Electronic meters’ false readings up to six times higher than actual consumption

Re:Electronic meters’ false readings up to six times higher ... by Animats on Sunday March 05, 2017 @02:00PM (#13797790)

Ah. That's helpful. US utility residential practice, for those outside the US, is that pole transformers take in 3 phase at a few KV, at 60Hz, and output 120/240 VAC single phase with a shared neutral. That's what most houses get, supplied over 3 wires, with a 3-wire single phase meter. Pole-mounted transformers usually serve about 7 houses or so.

Even in apartment buildings, each apartment has its own meter, almost always single phase.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Electronic meters’ false readings up to six times higher ... by redrainbows on Sunday March 05, 2017 @02:21PM (#13797926)

I'm interested in what area the overhead lines are only 1.1 kV. From what I have seen the high-side voltages are much higher, in the range of 7 kV or 14.4 kV line to ground.

Also, most overhead transformers I have seen are entirely single phase. Often you will see a bank of 3 single-phase transformers if a customer requires 3 phase service. Larger customers are connected to a pad-mounted 3-phase transformer connected to the primary overhead service through an underground dip from the pole.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Electronic meters’ false readings up to six times higher ... by hydrogen18 on Sunday March 05, 2017 @03:24PM (#13798356)

You can't "take in 3 phase and output single phase". That's not how a transformer works. It'd be amazing if it did, as in Nobel Prize winning.

In the US most homes are just tapped to 1 phase, if there are 3 on the pole.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Electronic meters’ false readings up to six times higher ... by gfisher on Sunday March 05, 2017 @04:27PM (#13798782)

Yeah, you are right. I think what they were trying to say is that the transformers are fed on the high side by one of three phases (as is typical), and that the residential step-down is a split phase 120/240.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Electronic meters’ false readings up to six times higher ... by hydrogen18 on Monday March 06, 2017 @08:30AM (#13802474)

Yes, that is the normal configuration for power delivery to a residence in most of North America.

[ Parent | on HN ]