How to read an electric meter?

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steve66

steve66

Senior Member
Location
Illinois
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Engineer
Not exactly NEC material, but I thought someone might know.

I took the following numbers off a 208V, 3 phase, 1000A electric meter. I was trying to find out teh peak demand, butI can't figure out what the numbers mean. I would expect the peak demand to be somewhere near the 1000A (360KVA).

Here are the numbers:
12773 KW/H
0.788KW
759792
020

I assume the 759792 is the total kw use, but I was hoping someone could take the mystery out of the other numbers.

Steve
 
Re: How to read an electric meter?

Steve, those meters are meant to provide information for qualified persons who have been properly trained and certified only. That's why you're having difficulty reading it.

Just kidding, sorry. :D
 
Re: How to read an electric meter?

Those #'s mean nothing.They are there to confuse you and me.The POCO really don't know either.The "meter"(as they would like you to think) is really a camera(ala BIG BROTHER).They charge you by how much they think you can afford.I work overtime,my bill is higher.I take a siesta from work,my bill is lower.See how the camera thing works? Gotta go,I think my neighbor is trying to contact the mother ship.... :D
 
Re: How to read an electric meter?

Is this forum freaking out. I could't gain access for a while and the last post wasn't funny to repeat a bunch of times.

BTW I think I am a serious loser. I got all my calls done early, so the boss sent me home early. Instead of doing anything productive, I immediately jump on the forum. My wife already feels like she is widowed to this forum. In my defense, since I started hanging out here, my knowledge of our trade has increased greatly.

I used to think I understood grounding and bonding well. I am a product of the eighties. I was used to demanding isolated GROUNDS. When I joined the forum, I thought Mike Holt had a "woody" for ground rods. I have spent many hours reading his material. I have also bought books from him, and spent countless hours on the the forum. I came to realize I didn't know squat about grounding and bonding. Manufacture schools I went to were straight up wrong.

I love this forum for making me a better elctrician and shattering myths I used to beleive.

It's only been a short time since I've had the nerve to post. Posting has made me a better electrician, because it forces me to open up my code book all the time. I'm not always correct, but learning where I am wrong is even more important than getting it right.
 
Re: How to read an electric meter?

Originally posted by sparky_magoo:
Is this forum freaking out. I could't gain access for a while
Click to expand...
I had same issue with Netscape 7.x browser...MSIE 6.x was fine...so I d/led and installed Netscape 8.x ~ no problem now.

What browser were/are you using?
 
Re: How to read an electric meter?

Interesting question. I use Mozilla/Firefox. It is not working. I can only connect to the forum through Internet Explorer. I don't trust IE and I hate it. I got off early and I had to get on the forum.

If you use Netscape, check out Mozilla/Firefox. It works way better than Netscape. Here is the link http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

I suspect the reason Firefox won't work on my PC has something to do with my PC itself. I have too many security programs running at once. Something is fighting with Firefox. Anyway, check it out. You will be much happier with Firefox over Netscape.
 
Re: How to read an electric meter?

Sorry Sparky-Magoo,I have no idea how my post came up so many times.I too get on here everyday to better myself as an electrician.The people here have taught me something new almost everyday.
 
Re: How to read an electric meter?

Originally posted by Awg-Dawg:
Sorry Sparky-Magoo,I have no idea how my post came up so many times.I too get on here everyday to better myself as an electrician.The people here have taught me something new almost everyday.
Click to expand...
AMEN
 
Re: How to read an electric meter?

Thanks sparky...I already use Mozilla/Firefox - I, also, despise MSIE.
 
Re: How to read an electric meter?

Steve,
I just started working in the utility field and occasionally need to read a meter.
The 12773 KW/H as you know is the usage and the 0.788 KW would be the demand.
 
Re: How to read an electric meter?

I had some problems with this web site too, Is it true that if you plug-in a meter upside down you can save on your electric bill, urban myth I would say, Johnny Law is going to get you :eek:
 
Re: How to read an electric meter?

Originally posted by kthbrwn:
Steve,
I just started working in the utility field and occasionally need to read a meter.
The 12773 KW/H as you know is the usage and the 0.788 KW would be the demand.
Click to expand...
KW/H does not make any sense. Should be KWH.

There is probably a multiplier to be applied to the demand figure. The average daily power draw would be 18KW which means the peak demand would be higher.
 
Re: How to read an electric meter?

I had some problems with this web site too, Is it true that if you plug-in a meter upside down you can save on your electric bill, urban myth I would say, Johnny Law is going to get you
Click to expand...
A regular home type meter with the disk that spins will save you watt hours when installed upside down or fed backwards, thats because it will run backwards. But I would say it would be a quick way to jail if caught and with computers these days the power company keeps a close eye on your electric usage. A few years ago I got tired of my high utility bills and changed my electric hot water heater to a natural gas tankless, my drier to gas, changed all bulbs to CFLs, and the utility engineer was at my door investigating why my bill droped $200 in one month. :roll:
 
Re: How to read an electric meter?

Wayne I would say that myth is busted (line borrowed from Myth-Busters) :D
 
Re: How to read an electric meter?

I took the following numbers off a 208V, 3 phase, 1000A electric meter. I was trying to find out the peak demand, but I can't figure out what the numbers mean. I would expect the peak demand to be somewhere near the 1000A (360KVA).
Click to expand...
Steve
There are no 1000 amp meters. You probably have CT's and maybe PT's. If so the demand reading must be multiplied by the ratio's. Is this an electronic meter where the readings are flashed on the LCD screen? You need to get the utility to get the max demand for the year an go from there.
 
Re: How to read an electric meter?

Here are the numbers:
12773 KW/H
0.788KW
759792
020

12773 is consumption since meter last read.
.788 is peak demand. Yeah looks a little funny until you figure it is for a 15 minute period a common utility measurement - but yours could do it different.
759792 heck if in know check with utility.
020 - multiplier ?? --- heck if in know check with utility
 
Re: How to read an electric meter?

Originally posted by bob:
I took the following numbers off a 208V, 3 phase, 1000A electric meter. I was trying to find out the peak demand, but I can't figure out what the numbers mean. I would expect the peak demand to be somewhere near the 1000A (360KVA).
Click to expand...
Steve
There are no 1000 amp meters. You probably have CT's and maybe PT's. If so the demand reading must be multiplied by the ratio's. Is this an electronic meter where the readings are flashed on the LCD screen? You need to get the utility to get the max demand for the year an go from there.
Click to expand...
That makes sense. 0.788KW is only 2 amps. And if the decimal was actually a comma, that would be 2000 amps. One is too high to be right, the other is too low. I can't even make the numbers work using the "20" as a multiplier.

I think Physis is right! The POCO doesn't want you to be able to read your own meter!

STeve
 
Re: How to read an electric meter?

Originally posted by bob:
I took the following numbers off a 208V, 3 phase, 1000A electric meter. I was trying to find out the peak demand, but I can't figure out what the numbers mean. I would expect the peak demand to be somewhere near the 1000A (360KVA).
Click to expand...
Steve
There are no 1000 amp meters. You probably have CT's and maybe PT's. If so the demand reading must be multiplied by the ratio's. Is this an electronic meter where the readings are flashed on the LCD screen? You need to get the utility to get the max demand for the year an go from there.
Click to expand...
After 17 phone calls, and 2 emails, I finally got someone at the POCO to send an email to someone else at the POCO to have them fax me the demand. I've been standing over the fax machine holding my breath since friday. :eek:

Steve
 
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