How to check the electricity meter at home?

Many users are asking one question how to check the electricity meter at home. Let's hit the features of this process and consider the most effective ways that everyone can use. And this information will definitely come in handy, because the meter’s performance should always be normal, otherwise there is a risk of a serious penalty. Even the smallest deviations in work are offenses. So, first things first.

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When do you need to do this?

If we are talking about deviations in the testimony, then you need to do the verification immediately. Professionals recommend prevention at least once a year, because such measures will help to be safe again. The main reasons to do this are:

• Electricity consumption markedly increased or fell. This situation may result in a fine.
• You connected a new appliance, but the flow rate has not changed.
• You have stopped using one or more electrical appliances, but the expense, again, does not change.

If you have at least one of these signs, then it is worth taking action. And if you have ghostly doubts, then no one will scold you for a simple check. How to check the electric meter at home? Let's get acquainted with the main ways.

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What to do?

First you need to make sure of your abilities, as this procedure can drive some users into fear.

Important! If you doubt your abilities and do not have basic skills in handling electrical equipment, then the best option is to seek the help of a specialist.

Connection check

Is the meter connected to the network correctly? About thirty percent of cases are times when the equipment is installed and connected incorrectly. In order to find a way out of this situation, it is necessary to arm yourself with the documentation for the device and establish a connection in accordance with its scheme. You can also seek the help of an electrician who will certainly not run into difficulties.

Check disk health

How to check the electric meter at home? You can pay attention to the disk of the electric meter. To check its performance, you need to:

1. Turn off absolutely all electrical appliances and wait 15 minutes.
2. Now check the disk and look at the light bulb. A working counter will not spin or blink.
3. If the blinking and movement did not stop, then your device is faulty, and you will be forced to urgently seek help from a wizard.

Magnetization test

The problem may be this.

Important! If you have ever decided to install a magnet on the counter, then we have bad news for you. Such actions can damage the equipment, and regulatory authorities can easily determine the cause of the breakdown. The bottom line is that any electric meter is equipped with a seal, which changes color under the influence of a magnetic field.

If you have an old model of the device and there is no such seal, then for verification you will have to get the most ordinary needle. Just bring it to the device: if the needle is attracted to its surface, then it is magnetized. Typically, the magnetization disappears in two to three days, but if the situation does not change, then you will have to make or purchase a special demagnetizer.

How to check the electricity meter at home, if there is a suspicion that not only you are using your electricity?

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Theft of electricity

If all the checks indicate the high-quality operation of the device, but for some reason it still shows higher values ​​than your electrical appliances can consume, then you have a “parasite”. Perhaps one of your neighbors decided to save money and connected to your circuit. But who wants to pay for everyone? Need to determine if your energy is being stolen? And if so, then who does it?

Simple method

This method is relevant for those models of electrical appliances that are not equipped with self-propelled. To check the electricity meter at home, do the following:

1. Turn off all electricity consumers in your home.
2. Remember to remove all plugs from outlets, as some models may even respond to them.
3. Stand opposite the counter and observe its changes for ten minutes.

Important! The normal counter should stop spinning. If your equipment continues to “wind up”, and you are sure of its serviceability, then the thief is somewhere nearby. Unfortunately, this method will not help to find an attacker.

Compare power

This method is more accurate. Here you need to hit school physics and take up power measurements. For instance:

• In your apartment, a washing machine (2 kW), a refrigerator (0.3 kW) are active and the room is lit somewhere by seven 100 W incandescent lamps.
• Without complex calculations, it can be determined that the total power will be about 3 kW. It is this power that is required to power all your appliances.
• Take a multimeter and measure the readings of current and voltage in phase, multiply them among themselves and divide by one thousand. If the measurements show 20 Amps and 220 Volts, then their product will be 4400. Divide the resulting value by one thousand and get 4.4 kW.
• Now we subtract the smaller from the larger: 4.4-3 = 1.2. 1.2 kW you pay for someone. Feel free to call an inspection or independent experts to the house in order to find the intruder.

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Stock footage

Now you know how to check the electric meter at home, without resorting to anyone else's help. Be economical and regularly conduct routine inspections of this important equipment to ensure that your family budget is economical and real.