On the issue of installing such meters, there is much debate. Most of the problems a similar question brings to the owners of private buildings. The fact is that energy-saving organizations usually require that the installation of electric meters be carried out on the street. Nevertheless, the owners are worried about the safety of the device, which is a perfectly reasonable argument justifying the need for an internal location.
Choosing a place to place
The Accounting Rules speak of the so-called balance sheet ownership. This means that the device should be located on the edge of the network. However, there is a Government Decree numbered 530, which states that the landlord agrees to provide full unhindered access to specialists from the resource supply company. Moreover, this order does not say anything about the choice of specific places for accommodation.
Employees of responsible enterprises assure that the electric meter is intended for installation on the street, but not in the room. This fact is explained by the need for constant checks of the technical condition of the equipment, as well as the presence of a special protective seal. In addition, specialists regularly take readings from the device. The situation may be completely different when it comes to any private enterprise, industrial or economic facility that is guarded around the clock. In this case, specialists from the company can simply be carried out to study the electric meter.
Other regulatory documents
The same Electrical Installation Rules prescribe the need to place electricity meters in dry rooms with a temperature not lower than zero Celsius. This is mentioned in paragraph 1.5.27. Also in the Civil Code there is an article under number 210 that the owner bears all responsibility for the safety of his own property. This fact directly contradicts the desire of resource-containing companies to install meters somewhere outside the buildings: on the facade of a building or on a pillar.
In addition, such devices may vary design features. For example, inductive electricity meters can start to read somewhat faster at lower air temperatures. Experts have estimated that under certain conditions, these devices charge an additional 10% to the real indicator.
Most often, company representatives advise the owner who is afraid of their property to hang the device higher. It is worth considering that the monthly reading of readings from such a meter will be somewhat difficult. The Electrical Installation Rules say that no more than 170 cm is allowed from the floor to the product. The minimum value is set at 80 cm.
Installation Features
With all of the above, placement within the structure itself is still allowed. Even the operating conditions of some models imply such a solution. It is recommended to choose any heated room. Great options for accommodation can be a warm sennik, loggia or corridor.
In this case, the norms for installing an electric meter in a private house are advised under any circumstances not to allow moisture to get on the device. It is best to connect a safety ground to the shield. Thanks to such preventive measures, the device will not receive excessive voltage discharge and will not fail. For the rest, you must follow the installation rules specified in the instructions for the product.
In summer cottages, counters are often installed outside buildings. This is very convenient for taking readings, but in bad weather and low temperatures, a variety of negative consequences are possible. In fact, it is not prohibited by law to transfer the device to a warm, heated room, therefore, each homeowner can independently choose a suitable place.
Rules for installation in a private house
To perform the work, you can attract any electrician with an average level of qualification. For him, it will not be difficult to install an electric meter. The procedure for the specialist is described below.
- A suitable place is chosen like a dressing room or an entrance hall.
- The input line is de-energized. This moment is allowed to be settled by a call to a representative of a network provider or an electrical installation company.
- Placement is made at a height of 80 to 170 cm. The counter is located horizontally to the surface.
- The input line is connected first to the safety switch, and only then to the device itself.
- Grounding is being made, which allows to secure all powered electrical appliances in the house.
- A shield with automatic devices is connected to the output connector of the device.
- If during the installation the integrity of the seal is violated, then you should immediately notify the network provider.
- In the last step, a trial power-up is performed.
Rules for installation in the apartment
The device is mounted either in the access distribution panel or in its own panel in the apartment. The process as a whole does not differ from the above, however, the installation of electric meters in the apartment has its own nuances. For example, before installation, it is better to familiarize yourself with the term of the state audit, the date of which is indicated on the seal of the product. For different instruments, this value may vary. So, for three-phase meters, after the last check, more than one year should not pass, and for single-phase meters - more than two years.
It is worth noting that most people prefer to install the device in distribution panels on apartment sites. Installing the product directly in the apartment itself requires prior preparation. To begin with, the hallway must have a closed shield in which the input is located. There, as a rule, a group of machine guns is placed on the whole apartment.
Outdoor Installation Rules
If you adhere to generally accepted recommendations, then installation should be done on the facade of the house. It is also allowed to place the device on a concrete pillar that stands on the site. There you need to install a circuit breaker, and other machines are better left indoors.
Before carrying out work, disconnect the network line. If the electrical panel will not be heated, then at temperatures from 5 degrees Celsius and below, the readings can be wound above the norm. The rest of the installation procedure is no different from that in an apartment or a private house.
The cost of the device and installation
Electricity meter prices may vary depending on the company that supplies it. The simplest single-phase models cost from 800 rubles. The price of more expensive products with three phases can reach 6-8 thousand rubles. On average, specialists are ready to replace a single-phase meter for 1800 rubles, and a three-phase meter for 3-4 thousand rubles. Product programming can cost one thousand rubles, and simple dismantling will cost about 500 rubles.
To the question of at what expense the electricity meters are changed, it can be answered that everything depends on the location of the device. For example, if he is in an apartment or a private house, then the responsibility for its safety and efficiency lies entirely with the owner of the property. If the device is located on the landing, the management company must replace the broken meter for free.
Replacement for Mosenergosbyt customers
Representatives of the company declare that when replacing the device by qualified specialists, the owner will be given a guarantee on the meter itself and on its operability. The homeowner will first need to leave a request on the official website, by phone or at the nearest office. Employees will also dismantle the old device immediately before replacing the meter. In Mosenergosbyt, to control the accounting of indicators, they will carry out preliminary sealing and put the device on record.