How to make a counter with a remote control with your own hands (instructions)

Types, principle of operation and algorithm for stopping the meter with remote control

The information in this article is provided for informational purposes only. For the use of converted electricity meters, administrative liability is provided in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation.

There are smart electricity meters controlled by special remote controls, with which the meter can be stopped. Visually, they are no different from ordinary ones. Meters with a remote control are purchased in specialized online stores, and these devices do not count consumed electricity or only partially count it - hence the savings.

Gorelektroset asks you to bring a meter with a remote control for inspection

At the same time, tariffs are unreasonably constantly growing and many times exceed the cost of electricity. After a set period of time for the next check of the measuring complex, employees of energy companies switch the device to the mode of generating recorded signals, and all non-repeating signals that were recorded on the SD card during the controlled period period, are reproduced by a transmitter in a device installed inside the board (the receiver records all signals, and the sorting program selects all repeating signals). During the generation of recorded signals, if a receiver with a relay is installed in the meter, which opens the counting mechanism, a characteristic click is heard.

Info

Based on this, a modified counter is identified. Fine for electric meter Important About problems in energy networks, with the remote control, under-accounting of energy resources and simply the difficult life of RES workers.

Please note that payment at the average tariff will only occur for the first 3 months after the fact of a meter malfunction is detected. If the replacement is not completed before this time, you will have to pay according to the standard.

Attention

We talked about how electricity is calculated according to the standard in a separate article. As for replacing the meter, it is paid for by the energy supply organization in several cases:

If the meter fails through no fault of yours.
If the electricity meter is located on municipal territory.

In other cases, the owner will have to pay for replacement or repairs, i.e.

to you, even if it is located at the entrance to the site. It’s clear that if it’s your fault that the electricity meter breaks down (for example, due to overload, shock, and even more so after installing a magnet), you pay.

In the attachment I have posted a number of photos showing how cleverly this device is placed. Problems of theft at metering units The idea is to develop a universal remote control that can be used to identify a charged meter without removing the meter, without opening the verification seal or disassembling. In modern meters this issue has been partially resolved; there is an event log where all openings of the terminal cover and housing are taken into account .

Why partially? All the meters we identified went through repair organizations that carried out repairs and then were verified in metrological laboratories that have the right to verify. It is difficult to determine where at what stage and in which organization this device was installed in the meter. And therefore, if suddenly a modern counter falls into the hands of such craftsmen, then the event log will not help us either.

A new way to save electricity - remote meters Currently, due to high electricity tariffs, many are trying to pay less for light using various methods. Some people drill holes in the meter and put wires on it, while others try to use household appliances less.

One of the more effective methods of saving is purchasing an electric meter with a remote control. This device allows you to stop electricity metering with one simple click on the compact remote control.

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Modification of the counter for the remote control

The most common way to convert a factory meter into a device that does not count electricity is to install an additional controller.
It will block the circuits responsible for increasing the displayed amount of energy spent. The controller consists of:

voltage converter;
a receiving unit with a small-sized antenna (it is needed to receive signals from the remote control);
a block that converts the signal into a command to switch the operating mode;
microprocessor that switches this mode.

To install the controller you need:

remove factory seals - it is important not to damage them in the process;
separate the sections of the case without breaking the device;
install the controller inside;
reassemble the body;
put the seals back.

If the work was carried out carefully, the modernized equipment will not differ in appearance from the official one. The controller operates from the power supply of the meter itself.

Design and operating principle

The meter with a control panel and feedback is no different in appearance from a conventional device; the labels also correspond to the originals. The seals are skillfully forged. The only external difference is the presence of a remote control, with which you can temporarily stop the calculation of consumed electricity. The owner will be notified by a sound signal on the remote control when counting has stopped.

The design of a “charged” electric meter does not have mechanical parts such as a coil. In their place, electronic parts are installed that respond to control signals from the remote control. The design of the smart device also includes:

A node that converts the network voltage into the required voltage for the operation of the device;
A receiving unit that responds to commands from the remote control;
An electrical unit that recognizes signals coming from the remote control and converts them into the required sequence of operating pulses;
A relay module that interrupts the operation of the device upon command from the remote control.

According to technical recommendations, it is necessary to check a charged device once every 13 years. At the same time, we must remember that inspectors from the management company can come with an inspection at any time, so the remote control must always be kept in a visible place in order to immediately switch the electric meter to the standard reading recording mode.

Operating principle of the meter with remote control

By purchasing an electric meter with a remote control, you will receive a device modified by a specialist, which works as follows: the controller installed in it changes the operating frequency of the processor, which is why electricity metering is turned off.

The remote control (RC) is a combination of a battery and a signal transmitter.

Its range depends on the characteristics of the antenna and the presence of interference in the environment:

If a conventional small-sized antenna is used and there is no interference around the transmitter, then the range reaches 50 meters.
In dense urban areas, it is unlikely to exceed 15 meters - too many radio waves are emitted by modern devices and concrete transmits them too poorly.
If a retractable antenna is installed on the remote control, then in the absence of interference the range will be up to 200 meters.

Types of automated devices and electricity metering systems

Electric meter with remote control

When considering this issue, it is possible to find out which types of meters are installed on poles and which ones are not, and also become familiar with the existing types of devices. One of the options for such devices is an electric meter on a pole with a remote control that allows you to control operating modes, take readings and display them on the built-in display. The range of remote communication is very small and amounts to no more than ten meters.

Another version of this device involves transmitting information to the control panel directly via the power cable (not via the Internet). This method can also be used when installing an electric meter inside an apartment or private house. Some samples of devices for remote readings provide the option of “transferring” information over a radio channel operating over considerable distances. If it needs to be transmitted over short distances, standard infrared communication lines (IRDA) are used.

Algorithm for stopping the electric meter using the remote control

Typically, the remote control itself has a red LED that lights up if a signal has been sent from it.

To stop the counter, you need to:

Enter the signal range.
Press the corresponding button and check if the LED lights up.
Inspect the display of the electricity meter and make sure that it has actually stopped - the red light on it should stop blinking.

To restore normal operation of the equipment, you need to perform the same steps, but this time press the controller shutdown button. If the number shown on the display gradually increases, the counter is working again in factory mode.

Some remote controls allow you not only to stop, but also, if necessary, to slow down the operation of the equipment (the accounting is reduced by 30-90% of the real one).

It will continue to take into account the electricity consumed, but in smaller quantities. In this mode, the control LED will blink more slowly.

Which counters can be stopped using the remote control?

Equipment that is popular in Russia is often modified. List of available models:

Mercury 200, 201.2, 201.4, 201.5, 201.7, 201.8, 206 N – single-phase;
Mercury 230 (ART-01 PQRSIN, ART-01 CN, ART-02, ART-03), 231 (AT-01i, AM-01), 234 ARTM - three-phase.

You can find the following single-phase electric meters with remote control on sale: Energomera CE 101, Neva 103, Matrix NP-515, STAR 104/1 R5.

Various three-phase electric meters with a control panel are also offered: Energomera 301 and 303, Matrix NP-73L, NEVA 306, SKAT 301E.

Meter with remote control Mercury 230 AM-02

Is it legal to use electric meters with a remote control?

For safety reasons, it is recommended to use meters with the latest modifications and types of control units, since they have the highest level of protection and are quite difficult to detect. The remote controls themselves differ from each other in such devices. Such a device is programmed for each specific meter, however, if necessary, you can connect several remote controls at the same time.

Similar to an air conditioner remote control;
Like a remote control for a car alarm;
To control room lighting.

When choosing a meter, it is best to select a device that is not oriented towards completely shutting off electricity metering.

This week I spoke with a power engineer who lives in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, with his permission I am posting the text of the conversation. Electricity at the substation input = the amount of electricity consumed by outgoing lines (consumers).

If it doesn’t add up, look for theft! It is impossible to make a universal remote control, because in addition to infrared rays, you can control it remotely: using a laser beam (pointers are widely used), a radio signal, an ultrasonic and sound signal, and via network wires. There are probably other ways. Another variety of signal modulations, specific sequences and their frequencies.

Important

How to detect a meter with a remote control Home » Electrical installation » Electric meters » Electric meter with a remote control Contents

1 Electric meter with remote control: true or false 1.1 What the manufacturer says
1.2 Pros and cons of such a device

2 Summary

We invite you to read: An employee who has entered into an employment contract is obliged
Every day, electricity tariffs are constantly increasing, which is what ordinary people are not starting to do in order to pay less money. Some install a magnet on the meter, others connect to the network directly or save light using official methods.

What to do if the electricity meter breaks down? Attention In any case, using these benefits of civilization is not free - we have to fork out for electricity.

How much does an electricity meter with remote control cost?

The price range of such equipment is very wide: inexpensive models cost about 5-6 thousand rubles, the cost of multi-tariff devices reaches 20 thousand. The most common models on the market are from the Mercury brand.

Below is a sample list of prices for popular models:

Mercury 201.5 – 5,000 rubles;
Mercury 201.2, 201.4, 201.7, 201.8 – 5,500 rubles;
Mercury 230 AR-01, 02, 03 – 10,000 rubles;
Mercury 230 ART-01, 02, 03 – 12,000 rubles.

Mercury power meters are a good choice, but there are other good brands out there.

Mercury's main competitor is the Energomera brand:

CE 101 – 5,000 rubles;
TsE680ZV – 7,500 rubles;
CE 302 – 14,000 rubles.

The brands “Matrix” and “Neva” are also popular:

Matrix NP73L, NP73E – 20,000 rubles;
Neva 101 1SO – 5,500 rubles;
Neva 303, 306 – 10,000 rubles.

Replacing an old electric meter with a modified one

To replace old equipment with an electricity meter with a remote control, you must first go to the sales company and fill out an application for the need to change the device. The reason may not be specified.

After this, you should wait for the visit of a specialist and offer him the purchased modified electricity meter for installation. He will not be able to notice any differences from the original electricity meter. You can also perform the installation yourself if you have the appropriate permission to carry out such work.

If the meter is working, an Energosbyt employee seals it and puts the device into operation, filling out the necessary documentation - you need to enter the start date of the meter and the seal numbers.

Pros and cons of this stopping method

Advantages of updating the electric meter firmware to control the remote control:

It can be controlled from a distance, without even having to open the shield.
It is impossible to distinguish an official device from a modified one by appearance.
Possibility of installing protective stickers on the body, including anti-magnetic ones.

But there are also obvious disadvantages:

For equipment that has already been flashed, you cannot order new transmitters - if the remote control is lost or broken, you will have to change the electric meter itself.
Compared to meters that can be stopped by an impulse switch, an additional controller needs to be integrated into these metering devices.

How it works and how to properly use an electricity meter with a remote control

The information in this article is provided for informational purposes only. For the use of modified metering devices, administrative liability is provided in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation.

Electricity utility costs are rising every year. Users are looking for a way to reduce tariff payments and are studying various schemes for suspending the meter. A popular option is a counter with a remote control.

How inspectors detect counterfeits

The most obvious sign by which inspectors detect a fake is when the owner’s electricity consumption drops sharply. But this is a long process, and the reasons why consumption has fallen may be objective.

Sometimes inspectors, unnoticed by the consumer, place a control meter on a suspicious line. And if they see a difference, they can take your meter for examination. Experts will open it up, find the electronic circuitry, and you'll be in serious trouble.

On some meter models there is an option to view the history of all readings (to do this you need to enter a special code), and those checking this option know this option.

In addition, controllers now have a device (a special X-ray) that is able to detect a “tricky” counter with a remote control.

If the consumer installed the device at his own peril and risk, then it would be an even greater risk on his part to sharply reduce the level of electricity consumption. Minus 20% is the value that is considered relatively safe.

Now on the Internet there are many offers from scammers with the aim of upgrading already installed electricity meters with a remote control. Moreover, if the owner refuses their services, they can blackmail him, under the premise that they will reveal to the management company the fact of installing a “cunning” electric meter. In this case, the owner faces a serious fine.

Refinement of the electric meter

The factory electricity meter cannot be stopped using the remote control; preliminary modification is required. The resulting smart meter looks like the original metering device.
It will be difficult to identify the discrepancy even after disassembling the case. Models of electronic meters are equipped with microprocessors. In this case, the accounting equipment is modified by installing a controller to block the standard circuit.

To remake the electric meter, a number of actions are carried out:

seals and holograms installed by the manufacturer are removed;
the two halves of the housing cover are separated;
an additional controller is installed;
the body is assembled;
fillings are restored.

The electric meter controller with remote control contains a radio frequency receiver. Each electric meter model comes complete with a remote control (RC), which is tuned to a specific frequency with an encoded signal.

Thus, disabling a specific meter is possible only with your own remote control, which does not affect other devices.

How to combat electricity theft in microdistricts?

I am cutting out only very sensitive points; from this monologue, someone can glean very interesting information and draw conclusions, while others will simply pass by, let’s begin. As usual, a control meter (either on a support or in a substation) helps to catch a thief.

SNT MEDIC communication between gardeners The basis is taken on new, high-quality, most popular electronic electricity meters, which have a guarantee, are technically and legally suitable for use for commercial electricity metering throughout Russia. Types, specifications and photos are shown below. The meters do not have any external signs of modification, so checking them by energy sales employees will not bring any problems! It is impossible to detect anything.

It will only work with the remote control it is connected to. It will not respond to other remote controls. Correct metering of electricity is indicated by a flashing lamp on the front panel of the device.

Even in energy metering off mode, it continues to flash. That is, even in this respect the protection is thought out. To check the functionality of the electric meter, company employees use a special device that is connected to it through standard wire contacts.

A special device measures how accurately the electricity consumed is being metered. But even in this case, the energy company employee will see that the meter is working properly and the electricity is being metered correctly. To identify the upgraded device, it is necessary to disassemble the meter completely. This requires an examination in an electrical laboratory. But first it must be taken from you.

During the initial installation of this device, near electricity meters, in consumer electrical installations, the “Radio Seal” receiver picks up all signals at the appropriate frequencies that are transmitted during a controlled period of time (or from the moment the seal was installed or the date of the previous check of the measuring complex until the current one, next check) and recorded on the SD card (car alarm, house alarm and, accordingly, the remote control of interest from the meter).

it contains a device not provided by the manufacturer.

In the passport for each electric meter, the manufacturer indicates a very important parameter - how much voltage the circuits consume at the rated voltage value. For example, the Mercury 231 AT 01 I model consumes no more than 0.5 W and 7.5 VA. It should be taken into account that these parameters are given by the manufacturer “with a reserve”, so in reality the meter may consume even less.

If there is a need, you can make measurements without removing the electricity meter from the metering unit, then you need to remove the load (disconnect the subscriber from the network by turning off the machine after the meter) and perform the manipulations described above. If there is reasonable suspicion, a report will be drawn up stating that the meter does not comply with factory specifications, indicating

It’s worth taking a closer look at the operating principle of such a device if you really want to save on utilities. Modern realities are such that current energy companies are able to inflate the cost of electricity consumption tens of times higher than the real one. Everyone understands this, but no one dares to confront this state of affairs.

The only reasonable solution is to save electricity, which, by the way, should not interfere with a comfortable life. If you spend the evening with a candle, this is not saving, but madness. Fortunately, there are real ways to save electricity, which are becoming more widespread.

One of these ways is to use a modernized meter, which can make it possible to save on utility bills without compromising the comfort of the family. Installing a meter with a remote control can be called a necessary measure.

All models of electrical meters with feedback that can be used today are divided into several varieties: Based on the type of metering, devices are divided into: Single-phase meters are usually used in everyday life.

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Three-phase charged devices are used in industry and in enterprises where there is three-phase voltage. An overview of the meter with remote control is presented in the video from the Goods from Abroad channel.

It is problematic to purchase a charged device in a regular store. Brands under which charged devices are produced: Before installation, an electric meter with a remote control must be checked; let’s analyze the diagnostic procedure using the example of Energy Meter devices: During use, the consumer presses a key on the remote control, after which the device turns off or undercounts a certain percentage of energy consumption.

It is impossible to build a smart meter yourself at home, but there is an option to remake an existing device. Diagram for connecting the reed switch to the board Yaroslav Sergeev showed the procedure for stopping the device to count kilowatts using an insect repellent device.

Principle of operation

An additional controller installed in the meter consists of:

voltage converter;
antenna receiving signals from the remote control;
a radio signal decoding unit that switches the device to a given program;
microprocessor, which allows you to stop the operation of the electric meter.

The principle of operation of an electricity meter with a remote control is to change the frequency of the microprocessor. As a result, the reading algorithm changes and the electric meter stops recording consumed electricity. For proper operation, the remote control must be configured, which is carried out during the finalization process.

Reflashing, as a result of which the metering unit stops, does not interrupt the energy flow circuit. You can convert either a single-phase (for 220 volts) or a three-phase (380 volts) metering device.

Note! The energy-saving meter does not transmit radio frequency interference. Therefore, it is impossible to detect a stopped meter from a distance.

The remote control is battery operated. There is a radio transmitter inside. The range of the remote control depends on the installation location of the meter:

standard radius 30-50 m;
in the city in high-rise buildings 10-15 m;
Some remote control models have a retractable antenna, in which case the range in an open area reaches 200 m.

The range of the remote control depends on the charge of the power supply. A poor battery charge will reduce the range of the signal. Also, a lot depends on the quality and manufacturer of the microboard built into the meter. Therefore, it is worth buying a meter with a remote control from a trusted online store.

Design and operating principle

A node that converts the network voltage into the required voltage for the operation of the device;
A receiving unit that responds to commands from the remote control;
An electrical unit that recognizes signals coming from the remote control and converts them into the required sequence of operating pulses;
A relay module that interrupts the operation of the device upon command from the remote control.

Which counters can be stopped using the remote control?

Popular models of electric meters with a stopping remote control:

Mercury 200, 201, 231 AM-01, 231 AT-01i, 230 AM, 230 AR, 230 ART MCLN.
Energy meter CE 101, CE 102 (single-phase), Energy meter CE 300, CE 301, CE 303 (three-phase).
Neva 103, 101 (single-phase), 303, 306 (three-phase).
Matrix NP73E, NP71L.
Scat 301 E.
Star 104/1 R5.

In some cases, multi-tariff models designed for 380V are custom-made. On average, a single-phase metering device is completed within 2-3 days.

Replacing an old electric meter with a modified one

The change occurs according to a certain algorithm:

An application is being submitted. The paragraph “reason for replacement” indicates “damage, scratches” or “the desire to install a modern device.” You can also skip this column without specifying reasons; the company does not have the right to refuse a replacement service.
At the appointed time, a specialist comes, records the readings of the old mechanism, removes the seal, and installs a new meter.
The functionality of the device is checked and a certificate of completion of work is signed.
The specialist seals the electric meter, issues a document indicating the date of the seal, its number and the start of operation of the reading mechanism.
After the specialist leaves, the owner checks the operation of the remote control.

Note! The owner has the right to install the meter himself after receiving permission from the energy supply company. The old device is left until the readings are recorded by a specialist. It is prohibited to remove or install seals yourself.