1

EXPERIMENT NO. 6
AIM: STUDY AND CALIBRATION OF SINGLE PHASE ENERGY METER.
APPRATUS REQUIRED:
Sl.
No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Name
Wattmeter
Voltmeter
Ammeter
Lamp Load Bank
Single
Phase
Energy
Meter

Range

Quantity

0-750 Watts
0-300 volts
0-10 A
1 Kw
600 R/KWH, 50 Hz

1
1
1
1
1

THEORY:
Energy Meter
Induction type energy meters are most commonly form of an A. c. KWh
meter used to measure the energy consumed in any a.c. circuit in a
prescribed period when supply voltage and frequency are constant, in day
today life & in industrial installation. Energy meter is an integrating
instrument which measure the total quantity of electrical energy supplied
to the circuit in a given period. These meters measure electrical energy in
Kilowatt hours.
PRINCIPLE: The Basic principle of induction type energy meter is
electromagnetic induction. When an alternating current flows through two
suitably located coils (Current coil & Potential Coil) produces rotating
magnetic field which is cut by the metallic disc Suspended near to the
coils, thus, an e.m.f. is induced in the thin Aluminum disc which circulates
eddy currents in it. By the interaction of Rotating magnetic field & eddy
currents, torque is developed & causes the disc to rotate. This is the same
principle which is applied in the single-phase induction motors.
WORKING
When the energy meter is connected in the circuit, the current coil carries
the load current and the pressure coil carries the current proportional to
the supply voltage. The magnetic field produced by the SERIES magnet
(series coil) is in phase with the line current & the magnetic field produced
by the shunt magnet (pressure coil) is in quadrature with the applied
voltage (since the coil is highly inductive). Thus, a phase difference exists

between the fluxes produced by the two coils. This sets up a rotating field
which interacts with the disc and produces a driving torque and, thus, disc
starts rotating. The number of revolutions made by the disc depends upon
the energy passing through the meter. The spindle is geared to the
recording mechanism so that electrical energy consumed in the circuit is
directly registered in KWh. The speed of the disc is adjusted by adjusting
the position of the breaking magnet. For example, if the energy meter
registers less energy than the energy actually consumed in the circuit,
then the speed of disc has to be increased which is obtained by shifting
the magnet nearer to the centre of the Disc and vice-versa.
At constant angular speed the power

is proportional to the angular

speed in r.p.s. We calibrate w and energy meter by time test.

Let K be the meter constant of energy meter, which is the number of
revolution per KWh energy consumption. When connected to measure
energy, if disc makes R number of revolution in t seconds. Then the
reading of energy meter is:

Let KW= Power in Kilowatt from wattmeter reading.

R= No. of revolution made by disc in t Sec.

Energy recorded by meter under test

Let the wattmeter reading be Kw watts of energy calculated from the
wattmeter & stop watch is given by
Energy consumed by wattmeter (Es) =

Percentage Error =
=
PROCEDURE:
1. Make the connection as per the circuit diagram.

2. Decide the number of revolution to take the readings. It should

neither be too small nor be too large. You may keep this between 46 Revolutions.
3. Keep the load at minimum and switch on the power supply.
4. Take the reading of Et, W and t from the energy meter, wattmeter
and stop watch respectively. Calculate Es & Percentage error.
5. Increases the load in 5-10 steps upto rated value of the energy
meter and take the readings. Switch off the supply.
From the observation of the magnitude of error at different loads predict
the nature of the error as given below:
1. When supply is on and there is no load, i.e., when its pressure coil is
only energized, if meter reads energy by rotation of disc it is
certainly CREEP ERROR.
2. If at very high loads, it reads less it is called as FRICTIONAL ERRROR.
3. 3. If at very high load meter reading is less, it may be due to
DYNAMIC
BREAKING
TORQUE
and
requires
over
load
compensation.
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

OBSERVATION TABLE:
Sl.
Pow Tim No.
of
No.
er
e
Revolutio
(KW (se ns(R)
(KWh)
)
c)

PRECAUTIONS:
1. Make sure the connections carefully and get it checked by your
instructor before you switch ON the supply.

2. Take the readings carefully, especially the energy meter reading and
stop watch operation must be simultaneous.
3. Dont touch the live wires.
4. Do not the energy meter beyond its rating.
5. The input voltage must be kept constant with the help of
autotransformer.
RESULT:
The given 1-phase induction type energy meter is calibrated with the help
of a standard wattmeter and stop watch. It is found that percentage error
does not remain constant rather it varies in magnitude from no load to full
load.