Introduction

TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Metering Concepts Units of Electricity Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Power vs. Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Conversion Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Formulas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Right Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Impedance Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Power Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 How to Read a Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Estimating the Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Solid State Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Remote Meter Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Trigonometric Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Power Factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Full Load Current Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Meter Base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Meter Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Meter Sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Circuit-Closing Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Backfeed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Meter Class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Meter Voltage, Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Current Transformer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Voltage Transformer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 CTs with VTs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Safety Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Form Designation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Distribution Circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

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Chapter 2 Meter Connection Diagrams About the Connection Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Guide to Meter Connection Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Chapter 3 Installing Meters Overhead Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Overhead Service, Surface-Mount Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Overhead Service, Meter Pole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Underground Service, Surface-Mount Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Installation For an Apartment Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Installation For an Office Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Clearances Around the Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Service Voltages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Services Metered by Direct-Connect Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Services Metered Using Current Transformers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Meter Installation Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Meter Socket Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

CHAPTER

1
METERING CONCEPTS

UNITS OF ELECTRICITY MEASUREMENT

1,000 1,000,000 Unit Current ampere (A) kA Potential difference volt (V or E) kV Real power watt (W) kW MW Energy watthour (Wh) kWh MWh Reactive power VAR (volt-ampere reactive) kVAR MVAR Apparent power volt-ampere (VA) kVA MVA

POWER VS. ENERGY Power Instantaneous rate at which work is done. 1 watt = the power expended when 1 ampere flows through 1 ohm. Measured by: watt meter. (Comparable to a speedometer.)
Energy Average rate at which work is done multiplied by how long the power has been consumed. 1 watthour = the energy expended in one hour when the power is 1 watt. Measured by: watthour meter. (Comparable to an odometer.)

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Pocket Guide to Watthour Meters

METER BASE
Meters can be connected to the circuit directly, or through a socket. On A-base meters, also called bottom-connected meters, the connections are made at a terminal strip across the bottom of the meter. On socket meters, also called S-base meters, the circuit is wired to the socket. The meter connections are made via short blades on the back side of the meter which insert into matching jaws in the socket.

A-base meter

S-base meter and meter socket

METER SEQUENCE

Line

Meter Switch Fuse

Load

This meter-switch-fuse sequence is preferred because it establishes a clear dividing line between utility and customer equipment. Notice that the meter is installed on live wires, and is not protected by the customer's fuses or switches.

Metering Concepts

23

METER SOCKETS
Meter sockets come in six configurations. The services used with each type are shown here. Socket Voltage Current Comment

For single-phase circuits: 120/240V, 3-wire Up to 200 amps Direct-connect socket Direct-connect socket Direct-connect 320A socket With CTs

120/208V, 3-wire

Up to 200 amps

120/240V, 3-wire

201-320 amps

120/240V, 3-wire

Above 200 amps

For three-phase circuits: 120/208V, 4-wire 120/240V, 4-wire 277/480V, 4-wire 120/208V, 4-wire 120/240V, 4-wire 277/480V, 4-wire Up to 200 amps Direct-connect socket With CTs

Above 200 amps

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29

SAFETY TIPS
Measure for hazardous voltage before installing a jumper between

any two points. When conditions present hazards, do not work alone. When servicing or adjusting meters, have a partner nearby in case assistance is needed. If a meter falls, do not attempt to catch it. Trying to catch a glasscovered meter can result in cuts to hands or arms. When working with current transformers and voltage transformers: Do not open the secondary circuit of a CT if current may be flowing in the primary. The voltage across the secondary will increase rapidly toward infinity, risking serious personal injury, and the CT might explode. Do not short the secondary circuit of a VT. The resulting electric flash can cause serious injury. Wire to ground, the proper secondary terminals of CTs and VTs. Wear gloves and eye protection, goggles, or a face shield when setting or removing a meter. Keep co-workers clear. Do not use an air hose to clean clothing, hair, hands, or areas of the shop. Keep work areas neat and tidy. Use tongs, not fingers, to dip parts in cleaning fluids. When conducting high-potential (high-pot) tests on insulation: One person per test set; all others stand clear. Wear 10 kV rubber gloves. Use one hand only to avoid a possible electrical path through your heart. Above all, follow all your companys established operating and safety procedures.

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37

Single-Phase Three-Wire
1 N 2 120 volts line-to-neutral 240 volts line-to-line

Form 2S

Meter Internal Wiring Front View

2 Line N 1 Neutral

Connections to Socket Front View

2 Load N 1

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53

Three-Phase Four-Wire Delta With Three CTs

2 N 3 1

Form 8S

240 volts: 1 to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 1 120 volts: 1 to neutral, 2 to neutral 208 volts: 3 to neutral Meter Internal Wiring Front View

1 2 Line 3 N Neutral

1 2 Load 3 N

Connect the 208V wild leg as shown. The other two lines can be connected either as shown here, or swapped.

Y K

Use the CT ratio as the transformer factor in determining the meter multiplier.

Connections to Socket Front View

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Pocket Guide to Watthour Meters

Three-Phase Four-Wire Wye

2 N 1 3

Form 16A

208 volts line-to-line 120 volts line-to-neutral or 480 volts line-to-line 277 volts line-to-neutral

K Y Z

Meter Internal Wiring Front View

Connections to Meter Front View

1 2 Line 3 N Neutral

1 2 Load 3 N

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Pocket Guide to Watthour Meters

OVERHEAD SERVICE, SURFACE-MOUNT METER

Top of service mast at least 13 ft above final grade Service entrance conductors, 18 in. out of weatherhead Weatherhead Insulated clevis If over 26 in., guy required 18 in. min. above roof 4 ft max.

Line

60 - 90

2 in. x 6 in. installed solidly between rafters and against roof sheathing 5/16 in. U-bolts 2 in. min. rigid conduit Surface-mounted meter socket

Guy attachment

2 in. x 6 in. installed solidly between studs and against rough siding with U-bolts 2 ft apart min. Interior finish Stud

Shim meter socket and fasten with screws

Line

Load

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Pocket Guide to Watthour Meters

Single-Phase, Three-Wire
For 240/480V services, double the voltage readings in these checks.
A 120 V N 240 V 120 V B

Line

Check 1. Line-side voltage A to B = 240 volts A to Neutral = 120 volts B to Neutral = 120 volts
B

A N a

Check 2. Backfeed a to Neutral = 0 volts b to Neutral = 0 volts

Voltage reading other than 0 indicates backfeed from the load side. Do not continue until condition is corrected.

Load

Check 3. Load-side fault A to a = 0 volts B to b = 0 volts

Use a fused jumper when making socket meter checks.
Line

Voltage reading other than 0 indicates a fault from a to N, or b to N. Do not set meter until condition is corrected.

Add temporary jumper - Neutral to b A to b = 120 volts

Checks the jumper connections before proceeding.

A to a = 0 volts
A N a b B

Voltage reading other than 0 indicates a fault from a to b. Do not set meter until condition is corrected.

Remove jumper.

Load