- February 8, 2022
- Posted by: Dyaneshwar Nirmale
- Category: Digital Meters
The multifunction meter has a very simple working principle. It reads the power consumption and power quality data, displays the data on its LED screen, communicates with other devices around it, and sends the data to a central computer system. However, in case the computer system is not available, the consumer might have to take reading manually. This happens especially when the meter is initially installed, or when new, heavily power-consuming loads are added to the system.
Taking an initial reading
The first step in reading the digital meter is to get the reading which is displayed in kilowatt-hours. When the screen of the multifunction meter switches between readings, it will show a series of the digit 8, indicating that the meter is about to reset and display the current kilowatt usage.
A new meter will start showing the data from the moment it is installed. After this it will display the data in 24-hour cycles.
Calculating the exact power usage
Let us say you have three readings in the first three days of the meter being installed.
03543 kWh (initial reading)
03554 kWh (First 24 hours)
03563 kWh (second 24 hours)
This does not mean these are the readings for day 1, day 2, and day 3. It means three days have passed since the meter became operational. The actual energy usage can be calculated using a simple formula
Energy usage = Latest reading-initial reading / time.
Drawing from the above example, it will be as follows:
03563- 03543 kWh / 2 days
=10 kWh per day.
As time passes, the settings of the meter can be changed to include specific 24-hour cycles to obtain the exact power reading in a given timeframe.
Newtek multifunction meters come with proprietary software which makes the visualization and measurement of data easier for consumers.
A network of Newtek multifunction meters can be set up on each floor of a manufacturing facility to measure the power consumption on that floor. The multifunction meters on each floor record the power consumption data as well as power parameters and communicate them to a central SCADA system using the MODBUS RS 485 communication system.
Know more about setting up and utilizing a network of RS 485 multifunction meters from or blog here.
Conclusion
Digital multifunction meters are a step ahead of conventional analog meters. In the MFM meter, the consumers can take the meter readings themselves and build an estimate of the power bills in advance. As states like Maharashtra shift to KvAh based billing, multifunction meters are helping consumers accurately measure and control their power factor and reduce the power bills. Read our blog here to find out more about the key role of MFM meters in KvAh billing.
In such circumstances, durable and accurate power meters are the key. Newtek Electricals has over a decade of experience in designing and manufacturing reliable, durable, and high-performing multifunction meters. Customers can choose from 8 different models of diverse capacity multifunction meters available with us to select a multifunction meter as per their application needs.