Prepaid Meter - Tripping

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Kenpachi

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Good day

I've been having an issue lately with my prepaid meter. When the electricity comes back on after load-shedding the meter will trip.
No other times this will happen even under high load with both geysers on, the pool pump running, stove on, dryer on, and welder.
I've tried turning off all the breakers while loading shedding was active to see if some appliance was causing the issue, but the meter still trips when the power is switched back on by the municipality.

Has anyone had a similar issue?
I have one of the original pre-paid meters on the premises.
 
Kenpachi said:
Good day

I've been having an issue lately with my prepaid meter. When the electricity comes back on after load-shedding the meter will trip.
No other times this will happen even under high load with both geysers on, the pool pump running, stove on, dryer on, and welder.
I've tried turning off all the breakers while loading shedding was active to see if some appliance was causing the issue, but the meter still trips when the power is switched back on by the municipality.

Has anyone had a similar issue?
I have one of the original pre-paid meters on the premises.
Click to expand...
Did you find out what was causing the problem?
 
As prepaid meter get old the relay start going faulty then the meter thinks that to much power is being used also sometimes the meter will go into tamper mode by its self meters have a life of about 15years after that they start having problems.
 
My user has gotten into the habit recently of switching the geyser off in the evenings and on in the early morning. and finally admitted it after challenged, the prepaid meter was requiring a tamper code twice a week or more... the 12 year old meter or the 4x a day changeover wear on the geyser breaker?

They were blaming the meter until challenged, and it could be it. But over 100 switches/month on the geyser DB breaker is excessive and I feel that they have been creating the fault.
 
Vis1/0N said:
My user has gotten into the habit recently of switching the geyser off in the evenings and on in the early morning. and finally admitted it after challenged, the prepaid meter was requiring a tamper code twice a week or more... the 12 year old meter or the 4x a day changeover wear on the geyser breaker?

They were blaming the meter until challenged, and it could be it. But over 100 switches/month on the geyser DB breaker is excessive and I feel that they have been creating the fault.
Click to expand...
What makes you think the switching of the geyser could affect the meter? If the geyser does wouldn't anything that is switched on and off like lights have the same effect?

If the meter cannot deal with things being switched on and off then the meter is faulty.
 
Geyser has an heavier load than most so at switch on it will draw a lot of current, and yeah maybe the meter is flaky by now. Installation cost for the meter is out of reach and I am annoyed at their meddling with a breaker which is not meant to be switched so frequently. A timer would be more suitable, although that will still trigger a flaky breaker.
 
Vis1/0N said:
Geyser has an heavier load than most so at switch on it will draw a lot of current, and yeah maybe the meter is flaky by now. Installation cost for the meter is out of reach and I am annoyed at their meddling with a breaker which is not meant to be switched so frequently. A timer would be more suitable, although that will still trigger a flaky breaker.
Click to expand...
How does the meter connection look? I am just trying to figure out how a geyser going on and off could trigger a tampering event, maybe check if there are no lose connections.

I also use a prepaid meter, te split type, and my geysers also goes on and off depending on when I need it, no issues so far, and I have been using the meter fora while now. Poor guy is probably just trying to save money, maybe indeed a timer is a good option but it will still be switching the geyser on and off.
 
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