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Pre Paid meters

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I see a lot of chats about prepaid meters.

Be careful of prepaid meters. Majority are counters that can not determine the direction of electricity flow.

They never been designed to measure direction but simple calculate Kwr.  Perhaps later version "can" see direction.  It will be a complicated task to get a prepaid meter to calculate the cost and direction. Therefore it is done by the "vending station/supplier".
Thus should you pat R2.52 per Kwhr at COCT  and you feed back 1Kwhr you are effectively billed @ R 2.52 for that Kwh.

The meter sees a Kwh has passed and decrement a register which is the same as you paying for the Kwh you push back.

For that reason there are inverters with the ability of measuring directions.

  • 3 weeks later...
On 2020/10/31 at 8:22 AM, Erastus said:

I see a lot of chats about prepaid meters.

Be careful of prepaid meters. Majority are counters that can not determine the direction of electricity flow.

They never been designed to measure direction but simple calculate Kwr.  Perhaps later version "can" see direction.  It will be a complicated task to get a prepaid meter to calculate the cost and direction. Therefore it is done by the "vending station/supplier".
Thus should you pat R2.52 per Kwhr at COCT  and you feed back 1Kwhr you are effectively billed @ R 2.52 for that Kwh.

The meter sees a Kwh has passed and decrement a register which is the same as you paying for the Kwh you push back.

For that reason there are inverters with the ability of measuring directions.

Hi Erastus

You make a good point.  It is important to choose the right prepaid meter for the job.  This one does allow for reverse energy detection.  It's best to use SABS approved prepaid meters.

https://jknvenergy.co.za/all-prepaid-meters/electricity-meters/prepaid-meter-model-bec23-plt/

  • Author
On 2020/11/20 at 3:49 PM, Nadine said:

Hi Erastus

You make a good point.  It is important to choose the right prepaid meter for the job.  This one does allow for reverse energy detection.  It's best to use SABS approved prepaid meters.

https://jknvenergy.co.za/all-prepaid-meters/electricity-meters/prepaid-meter-model-bec23-plt/

If I buy a meter it is Landis & Gyrr or the cheapest sts meter one gets them for R400/R500 made in China 🤪.  But I have a 3 phase Landys & Gyrr meter. They lead where others follows. But if you have grid tied and prepaid meter its crazy or you must have a reverse power detection on your grid tie inverter that will control the power generated by the inverter then the meter is not a problem.

Expensive the Conlog prepaid meters not a fan of them.

Edited by Erastus

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