- "Why do water, gas and electricity meters have such different verification times? "- I asked a familiar employee of the center where they check metering devices.
- "The question is certainly interesting, and requires a detailed answer, ready to listen?"the metrologist asked me.
-"Of course"I answered without a shadow of a doubt.
The conversation, or rather a monologue on his part, dragged on for 10 minutes. But I will bring you useful information from this conversation:
The calibration interval is established by the manufacturer of the device, the terms are prescribed in the passport of the meter. It is important to know that the period starts from the moment the meter is checked. Not sales.
Water meters
On that day, we arrived at the metrology center for general house metering devices, which are checked every four years. Such a short period for large meters is due to aggressive environment with which the device contacts. They consider cold and hot water in which contain impurities such as fine sand, scale, the composition of the water can be aggressive to parts accurate instrument.
Apartment water meters have service life 6 years, but they are also subject to the same influences as the general house. In addition, a hot water meter heats up and cools down cyclically (expansion, contraction). For this reason, they break more often. Such an "aggressive" environment and a change in the properties of the material ("drying" of the plastic) from which the water meter is made leads to a distortion of the transmitted readings. Usually downward.
Gas meters
Average the calibration period of the gas meter is 12 years. Twice as many as water meters. This is due to the fact that gas supply organizations pay close attention to the quality of the measured medium (gas). The parameters of this resource are not so aggressive towards the metering device. The pressure in the gas supply system is about 10 times lower than in the water supply system, an important factor in the longevity of the meter. therefore service life is set at 12 years without check verification, correct reading of indications.
Electricity meter
With these devices, everything is quite simple, electricity is also electricity in Africa. In modern electricity meters, there is practically nothing to break and distort the readings, with the exception of external interference and improper installation in accordance with those conditions. therefore the maximum period is set, 16 years!
This is the kind of information they conveyed to me, maybe I misunderstood something. Therefore, if there are specialists in this or that field, correct me and enlighten the readers.
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