Since electricity prices have constantly increased for the past few months, many people have been keeping energy as possible. The change to clean and efficient energy sources should be imminent, as energy crisis is forecast worldwide, and the need for cost-cutting is not the only factor to consider.
Unless you know what electric meters are, it is impossible to avoid the energy expenses that some appliances use at home. Energy meters provide the solution for knowing which appliances consume more electricity than others; this allows you to take advantage of the electric current without ruining your finances.
By using an electric energy meter, you can identify your consumption habits, and optimize you can manage your energy in the most convenient time slots to reduce your monthly bill.
What is an electric energy meter?
It is a digital device, an instrument that measures the consumption of electrical energy. It provides real-time information on the amount of energy used by a domestic installation. Thanks to this device it is possible to keep precise and detailed control of daily, weekly, monthly, or annual consumption.
The meter is calibrated in kilowatts per hour. One kilowatt per hour is the amount of energy required to provide 1000 watts of power in one hour.
Its objective is to motorize the expenditure and help users to adapt their habits to reduce energy consumption and, therefore, pay much less on the electricity bill.
A basic induction motor used with alternating current is the most common type of electric energy meter. At least the “classic” meters had two electromagnets and a metal disk that could rotate between them. As the disk rotated, the gears rotated, and the numbers advanced.
Types of energy meters
- Induction counter: counter in which the currents circulating through fixed windings react on the currents induced in the moving conductor element, usually a disk which originates its movement.
- Static meter: meter in which the current and voltage act on solid-state elements (electronics) and produce pulses at the output with a frequency proportional to the watt-hours.
Electric energy meters must have metrological controls to guarantee the accuracy of their measurements and thus contribute to the protection of consumers.
They operate using solid circuits that produce electrical signals whose frequency or strength is proportional to the voltage consumed. These signals turn into energy measurements recorded by an electrical indicator.
These meters are more expensive but much more accurate. In addition, they allow an evaluation of electrical consumption throughout the day so that we can discern how we use electrical energy and focus our efforts to make this consumption efficient.
It is also worth mentioning that household appliances also have an energy label that will help us evaluate their efficiency and allow you to plan significant improvements in our consumption. The electrical energy consumed in a home represents a high percentage of the energy consumed, and that is why we must not lower our guard in this aspect.
An electric energy meter has several essential components
- Sensor: this is the part of the device responsible for taking measurements. Basically, it’s a clamp on a cable or optical sensor attached to the meter. It can also be a device placed on the cable itself. This model is just a plug you insert into the appliance to monitor its consumption.
- Transmitter: this sends the power consumption measurement data to the receiver. Therefore, it must be connected to the sensor.
- Receptor: It is the part that receives, analyzes and interprets the information on electricity consumption and provides data on consumption at each moment of the day.
Benefits of having an energy meter installed in your Photovoltaic System
The greatest benefit is that you can keep control of electricity consumption and save money. Also, they can be integrated into the home automation system of the house or office so that savings can be made more effectively.
Thanks to advances in technology, the device can be accessed remotely, so you can regulate the system whenever and wherever you want.
Energy meters can also be installed in your photovoltaic systems, allowing us to monitor the energy production, and performance of the entire installation. With an energy meter on our solar panels, we can keep a close eye on how much energy the system is producing and how much is being consumed by the home or business. Thanks to the use of this device you can check that the panels are working efficiently, or if they need any revision