WATT-HOUR METER

1-49 The actuating force of a wattmeter comes from the field of its current coil and the field of its potential coil. The force acting on the movable coil at any instant (tending to turn it) is proportional to the instantaneous values of line current and voltage. The wattmeter consists of two circuits, either of which will be damaged if too much current is passed through them. This fact is to be especially emphasized in the case of wattmeters, because the reading of the instrument does not serve to tell the user that the coils are being overheated. If an ammeter or voltmeter is overloaded, the pointer will be indicating beyond the upper limit of its scale. In the wattmeter, both the current and potential circuits may be carrying such an overload that their insulation is burning, and yet the pointer may be only part way up the scale. This is because the position of the pointer depends upon the power factor of the circuit as well as upon the voltage and current. Thus, a low power- factor circuit will give a very low reading on the wattmeter even when the current and potential circuits are loaded to the maximum safe limit. This safe rating is generally given on the face of the instrument. A wattmeter is always distinctly rated, not in watts but in volts and amperes. Figure 1-45 shows the proper way to connect a wattmeter in various circuits. Figure 1-45.—A wattmeter connected in various circuits. TWO-PHASE SYSTEM WATT-HOUR METER The watt-hour meter is an instrument for measuring energy. Since energy is the product of power and time, the watt-hour meter must take into consideration both of these factors. In principle, the watt-hour meter is a small motor whose instantaneous speed is proportional to the POWER passing through it. The total revolutions in a given time are proportional to the total ENERGY, or watt-hours, consumed during that time. The following directions should be followed when reading the dials of a watt-hour meter. The meter, in this case, is a four-dial type.