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Any source of energy to ensure comfortable conditions in apartments and private houses requires proper consumption. For this purpose, all kinds of electricity meters are installed so that payment for energy supply services is reasonable and within the expected budget. Many people, having installed modern electricity meters, have encountered difficulties in taking readings. In this article we will talk about what a two-tariff electricity meter is and how to take readings correctly from such a device.
Advantages of modern meters
How to view and read two tariff meters? Having replaced the old meter with a new one, many people begin to complain about the inconvenience of using it and its incomprehensibility, thwarting their neighbors’ intentions to save with their complaints. This is the primary reaction. After a detailed study of the mechanism, you understand how it works and all the advantages of the device are revealed, which result in significant savings in the family budget.
Modern models are definitely better than old ones, because:
- Modern meters are capable of recording day and night electricity consumption rates.
- In addition to the main indicators, they display the time and date.
- The devices are able to remember electricity readings from a month ago.
- Some models can automatically transmit readings to the power supply organization.
The principle of accounting for multi-tariff devices
Multi-tariff meters keep track of electricity consumption according to several indicators, because depending on the time of use, the cost of electrics varies:
- Price during rush hour (T1). These are the morning hours from 7 to 10 and the evening hours from 17 to 21. At this time, as a rule, many people get ready for work or school and return home, so a large number of electrical appliances are used.
- Payment during the half-peak period (T3). This tariff is valid in two time periods: from 10 am to 17 pm and from 21 to 23 pm.
- The lowest cost is the night tariff (T2): from 11 pm to 7 am.
Important! A three-tariff meter can record indicators for all three periods.
Taking readings
Electromechanical electricity meter
The algorithm for obtaining information from the meter depends on the device model. Nowadays old mechanical devices and modern electronic devices are used. Mechanical devices are single tariff, so when determining the amount for energy, complex calculations are not required.
How to calculate electricity using a meter from mechanical devices:
- The device has a dial with 5-7 digits. Each reel has values from 0 to 9. You need to write down the data to the decimal point - this is the energy consumed during the operation of the counter.
- The resulting value is transmitted to the network organization as received or subtracted from the previous value.
A number of counters are reset to zero when the maximum value is reached. In this case, before counting kilowatts on the meter as light, you need to add one (1 000001) to the new value (for example, 000001) before the zeros and subtract the previous value.
Electronic electricity meter
Obtaining data from new meters is significantly different from mechanical ones. Electronic metering devices are single-phase and three-phase. The main difference is the presence of an electronic display, which can be multi-tariff. To take readings correctly, you need to understand the features of the product. Single-tariff readings are not divided into zones, double-tariff readings are marked as T1/T2, and three-tariff readings are T1/T2/T3.
Algorithm for recording readings:
- Press the button on the device body. It is called “Input”, “Frame”, “PRSM”.
- Numbers appear on the screen. You need to look at the zone signatures - T1, T2, T3. This determines how electricity is calculated based on the average value.
- The main current indicators are recorded, consisting of 5-6 digits, up to the decimal point.
- The received data is sent to the appropriate organization.
Single-tariff devices display the total energy consumption. Two-tariff zones are divided into day zone T1 from 7:00 to 23:00 and night zone T2 from 23:00 to 7:00. Three-tariff tariffs are divided into peak zone T1, which has two time periods from 7:00 to 10:00 and from 17:00 to 21:00; night T2 from 23:00 to 7:00 and half-peak T3 alternating from 10:00 to 17:00 and from 21:00 to 23:00. The lengths may vary depending on the region where the meter is installed.
Two-tariff meter
This device allows you to keep track of electricity consumption at two tariffs:
- Separately per day (T1) – from 7 am to 11 pm.
- Separately per night (T2) – from 11 pm to 7 am.
Using different tariffs at this time allows you to reduce the load on the network during peak times. For this purpose, a preferential tariff is established at night, so it is most profitable to use electrical appliances at this time of day.
Important! If you have the opportunity to carry out some household chores at night or early in the morning, and most of the day you are at work, then using a two-tariff meter will significantly reduce the cost of paying for electricity.
How to take and calculate readings from a three-tariff meter?
To calculate meter readings, use the formula : current Tx - previous Tx * for the current tariff - benefits, if any, and pay at the nearest Sberbank branch to the desired account of your energy saving company. To take readings, use a pen and paper and write down each value, otherwise you will encounter confusion in the future and may overpay.
An example of taking readings from a multi-tariff meter using the example of “Mercury 230”
That is, to calculate, we take the current reading T1 and subtract from it the previous T1 (on the day of payment).
If the meter is two-tariff, then add t1 and t2 and the total will be the total consumed value, from it we subtract the last meter readings and get the result. Next, based on your tariff, we calculate the final value and the amount required for payment.
Source
Two-tariff electricity meter - how to take readings?
It is very important to correctly record data from the device, otherwise its purchase will not justify itself. To take meter readings, you will need a piece of paper and a pen. So, let's get straight to the most important thing.
Procedure:
- In the first days of the month, it is necessary to record the readings of T1 and T2. To remove them, you need to press the “Enter” button, after which the required combinations will alternately appear on the display.
Important! The button is pressed once, the data will appear on the screen one by one at intervals of 30 seconds.
- Write down the obtained data on a piece of paper.
Important! There is no need to write down the entire indicator. You can only record those numbers that come before the decimal point and one after it. For example, if the number 654.321 appears on the display, then you need to write down 654.3.
- If you need to view electricity consumption data for the previous month, then press the “Enter” button and hold it for 2 seconds. The T1 and T2 indicators of the previous month will appear alternately on the scoreboard.
How to take electricity meter readings from various devices
In order to timely pay for utilities, and in particular electricity, it is necessary to transmit household meter readings to the appropriate service. Recording the readings of an electricity meter is not difficult, but there are some nuances that it is advisable to familiarize yourself with in advance. Let's look at how to take electricity meter readings and what to do with them after that.
How to take electricity meter readings from an induction device
Induction meters are familiar to many, since these devices are distinguished by the presence of a special wheel that rotates at one speed or another, depending on the amount of energy currently consumed. A little lower there is usually a frame with numbers, which are the readings. However, the number of digits may differ depending on the device model.
Typically the user sees 5, 6 or 7 digits. Almost always, one or two numbers are separated from the rest, for example, they have a different color, size, or are preceded by a comma. Such numbers should not be taken into account when taking meter readings, since they indicate tenths or hundredths, which make no sense to take into account.
There are models that do not have a comma. In this case, it is important to rewrite all the numbers. If you do not rewrite all the numbers, then the readings sent to the utility service will be untrue. This will lead to the need to compensate for the difference, which usually turns out to be quite impressive.
Helpful advice! If you have any doubts whether a particular meter model has a comma, the most reliable way to check is to contact the customer service, telling them the model of the device. This information can also be provided by an inspector who regularly inspects houses and apartments.
How to correctly take electricity meter readings
The process of installing an electricity meter is necessarily accompanied by the issuance of a certificate indicating the initial numbers. When the moment comes for transmitting the readings, you need to take a sheet of paper and write down on it the numbers that are indicated up to the decimal point. If there are several zeros at the beginning, they, like tenths, do not need to be rewritten.
After this, you need to pay attention to the initial data indicated in the act or readings for the previous month if the meter has been used for more than one month. Every month you must make a corresponding entry in a document or journal.
Interesting! The work of some subscriber services is organized in such a way that payers do not need to make their own calculations and only need to transmit their readings in a timely manner. But even in this case, it would be useful to count on your own in order to control the situation.
How to make calculations using electricity meter readings
Independent calculations of the amount of payment for the electricity supply service must be carried out immediately after the last readings are taken. This is quite easy to do if you follow a simple algorithm:
- From the figure indicating the latest data (the one that was recorded this time), it is necessary to subtract the readings of the previous month. The difference will indicate the number of kilowatts of electricity consumed during the reporting period.
- Then the result must be multiplied by the tariff that is currently relevant in your region. The result will be the amount you need to pay.
Users often have difficulty making calculations if the counter is reset to zero. After all, if the device has been used for a long time, then sooner or later zeros will appear in the first positions. In this case, you need to rewrite the readings with all zeros and add one first.
Interesting! Many people, wanting to lower the readings of the electricity meter, used magnets to disrupt its operation and reduce the readings. But today we have learned to effectively combat such fraud by installing anti-magnetic seals on electric meters. When you try to influence the device with a magnet, the seal on the electric meter reacts and changes the color of the indicator strip.
How to take readings from an electric meter: features of working with devices of this type
Electricity meter readings are indicated on electrical appliances in a slightly different way. In this case, the numbers do not jump from one to another, but are simply displayed on the electronic scoreboard. Some models also indicate other data, for example, date, time, operating period of the device, etc. Typically, the information on the display is updated every few seconds.
Multi-zone meters display information one by one, and in order to record the required data, you need to wait until it appears on the screen. Or you can press the “enter” button until the required information appears on the display. The information received is copied into a receipt or a special journal in order to transfer them to the appropriate service and make calculations.
Let's take a closer look at the features of working with some of the most popular models of electric electricity meters.
How to take Mercury 200 electricity meter readings
Meters produced by Mercury come in both single-tariff and multi-tariff. The first ones are designated 200.00, and the last ones –200.01 (02, 03). These devices are distinguished by the number of zones, as well as the presence of a control panel. But in both cases, the procedure for taking readings is the same, with the exception of how many times you have to press the “enter” button before the necessary information appears on the display.
Calculation of electricity consumption
If you already had a single-tariff meter, then you are already familiar with the basics of the process. The algorithm of actions for a two-tariff device will be almost the same.
Procedure:
- From the data for the current period of indicator T1, the readings of the same parameter for the previous month are subtracted. The result obtained will be equal to the consumption of kilowatts per month during the daytime.
- Multiply the resulting number by the price of one kilowatt at a daily rate.
- Similarly, calculate the kilowatt consumption based on T2 data.
- Multiply the resulting number by the cost of one kilowatt at the night rate.
- Add up the cost of daytime and nighttime consumption - this will be the amount of payment for electricity for the month.
Important! All data must be entered on the receipt in the appropriate columns. Check all the numbers in detail, because in case of an error, the organization that provides your home with electricity can carry out calculations according to the average readings and the generally accepted tariff.
How to take electricity meter readings separately for day and night
How to calculate electricity using a meter.
To eliminate errors, it is necessary to carry out the calculation correctly.
Where to find tariff information.
To independently determine the amount of electricity payment for the current period, you need to know exactly the cost of the service. Depending on the region of the Russian Federation, as well as additional parameters (type of settlement, availability of certain electrical appliances and rates at different times of the day), the tariff for the population may differ significantly.
You can find out the cost for a specific territory as follows:
- Check on the website or at the office of the utility service provider. The data must be indicated on stands in specialized payment centers.
- When tariffs increase, information is published in the official press and on the website of the regional commission that deals with this issue. The department’s website also has an online calculator that roughly calculates the fee for a specified time period.
- Look on the receipt. During the period when tariffs increase, some discrepancies are possible.
Attention! It is not recommended to use unofficial sources of information, as they may contain unverified or outdated information.
Where to find tariff information.
Taking readings
How to correctly take day/night electricity meter readings - to do this, just carefully study the readings displayed on the digital display.
First of all, pay attention to three designations - T1, T2. You can switch between them using the “Enter” button (in some models - “Prcm”), and some models also provide automatic change of display mode every few seconds.
Here's how to read a two-tariff meter:
- Write down the readings under T1 (this is the day).
- Write down the readings under T2 (this is night).
- On the sheet of paper under these indicators, write down the same indicators for the previous month.
- Subtract the second from the first numbers to find out the number of added kilowatts.
- Calculate the amounts to be paid for both tariffs. To do this, the number of kilowatts in each column is multiplied by the cost of one kilowatt (usually indicated on the receipt).
- Sum the resulting two numbers.
You should pay the resulting amount to the company supplying electricity. As you can see, taking readings from the electricity meter is not at all difficult. However, there is one additional nuance to consider that is often forgotten.
When recording readings, you should not take into account the numbers located after the decimal point or period. They are not whole kilowatts. If you forget about this and count with them, you will have to pay significantly more than necessary. If you have an old device, then there may not be any comma on it. Then be sure to write down all the numbers.
The above algorithm approaches how to take readings from the Mercury-200 electricity meter, that is, one of the most common models of household metering devices today.
Perhaps you have a Saivan single-tariff meter installed at home. It has extremely laconic functionality - for example, it does not have a button for switching tariffs, so you need to wait 5-10 seconds each time until the next value appears. The following data is displayed on the Saivan device display (in order):
- The current date;
- time;
- device identification number;
- disk rotation speed (how many times it will turn in 1 kW, the average is 1600);
- for a two-tariff meter - changing readings T1/T2, for a single-tariff meter - general TOTAL.
Both individual and general indicators are entered in the receipt. Numbers after the decimal point are not taken into account.
To do this, the number of kilowatts in each column is multiplied by the cost of one kilowatt, usually indicated on the receipt.
Methods for transmitting readings
There are several ways to transfer evidence to the appropriate organization:
- Take the data to the organization yourself.
- Transmit via the Internet. You can fill out the specified fields in your personal account on the official website of the service company.
Important! There are two-tariff meters that can transmit indicators to the required authority independently. In this case, you don’t need to write or calculate anything - everything will be done automatically for you.
What do you need to know?
- When planning to take readings from a two-tariff meter, use a piece of paper and a pencil, because you are unlikely to retain a large series of numbers in memory, and the slightest mistake will lead to incorrect calculations.
- Check the electricity meter regularly for physical damage.
Important! If you find defects in the form of a broken seal, erased numbers or a faulty case, immediately contact your utility service. Refrain from taking readings until you consult a specialist.
- When installing the device, you must receive a passport with the specified date of verification of the mechanism. When installing the device, the RES employee must explain how to maintain a two-tariff electricity meter and how to take readings correctly.
- Don't try to fool the technology. Modern technologies will definitely reveal the deception, and the violator will be punished with a fine for an offense.
Important! Damage to the meter mechanism due to the fault of the apartment owner is subject to administrative punishment.
Video material
Modern energy meters are far superior to older models. They are significantly able to save the family budget, since they keep records at double or even triple rates. Installing such mechanisms will pay for itself very quickly, so you shouldn’t hold on to old devices - it’s better to replace them with new ones. If you think that it is difficult to take readings from such a device, then you are making a mistake. By following the simple instructions given in this article, you can easily calculate the cost of the electricity you consume.