Generating charge for service disconnect operation

An electric meter, comprising:

• a service disconnect switch operable to make or break a circuit connection;
• a service disconnect actuator configured to change a position of a set of contacts of the service disconnect switch;
• a service disconnect capacitor configured to supply a start-up current to the service disconnect actuator;
• a power supply configured to provide a voltage to the electric meter;
• a charging circuit configured to increase the voltage provided by the power supply;
• and
• a processor configured to provide overall control of the electric meter, the processor further configured to:
• cause the charging circuit to charge the service disconnect capacitor to a voltage higher than a voltage supplied by the power supply;
• monitor the voltage on the service disconnect capacitor;
• receive a service disconnect switch instruction signal;
• determine, based on monitoring the voltage, that the voltage on the service disconnect capacitor exceeds a specified voltage threshold value;
• and
• in response to receiving the service disconnect switch instruction signal and determining that the voltage on the service disconnect capacitor exceeds the specified voltage threshold value, discharge the service disconnect capacitor through windings of the service disconnect actuator,
• wherein the service disconnect actuator is configured to cause contacts of the service disconnect switch to change position to make or break the circuit connection between a line voltage and a load,
• wherein the service disconnect switch instruction signal initiates a clock signal to a peak detection circuit,
• wherein the clock signal operates to charge a capacitor in the peak detection circuit, and
• wherein charging of the service disconnect capacitor is delayed until a peak voltage on the capacitor in the peak detection circuit is detected.

A system comprising:

• a head-end system including a server;
• and
• an electric meter in communication with the head-end system, the electric meter comprising:
• a service disconnect switch operable to make or break a circuit connection;
• a service disconnect actuator configured to change a position of a set of contacts of the service disconnect switch;
• a service disconnect capacitor configured to supply a start-up current to the service disconnect actuator;
• a power supply configured to provide a voltage to the electric meter;
• a charging circuit configured to increase the voltage provided by the power supply;
• and
• a processor configured to provide overall control of the electric meter, the processor further configured to:
• cause the charging circuit to charge the service disconnect capacitor to a voltage higher than a voltage supplied by the power supply;
• monitor the voltage on the service disconnect capacitor;
• receive a service disconnect switch instruction signal from the head-end system;
• determine, based on monitoring the voltage, that the voltage on the service disconnect capacitor exceeds a specified voltage threshold value;
• and
• in response to receiving the service disconnect switch instruction signal and determining that the voltage on the service disconnect capacitor exceeds the specified voltage threshold value, discharge the service disconnect capacitor through windings of the service disconnect actuator,
• wherein the service disconnect actuator is configured to cause contacts of the service disconnect switch to change position to make or break the circuit connection between a line voltage and a load,
• wherein the service disconnect switch instruction signal initiates a clock signal to a peak detection circuit,
• wherein the clock signal operates to charge a capacitor in the peak detection circuit, and
• wherein charging of the service disconnect capacitor is delayed until a peak voltage on the capacitor in the peak detection circuit is detected.