Watthour meter and optical pickup test device and method

A watthour meter test device for testing watthour meters comprising;

• a phantom load in communication with the watthour meter to communicate a load to the watthour meter;
• a measurement device in communication with the phantom load to determine the load communicated to the watthour meter;
• an optical pickup coupled to detect a consumption indicator on the watthour meter, the optical pickup comprising:
• a transmitter positioned to transmit a light signal to the watthour meter,
• a receiver positioned to detect light adjacent the watthour meter;
• and
• a switch coupled to the optical pickup, the switch having a first position to activate the transmitter to transmit the light signal to the consumption indicator of the watthour meter and to activate the receiver to detect the light signal reflected from the consumption indicator of electromechanical watthour meters, the switch further having a second position to activate the receiver to detect a consumption signal from a consumption indicator of electronic watthour meters.

An optical pickup device for detecting a consumption indicator on a watthour meter comprising;

• a light source to generate a light signal;
• a modulator operably coupled to the light source such that the light source produces the light signal having a frequency;
• a light detector positioned to receive a consumption light from the consumption indicator on the watthour meter, the light detector operative to generate a consumption signal indicative of receiving the consumption light from consumption indicator;
• an ambient light filter operably coupled to the light detector, the ambient light filter adapted to eliminate an ambient light portion of the consumption signal generated by the light detector;
• an amplifier to receive the consumption signal from the ambient light filter, the amplifier adapted to amplify the consumption signal having the ambient light portion eliminated by the ambient light filter;
• and
• an indicator operably coupled to receive the amplified consumption signal and to generate an indication perceivable to a user relative to the electrical consumption measured by the watthour meter.

A method for detecting a consumption indicator on electromechanical and electronic watthour meters comprising;

• providing an optical pickup having a switch provided with a first position and a second position;
• switching to the second position of the switch to detect the consumption indicator on electronic meters;
• detecting a consumption light adjacent the consumption indicator of the watthour meter;
• generating a consumption signal relative to the consumption light, the consumption signal having an ambient light portion;
• filtering the ambient light portion of the consumption signal;
• amplifying the consumption signal;
• generating an indication perceivable to a user relative to the electrical consumption indicated by the consumption indicator and detected by the optical pickup;
• switching to the first position of the switch to detect the consumption indicator on electromechanical meters;
• generating a light signal;
• and
• transmitting the light signal onto the consumption indicator.

An optical pickup for detecting a consumption indicator on a watthour meter comprising;

• a light source to generate a light signal;
• a modulator in communication with the light source such that the light source produces the light signal having a frequency;
• a light detection device positioned to receive light adjacent the watthour meter to generate a consumption signal;
• an ambient light filter in communication with the light detection device, the ambient light filter to eliminate an ambient light portion of the consumption signal and generate a filtered signal;
• a first portion in communication with the ambient light filter and adapted to modify the filtered signal, the first portion having a modulation detector to detect a portion of the filtered signal having the frequency of the light signal generated by the light source;
• a second portion in communication the ambient light filter;
• a switch having a first position to communicate with the first portion, the switch having a second position to communicate with the second portion;
• an amplifier in communication with the switch, the amplifier to receive the filter signal and generate an amplified signal;
• and
• an indicator in communication with the amplifier and adapted to receive the amplified signal and to generate an indication perceptible to an operator of the optical pickup, the amplified signal relative to the electrical consumption indicated by the consumption indicator.

A watthour meter testing device for testing electromechanical and electronic watthour meters having a consumption indicator on the watthour meter, the watthour meter testing device comprising;

• a measuring device in communication with an electrical supply communicated to the watthour meter;
• a switch operable to test electromechanical watthour meters in a first position and operable to test electronic watthour meters in a second position;
• a transmitter to transmit a light signal to the consumption indicator when the switch is in at least the first position for testing electromechanical watthour meter;
• and
• a receiver to detect light adjacent the watthour meter, the receiver provided with a filter operative to filter ambient light and operative to detect the light signal transmitted from the transmitter and reflected from the consumption indicator on the watthour meter when the switch is in the first position and further operative to detect a consumption light signal emanating from the electronic watthour meters when the switch is in the second position.

An optical pickup for detecting a consumption indicator on electromechanical and electronic watthour meters, the optical pickup comprising;

• a switch operable to test electromechanical watthour meters in a first position and operable to test electronic watthour meters in a second position;
• a means for transmitting a light signal to the consumption indicator when the switch is in at least the first position for testing electromechanical watthour meter;
• and
• a means for detecting light adjacent the watthour meter, the detector means provided with a means for filtering ambient light to detect the light signal transmitted from the transmitter means and reflected from the consumption indicator when the switch is in the first position, the detecting means further to detect a consumption light signal emanating from the electronic watthour meters when the switch is in the second position.