[RE-wrenches] UL Listing for meter

[Matt Lafferty]

Wrenches,

The issue of UL Listed meters is becoming a frequent problem for RE
integrators. I ditto what Hans said about not finding a listing.

What I've seen so far is that Socket based meters are generally NOT listed
by the mfrs since the primary users are utilities and, therefore, listing is
not a "requirement". Even the very expensive super-feature socket-based
meters are not listed and the mfrs (so far) aren't planning to list them.
This applies to self-contained and instrument rated socket-based meters.

Many panel-style meters are UL listed. One example is the ION 6200
http://www.powerlogic.com/literature/PowerLogic%20ION%206200%203000BR606R100
9.pdf

Panel-style meters are commonly listed as Power Circuit and Motor-mounted
Apparatus (NMTR), which is a subcategory of UL 508 Industrial Control
Equipment. General information on this sub category is found here:
http://database.ul.com/cgi-bin/XYV/template/LISEXT/1FRAME/showpage.html?&nam
e=NMTR.GuideInfo&ccnshorttitle=Power+Circuit+and+Motor-mounted+Apparatus&obj
id=1074108450&cfgid=1073741824&version=versionless&parent_id=1073990288&sequ
ence=1  The crazy piece of this listing is that the description lists all
kinds of devices EXCEPT meters as applicable. ??? 

The bonehead stupidity of this situation is that, in order to gain ANSI C12
certification, socket-based meters have to pass some really harsh withstand
tests due to their usual proximity to the grid. Ergo, they are <<probably
safe>> for our purposes. What may not be readily apparent is that the
defacto industry-standard for ANSI C12 is for the mfr to self-certify. Which
means they generally don't have 3rd party testing & listing.

I have seen just a couple cases where the AHJ has required UL Listing
initially, but backed down when presented with the ANSI docs and pointed to
the identical meter in use by the utility themselves. The more common result
I'm seeing is that the AHJs are digging in their heels and requiring
Listings. 

Best of luck!

-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Hans
Frederickson
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2010 1:47 PM
To: 'RE-wrenches'
Subject: [RE-wrenches] UL Listing for meter

I scanned the UL White Book and did not find a category listing for bolt-in
or plug-in type watt-hour meters. There are several categories for the meter
sockets. If UL hasn't taken it on, I can't imagine that anyone has paid any
other NRTL to evaluate equipment that typically doesn't require a listing. I
have heard of AHJ's waiving the listing requirements for equipment when no
standard exists... I would suggest to the AHJ that there is no listing for
watt-hour meters so this requirement is impossible to meet.

Regards,
-Hans 



-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Peter
Parrish
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2010 12:19 PM
To: 'RE-wrenches'
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Congested Panel Problem

This inspector also has a problem with the production meter we installed. He
wanted to see the "UL Listing" on the meter. I called Austin International
(our vendor) about the meter in question (Itron Centron C1S) and they said
that UL doest test meters as they (normally) are not used on the customer
side of the service. Is there another listing for meters that would satisfy
a nit-picky inspector? To make matters worse, we now have in stock both
Itron Centron C1S meters as well as Schlumberger Centron C1S meters. Did
Schlumberger buy out Itron? Or vice versa?

Any help on the main panel calculation and acceptable listings for meter
would be greatly appreciated. 


 
Peter T. Parrish, Ph.D., President
California Solar Engineering, Inc.
820 Cynthia Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90065
CA Lic. 854779, NABCEP Cert. 031806-26
peter.parrish at calsolareng.com
Ph 323-258-8883, Mobile 323-839-6108, Fax 323-258-8885



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