What are the precautions for installing smart meters?

The installation of smart meters requires comprehensive consideration of factors such as environment, technical specifications, safety, and compliance to ensure their stable operation and accurate measurement. The following are key precautions during the installation process:

1、 Installation environment requirements

Moisture and dust prevention

Smart meters are sensitive to humidity, and prolonged exposure to humid environments such as basements or near bathrooms may result in internal circuit short circuits or component corrosion.

The installation location should be far away from water sources and steam pipelines, and avoid dust accumulation (such as in a factory dust environment). If necessary, a dust cover should be installed.

temperature control

The working temperature range of an electric meter is usually -25 ℃ to+55 ℃. Extreme high temperatures (such as outdoor direct sunlight) or low temperatures (such as unheated warehouses) may affect the measurement accuracy.

During summer, it is necessary to avoid installing in a closed metal box to prevent heat accumulation; Antifreezing measures should be considered in northern regions during winter.

Electromagnetic interference isolation

Stay away from high-power appliances (such as induction cookers, industrial motors), wireless equipment (such as walkie talkies, base stations), or high-voltage lines, as the electromagnetic fields generated by these devices may interfere with the transmission of electricity meter signals, leading to measurement errors or communication interruptions.

If unavoidable, it is necessary to install electromagnetic shielding devices or choose a meter model with stronger anti-interference ability.

2、 Technical specifications and wiring requirements

Voltage and current matching

Choose an appropriate meter based on the electricity load. For example, household electricity usually uses single-phase 220V meters, while factories or commercial places may require three-phase 380V meters.

The current specification should be slightly larger than the actual maximum load (if the total power of the equipment is 50kW, the current is about 90A, and a 100A specification meter should be selected) to avoid overload damage.

Wiring correctness

Single phase electricity meter: The live wire (L) is connected to the incoming end of the meter, and the neutral wire (N) is connected to the outgoing end. Reverse connection or short circuit is strictly prohibited.

Three phase electricity meter: It is necessary to connect the live wires of phases A, B, and C in order and ensure reliable grounding of the neutral wire.

Installation of current transformer (CT): If the electrical load is large, the current needs to be reduced through CT and connected to the meter. Open circuit is strictly prohibited on the secondary side of CT, otherwise high voltage may occur and endanger safety.

grounding protection

The outer shell of the electric meter must be reliably grounded to prevent electric shock accidents caused by the shell being charged in case of leakage. The grounding resistance should comply with the standard (usually ≤ 4 Ω).

3、 Safety protection measures

power outage operation

Before installation, the power must be cut off and a voltage tester must be used to confirm that there is no power before wiring to avoid the risk of electric shock.

Anti electric shock design

The electric meter box door should be equipped with a lock to prevent unauthorized personnel from accessing it; Ventilation holes should be reserved in the box to avoid excessive internal temperature.

When installed outdoors, the meter box should have a waterproof rating (such as IP54) to prevent rainwater from entering.

Fire prevention requirements

Flammable materials must not be stacked within 1 meter around the electricity meter, and the wiring terminals must be securely fastened to prevent sparks caused by poor contact.

4、 Compliance and Acceptance

qualification review

The installation unit must have the qualification for power construction, and the installation personnel must hold a certificate (such as an electrician certificate) to ensure standardized operation.

Measurement accuracy verification

After installation, a power on test is required to check whether the meter display matches the actual electricity consumption. It can be verified by comparing standard power sources or known load devices.

Regularly verified by the metrology department to ensure that the meter error is within the allowable range (usually within ± 1%).

Communication function test

If the electricity meter supports remote communication (such as 4G, NB IoT), it is necessary to test whether the data upload is stable to ensure that the power company can obtain real-time electricity consumption data.

5、 User notification and subsequent maintenance

Instructions for Use

Explain to users the functions of the electricity meter (such as remaining power inquiry, alarm threshold setting) and the recharge method (online/offline channels) to avoid power outages caused by improper operation.

regular inspection

Check the wiring terminals for looseness and the sealing of the meter box every six months, and promptly clean any dust or foreign objects.

When encountering a malfunction in the electricity meter (such as a black screen or abnormal data), immediately contact professional personnel for repair and do not disassemble it yourself.

6、 Special scenario precautions

Renovation of old residential areas

It is necessary to evaluate the carrying capacity of the original line to avoid line overload caused by meter upgrades. Replace aging wires or add circuit breakers as necessary.

Installation in rural areas

Consider lightning protection measures, such as installing lightning arresters, to prevent lightning strikes from damaging the electricity meter.

In response to the risk of animal bites, the electric meter box can be equipped with a metal protective net.

Photovoltaic user support

If users install photovoltaic power generation systems, they need to choose smart meters that support bidirectional metering to accurately record the on grid and self consumption electricity.