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Read a Household Electric Meter
Hi Friends,
Household electric meters can be confusing. However, understanding a meter is important, especially if a person is working on lowering their electric bill. A household meter consists of a series of numbers read monthly. The previous month's reading is subtracted from the new month's reading, and determines the power consumption for the month. There are three basic types of meters. One with spinning dials, one with mechanical numbers, and one with LED lit numbers.
1. Locate the meter box. Most meter boxes are on the outer wall the breaker box is on. Notice that the spinning dial's needles spin in different directions. The first dial starting from the left is spinning clockwise, the second dial needle is spinning counter-clockwise, the third dial needle is spinning clockwise, the fourth dial needle is spinning counter-clockwise, and the fifth spinning dial needle is spinning clockwise.
2. Write down the number of the first dial on the left that the needle is pointing past or on. Go to the next dial and write that number down. If the pointer is very close to the number and you can't tell which number is right, look at the dial on the right. If the needle is before the zero, write down the lower number, and if the needle is past the zero, write down the higher number. Go to the next dial and write that number down. Continue writing down the rest of the numbers on each dial.
3. Write down the date that you wrote the numbers down. Check the meter on the same date on the next month and write those numbers down. Subtract the second set of number from the first set of numbers. This is the amount of kilowatt hours used in the month.
4. Locate the meter box. Most meter boxes are on the outer wall the breaker box is on. There are a series of numbers either with printed numbers or LED-lit numbers on the meter.
5. Write these numbers down starting from the left to right. Once you have the five numbers written down, write the date.
6. Check the meter on the same date on the next month and write those numbers down. Subtract the second set of number from the first set of numbers. This is the amount of kilowatt hours used in the month.
Thanks and Regards
Steven Brooks
Household electric meters can be confusing. However, understanding a meter is important, especially if a person is working on lowering their electric bill. A household meter consists of a series of numbers read monthly. The previous month's reading is subtracted from the new month's reading, and determines the power consumption for the month. There are three basic types of meters. One with spinning dials, one with mechanical numbers, and one with LED lit numbers.
1. Locate the meter box. Most meter boxes are on the outer wall the breaker box is on. Notice that the spinning dial's needles spin in different directions. The first dial starting from the left is spinning clockwise, the second dial needle is spinning counter-clockwise, the third dial needle is spinning clockwise, the fourth dial needle is spinning counter-clockwise, and the fifth spinning dial needle is spinning clockwise.
2. Write down the number of the first dial on the left that the needle is pointing past or on. Go to the next dial and write that number down. If the pointer is very close to the number and you can't tell which number is right, look at the dial on the right. If the needle is before the zero, write down the lower number, and if the needle is past the zero, write down the higher number. Go to the next dial and write that number down. Continue writing down the rest of the numbers on each dial.
3. Write down the date that you wrote the numbers down. Check the meter on the same date on the next month and write those numbers down. Subtract the second set of number from the first set of numbers. This is the amount of kilowatt hours used in the month.
4. Locate the meter box. Most meter boxes are on the outer wall the breaker box is on. There are a series of numbers either with printed numbers or LED-lit numbers on the meter.
5. Write these numbers down starting from the left to right. Once you have the five numbers written down, write the date.
6. Check the meter on the same date on the next month and write those numbers down. Subtract the second set of number from the first set of numbers. This is the amount of kilowatt hours used in the month.
Thanks and Regards
Steven Brooks
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