A panel meter is one of the most important types of electrical devices available to electricians, engineers and technicians in nearly every industry. Because panel meters are so standard, it can be hard to understand why one of them would be so beneficial to you. So to properly appreciate the value of this versatile piece of equipment, it is essential to learn more about what it is, how it works and when you should use one in your life.
So, a panel meter is an instrument that measures and displays an electrical value. They are typically rectangular or circular and can be analog or digital, depending on their function. Analog one has two pairs of movable metal balls: one moves up and down to measure amperes, while the other moves side to side to measure volts. Digital ones use LCDs (liquid crystal displays) which give out readings in either volts, amperes, kilowatts, hertz etc. Meanwhile, the size of the meter is proportional to the number of digits that it has.
It is used in various industrial, commercial, and residential settings to measure the flow of electrical energy. And if you are unfamiliar with how they work, let’s give you some background. It is an instrument that measures the amount of current and voltage supplied to the circuit. It measures the difference in voltage across two fixed contacts or between two moving contacts.
They can be installed on any circuit, but certain types are more common than others. They can be found on branch circuits, distribution circuits and sub-stations, making them indispensable for almost any industry; industrial, commercial and residential settings all use the meters to measure electrical energy.
Can Help You Save Money by Monitoring Your Electricity Usage
The meter can help you save money by monitoring your usage, but it also has other benefits. For example, if there is an outage or power fluctuation, the meter will alert you to what is happening with your electricity supply before it affects your business. This could be the difference between losing only one machine and all of them!
They are also helpful because they tell you how much energy any specific devices use, so when you are replacing equipment or appliances, you can make sure they are energy-efficient to help keep costs down.
Can Also Help You Troubleshoot Electrical Problems at Home
The meters are typically seen as tools for electricians and engineers only, but they are surprisingly helpful for everyday homeowners. This tool can solve many common problems, from checking your electrical outlets to troubleshooting malfunctioning appliances, and here is how:
- Check the number of volts coming into your home by plugging in an appliance that does not need power into the outlet.
- Use the meter to measure the voltage on each line coming into your home and ensure that one is the same as the other. But if one is higher than the other, there is possibly an issue with your power lines, which will require an electrician to fix it.
Panel meters are an invaluable tool for residential and commercial electricians because they measure the voltage of electrical currents. They can help you measure and understand how your home’s energy is used. They help to diagnose the problem and determine what needs to be done to fix it, and this saves time, money, and stress. Plus, they help you stay on top of your electrical safety too!