Electric Meter Accuracy

jonsurrey

A friend told me recently that a Electric meter should be checked and certified every 10 years, does anyone know if this is true, as my meter has a sticker on the front stating that it was certified in 1983 and has not been checked or updated since this time.

spiro

Meters have a life of betwwen 10 and 25 years depending on the make & type. If you are concerned, phone your supplier and they should be able to tell you the 'certification expiry date' of your meter.

Carrot007

Actually for some of the older meters the certification period is 35 years.

With the newer ones it's more likely to be 10 though.

Also they are unlikely to be checked anymore as it is cheaper to just replace the meter!

Not that they ever checked the meter on site, the old meter used to go back to the depot for testiong, these departments have now mostly closed down and it's a skip that is the old meters likely home now.

Though yes, if you are concerned ring your provider who will be able to help (even if they have to go away and ask the meter operator). It's in there interest too as they get fined for overdue meter changes.

Haarlem

Carrot007 wrote: »

Actually for some of the older meters the certification period is 35 years.

Not that they ever checked the meter on site, the old meter used to go back to the depot for testiong, these departments have now mostly closed down and it's a skip that is the old meters likely home now.
.

Prior to 2000, meters were tested on site for accuracy. But of course that was when customer satisfaction mattered.

A specially certified meter was connected as a check meter to run alongside the suspect meter, and the readings compared over an agreed period such as two weeks.

Another test was everything to be switched off, a certified load attached, and a stopwatch used to show how the suspect meter advanced (or not) over a few minutes. Easier in a mechanical meter where the markings on the rotating wheel could easily be seen passing a reference pont. Discrepancies from this test often led to a check meter being installed.

st999

I moved into this newly built house in 1990 and still have the same electricity meter from then. It wasn't new then, it had a reading of 34000 and it has been round the clock and is currently reading 9100

The gas meter was new in 1990 then changed in July 03 and yet my neighbour still has the same gas meter.

Stan

Andy_WSM

st999 wrote: »

I moved into this newly built house in 1990 and still have the same electricity meter from then. It wasn't new then, it had a reading of 34000 and it has been round the clock and is currently reading 9100

The gas meter was new in 1990 then changed in July 03 and yet my neighbour still has the same gas meter.

Stan

It does seem very hit & miss doesn't it? I have a 30 odd year old gas meter, yet the electric meter was replaced again recently, having "only" been done 10 years prior.

GetRealBabe

Hi

Moved into my flat in 1994: the gas meter has been replaced. Don't think the electric one has.

spiro

Haarlem wrote: »

Prior to 2000, meters were tested on site for accuracy. But of course that was when customer satisfaction mattered.

A specially certified meter was connected as a check meter to run alongside the suspect meter, and the readings compared over an agreed period such as two weeks.

Another test was everything to be switched off, a certified load attached, and a stopwatch used to show how the suspect meter advanced (or not) over a few minutes. Easier in a mechanical meter where the markings on the rotating wheel could easily be seen passing a reference pont. Discrepancies from this test often led to a check meter being installed.

You are confusing 'Accuracy Checks' with 'Certification', Accuracy Checks are done when the customer believes their meter to be inaccurate and take place at the customers property, Certification is a regulatory check of the meter which happens every 'x' years. In the old days when meters were expensive certification happen by the meter being replaced at the customers premises and then it was taken to a test lab to confirm it was still within tolerance before being fitted on another wall. Today most new meters are vbery cheap so instead of testing them they just get recycled as scrap.

Haarlem

spiro wrote: »

You are confusing 'Accuracy Checks' with 'Certification', Accuracy Checks are done when the customer believes their meter to be inaccurate and take place at the customers property, Certification is a regulatory check of the meter which happens every 'x' years. In the old days when meters were expensive certification happen by the meter being replaced at the customers premises and then it was taken to a test lab to confirm it was still within tolerance before being fitted on another wall. Today most new meters are vbery cheap so instead of testing them they just get recycled as scrap.

You are quite right, and I am sorry if I did not make it clear that it was an accuracy check, and not certification.

I was involved in the checking process, and in the vast majority of cases it satisfied the customer. A process which is not available today.

A sample from batches of new meters still have to be tested and certified certified, as they are a statutory measuring device.