Types of Energy Meters and Their Working Principles

Energy Meter or Watt-Hour Meter is an electrical instrument that measures the amount of electrical energy used by the consumers. Utilities are one of the electrical departments, which install these instruments at every place like homes, industries, organizations, commercial buildings to charge for the electricity consumption by loads such as lights, fans, refrigerator, and other home appliances.

The basic unit of power in watts and it is measured by using a Din Rail Energy Meter. One thousand watts make one kilowatt. If one uses one kilowatt in one-hour duration, one unit of energy gets consumed. So energy meters measure the rapid voltage and currents, calculate their product and give instantaneous power. This power is integrated over a time interval, which gives the energy utilized over that time period.

Types of Energy MetersIt is a well-known and most common type of age-old Smart Energy Meter. It comprises a rotating aluminum disc placed on a spindle between two electromagnets. The rotation speed of the disc is proportional to the power, and this power is integrated by the use of gear trains and counter mechanisms. It is made of two silicon steel laminated electromagnets: shunt and series magnets.

What Does Surge Protector Mean?

A Voltage Protector is an electrical device that is used to protect equipment against power surges and voltage spikes while blocking voltage over a safe threshold (approximately 120 V). When a threshold is over 120V, a surge protector shorts to ground voltage or blocks the voltaged. A common misconception is that surge protectors always protect against lightning, which can create sudden and increased electrical pressure (thousands of volts or greater). Generally, a surge protector has a slight operational delay, but an Over And Under Voltage Protector fuse can blow during a lightning surge and cut off all current.

Surge protector components and features include:

There are two main designs for power supplies: a linear power supply and a Switching Power Supply.

• How Does a Switching Power Supply Work?

  For many years, linear AC/DC power supplies have been transforming AC power from the utility grid into DC voltage for running home appliances or lighting. The need for smaller supplies for high-power applications means linear power supplies have become relegated to specific industrial and medical uses, where they are still needed because of their low noise. But Switched-Mode Power Supply has taken over because it is smaller, more efficient, and is capable of handling high power.

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