Does anyone know whether residential power meters measure
real power or apparent power (vector sum of real and reactive power).

I have found claims for each on the web, so I am really only
interested if you can give a pointer to some authoritative
document such as a utilities commission decision, a statement
by a utility, or a spec for residential meters.

"M Q" wrote in message
news:Ndcph.2142$8B5.981@trnddc08...
Does anyone know whether residential power meters measure
real power or apparent power (vector sum of real and reactive power).

I have found claims for each on the web, so I am really only
interested if you can give a pointer to some authoritative
document such as a utilities commission decision, a statement
by a utility, or a spec for residential meters.

They measure real power. You can Google for "electrodynamometer power
meters."

On Wed, 10 Jan 2007 20:43:25 GMT, M Q
wrote:

Does anyone know whether residential power meters measure
real power or apparent power (vector sum of real and reactive power).

I have found claims for each on the web, so I am really only
interested if you can give a pointer to some authoritative
document such as a utilities commission decision, a statement
by a utility, or a spec for residential meters.


I was told "Real Power" when I inquired, but looking at my electric
bill lately, I'm guessing "Assumed Power" or "Line Our Pockets Power"

Just kidding. Real Power seems to be the response I get.

tom @ www.FreelancingProjects.com

M Q wrote:
Does anyone know whether residential power meters measure
real power or apparent power (vector sum of real and reactive power).

I have found claims for each on the web, so I am really only
interested if you can give a pointer to some authoritative
document such as a utilities commission decision, a statement
by a utility, or a spec for residential meters.


For the most part they measure real power at residences, but I've heard
tell of some areas in the southwestern USA where VAR metering is in use
for homes because of the heavy usage of air conditioning equipment.

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.

M Q wrote:
Does anyone know whether residential power meters measure
real power or apparent power (vector sum of real and reactive power).

I have found claims for each on the web, so I am really only
interested if you can give a pointer to some authoritative
document such as a utilities commission decision, a statement
by a utility, or a spec for residential meters.

Go to your power co's web site; they'll explain it there and some even have
dissertations on power factor, etc., even though it's for residential
meters. I know mine does.

Pop`

M Q wrote:
Does anyone know whether residential power meters measure
real power or apparent power (vector sum of real and reactive power).

I have found claims for each on the web, so I am really only
interested if you can give a pointer to some authoritative
document such as a utilities commission decision, a statement
by a utility, or a spec for residential meters.

A KWH meter?

They used to measure resistive load only.

That meant an appropriate capacitance across a reactive load (such as an AC
compressor) could nullify the measured load. Still that way in most cases.

In article ,
says...
M Q wrote:
Does anyone know whether residential power meters measure
real power or apparent power (vector sum of real and reactive power).

I have found claims for each on the web, so I am really only
interested if you can give a pointer to some authoritative
document such as a utilities commission decision, a statement
by a utility, or a spec for residential meters.


For the most part they measure real power at residences, but I've heard
tell of some areas in the southwestern USA where VAR metering is in use
for homes because of the heavy usage of air conditioning equipment.

Why would AC screw up the PF? A loaded motor will have a PF pretty
close to unity.

--
Keith

krw wrote:

In article ,
says...

M Q wrote:

Does anyone know whether residential power meters measure
real power or apparent power (vector sum of real and reactive power).

I have found claims for each on the web, so I am really only
interested if you can give a pointer to some authoritative
document such as a utilities commission decision, a statement
by a utility, or a spec for residential meters.


For the most part they measure real power at residences, but I've heard
tell of some areas in the southwestern USA where VAR metering is in use
for homes because of the heavy usage of air conditioning equipment.


Why would AC screw up the PF? A loaded motor will have a PF pretty
close to unity.


If that were always the case, then why would so many industrial
operations invest in power factor correction systems?

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.98*10^14 fathoms per fortnight.

In article ,
says...
krw wrote:

In article ,
says...

M Q wrote:

Does anyone know whether residential power meters measure
real power or apparent power (vector sum of real and reactive power).

I have found claims for each on the web, so I am really only
interested if you can give a pointer to some authoritative
document such as a utilities commission decision, a statement
by a utility, or a spec for residential meters.


For the most part they measure real power at residences, but I've heard
tell of some areas in the southwestern USA where VAR metering is in use
for homes because of the heavy usage of air conditioning equipment.


Why would AC screw up the PF? A loaded motor will have a PF pretty
close to unity.


If that were always the case, then why would so many industrial
operations invest in power factor correction systems?

Because they have a lot of strange things like fluorescent lights?
Computers?

--
Keith

Jeff Wisnia writes:
krw wrote:
says...
M Q wrote:

Does anyone know whether residential power meters measure
real power or apparent power (vector sum of real and reactive power).

I have found claims for each on the web, so I am really only
interested if you can give a pointer to some authoritative
document such as a utilities commission decision, a statement
by a utility, or a spec for residential meters.

For the most part they measure real power at residences, but I've heard
tell of some areas in the southwestern USA where VAR metering is in use
for homes because of the heavy usage of air conditioning equipment.

Why would AC screw up the PF? A loaded motor will have a PF pretty
close to unity.

If that were always the case, then why would so many industrial
operations invest in power factor correction systems?

Large industrial customers have the PF monitored and there's
a substantial surcharge for the PF being too low. Electrical
devices intended for home and commercial use are required to
have PF correction built into them. All bets are off with
industrial devices.