In this article, we will look at the best electricity meters, compile the top meters of 2023, and also discuss the advantages of “smart” metering devices. For comparison, I found on the Internet a description of three approximately identical meters of 2023 – MIR S-05, TsE2726A and FOBOS 1.
Without electricity, it is very difficult to imagine the life of a modern person. Of course, it is completely impossible to imagine an apartment or residential building without an electric meter, according to the readings of which each consumer pays for the consumed kilowatt-hours.
Of course, each meter has its own service life, as well as the calibration interval. Therefore, the moment inevitably comes when you have to think about purchasing a new device for metering electricity. However, from 2022, such devices must be “smart”. What does it mean?
Now everyone will have to urgently buy new meters?
From 2022, the responsibility for replacing meters, as well as all costs associated with this process, falls on the shoulders of energy supply organizations. It is these companies that send electricity bills to consumers.
This is stated in Federal Law No. 522-FZ. Of course, energy supply organizations will increase electricity tariffs in order to compensate for increased costs. Thus, consumers will still pay for the replacement of meters, but the process will be smooth. At the same time, the main burden should fall on the shoulders of legal rather than physical consumers.
This means that now, although consumers do not need to buy electricity meters, they will still have to use them. If so, the question arises: how does a smart meter differ from a conventional electricity meter? After all, in addition to a fashionable electronic display and the ability to measure various parameters of electricity, it should have some additional functionality?
What can new smart metering devices do?
Of course, such possibilities exist! There is a resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 890 dated June 19, 2020, which provides a definition of such metering devices.
It says that such smart devices are equipped with various interfaces for connecting to communication channels and are only part of a largely automated system for monitoring and accounting for electricity, which not only collects data without consumer participation but also transmits it to a server for storage and processing.
Automation of the process of taking and transmitting readings
Of course, this is an important advantage. Now you don’t need to periodically take readings and write them down on a receipt, or try to call the energy supply company to transfer them. Anyone who has tried to do this at least once will remember this procedure for a long time. In addition, you can simply make a mistake and record or transmit the wrong readings.
Another advantage follows from the absence of the need to transfer data – now you no longer need to check the accuracy of the readings, and therefore no longer need to let strangers into your home or apartment. I think there is no need to explain how this opportunity can be used by various types of scammers.
Reducing opportunities for theft
Some readers may object – free cheese only comes in a mousetrap. There should also be a profit for the energy supply organization, right? Of course, there are benefits for energy sales as well.
After all, the possibility of electricity theft is practically reduced to zero. It is still possible to deceive a single counter, but it is already very difficult to deceive the system. If you try to open the case or if the meter is exposed to a permanent magnet, special sensors will be triggered, the meter will turn off the consumer with a built-in relay, and the incident signal will go “where it is needed.”
Informing the dispatcher
The ability to transfer data from the meter to the server also eliminates the need for consumers to hang up the phone, trying to figure out when the power will be on and what will happen. Now the system will not only itself send a signal to the dispatcher about a power outage or deviation from the standardized quality parameters, but will also determine which and where the power line has been disconnected. Needless to say, the speed of response of the relevant services directly depends on this.
Remote control
Another very important point. A smart meter can be equipped with an internal relay, which makes it possible to remotely turn off the electricity supply to the debtor.
This opportunity will motivate the consumer to pay their bills regularly. However, if you fail to pay on time, you cannot simply turn off the electricity supply. After all, even though smart meters have appeared, the restriction procedure itself has remained the same.
Rating of metering devices
The offer of smart meters on the market is quite extensive. Many manufacturers now produce just such metering devices. Of course, all meters comply with standards and are similar in characteristics. However, how do they differ?
This is why a small rating was compiled. When choosing meters, we took into account the certification of the Rosseti company, one of the largest companies providing electricity supply in 82 regions of the Russian Federation.
MIR S-05
The small-sized single-phase electrical energy meter MIR S-05.10-230-5(80) is designed for installation on a DIN rail in a standard consumer’s in-house distribution board. Provides accounting of active, reactive, as well as total power in alternating current circuits. The device is designed to operate with a base current of 5 A, however, the maximum permissible current is 80 A.
TsE2726
The single-phase metering device TsE2726A A1 S RF 5/60 R01 08 allows you to measure active and reactive electrical energy in two directions.
A distinctive feature is the use of a LoRaWAN module, which allows you to organize a two-way wireless network at a distance of up to 4 km in the city and up to 10 km in open areas with low power consumption. In addition, such a communication channel ensures high confidentiality of data transmission.
The device allows you to monitor power grid quality parameters by class S according to GOST 30804.4.30, and the tariff schedule can be updated remotely. The meter can work with four electricity tariffs.
The accuracy class of the device is 1. The calibration interval is 16 years. The warranty period for the meter is 5 years, and the average service life is at least 30 years. The maximum current is 60 A. The operating (base) current is 5 A.
The temperature range is from -40℃ to +60℃. Device dimensions: 130×90×66 mm. The housing protection corresponds to IP 51.
Advantages:
The data transfer protocol complies with the requirements of the Rosseti company.
Warranty service life – 5 years.
FOBOS 1
A single-phase multi-tariff meter is designed to measure active and reactive energy in forward and reverse directions. The manufacturer produces models with both a built-in NB-Fi radio module and a GSM module.
The NB-Fi wireless data transmission standard is a domestic development and approved as a national radio communication standard. Allows you to transmit small data over a distance of up to 5 km with low energy consumption. The data is protected by the Magma encryption algorithm.
Flaws:
- Low warranty period.
Ratings:
- Reliability: 10
- Warranty life: 8
- Quality: 10
- Functionality: 8
Place: 3
Based on the totality of its characteristics, the MIR S-05 model shows the best results. However, other models are not far behind the leader. Of course, the decision remains with the buyer, but we must not forget that the stingy pays twice.
Conclusion
Of course, this rating serves only to familiarize yourself with the functions and capabilities of smart electricity metering devices. In addition, manufacturers produce various configurations of metering devices, which allow you to choose the most suitable option.
For the same reason, when compiling the rating, the price of an individual meter was not considered, because depending on the configuration of the same model, it can differ significantly.
