What The Meter Box Does From A Qualified Electrician Philadelphia

By Clinton Arnhold


In order to understand how one's electric bill works, it is important to first have comprehension of where a home's electricity comes from and how a meter box functions. As explained by an electrician Philadelphia, it begins with the utility company's lines connecting to a residence's weather head. They then travel through pipes into the meter. The purpose of this box is to track the energy passing through the house.

Different Types of Meters

Old style meters have a mechanical functionality that utilizes wheels and gears to record electrical consumption. They are read through a glass dome that resembles a larger mason jar. Through this, one typically sees a huge pivoting wheel and about five separate dials. Modernized models are technologically advanced. Memory units and sensors allow them to keep a record of how much power a location uses.

On the older models, a utility company employee physically comes out to gather the data collected. These do not have the capability of being read by other means. The modern ones have a computerized readout inside that can be controlled and set remotely by the service provider. Information identifying the location and its usage is transmitted back to the office electronically.

How Meters Track Electricity Usage

To track the power going through the utility lines into your home's electrical system, the residence's meter must verify both the voltage and amperage of the circuit wiring at all times. Mechanical type meters utilize 2 conductor coils to make attractive fields. One is influenced by amps going over the conductor, while the other is influenced by the volts passing over the conductor.

The magnetic fields the coils generate work together to turn a thin plate of aluminum at a precisely controlled rate. Its rotation turns a series of gears which move the dials, thus recording the power usage in kilowatt-hours. This component is known as the indicator.

If a homeowner has any questions regarding the understanding or improvement of their home's power usage, they should contact a local electrical professional for advice.




About the Author:



Popular Posts