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When choosing a power meter for sub-metering applications, you're faced with a wealth of choices. There are everything from portable power meters designed for doing energy audits or short term load studies to permanently installed three phase kWh meters. And within that group of meters, there are many classes of sub-meter that span a wide range in price. This article will give you some insight into when to use different types of meter.
Commercial and industrial sub-meters are available in many different types and prices ranging from inexpensive $100+ panel meters to about $3,000 revenue grade kWh meters. Starting at the lower end of the price point, Conzerv has a number of meters including the ELF-series. The ELF3234 power meter is an inexpensive digital power meter that offers a single line digital display of power kWh, demand kW and power factor PF. But at this price there is no bells-and-whistles like datalogging or communications ... or for that matter UL approvals. If you need these, take a look at the equally affordable IMS mini-meter.
In the mid-price point, the Acuvim-L from Accuenergy and the Conzerv 6400 series sub meters (including the EM6433 meter and EM6400 DigitAN models) offer UL approvals, decent accuracy and a three line display plus MODBUS RS485 communications. The Acuvim-II adds optional analog/digital input/outputs, relays outputs and Ethernet in addition the the MODBUS RS485.
Don't need a display? If so, then you can opt for a display-less power meter (called a transducer) which is designed to commincate to a building control system via MODBUS RS485 sending power metering data remotely instead of displaying it locally. Examples are the Dent PowerScout3 and PowerScout18 products, some the Shark 100T and Shark 200T meter transducers and the Veris Enercept transducers.
Moving up in price further and you start to get into the billing & revenue grade power meters. In this category of sub-meter you'll find the Electro-Industries/Gaugetech EIG Shark meters (of which there are several models including the Shark 100 and the Shark 200) plus the Veris H8150 and H8163 and the PML/Schneider PowerLogic Ion 6200 power meter.
Bear in mind that if you are looking to use a sub-meter to bill a tenant in the US you'll need an ANSI C12 compliant revenue or billing grade kWh power meter and in Canada you'll need one with Measurement Canada approval.
For more information, please visit : www.optimumenergy.com
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