electric meter help
checked my electric meter today {one of those 5 dial analog type}and the dial was moving about 100mph {seriously it took about 2 seconds to make 1 turn} and only the fridge, 1 TV and 1 light was on, I turned off and the turned back on the breaker and with the same exact electricity being used the dial started crawling at a snails pace, I called TXU and was waiting for an explanation and got no immediate help, any ideas?
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Sound's like a bad meter to me. Man, you gotta get that fixed. 0 -
for the lsat 2 months they say i've used twice the energy than what i've used for the last 3 years.[:(!][:(!] 0 -
Are you sure your water heater was not on? 0 -
any idea how long a meter can be "bad" in other words our electric bills sometimes make no sence, is their a chance it's been bad for a year or so? thanks. 0 -
well the dial went from 100 mph to a snails pace in 1 minute only after I flipped the breaker so I assume the water heater would have still been on while the meter was going slow also. 0 -
If you don't have one, borrow an amprobe & check your current consumption when your meter is spinning at a high rate. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by clays
Are you sure your water heater was not on?
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Plus, almost everything you have plugged in draws some current whether it is on or not. Such as anything with a digital display. I would bet that it was probably the water heater.0 -
[8D]-Especially a new Coffee pot, if left on--
--Most will draw a KILOWATT hr per hour and your electric rate is probably measured by the KILOWATT hr--check it out--
--[:D][8D]--JIMBO0 -
you can request to have it exchanged for a new one or have it tested
now i once over heard this{lol}
look at you meter, you will see a small screw in the front with an arrow, this is how they regulate the meter,first cut the wire on the little lock/tag now find another one somewhere else, and break the tab off, you now have both parts to put a good lock tag back on after you slow you meter down, down side is there is a lead seal on the back of the meter that will break once you remove the glass front, and they do change them every so often
i'm not advocating this, this is just something i once heard0 -
An electric meter is a very basic device and is more or less an electric motor whose speed is controlled by the current that is run through it (this current your electrical load). Increase the load and the meter spins faster...and your wallet empties quicker! The meter motor has very low torque and any undue friction can easily slow it down. The aluminun disk you see spinning is floated on a magnetic suspension so it is very light with as little friction as possible. The register above the disk is geared so that it takes 138.89 revs of that disk to add 1 kWh to your reading (for a kh = 7.2). One of the very few meter problems are with the magnetic braking because if that is reduced the meter could run fast. This magnet is a permanent magnet so failures here are very rare and it takes unusual conditions to change this magnetic field, but once changed will not return to normal. I am a structural engineer and not an electrical engineer or an electrician but I can say that while meter problems are rare, they do happen and it is in your best interest to get your untility compnay out and have the device inspected for accuray. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by kristov
An electric meter is a very basic device and is more or less an electric motor whose speed is controlled by the current that is run through it (this current your electrical load). Increase the load and the meter spins faster...and your wallet empties quicker! The meter motor has very low torque and any undue friction can easily slow it down. The aluminun disk you see spinning is floated on a magnetic suspension so it is very light with as little friction as possible. The register above the disk is geared so that it takes 138.89 revs of that disk to add 1 kWh to your reading (for a kh = 7.2). One of the very few meter problems are with the magnetic braking because if that is reduced the meter could run fast. This magnet is a permanent magnet so failures here are very rare and it takes unusual conditions to change this magnetic field, but once changed will not return to normal. I am a structural engineer and not an electrical engineer or an electrician but I can say that while meter problems are rare, they do happen and it is in your best interest to get your untility compnay out and have the device inspected for accuray.
thanks for all the replys, especially this one![:D]0 -
Water heater/ well pump have IMPRESSIVE current draws. Just had to replace my well pump- bearings wore out, and current draw was double what it should be. But get the power company to verify the meter- they rarely go bad, but can. PS- most states have an interesting little CRIMINAL law called theft of electrical service. Has to do with tampering with, or bypassing a meter. 0
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