On Apr 23, 8:33*pm, Oren wrote:
On Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:18:19 -0700 (PDT), DerbyDad03

wrote:
Does anybody see any issues with having a small magnet in such close
proximity to the meter?

I don't see an issue.

You can test the magnet in proximity to the spinning dial, on the
meter. Any reduction in speed? If so move it away.

New gadgets, let you read your own meter from the comfort of the
desktop PC. They are mounted at or near the meter.

Catch the meter reader, and tell what the gadget is for.

In the UK, following WWII (which is when the magnetron was invented by
Sir Robert Watson Watt as a device to generate substantial amounts of
microwave energy; he being another Scotsman, like alexander Graham
Bell, by the way), surplus magnets were available and could often be
bought for as little as few English shillings!

Magnets iin those days were much larger and these 'ex-radar' magnets
were in the form a large 'horsehoe'. Today microwave oven magnetrons
have smaller powerful magnets.

Someone bought one of the surplus magenets and on the way home dropped
into his 'local'. Many in the pub were intrigued and spent time
picking up or attracting anything around that was magnetic.

Until closing time! When several found that their watches had stopped.
Not many pocket or wrist watches in those days were 'non-magnetic'. So
they weren't very pleased to have to have their watches de-magnetized!

BTW early basic (non-microwave) radar was in use in 1939/1940 and
helped greatly to defend Britain against air attacks.

And yes 'talk' was that those magnets could stop rotary disc type
meters; which in those days were often mounted inside the house!