Watt-hour meter adapters with TVSS indicators

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus comprising a watt-hour meter adapter housing having a substantially cylindrical outline with a translucent window into its interior, and having visible therewithin one or more lights connected between respective input power phases and ground. The invention also relates to a transient voltage surge suppression (TVSS) apparatus containing a TVSS means including varistors in a housing fitting in a plug-and-jack manner between a watt-hour meter and its customary socket in a utility box or panel, improved on-line TVSS status indication means comprising a translucent window in the housing, and an indicator light connected to show the status and visible through the window to an outside observer. The invention also includes an on-line TVSS status indication method for TVSS meter adapters fitting in a plug-and-jack manner between a watt-hour meter and its customary utility socket, comprising the steps of unplugging the watt-hour meter from its customary socket, plugging into that socket a TVSS meter adapter at least in part translucent and having located visibly in its interior at least one status light adapted to indicate the on-line status of a TVSS varistor means also located in the meter adapter housing, and plugging the watt-hour meter into the meter adapter.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.