expiry of the term, electricity meter verification is mandatory.

Classification by type of measurement values

There are single-phase and three-phase meters. The first - 220 V, 50 Hz, the second - 380 V, 50 Hz. In high-voltage circuits, three-phase devices with a transformer can be installed. Modern three-phase devices are produced with the support of single-phase operation.

Classification by type of connection

It is possible to connect the meter to the power circuit directly (this is a direct connection) or by means of specially designed measuring transformers (this is a transformer connection). For single-phase devices, the first option is typical, for three-phase devices - both methods. In apartments, as a rule, a direct connection is used.

Classification by accuracy class

There are different classes of electricity meters with an accuracy of 2.5; 2.0; 1.0; 0.5; 0.2. This indicator informs about the possible permissible percentage error in the measurements. As a rule, it is prescribed on the dial by the manufacturer.

The old induction single-phase devices are characterized by a parameter of 2.5 with a current strength of less than 30 A. Such devices are designed to account for electricity in small areas. Since October 2000, they have not been sent for examination due to non-compliance with standards. After the first verification period, not calculated for significant loads, they are subject to mandatory replacement.

Since in the modern world many "smart" energy-intensive appliances have appeared to help a person, whether they are thermo-posts, dishwashers, washing machines, multivars, microwave ovens, toasters, computer equipment, the need for instruments with other accuracy has arisen. Thus, the new electric meters are characterized by an increased accuracy class of 2.0 and allow switching to another parameter: 1.0; 0.5; 0.2. They are characterized by increased current up to 60 A.

Tariff of individual electric power meters

This is an important indicator from a practical point of view. There are single-rate and multi-tariff devices. The first calculate the electricity, regardless of the time of day, and the second assume the functioning of the device according to the zones. So, allocate the night and day zones. The first is set in the time interval from 23:00 to 07:00 hours, the second includes peak time (from 9:00 to 11:00 and from 17:00 to 19:00) and a semi-peak time (everything else). Undoubtedly, two-tariff electricity meters are more profitable for the consumer, since they allow saving on energy consumption.

Reprogramming devices

Separately, it should be said about such a parameter as the reprogramming of electricity meters. It is typical for multi-tariff devices. There are the maximum permissible correction values for data that are regulated by the current standards. According to them, the fork of variations in the time interval should not exceed 7.5 minutes. Translation of hours for winter and summer time (an hour forward or an hour ago) exceeds the permissible value, but is nevertheless used.

In October 2014, the country last switched to winter time, which became permanent and can not be further adjusted. Until the end of 2014, owners of residential and non-residential premises needed to perform the procedure for reprogramming electricity meters, since the formula could have failed in the formula since early 2015, and the power sales company had the right to calculate by a single tariff that is not differentiated for all daily zones. However, the state extended the terms of these measures for another year. The procedure itself requires stage-by-stage work. To begin with, you must return to the program the permission to switch to summer and winter time, which was removed after the changes in 2011. Then, the program must be banned from transferring the clock to daylight saving time. Well, in the end, the results of the work must be confirmed by documentation. It should also be emphasized that previously the reprogramming of electricity meters was chargeable. On average, the service cost ranged from 400-1,000 rubles. The amount depended on the phase, the model of an individual electricity meter. Now this issue is settled at the federal level. Henceforth, owners of residential premises will not be charged for the procedure.

Why is it necessary to check the electricity meters?

Each individual device has a service life. There comes a time when the device needs to be turned over or even replaced with a new one. The legislation of the Russian Federation (namely the Housing Code, various resolutions of the Government of the Russian Federation) states that all responsibility for the maintenance of electricity metering devices lies fully with the owners of residential and non-residential premises. It is their inherent control over the verification period.

The metrological or inter-calibration interval of electric meters is a time interval, measured in years, during which the device should work properly. This is a kind of guarantee of the quality of the goods from the supplier. The term of verification is registered directly in the technical passport of the product. Fork of periodicity of carrying out of examination for different models can vary within the limits of 6-16 years. The owner of the premises independently monitors the period, and can also receive a notice-reminder about the verification from the energy sales company. It itself includes a number of procedures, namely: the dismantling of the electricity meter, its delivery to a specialized, accredited service that has a laboratory designed for these purposes. By the way, this service is paid. As a result of its conduct, the owner of the premises will be issued an act or a certificate stating whether the appliance is good or not. In the case of a positive response, a special holographic label on the seal can be made or the data of the verification result can be recorded in the technical passport. The certificate must be delivered to the energy sales office, so that it gives permission for further operation of the device.

It may happen that the result of verification will be negative, and the meter device will be faulty. What should I do? Undoubtedly, go to the store and purchase a new device. Here you will spend spending on buying and installing. And the installation is better to entrust to the electricians, and not to get down to business independently. But the device can be sealed free of charge, if you are not too lazy and write a statement about the need to put it into operation directly in the energy sales company, rather than resort to the services of third-party organizations. True, here you can face a problem - sometimes the waiting time for the arrival of the master can drag on for two or three months.

Having received a notification of the need for verification, it makes sense to weigh the pros and cons. And in some cases it may be more expedient to immediately replace the old device with a new one. In any case, financial costs can not be avoided, they will follow in both cases.

It is also important to emphasize that the replacement of the electricity meter must be made within a period of not more than a month. In the first three months, payment for the consumed electricity is made based on the average monthly volumes or on the parameters of the common house meter, if such is installed in the house, and then - according to a single standard.

How to determine if the meter is OK or not, if the verification period has not yet come up?

It may happen that the verification period has not yet come, and the electricity meter does not work. What can indicate a malfunction? Here are some obvious reasons for the failure of the device:

• The disk element has stopped rotating or twisting turns by jerks;
• The display does not display the metric values;
• The tightness of the device is broken.

Also for the energy sales company, it is extremely important that there are no chips or cracks on the individual electricity meter. The presence of a broken window is also inadmissible for viewing the readings.

Is it possible to replace a serviceable counter with a new, more modern one?

If desired and at the owner's discretion, the electricity metering device can be changed to a new one, for example, if a one-tariff meter is changed to a multi-tariff meter, if there is a possibility of such electricity accounting in your house. Although the energy sales company can not oblige tenants to do this. But about the need for verification must remind.

To change one counter to another, it is also necessary to dismantle the old device and seal the new one. But there is one more nuance - this is the unmasking of a previously in use device. Self-restraint is prohibited, it is necessary to call electricians who will take readings and produce the data. One pleases: since 2012, this procedure is carried out without charging a fee.

Which individual electricity metering device to choose for installation?

If there is a need or desire to replace the electricity meter, you need to know what to look for first and foremost in choosing it.

• First, you should immediately look at the date of the initial verification, which is carried out by the manufacturer. If it exceeds 24 months for single-phase and 12-month for three-phase devices, refuse to purchase such a device, since for it another examination is to be carried out.
• Secondly, the inter-calibration interval of electricity meters is important, which must be controlled. After the expiration of this period of time, the device will be considered as an unreadable device.
• Thirdly, on the dial, the accuracy class of the device must be indicated.
• Fourth, you need to understand what kind of tariff is required. All necessary information contains an electric meter instruction.

There are various models of modern technological devices for accounting for consumed electricity. Among popular, well-proven ones can be identified such as "Granite", "Puma", "Mercury", "Neva" and others. The model range of each brand is diverse. There are both one-tariff instruments and two-tariff electricity meters. Also you can find electronic and electromechanical devices in different colors (white, gray, black, hybrid) and with different service life. All of them can differ in terms of verification. So, for example, the verifying interval of electric meters "Mercury 230" is 10 years, at "Granita-1", "Pumas 103" - for 16 years. On average, the cost of the above models varies between 1000 and 2500 rubles, but you can also find more expensive copies.

In conclusion, I would like to once again pay attention to such an important parameter as the inter-calibration interval of electric meters. Each owner of a residential and non-residential premises needs to be closely monitored. This should not be ignored in order to avoid the requirements of the energy retail company to pay for electricity according to the tariff plan, even if there is a fully functioning individual meter. The impossibility of using untargeted measuring devices, considered to be non-accounting, is reflected in the norms of the current legislation.