Bi-Directional Meters (Was ratcheting cyclometers) [RE-wrenches]

[mlafferty at universalenergies.com]

Doug P said:

> many meters, particularly older standard clockwork meters like many
> of us have been buying rebuilt, do not register accurately when
running
> backwards. 

All:

For purposes of a customer monitoring of their system production,
absolute accuracy in "backward" mode may not be critical if used for
general reference purposes.  Even what we call "non-ratcheting"
(non-detented in Utility speak) meters aren't necessarily accurate in
reverse direction unless designed to be so.  When it comes to the
revenue meter, the accuracy becomes far more important.

Not all meter indicator dials run backward even with the disc running
backward.  We think that the "backward spinning disc" means that it
isn't detented, and therefore is running the indicator dials backward.
Anti-theft internal provisions in many meters built (or rebuilt to
original specs) in the past 25-30 years actually make the dials spin
forward!  (Think of the proverbial "turn your meter upside down two
weeks out of every month"...) 

This is only the tip of a real iceberg of hilarious frustration... Trust
me!  

What we all regard as basically two coils driving a little motor
attached to a bunch of sprockets and a disc is actually far more complex
than that.  With all the regulatory, tariff & accuracy standards,
billing, administrative, power-theft concerns & prevention thereof, etc.
that have to be considered & dealt with before a meter is ever even
built, ordered, installed, read or maintained, it's a wonder they don't
just figure it's cheaper to give us the dadgummed power for free!  

>From the inside, I've seen what testing, verification, and calibration
efforts go into putting an accurate "bi-directional" meter out there.
It's not a joke, even though I must admit I laughed at the meter-shop
techs in the beginning when they tried to tell me about it... Seemed
like such a simple thing to me.  That was before I understood the "other
stuff and history behind it".  

While I suffer heartburn over Utility unreasonableness and sometimes
outright injustice on a daily basis, metering is the fundamental
keystone to revenue for Utilities and they don't take it lightly.  Since
Electric Utilities are the reason meters are made, their needs are the
first to be met.  

Think about it... As far as the regular customer is concerned, the meter
represents "the Electric Company" to them... In many cases, it is the
only physical piece of equipment they see as proof.  Even if they don't
look at it on a daily basis, they are reminded each month when the bill
comes. 

Doug's statement about "older standard clockwork" meters isn't the whole
story.  Without verification of the bi-directional capabilities, as
Travis C did, only time and very regular monitoring will tell.  

Remember, just because the disc is running backward doesn't mean the
dials are... No matter how old or new it is!   In fact, the dials may be
going FORWARD FASTER when the home is consuming more than the PV system
is generating!  (Re-built meters are no exception!... I recommend that
all of us using kWH meters tell our vendors that we need true
"bi-directional" capability.)  

You and I have no way of knowing "what's inside the meter" by looking.
Manufacturers, Design Approach, Internal Components, etc. have changed
very regularly over the years.  I really should write a short book on
the experiences I've been through related to this over the past five
years.... But not tonite.  From Customers having their power turned off
for "theft" to Customers getting $60+ "overbillings" to Customers simply
not receiving full credit for their excess generation.  It's not funny
when it's a "crisis", but I really do laugh later... After the "fires"
have been put out!

My general recommendation is to NOT run an interactive system for any
period longer than start-up / checkout before having the meter's
bi-directional capability verified.  Be especially adamant about this
when connecting to a demand or time-of-use account, regardless of
whether or not it is "old clock style"!  Stick to this advice when
connecting to a service with a digital meter on it.

Two Cents!

Matt Lafferty
Universal Energies Institute
mlafferty at universalenergies.com
(916) 422-9772
(916) 628-7694 Cell
(916) 914-2247 Fax
www.universalenergies.com

- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/

List rules & etiquette: http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. FREE!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/create/index2.html
--^----------------------------------------------------------------