Often, owners of houses and apartments are interested in how to correctly take readings from the meter. Difficulties in this regard usually arise when reading information from metering devices of a new sample. For example, many apartment owners install a Mercury 200 counter. How to take readings from this device correctly? Read about it in the article.
Old-style mechanical meters
Until recently, when taking readings of electricity consumption, there were absolutely no problems with the owners of houses and apartments. In houses hung ordinary mechanical counters of the old type. To find out how much electricity was consumed during the current month when using such a device, you just had to:
- write down the first 4 digits from the scoreboard on a piece of paper;
- subtract the figure from the previous month.
Next, it was necessary to transfer the information thus obtained to the management company.
Who produces Mercury counters?
With the old-style counters, in this way everything was simple and clear. However, as you know, many property owners not so long ago in our country were obliged to switch to new electronic meters. It is believed that such devices take into account electricity much more accurately than mechanical ones.
After that, many homeowners installed Mercury 200 meters or other models of the same brand. Such devices do not provide information mechanically, but through an electronic display on which several numbers can be displayed at once. In addition, such models of metering devices are often multifunctional. In connection with all this, many consumers have a question related to the Mercury 200 counter. How to take readings from this or any other device from Incotex?
Obtaining the necessary information from such a counter for transferring to a management company is actually quite simple. But we will tell about how to use Mercury correctly a little lower. First, we’ll deal with who actually produces such meters, and how much they can be considered high-quality.
The Incotex company supplies the market with metering devices of this brand. This manufacturer has existed in Russia since 1989, that is, it is quite an old company. In this case, Incotex is the largest manufacturer of electronic equipment in our country. In addition to meters, this company supplies the Russian market with Liderlight lighting systems, IP network cameras, station and office displays, and much more. Reviews products "Incotex", including electricity meters, from consumers earned good.
What meters are available on the market?
In addition to the Mercury-200 model, the Incotex company supplies meters to the market:
- Mercury 201
- Mercury 206
- "Mercury 221";
- "Mercury 230";
- “Mercury 231”;
- "Mercury 321".
The most popular "Mercury" at the same time, judging by consumer reviews, is the 201st. Most models from Incotex belong to the group of two-three-phase devices and are designed for a current of 5 A. The answer to the question of how to take readings from the Mercury meter 200, 201, 221, etc., is practically the same same technology.
Features of the Mercury 200
This model from Incotex is the most inexpensive and simple in terms of design and functionality. The peculiarity of “Mercury 200” is primarily considered to be that it belongs to the group of single-phase devices designed to work in 220 V household networks. That is, this model can be installed mainly only in city apartments or private houses of not too large area. For three-phase networks, such devices are not suitable.
The Mercury 200 meters are designed for multi-tariff electricity metering. At the moment, there are two modifications of such devices: 200.02 and 200.04. The latest model is equipped, among other things, with a PLC modem. In any case, ease of use is what distinguishes both models. Convenient to use, judging by the reviews and 0.4 model and counter "Mercury" 200.02. How to take readings from such devices, then we will consider in detail.
Functional
The owners of the Mercury 200 counter have the opportunity during its operation:
- take readings on four tariff zones;
- Make individual schedules of power consumption from Monday to Sunday;
- schedule for 11 months.
Also, such counters are automatically converted to summer and winter time. Indications of energy consumption in these models are stored, including in memory. On a board of counters "Mercury 200" can be displayed:
- power consumption at four rates;
- total consumption readings;
- current value in the circuit;
- voltage and power values at a given time.
In addition, they can set the maximum load limit and subsequently control this indicator.
What is displayed on the scoreboard?
How to use the device "Mercury 200"? How to take an electricity meter? There are only two ways to obtain such basic information.
On the electronic display of the Mercury 200 counter you can see the following information:
- serial number of the tariff;
- the values of electricity consumed from the beginning of work in the capacity of 6 digits before the decimal point and 2 after;
- instant data of active parameters;
- tariff change value is temporary;
- set time and date.
In the apparatus "Mercury 200.04", in addition to this, the scoreboard can display:
- PLC host parameters
- Modem icon
Electric meter "Mercury 200": how to take readings
Thus, the "Mercury 200" - the device is quite simple, and at the same time convenient to use. It will be completely uncomplicated to control the energy spent with its use. How to use the Mercury 200 counter? How to take readings from this device? To do this, first of all, remember what tariff is the apartment in the management company or the electricity supplier. Most often in our time, there are one-part and two-part plans. In the first case, the calculation of the spent electricity is the same during the day. With a two-part tariff, electricity metering is different day and night.
In order to take readings from the "Mercury 200", you first need to simply, without pressing anything, write down the numbers from his scoreboard. The tariff numbers on the display of this device are displayed on the screen on the left. At the same time, each letter faces T.
For example, consider the operation of the Mercury 200 two-rate counter. How to take readings in this case? To do this, we need the numbers located under T1 (daily rate) and T2 (nightly). In order to find out how much energy was spent over the past month, the same ones (T1 and T2) must be subtracted from these values, but for the previous period.
For convenience, all data from the Mercury 200 counter can be recorded, for example, in a notebook. However, such an action when used to take this model into account can be considered optional. Why - consider a little later.
Exactly the same technique is used when operating the Mercury 200 three-rate meter. How to take readings in this case is understandable. To obtain data for apartment owners on this plan, you only need to look at the values of T1, T2 and T3.
The readings taken from the meter should subsequently be transferred to the electricity supplier in the usual way. If desired, electricity costs can also be calculated independently. For this, the difference between the readings for two periods for each tariff needs to be added and multiplied by the figure obtained by the cost of kW / h.
Second way
The instructions for the Mercury 200 counter are simple. But sometimes all the tariffs are not displayed on the device’s display at once. What to do in this case? If only one tariff is displayed on the meter, and you need to find out the values of two or three, you just need to press the “enter” button once or twice on the device. In this case, the device will begin to “flip” the readings for each tariff. That is, the values of T1, T2, T3, as well as the final amount of flow, will be displayed alternately on the screen.
How to take readings if the instrument is reset?
If the Mercury 200 counter starts counting the amount of electricity consumed in a new circle, zeros will be displayed on its board. In this case, in order to take readings, add 1 in front of the 5 digits from the instrument display, that is, for example, convert the readings of 00045 to 100045. Next, in the usual way, you need to subtract from this figure the value of kW / h spent for the previous period.
What if there is no comma?
As a rule, the meter readings, including the Mercury 200, are transmitted to the management company in whole numbers. That is, you need to look at the values of tariffs to the decimal point. Sometimes it happens that there is no such sign on the display of the device. In this case, fractional values are likely to be highlighted in a different color. If such a guideline is not provided in the device, the apartment owners just need to call the management company and consult about the required number of digits from the device display.
Other counter functions
It is therefore not difficult to take readings from the Mercury 200 instrument. It is also quite simple to use another functionality of this model:
- to determine the load power, press the button (kW will appear and the tariff);
- to change the time - press O a second time;
- To clarify the date of taking readings - press for the third time.
If the button on the Mercury 200 counter is pressed a fourth time, the display will show data on energy consumption for the previous period. That is why it is not necessary to have a notebook for recording testimony to the owners of such devices.
Other models "Incotex"
So, how the Mercury 200 counter works and how to take readings from this device, the reader now knows. In order to get information about the consumed electricity, the apartment owner only needs to look at the scoreboard and, if necessary, press the button a couple of times.
In this way, the readings are then taken from all meters of the Mercury brand, both single-phase and three-phase. Also, the same reading technique is used for modern electronic models of most other manufacturers.
Can I use it in ACSUE?
In most cases, property owners in our country pass the meter readings to the electricity supplying company in the old-fashioned way. That is, simply reporting the necessary information to the operator by phone. But in our time, you can install at home and a special system AKSUE designed for automatic data transfer. Such complexes pump information about the spent electricity to the supplier on their own, without the intervention of the property owner.
The Mercury 200 counters have earned good reviews from consumers, among other things, and for their low cost. Moreover, such models, according to the manufacturer, if necessary, can be used in ACSUE systems. In particular, such use of Mercury 200 will be useful for sending readings of multi-tariff plans.
Counter "Mercury 200": reviews
Judging by the information available on the network, the owners of houses and apartments consider this Incotex model to be a fairly reliable and accurate device. Property owners also praise the design of these metering devices. Appliances from this manufacturer do not spoil the appearance of an apartment or a building at home.
True, some functions in this counter consumers consider redundant. But using this device, judging by the reviews, is still quite convenient. In any case, we figured out how to take readings from the Mercury 200 meter. Representatives of the supplying companies also praise this model. To deceive the "Mercury 200", according to their assurances, is almost impossible.
Good opinion among netizens has developed on other models from Infotex. Real estate owners praise very much, for example, the Mercury 230 counter. This device has earned good reviews for its long life and accuracy. This model is even more reliable than the 200th and at the same time can be used in three-phase networks.
Power Saving Tips
Many property owners, therefore, advise installing the Mercury 200 electric meter at home. How to take readings from this device, in any case, after some time of operation, any person will easily understand. Judging by the reviews, the devices of this modification, among other things, also record electricity very accurately. That is, how much it will be spent, the counter will display so much.
Lastly, a few helpful tips on how to save energy in your home. In order not to overpay for using all kinds of household appliances, you need:
- turn off appliances at night, or when leaving for work;
- Replace conventional incandescent bulbs with energy-saving ones.
Those who use household appliances at night should switch to a two-tariff plan. In the dark, electricity in most regions is almost two times cheaper than during the day.