Like any other equipment, metering devices become unusable over time, after serving their own, and then require replacement. Most often, the electricity supplier or utilities warn the landlord about this in advance, after which the landlord must fulfill the order at a certain time by installing a new device of a certain type. However, the need to replace the meter often becomes a real problem for the owner. How to perform all the steps correctly without overpaying the excess? This will be discussed today.
General information on the rules for the replacement of metering devices
Replacing an electric meter is most often a necessary measure. No owner wants to pay for the purchase and installation of a new device, if the old one is still fully operational. However, this action is necessary and regulated by some laws, including:
- provisions of the Civil Code;
- Government Decision No. 530 of 08/31/2006 and No. 491 of August 13, 2006;
- Housing Code;
- Federal Law No. 261 of October 23, 2009
According to these laws, in accordance with the current agreement between the management company and the owner or tenant, maintenance of appliances in good condition, their maintenance, replacement must be carried out by the management company or the landlord. Unfortunately, in Russia, few read attentively the agreements, for which reason all of the above actions fall on the owner of the house.
What could be the reason for mass instrument replacements?
Massive replacement of electricity meters in apartments may be associated with the transition to more advanced and accurate models. This is exactly what happened in 2012-2013, when, according to the Government’s decree, old-type electricity meters, with an error of up to 2.5% (class 2.5), were dismantled, and new ones were installed instead. Their discrepancy with real indicators does not exceed 2% (Cl. 2).
However, the reason for receiving the order to replace the meter may be different. The most common are:
- uneven blinking of the indicator - the controller suspected a malfunction;
- complete failure of the device;
- case damage;
- end of life.
In some of these cases, you can do the usual calibration, but it is unlikely that a person wants to remain without light for 1-2 weeks.
Work order
Many owners believe that the received order can be ignored, explaining this by the fact that the meter is fully operational, but this is a misconception. If the replacement is not made on time, the charge for the spent kW will increase significantly. But, as with any rule, there are exceptions. You should be aware that under the law, the replacement of the electricity meter can be made at the expense of the management company if the tenant lives in it under a social contract of employment. In this case, he will not even have to buy an electricity meter. Consider other cases in which you can save on installation.
Electric meter replacement: at whose expense is the banquet?
We will analyze situations in which the consumer is the owner of the apartment. There are two options for installing the meter - a stairwell or the apartment itself:
- Provided that the meter is in the stairwell, all management duties are assigned to the management company. But if you need to install a new device, its purchase and installation will have to pay the owner.
- Is the meter installed in the apartment? Then maintain and monitor his condition - the responsibility of the owner.
What is the opportunity to save? According to the law, the owner can independently replace the electric meter in the apartment or in the stairwell, and then call the management company and report on the work performed. This saves money on specialist fees. After the call, a controller arrives that checks the connection and seals the device, drawing up an act of standard form in two copies, one of which remains with the owner, and the second is stored in the Criminal Code.
Nuances of self-installation of the counter
If you decide to replace the electric meter in the house with your own hands, you should pay attention to some subtleties. A prerequisite for the performance of work is the presence of at least a minimum of experience (the ability to hold a screwdriver, pliers), utmost care and accuracy, as well as knowledge of the basics of safety. The home master must understand that with improper installation and failure of the meter, all responsibility falls on his shoulders.
In no case should you start work until the voltage has been removed from the input circuit breaker, circuit breaker or batch switch - this is life threatening. After replacing the old electricity meter with a new cover, do not immediately close it. It just covers itself, a trial inclusion is performed. If everything is in order, the voltage is removed, the lid is closed and fixed with a special screw. Now you can apply current and call the UK.
Important! The dismantled electric meter must not be thrown away. It will be required by the controller to draw up the act of replacement.
Algorithm for the production of dismantling and installation of the device
If the electric meter is installed inside the apartment, it is quite convenient - there is no need to work in the staircase. And taking readings is much easier. However, there is a decent minus - no matter at whose expense the electric meter is replaced (the UK or the landlord), the owner will have to bear responsibility for it. In the event of a breakdown, a new meter will be paid for by the due date and the tenant will install it.
Replacement is as follows. Turning off the power supply from the introductory machine, the home master unscrews the screw securing the terminal cover. Using a screwdriver-indicator makes sure that there is no voltage, and then marks the wires with a conventional marker so as not to get confused when connecting a new device. Now the fixing screws of the contacts are loosened. Having freed all 4 wires, you can freely dismantle the old electricity meter.
Next, a new meter is installed on the DIN rail. It is necessary to monitor its position - the numbers should be easily visible through the window of the shield. The wires are recessed into the socket of the contacts, the fixing screws are tightened. Be sure to tightly stretch the contacts to avoid heating.
General installation schemes of metering device
All modern electric meters are connected according to one scheme (by terminals):
- Power supply.
- Phase tap to the apartment.
- Zero feed.
- Branch neutral.
As you can see, replacing the meter does not present any particular difficulties. In order to more fully understand the whole process of work, you can watch the following video.
Sealing an installed metering device
Consumers often have a question about how to pay for sealing after replacing an electric meter. Who should do this? No concrete answer can be given here. It all depends on the region, and sometimes even on the locality. In large cities, where the service is provided by management companies, the work is paid by the owner of the apartment. If the housing and communal services is municipal, then the seal for the consumer will be free, but recently this is rare. Typically, this situation develops only in single-industry towns (closed administrative-territorial entities).
Criteria for choosing a meter
With the huge assortment that the consumer faces, it is difficult for an ignorant person to replace a specific model when replacing an electric meter in a house. However, there are general recommendations in this regard. The main thing is that the electricity meter should have a class of no higher than 2 (error up to 2%).
Next, you should decide at what time of the day more energy is consumed. If it is night, then the two-tariff device will be very useful in saving - it switches to the second mode at a certain time (usually from 23 00 to 7 00 ). Electricity is cheaper at this time. But you should be prepared that the cost of such a meter is higher.
Provided that greater consumption occurs in the daytime, it is better to stay on a regular model with one tariff.
Possible difficulties of self-replacement of the electric meter on the site
If the home master decided to independently install a new metering device (when the switchboard is located on the stairwell), he may encounter some difficulties:
- The control cabinet is locked. For many, this becomes an insurmountable problem, but only because of the reluctance to think a little. The law allows you to install electric meters on your own, which means that if you do not give the key to the shield, you must send an employee to the management company to open it. Often, the Criminal Code use the legal illiteracy of the population for the purpose of additional income.
- It is difficult to find “your” circuit breakers or batch switches in the control cabinet. Usually this happens in old-built houses, where the installation sequence was rarely followed. But after all, the consumer knows where his counter is - he monthly gives evidence. This is where you should start. We “pass” along the wire going from the first terminal, and we easily find the necessary automatic machine. True, sometimes for this you have to remove the protective cover of the cabinet, but this is not difficult - you need to unscrew only 4 bolts (in rare cases, 6).
- The mounting platform of the new counter does not fit in size. Also a problem is houses of old construction, where there are no horizontal DIN rails. Instead, vertical steel profiles with slots are located. The issue is solved by twisting the three latches and moving them into the desired holes.
- Old aluminum wiring begins to crumble. Often this happens in homes older than 20-25 years. With the slightest stirring of the wire, it can break in several places. In this case, there is no other way out than a complete replacement of the home power network.
Finally
Replacing an electric meter is not a very pleasant experience due to cash costs and loss of time. However, the time comes when this is necessary. Otherwise, electricity bills can increase by 2-3 times, which will hit the family budget. So, you should think through actions so as to incur the least financial losses and optimize the entire installation process of a new electricity meter. Moreover, it is not a fact that the old meter "wraps" a smaller amount of kW than it actually is. The device may be wrong in the opposite direction.