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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Electrical Questions >> IS MY ELECTRIC METER ROBBING ME!!! https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1366140955 Message started by rosie on Apr 16^th, 2013, 8:35pm

Title: IS MY ELECTRIC METER ROBBING ME!!!
Post by rosie on Apr 16^th, 2013, 8:35pm

All of the units on my Electric meter are in multiples of ten (0.01,0.10, 1, 10, 100, 1000 etc...). For some time now I have been trying to get use down within the household and (call me sad but) I have been watching the digits click over whilst operating different bits of kit and noticed that the red light only flashes EIGHT times before another digit clicks over. Am I barking up the wrong tree by thinking my use is actually being overstated by 20% (8 flashes instead of 10 - everything else is in multiples of 10)?

Title: Re: IS MY ELECTRIC METER ROBBING ME!!!
Post by big_all on Apr 16^th, 2013, 8:47pm

heeelllooo and welcome rosie [smiley=wave.gif] [smiley=wave.gif] [smiley=wave.gif]

what sort off heating and what sort off bulbs do you use

low energy light bulbs will save you around 75-80% off your lighting costs
down lighters or spots are innificient compared to pendants

Title: Re: IS MY ELECTRIC METER ROBBING ME!!!
Post by CWatters on Apr 17^th, 2013, 7:46pm

Are there some make and model numbers on the meter? If we had that we could try and find a data sheet for the meter to check what the LED is meant to be displaying.

I'm not sure about all meters but some say they flash the LED once per WH. So 1000 pulses = 1kWH. If the smallest digit was indicating 0.01 kWH then yes I'd expect the LED to flash 10 times and change to 0.02 kWH.

Edit:

Does the meter say "imp/kWh" on it anywhere? What's the number before that?

I found a box if tricks designed to count the LED flashes and the data for that said there are options for..

100, 500, 600, 800, 1000, 1250, 1600, 3200, 10000 imp/kWh

That suggests some meters might exist that flash the LED 800 times per kWH.

Title: Re: IS MY ELECTRIC METER ROBBING ME!!!
Post by rosie on Apr 18^th, 2013, 7:26pm

Thanks, for that.

On closer examination I've found absolutely miniscule text on the face of the meter (with a magnifying glass!!) saying "800 pulses/kwh" so, I suppose it must be right.

Once again thanks...