Electrical Metering Lab A

Meter Lab A starts with the basic concepts of electricity. The basic concepts of electricity are essential in understanding our electrical system and how to meter it. The loads we can expect on the systems and what characteristics we can expect those loads to exhibit. Meter lab A is also heavily weighted in meter math and understanding formulas. Math is a perishable skill and meter math is no different. Safety in metering is a focal point of lab A and discussed at length. The equipment used to meter customer loads takes center stage early in the week as we start breaking the group down into smaller teams to collectively work through various metering situations. While investigating metering equipment, we do a deep dive into the equipment that provides the measurements. These include current transformers, potential transformers, and the meters themselves. During these investigations we look at how they work, comparison measuring methods, trouble shooting and common industry mistakes. Test switches are also an item of focus due to their complexity and maintenance /inspection needs. As we tie up the equipment portion of the lab, we start to introduce vector diagram. Vector diagrams as found on test equipment and in meter software can play a pivotal role in diagnosing and catching problems. Meter site inspections and testing procedures are also an important part of the lab. During this portion we introduce a few of the more commonly used meter forms and tie them back to our discussion on vector diagrams. Meter software and test equipment are often valuable tools in diagnosing metering issues in the field. As we close our week together the groups will pull from the skills they have learned to trouble shoot and diagnose various metering issues. TVPPA’s meter lab A is not a sit and listen lab. Various hands-on activities, worksheets, and group activities break up the week’s lecture portions and help to re-enforce the presentation topics.