When it comes to energy meter testing equipment, safety is paramount. Great care must be exercised and understanding the codes is imperative. The basic unit used in measuring electric power is the watt, and 1,000 Watts make a kilowatt.
Choosing the right meter testing instrument will ensure the electricians are safe and they can complete the tests confidently and efficiently.
Here is how to pick the best equipment for testing energy meters.
1. Conduct Thorough Research
When buying a car, the first thing is to ensure is if it’s safe for the road. The same concept applies when it comes to equipment for testing energy meters. You bear the responsibility of ensuring the technicians are using quality products.
Today, searching for what you need is easier than ever thanks to the advanced technology. And companies are taking advantage of the online platform to market their services and products. Therefore, you can find a plethora of companies that deal with transformer test instruments online.
Check if the company is fully insured and licensed. Reading reviews will guide and provide invaluable information about the company. Tons of negative reviews means that is not a reliable company to buy instruments from, but a few bad reviews can be a good thing; especially if the company responds quickly and appropriately to those unhappy customers. On the contrary, a perfect review score can also be a red flag. You might wonder if some (or all) of the positive reviews are fake; perhaps left by employees, friends, or family.
Check the given email and physical addresses. Ensure the phone contact provided is going through. You can contact the customer care desk to rate their services. Make sure you pick a company with polite and courteous workers.
Another vital factor to check is professionalism. Does the company have experience with meter testing equipment? For a local company, ask for references and call previous clients to confirm the eligibility and reliability. The right company means right and high-quality tools.
2. Pick the Right Instrument
After picking the best company, the next step is to choose the right equipment. The right tool will help technicians do the job correctly and efficiently. Energy meters are categorized into two classes:
Electronic energy meters- These instruments are precise, accurate, reliable, and high-quality. They consume less power when connected to loads, and they start measuring energy promptly.
Electromagnetic energy meters- These are conventional and most popular energy meters.
Exposure to substandard testing energy meters can be dangerous. Once you notice faulty equipment, have them repaired immediately. One of the common safety violations is the improper grounding of equipment for testing energy meters. It risks the technician getting electrocuted.
3. Ensure Employees Are Well-Trained
Getting the right equipment is one thing, but having workers who can use them safely is another thing. Electrical testing equipment doesn’t get the proper attention. Misusing tools or using wrong ones can be catastrophic. Insulation testers, multimeters, and resistant testers are some of the most used tools. It’s often said that the most dangerous person in the room is the one with just a little bit of knowledge and a screwdriver. Don’t let a bad employee ruin a good tool!
Electric technicians have been injured or killed in explosions and fires caused by defective equipment. Others have been electrocuted because of improper use of transformer test instruments.
Set up safety classes to equip employees with various precautions. Train them on the right items and how to handle them.
4. A Management System Will Come in Handy
Well, nothing is perfect. It’s possible to find defective instruments from a reliable company. And because human is to error, it’s advisable to have a reliable and efficient management system in place. The system will help in managing, selecting, buying, and maintaining various test instruments. Without a management system, you might identify human error but miss the crucial underlying issues.
5. Know the Equipment Limitation
Equipment for testing energy meters is designed with voltage limitations that should not be exceeded. Once the limitation exceeds, the waveform will get distorted.
Take heed of these tips when picking the energy testing meters. It will ensure you have the right equipment for the right job. It will also help you get desirable results.
