Unbalanced electrical load

[grsthegreat]

I'm so glad I always hire a certified electrician to hook things up.

I've considered unplugging the meter and jumping the lugs 'cause I'm cheap.

Just considered, I'd probably electrocute myself.

bACK IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS..YOUD GET A SLAP ON THE HAND AND SOMEONE SAYING "oH YOU KIDS". nOW DAYS ITS CONSIDERED THEFT OF A PUBLIC UTILITY AND WILL RESULT IN JAIL TIME. (OK. i officially hate my caps key. I'm going to pry that stupid thing out of the computer keyboard.)

SUCCESS. I just found out to disable the caps key on this stupid Microsoft cordless keypad. no more unintentional caps

 

[BobRip]

I'm so glad I always hire a certified electrician to hook things up.

Then the certified electrician sends his nephew, who could not get a job anywhere else.

 

[BeezFun]

The question is, does the electric meter measure the greater amperage draw of the 2 legs or an average of the 2?

Neither. It continuously measures the instantaneous voltage and the instantaneous current and uses them to display instantaneous power consumption. It does that by using induction to rotate a little wheel in the meter at a rate proportional to both voltage and current. There is a shunt circuit for voltage that exerts a force to rotate the wheel, and a series circuit for current that exerts a force to rotate the wheel. That little spinning wheel is what drives all those numbered disks you see spinning in the meter. Those numbered disks are counting how many times the little wheel spins. There only needs to be a single wheel for residential because it's only single phase. If you have 3 phases, the meter will have 3 spinning wheels.

So to answer your question, the meter doesn't know or care anything about whether you balanced the circuits in the service panel, it measures instantaneous power consumption.

 

[DaveOmak]

An electric meter is a simple device. It only measures the amperage on the highest leg and charges accordingly.
To prove this theory check which leg has the highest amperage flow and measure the dial rotation. Then plug a 1500 watt electric heater into an outlet on the leg that has the lowest amperage flow and measure the dial rotation. You might find the dial rotation has changed. Then plug the heater into the leg that has the highest amperage and check the dial rotation. You will find it has increased.
The reason for this is the meter is baxed on 220-240 volt equipment which is supposed to draw equally from each leg..

I moved into an older house which had been remodeled several times. My electric bill was very high. An industrial electrician friend of mine explained this theory to me and loaned me an ampmeter to check the electrical panel over several days and several times during the day. I found one leg to be 8 amps higher than the other. I checked individual circuits and found by moving the breakers to equal the load on the incoming legs I saved $45 a billing cycle.
Check it out before you call BS on this.. Buying an ampmeter and balancing your home electric panel load will pay for the meter.. This is "probably" only necessary on older homes or maybe on newer homes that the electrician didn't care...
I have done the balance on my panel and know it works.. Dave

 

[grsthegreat]

Neither. It continuously measures the instantaneous voltage and the instantaneous current and uses them to display instantaneous power consumption. It does that by using induction to rotate a little wheel in the meter at a rate proportional to both voltage and current. There is a shunt circuit for voltage that exerts a force to rotate the wheel, and a series circuit for current that exerts a force to rotate the wheel. That little spinning wheel is what drives all those numbered disks you see spinning in the meter. Those numbered disks are counting how many times the little wheel spins. There only needs to be a single wheel for residential because it's only single phase. If you have 3 phases, the meter will have 3 spinning wheels.

So to answer your question, the meter doesn't know or care anything about whether you balanced the circuits in the service panel, it measures instantaneous power consumption.

wheels...wheels... i don't need no stinking wheels. Mine is electronic now..... digital display also. Sends the readings to central center so no more meter readers also.

 

[slowzuki]

Here's another question to scratch your head on, what power factor is a residential meter calibrated for? Straight resistance or do they guess you'll have a bit of an inductive load?

 

[5030]

wheels...wheels... i don't need no stinking wheels. Mine is electronic now..... digital display also. Sends the readings to central center so no more meter readers also.

They (Detroit Edison) is contemplating that here, however, I don't want no stink'in digital transmitting meter. That meter can shut off your juice at the utilities whim. We ain't play'in that tune here.

I take it the meter inside is basically an induction motor?

 

[5030]

Then the certified electrician sends his nephew, who could not get a job anywhere else.

How's this for coincidence...

My electrician is also a general contractor plus he owns a gun shop and indoor shooting range and I buy most of my firearms from him plus we hunt together.

I'd say his only downfall is he owns a couple John Deere tractors.

 

[grsthegreat]

How's this for coincidence...

My electrician is also a general contractor plus he owns a gun shop and indoor shooting range and I buy most of my firearms from him plus we hunt together.

I'd say his only downfall is he owns a couple John Deere tractors.

A green gun toting sparky..... id stay clear of him too

 

[hr3]

Ok orezok let me try again then.. Inside your mechanical type electric meter there is an induction motor that spins the wheels..with me so far ?? There are 2 wires on it that come from your house.. Lets say you are drawing 500 watts on one leg and nothing on the other.. Then you are being charged for 500 watts.. Lets keep the 500 watts going on the first leg and add another 500 watts to the second leg now you are paying for 1000 watts,, Still with me,,, Now lets unbalance the load lets add another 500 watts to leg number 1 now you are drawing 1500 watts total and are paying for 1500 watts..
Did I do better this time ??