Bi-directional metering [RE-wrenches]

[Chris Daum]

In Montana, the utility (Montana Power Company) was happy to swap our my 
old meter for a bi-directional meter; but the old one would've charged me 
for every kilowatt I put into the grid!  I guess that's a disadvantage of 
not notifying the utility--if you've got a meter that doesn't go both ways, 
you cold be charging yourself for all the power you put into the grid.....

Chris Daum
Oasis Montana Inc.
406-777-4321 or 4309
406-777-2632  fax
http://www.oasismontana.com


-----Original Message-----
From:	Mr. Sharkey [SMTP:sharkey at eugeneweb.com]
Sent:	Tuesday, April 24, 2001 8:16 AM
To:	RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject:	Re: Solar Guerillas in danger? [RE-wrenches]

> Many metering systems are configured to keep the meter adding even when 
the
> power flows backwards.  That's right, you are providing the utility your
> green power and paying them retail for every kwh you donate.

	Yep. It'd be a good idea to take a look at that meter while the grid is
being backfed and the household loads are all off the make sure that it is
actually *counting down* and not merely spinning backwards. Mostly any
old-style mechanical meters will work properly. It's the new, electronic
meters that will screw you. Those and purposely ratcheted meters, but those
will be obvious, the disk will refuse to reverse direction at all.
	Some of the new electronic-design meters use a photo diode to count the
number of little black spots on this disk as it spins. The counter doesn't
recognize direction, only black spots. In this case, you would be best off
to hope that the intertie system is only offsetting consumption, slowing
down the disk but not reversing it.

	-S

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