Study of Active Electric Energy Meters Behavior of Induction and Electronic Types

A detailed study is presented on electric energy meters and its diverse technologies. The measure error variation as time function is shown, starting from the creation of a database. Such a database was loaded with experimental results, begun in the decade of the 1980 for electromagnetic meters and in 1990 for electronic meters. The experimental tests included the error determination with loads corresponding to 10 %, 50 % and 100 % of the rated current (In), for unitary power factor. From the experimental study it is concluded that induction meters are not obsolete for active energy measurement, with lineal loads or with current distortions (THDi) smaller than 20 %. The error is increased when decreasing the load current, and it increases lightly in the time. It is also deduced that electronic meters present a series of advantages in comparison to the induction ones, as for example: not being affected their measurement by the load non-linearity, difficult the fraud actions and offering numerous additional benefits.