Certification readies meters for growing smart metering demand in domestic and commercial markets

The first level of certification, also called “EC type certificate”, confirms that the meters meet stated MID accuracy, climatic conditions, mechanical and electromagnetic environments (Annex “B”). This certification is normally requested for sub metering systems in either industrial or service industries. The second level is the individual certification, which can be required for main metering in the domestic market. Carlo Gavazzi meters are tested by Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Germany's national metrology institute.

Having verification as well as type-approval marks will make it easier for installers and contractors to benefit from the surge in demand for energy metering and control; for example the UK government’s recently-announced plan to install smart meters in the country's 26m homes over the next 20 years.

Carlo Gavazzi’s MID-certified family ranges from an ultra-compact DIN-rail mounted single-phase 32A energy meter, up to three-phase 65A energy analysers offering built-in hot/cold water, gas and remote heating measurements and load monitoring.

The EM11-DIN is a compact 1DIN module that adds MID-certified power measurement and control functions to active energy metering. A single-phase energy analyser with built-in configuration push-button and LCD data display, it provides both active and reactive energy metering, together with cost allocation functions.

Also certified is the world’s first compact three-phase energy meter to boast a patented multi-application detachable display and dual mounting technology. The EM21-72D can be used either as a basic energy meter or multifunction meter and brings both simplicity and compactness to building management systems and cost-allocation applications.

Top-of-the-range EM26-96 1-2-3 Phase energy analysers feature a built-in configuration joystick and LCD data display. A comprehensive range of system and single-phase variable measurements is provided along with utility metering (energy, hot/cold water, gas, remote heating), and load monitoring with harmonic analysis up to the 15th harmonic. It is particularly suitable for import and export energy metering, and for cost allocation applications, as well as many more.

All of the solutions meet category-MI003 standards for climatic conditions, corresponding to a temperature range from -25 to +55°C. Appropriate mechanical environments are covered by category M2, applicable to instruments used in locations with significant or high levels of vibration and shock. Thirdly, the MID defines categories of electromagnetic environment, the most relevant one being E2, which covers locations with electromagnetic disturbances corresponding to those likely to be found in other industrial buildings.