All You Need to Know About Electric Meters

Electric meters came into existence in the 1880s when the use of lamps had increased, and it was no longer feasible enough to charge people a bill based on the number of lamps they had per month. Gas meters already existed at this time, and a similar idea was then used for meter installations at homes, offices, and other places. As time progressed, electric meters also became more advanced as they went from analog meters to digital meters.

Differences Between Analog and Digital Electric Meters

Analog and digital electric meters are very different from each other. For instance, an analog meter has a scale and a deflection pointer which will show what value will be indicated on the scale. On the other hand, digital meters provide a direct value. However, there are many other differences between analog and digital meters in terms of:

Accuracy

Analog electric meters are more likely to have errors in reading since the pointer on it can be broken. On the other hand, digital electric meters are able to measure electricity consumption accurately.

Calibration

Analog electric meters need to be calibrated manually. In comparison, digital electric meters are automatically calibrated by a system within the meter.

Cost

In terms of cost, an analog electric meter is less costly because it does not have as many features. A digital electric meter is more expensive since they have more features on them.

Measuring Parameters

Analog electric meters will usually measure resistance, current, and voltage. In comparison, digital electric meters measure inductance, capacitance, current, voltage, and resistance.

Range

An analog electric meter’s measurements must be set manually. However, most digital electric meters have an auto-ranging feature on them, but this can be costlier than other types of digital meters that do not have an auto-ranging feature in them.

ADC Requirement

Analog electric meters do not need an analog to digital converter (ADC) to display the reading. But a digital electric meter does require an ADC so that the reading can be displayed.

Construction

The construction for an analog electric meter is simple, while the construction for a digital electric meter is more complicated as more components are involved in the making of this device.

AC Frequency

Analog electric meter’s highest AC frequency measure is lower than digital electric meters. Some digital electric meters’ highest AC frequency measure can also be low as compared to other digital electric ‘meters.

Power supply

An Analog electric meter does not require a power supply for it to work. But a digital electric meter does require a power supply.

Size

In terms of size, an analog electric meter is bigger than a digital electric meter. Most digital electric meters are small in size, almost similar to a handheld device.

Input Signals

Analog electric meters only display one input signal value. Digital electric meters are able to work with several inputs and have adjustable displays as well.

Conclusion

Electric meters have helped us greatly by allowing smoother readings with more accuracy. Most modern electric meters now even provide daily data to utility service providers. This, in return, helps the utility providers serve their customers better as they are able to manage their electricity consumption.