Inquiry about household kWh meter 1

[bp786]

Hi all,

I would like to know what sort of power data represented by kWh energy meter, it is the energy derived from Apparent Power (VA) or from Active Power (Watt). I am confused of it.

Thank you.
B.Bundit

 

[davidbeach]

Well, is it a kWh meter or is it a kVAh meter? Both exist.

 

[ScottyUK]

In the UK domestic customers are billed only for kWh. If you want an answer specific to where you live then you'll have to share that secret.

 

[waross]

Legacy electro-mechanical KWHr meters recorded true power or Watts. There was a phase shifting kit available which allowed them to be used to meter KVARHrs.
Many of the new electronic meters are generally capable of measuring a wide range of information. KWHrs, KVARHrs, voltage on each phase and current on each phase at 15 minute intervals, demand at 15 minute intervals and other variables. For residential service the meters that I see are generally programmed to display only KWHrs and demand kW. On commercial service, I have had the utility supply me with a file on floppy disk that include the maximum voltage and current on each phase at 15 minute intervals for a period of two months. To do this, an employee would go to the meter and download the information onto a laptop computer.
If you supply the make and model of the meter in question we may be able to provide more accurate information.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[jraef]

Things used to be soooo much simpler...

"Will work for (the memory of) salami"

 

[Skogsgurra]

Yes, Jeff.

But now, you know so much better why the cost is high.

And I really hope that you don't pay your bills next day like you did back in 1970

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

--------------------------------------
Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.

 

[IRstuff]

But 1611 kWh? Yikes! I thought I'm bad when my usage goes over 600.

anyway, ~40x more complicated bill for ~40x more power seems plausible ;-)

TTFN
faq731-376

Need help writing a question or understanding a reply? forum1529

 

[jraef]

Not my bill by the way, I just pulled an image off the web. But that is my Utility, so that's what my bill looks like in terms of all the complexity and tiers (tears?). However we are also on TOU billing, so add to that the fact that the base line rates change during peak hours, 9:AM to 6M, so they are shown separately as well.

Each bill now takes two pages of explanation just for the electricity, then another page for the gas (combined utility, PG&E).

"Will work for (the memory of) salami"

 

[zappedagain]

You can get a Kill-A-Watt in the USA; it can measure both.

Z

 

[bp786]

Thanks for all posts.

 

[ozmosis]

Bill
A floppy disk? Now that would be a challenge for some...

 

[waross]

Grin. I guess electronic meters have been around for a little while now.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[Skogsgurra]

I think that I have linked to this "de-identified" report before. It shows that some of the electronic meters do not show the correct consumption when the load is dimmed with triacs or thyristors. In this case, the meters showed more than double the correct consumption. And in one case a lot more than that. See tables on page 13.
There are 285 000 meters like this in little Sweden (10 million people) and, since it is an international brand, I think there must be millions of those meters all over the World.

http://www.gke.org/arcus/files/Electricity meter report March 2010 1.pdf

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

--------------------------------------
Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.

 

[racookpe1978]

See the books "The Power Makers" (Steam, Electricity, and the Men Who Invented Modern America) (actually, the world's power systems from Watt and Newcomen through Edison, Westinghuse, Tesla, Thomson, and Insull) by Maury Klein.

Also: The Most Powerful Idea in the World (Story of Steam Power).

17 Nov 13 8:55
Grin. I guess electronic meters have been around for a little while now.

Actually, the electric power meter (and all of the switches, fuses, insulated wires, and "how" to hook up power supplies and electric loads (series, parallel, feeders, trucks, and distribution networks) was as critical to the development of the electric power system as the light bulb and the AC/DC wars. Ain't nuttin' gonna be happy till momma Edison/Insull/Thomson/Westinghouse/ Villard/Coffin gets paid (er, gets happy.)