Testing 4-Quadrant energy meter by TS33
Smart Calibration Devices
Automatic Test System
Application Note No20
1. Testing 4-quadrant meter theory
Testing 4-Quadrant electricity meter requires to force active and reactive energy flow in all
directions and possible combinations. From point view of energy supplier (utility) energy can be
imported (delivered) by (to) customer or exported by customer (received by utility). Typical four
Quadrant energy meter has 2 pulse LED: one for active, one for reactive power and energy
correspondingly with the units of the meter constant: imp/kWh and imp/kvarh.
P-, Q+ P+, Q+
During testing, the scanning head should be placed and sense a
proper LED depending on the load point under test.
P-, Q- P+, Q-
As an example for testing is used 3-phase, 4-wire, 4-Quadrant meter: Ub=57.7V, In=5A, Imax=6A, accuracy
class C (0.5) for active energy and 1 for reactive energy and meter constant C=15000 imp/kWh (imp/kvarh).
According to the standards (EN50470-1,2,3, IEC62053-22,23) meter is tested for load current from 1% to 120% In ,
for power factor 1, 0.8C and 0.5L (sinus factor 1, 0.8C and 0.5L) in all four quadrants. Below are presented vector
diagrams for load point 100% at 57.7V base voltage and different power factors and quadrants.
PF=1 P+ PF=0.5L P+ PF=0.8C P+
PF=-1 P- PF=-0.5L P- PF=-0.8C P-
Sin=1 Q+ Sin=0.5L Q+ Sin=0.8C Q+
[Link] Testing 4-Quadrant energy meter by TS33 Automatic Test System EN 10/2021 1/6
Sin=-1 Q- Sin=-0.5L Q- Sin=-0.8C Q-
2. Connection of meter under test to TS33
The meter is connected to the TS33 as in diagram and picture below.
3. Setting testing procedures
The TS33 should be set to source of voltage and current generation mode. Automatic testing
of electricity meter requires to prepare Meter
Type parameters, testing Procedure and then
the test execution – Autotest. Before we set
Meter Type we have to recognize basic technical
data of meter under test from its data sheet or
front plate. The most important parameters are:
- Ub – base voltage (57.7V in example);
- In – nominal current (5A in example);
- Umax – maximum voltage (to protect meter);
- Imax – maximum current (6A in example);
Meter - Meter constant C=15000 imp/kWh (kvarh);
Autotest Procedure
Type - Connection type eg: 3-phase, 4–wire;
- Type of energy: active, reactive, apparent.
On base of information mentioned above prepared and saved can be two Meter Types: one for active energy,
one for reactive energy. In pictures below are presented Meter Types with entered data. Then they have to be saved
under separate names of Meter Type eg: APA020PP and APA020QP as in example.
Then testing Procedure should be prepared as next. According to the standards, for the meter tested as
example, the accuracy should be tested for loads in range 1% to 120% of nominal current, active energy for power
factor PF=±1 and in range 5% to 120% for power factor PF=±0.8C and PF=±0.5L. Reactive energy flow should be
tested in range 2% to 120% for Sin=±1 and 5% to 120% for Sin=±0.8C and Sin=±0.5L. Thus the meter is tested in
all four quadrants.
[Link] Testing 4-Quadrant energy meter by TS33 Automatic Test System EN 10/2021 2/6
Preparing Procedure consists of setting parameter of each load point and testing conditions. In example
below is set load point (name 100PP1) for 100% of In (5A) at 100% of base voltage U (57.7V), power factor PF=1
(=0°), frequency 50Hz in symmetric circuit. Tested is accuracy (error ) of meter during t=20s for each testing cycle
repeated three times n=3.
The settings are entered for each load point, then added to the list so we get a list of points to get results in
whole range of meter characteristics. The Procedure can be saved in data base for future using.
4. Test execution
Then we can execute testing by selecting proper
Meter Type (for meter we want to test - APA020QP in
example) and Procedure of testing (FATTSQP). In the
Autotest can be selected range of testing by marking
one or selected or all of load points. The settings of
selected load point are displayed to confirm settings of
voltage, current, phase shift and power. After starting the
test the actual status of test is shown in progress bars
as percent of settling time, percent of load point testing
and percent of whole procedure realization. The test
should be performed separately for active energy and
scanning head at imp/kWh LED and then reactive
energy at imp/kvarh LED.
The results of testing can be observed during test
for individual load point with average error value , value
of standard deviation s and result of evaluation by
comparison with limit lim and marked with color: green
if l imit or red if lim. Also partial errors used for
averaging are available
The final results of whole test are presented in form of
table with number of load point, kind and value of power,
error value, standard deviation value, limit and final
evaluation OK / Not OK. The results can be saved in
device memory for later recall or transfer to PC
computer for further processing or saving in the
database. For recalled results the date and time field is
marked in red.
[Link] Testing 4-Quadrant energy meter by TS33 Automatic Test System EN 10/2021 3/6
5. Printing the results on site
The results of testing can be printed directly on site by means of wireless, miniature thermal printer. Printed
can be results and screen shot. Example printouts are shown in pictures below.
6. Processing the results in the TS PC Soft
The results saved in the TS33 device memory or just taken by means of TS PS Soft which controls TS33
can be further processed. The result in TS33 memory can be transferred to the PC in two ways: by removing SD
Memory Card from TS33 and data readout in PC or by connecting PC to TS33 by means of USB, Bluetooth or
Ethernet. The selected file is opened in form of table with results or diagram. The results can be also printed on every
printer connected to the PC.
Downloading results to PC Opened results in PC
Error =f(Iload) versus load current diagram
Report printout
[Link] Testing 4-Quadrant energy meter by TS33 Automatic Test System EN 10/2021 4/6
7. Export results to Excel
The results are kept in data base in files in text XML format. The results data can be also exported to the
Excel sheet for easy Report preparation. Exported are all of results taken during testing including administrative data.
All data exported to Excel sheet
Result data in XML format
8. Final Report prepared in Excel
On base of results data the final Report can be prepared in Excel including clear table and diagrams.
Testing Report
[Link] Testing 4-Quadrant energy meter by TS33 Automatic Test System EN 10/2021 5/6
The diagram of error as a function of load current Iload expressed in [%] of nominal current In for
different energy flow and power factors is presented below.
9. Conclusions
Automatic test system TS33 enables to test 4-Quadrant meters in whole range of currents,
power factors and energy flow directions in automatic way. As results we can get full characteristics
of electricity meter. It is especially important for new windmill generators and photovoltaic
installations.
[Link] Testing 4-Quadrant energy meter by TS33 Automatic Test System EN 10/2021 6/6
