Detection of deteriorated electrical connections in a meter using adjusted temperature sensing

A utility meter comprising:

• a meter housing;
• at least one current coil supported on the meter housing and configured to be operably coupled to a meter socket to receive heat energy from within or on the meter socket;
• a printed circuit board disposed within the meter housing;
• a temperature sensor disposed on the printed circuit board and configured to generate a sensor signal based on a temperature within the meter housing, the temperature sensor being thermally insulated from the at least one current coil by at least an amount equivalent to a thermal insulation provided by a 0.1 inch air gap;
• and
• a processing circuit disposed on the printed circuit board and operably coupled to the temperature sensor and the at last one current coil, the processing circuit configured to:
• (i) obtain the sensor signal and generate temperature information therefrom;
• (ii) generate current measurement information including a current value indicating a quantity of current through the at least one current coil;
• (iii) generate a temperature adjustment value based on the square of the current value, and the current value;
• and
• (iv) determine whether an abnormal condition exists based on the temperature information, the temperature adjustment value, and a predetermined threshold;
• (v) generate an output signal responsive to determining that the abnormal condition exists.

A method, comprising:

• a) receiving current at a meter blade from a meter socket jaw, the meter blade supported on a meter housing;
• b) passing the line current from the meter blade to at least one current coil supported on the meter housing;
• c) using a temperature sensor disposed within the meter housing to generate temperature information therefrom;
• d) generating current measurement information including a current value indicating a quantity of current through the at least one current coil;
• e) generating a temperature adjustment value based on the square of the current value, and the current value;
• and
• f) determining whether an abnormal condition exists based on the temperature information, the temperature adjustment value, and a predetermined threshold;
• and
• g) generating an output signal responsive to determining that the abnormal condition exists.