High voltage regulator for an electric meter power supply

A power supply for use in an apparatus for distributing electrical energy, said electrical energy defining an input voltage, said power supply comprising:

• a transformer comprising first and second windings, wherein said input voltage is provided to said first winding so that current flows through said first winding, wherein said second winding defines the output of the power supply;
• a first switching device in electrical connection with the first winding, for controlling the flow of current through the first winding;
• a device for storing electrical charge in electrical connection with the first switching device;
• a regulating device in electrical connection with the device for storing electrical charge, wherein the input voltage is applied to the regulating device, and the regulating device limits the input voltage applied to at least one of the device for storing electrical charge and the first switching device when the input voltage exceeds a predetermined amount.

An electrical power meter having electronic components, wherein the electrical power meter receives alternating current (AC) voltage from an electrical power line, said AC voltage defining an input voltage, the meter comprising:

• a power supply comprising:
• a first switching device,
• a device for storing electrical charge in electrical connection with the first switching device,
• a second switching device in electrical connection with the device for storing electrical charge,
• a first device for controlling the flow of current in electrical connection with the second switching device, and
• a third switching device in electrical connection with the first device for controlling the flow of current, wherein the first device for controlling the flow of current enables the input voltage to be applied to the second switching device when the input voltage is below a predetermined amount of input voltage, and enables the input voltage to be applied to the second and third switching devices when the input voltage is above the predetermined amount of input voltage.

A system for limiting a rate of change of current in a device, comprising:

• an inductive device for generating electromotive force by inductance;
• a switching device in electrical connection with the inductive device;
• a device for controlling the flow of electric current in electrical connection with the switching device;
• and
• a resistor in electrical connection with the switching device, wherein the switching device operates in linear mode when the voltage applied to the switching device and to the inductive device is substantially equal to the voltage applied to the device for controlling the flow of electric current, and
• wherein when the switching device is in linear mode, the voltage applied to the inductive device decreases if the voltage applied to the resistor increases, and the voltage applied to the inductive device increases if the voltage applied to the resistor decreases.