Internals of an electric meter?

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ritelec

ritelec

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Jersey
On a service call, I believe they were sporadically losing a phase (single phase three wire). after much time to finally recreate the problem it seems the problem is at the meter.
I measure each line to neutral and get 120v and 240v phase to phase. Load I get 120v on one phase to neutral and nothing on the other phase to neutral. However I get 240v phase to phase on the load side ???

Why is this?

I never gave much thought to the meter, but I figured it was a solid bar or wire to jump from line to load with current transformers around this jumper.

I told the home owner to get in touch with the utility co. for another meter but I'm scratching my head and don't want to look like a fool.

Why the 240V? Was it reading from one leg to the other through the meter? Do meters break?

I did a search and it looks like this meter has wiring taps and not a single bar or conductor so maybe the meter did fail ??
 

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Yes. The main breaker was off.
I started thinking about the socket on the way home. I should have pulled the meter but didn’t
They had the utility co out twice. From what the home owner said they checked the pole. The service attachment connection. And the meter. So I’m thinking (Hoping) they pulled and checked... they said the meter was ok.
 
Pull the meter and check the connections at the stabs.
Also, most important, check the connections at the wire to the terminal.
If you take your VOM leads and probe just under the meter you can check the actual stabs on the meter to check if it’s the socket, meter, wire, or terminal.
 
With power and loads on, measure across the meter, top to bottom, from L1 line to L1 load, and from L2 line to L2 load. There should be (almost) no voltage. You can do the same thing across the main breaker if needed.
 
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