Electric charge storage apparatus and method for an intelligent electronic device

An apparatus for communicating data from an Intelligent Electronic Device (“IED”), said IED including a monitoring circuit for monitoring delivery of electrical energy, said apparatus comprising:

• a communications device coupled with said IED and operative to receive data from said IED;
• an input for receiving operating power from said IED;
• and
• a power supply coupled with said input and said communications device, said power supply including:
• a capacitive energy store operative to store energy iron said input when said input is providing power to said apparatus and further operative to supply said stored energy to said communications device when power from said input is interrupted;
• logic coupled with said capacitive energy store and operative to monitor said power supply and signal said communications device when said stored energy runs low.

A method of communicating data from an energy meter coupled with an operating power source during a failure of said operating power source, said energy meter comprising a communications device, a metering circuit for measuring delivery of electrical energy and a power supply, said power supply including logic, the method comprising:

• (a) charging an energy storage device from said operating power source, said energy storage device fixedly attached and coupled with said communications device;
• (b) monitoring said energy meter for said failure;
• (c) powering said communication device from said energy storage device during said power failure;
• (d) transmitting a message with said communications device during said power failure;
• and
• (e) signaling said communication device by said logic when said energy storage runs low.

A revenue meter for measuring the delivery of electrical energy from an energy supplier to a consumer through an electric circuit, said revenue meter comprising:

• bayonet terminals disposed on said revenue meter malleable with matching jaws of a detachable meter mounting device;
• a seal connected between said revenue meter and said detachable meter mounting device, said seal operative to prevent removal of said revenue meter and indicate tampering with said revenue meter;
• a metering circuit for measuring said delivery of electrical energy;
• a communications device for reporting data from said revenue meter;
• and
• a power supply coupled with said electric circuit and said metering circuit and operative to store energy from said electric circuit and provide said energy to said communications device when a power quality event occurs on said electric circuit to operate said communications device during said power quality event, said power supply including:
• a high voltage portion coupled with said electric circuit;
• a low voltage portion coupled with said high voltage portion and said metering circuit;
• and
• a processor coupled with said high voltage portion and operative to monitor said power supply and signal said metering circuit when said stored energy runs low.