Anti-magnetic seal on the electric meter: principle of operation and specifics of use
Not long ago, strong magnets began to be widely used to illegally change meter readings.To identify cases of unauthorized underestimation of the volume of electricity consumed, a special anti-magnetic seal was developed for the electric meter. Its action is worth familiarizing yourself with. Isn't it true?
You will learn everything about this type of protection, which excludes distortion of data taken from the device, from the article we presented. We have described in detail the device and the principle of its operation. We examined options for attaching a seal to the device and the possibility of interfering in the process of recording readings.
The content of the article:
Installation of an antimagnetic seal
Before using additional means to protect metering devices, it is necessary to determine the legality of this method and the procedure for sealing.
Legality of additional protection of metering devices
According to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 6, 2011 No. 354 (the last change and addition was dated September 15, 2018), the Rules for the provision of utility services came into force. Clause 32.g.1 states that utility services have the right to protect electricity metering devices with antimagnetic seals.
Clause 81.10 of the same Rules states that:
- when sealing, it is necessary to notify the consumer of the consequences that he will suffer if the integrity of the protection is violated or if an indicator is triggered indicating an attempt of unauthorized access to the metering device (in this case - exposure to a magnetic field);
- when checking the condition of the meter, if it has been sealed, then it is imperative to make sure that the protection has not been damaged;
- if the integrity of the seal is violated or it is “triggered”, an act of unauthorized intervention is drawn up;
- installation takes place at the expense of the resource supplying organization, so the consumer does not have to pay for either the filling or the work.
If violations of antimagnetic protection are detected, the same sanctions will follow as if a failure of an ordinary seal is detected.
If citizens do not allow inspectors into the territory where the meter is installed for a long time, the resource supplying organization will have the right to determine consumption based on average indicators.
Rules and options for transmitting electric meter data to Energosbyt in detail are described here. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with information that is extremely useful from a practical point of view.
The procedure for sealing the meter
Regardless of whether in an apartment or in street box the meter is located, to install antimagnetic protection you must perform the following sequence of actions:
- Using isopropyl alcohol, degrease the surface for better adhesion of the device. This should always be done, since the counter may be specially treated with polish or silicone, which will reduce the strength of the connection and may allow the protection to be removed carefully and without damage.
- While the alcohol is evaporating on the surface of the meter body (2-3 minutes), inspect the sticker for integrity and write down its number in the log book. Make sure that the indicator in the form of a bulb or control pattern is not damaged.
- Pull the tab to remove the protective backing. Place the sticker and gently smooth the surface of the filling with your fingers.
When manipulating the filling, do not touch the adhesive layer with your fingers or any objects. When it comes off, the sticker is immediately damaged - this is one of its protective properties.
After installing antimagnetic protection, it is necessary to familiarize the consumer with its properties and precautions. They are indicated in the Act, which is signed by a representative of the resource supply organization and the owner of the premises.
It is important to know that such a seal can only work from a sufficiently strong magnetic field, which can also be caused by working in the immediate vicinity of powerful electrical appliances such as an inverter welding machine.
Damage to the material from water, household chemicals, or slight heating is impossible. Also, the antimagnetic component will not be affected by ordinary household appliances, radio equipment, Wi-Fi router or mobile phone. Background radiation and solar storms will have no effect.
How the device works
Protection against magnetic influence is installed directly on the electric meter. When a field with a strength of more than 20-100 mT appears, irreversible changes occur on the indicator, which can be visually identified.The protective device itself can be made in different versions and react differently to violations.
Types of anti-magnetic fillings
There is a recognized, but not mandatory, color differentiation of seals based on the type of meter being protected. The color red is used for electricity, blue for water, and brown for gas metering.
A seal with an indicator of magnetic influence on an electric meter may look like this:
- Adhesive plate (sticker) with an indicator integrated into it. This is the most common type of antimagnetic protection.
- Standard rotor type seal. An indicator is installed inside the locking latch, made of transparent plastic. It is impossible to remove the wire or retainer without breaking the seal.
- Latch seal. Just like the rotary version, it simultaneously functions as a number seal with a wire and an antimagnetic sticker. The dovetail fastening does not allow you to open the clamp and change the length of the wire.
The seal in the form of a sticker can be installed on both plastic and glass of the meter. The only condition is that the surface must be flat. Naturally, the sticker should not interfere with the reading procedure.
Types of indicators and their trigger mechanism
When exposed to a magnetic field, the indicator must react in such a way that it is not possible to return it to its original state. In addition, these changes must be visible to the naked eye.
Most often, a special capsule with a suspension in it is used as an indicator.When exposed to a magnet, it loses its original shape and spreads throughout the entire volume.
The filling may contain a plate with stripes that change color when exposed to a magnetic field.
Sometimes a plate with a clear pattern made of metallized powder is used as an indicator. When exposed to a magnet, particles move chaotically, causing the image to disappear.
At home, there is no way to return the indicator to its original state before it was exposed to a magnetic field.
Self-defense against unauthorized deletion
Rotary or latch-type devices cannot be opened without breaking the mechanism. This rule applies to both actions to remove the magnetic indicator and attempts to increase the length of the wire in order to open the meter.
For stickers, their own mechanism for protecting against removal and reapplication was invented. The adhesive surface located below is non-uniform, so when peeling off it is impossible to maintain the integrity of the structure. And since each device is equipped with a unique number, re-installation of another instance will be easily detected during verification.
There are many methods on the Internet from domestic “inventors” who offer the following ways to preserve the integrity of the sticker when it is torn off from the meter:
- heat with a hairdryer to reduce the heterogeneity of the substrate;
- freeze the suspension inside the flask with dry ice;
- attach a ring of shielding material to the indicator;
- try to install two magnets so that the field in the indicator area is weak.
However, all these methods were relevant for early samples of sticker seals. After such methods became known, manufacturers made some changes to the manufacturing technology and now the manipulations described above will not lead to the desired result.
But there is still one effective way to bypass an anti-magnetic seal - its complete duplication. Organizations are obliged to warn citizens about the reconciliation of meter readings. Therefore, when the inspectors arrive, instead of the triggered protection, you can install a complete duplicate of it, ordered on the Internet, with the same identification number.
In order to minimize such risks, the electricity supplier needs to install seals of non-standard design. They may contain a company logo, original color design and other security features.
It is quite difficult to counterfeit such exclusive copies, and if the substitution is detected, the consumer may face serious problems. If the activation of anti-magnetic protection can be explained by negligence (but you still have to pay a fine), then replacing the installed seal will most likely be classified as fraud.
If you suspect that your electricity meter is not recording your electricity consumption correctly, you should consider replacing it.Will inform you about the cost of replacement work next articlededicated to this issue.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Video with answers to questions: How to properly apply a seal to an electric meter? How does the magnetic field indicator work:
To protect the electric meter from the effects of a magnetic field, energy supply organizations have the right to use anti-magnetic seals. Guaranteed detection of cases of theft is possible only if the installation procedure is followed and the original stickers are used.
Do you have questions about using an anti-magnetic seal for a device that records energy consumption? Do you have information that will be useful to site visitors? Please write comments in the block below, share useful information, and post photos.
Yes, progress does not stand still. A kind of fight between shield and sword. Our craftsmen have come up with all sorts of things - sticking a film under the glass and using magnets to slow down the meter - utility workers have answers to everything. But the craftsmen do not stop - they come up with new and new methods and tricks. Previously, it seems, these anti-magnetic seals were only installed on water meters.
They replaced our old mechanical meter with a new one and it seemed like they should have also attached such an anti-magnetic seal, but for some reason they didn’t do this. Is this a mandatory procedure or not? I don’t need these seals, but if the law requires them, I will call the management company and remind them to come and install them. Without several reminders they don't do anything, unfortunately.
Hello.The law states that the meter must be protected from unauthorized intervention, but specific conditions regarding the exact type of seal are not established. If you have a regular seal, and you should have one, the absence of an anti-magnetic seal, if it is not recorded in the contract you signed for installing a new electric meter, is not considered a violation at any level.
The anti-magnetic seal fell off on its own from the water meter. They assigned a fine of 42 thousand rubles. Was the seal affixed properly? How to check? Water utility workers are cheating. And they get bonuses from fines...
Hello. In general, anti-magnetic seals are attached quite firmly, and even more so, the sealer does not receive a bonus from fines. In any case, this is entirely your fault, since the responsibility for the IPU lies with you and you should not have signed any documents regarding the filling if you doubted its quality.
There is hope for an examination of the sticker, you never know what kind of defect. But this is a dubious outcome in your favor + financial investment. It’s easier to pay the fine in your case.
The anti-magnetic seal fell off on its own from the water meter. They assigned a fine of 42 thousand rubles. Was the seal affixed properly? How to check?
My seal comes off on its own from the electric meter. At the same time, it peels off without compromising the protection. It just disappears gradually. If I call an electrician, what fine will I get?
Who should I contact? I have a magnetic lock on my front door, and burglars use a magnet to open it. How to block a magnet?
Energy meter Mercury at the dacha.The Hellenic pillar was struck by lightning. Electrical appliances in the house were out of order: a TV and a set-top box. Could the anti-magnetic seal on the meter work in such a situation?
Your question can be answered in two ways. Yes – lightning striking a pole can damage the anti-magnetic seal. Or it might not hurt. Look at the filling itself to see if it has changed. It's all about her, her quality. After all, it has already been proven that it can react even to minor changes in the force field of the electricity meter itself. Even if you bring a cell phone to the filling at a distance of 1 cm and hold it in this position for 20-30 seconds, this is enough for the filling to change. So it’s better to call representatives of Gorsvet, let them sort it out themselves, because the fact of a lightning strike has been recorded.