Basic 120 Volt Single Phase kWh Meter, 2-wire, External CT Meter, 14mm, 50 Amp, Pulse output, EKM-15E

IS IT POSSIBLE TO RESET THE KWH TO ZERO. I HOPE NOT AS I AM HOPING TO USE THIS METER BILLING PURPOSES?

It is not possible to reset the Total kWh on the EKM 15E.  The kWh that is shown on the face is the total that has been measured since the meter was installed.  The EKM 15E will retain its kWh reading for 15 years if it is unpowered and will resume counting kWh where it left off once it is powered again.  For billing, we recommend any of our EKM Omnimeters as they are slightly more accurate and are certified for revenue grade billing.

Can this meter work with one of your small clamp on CT\'s?

The EKM 15E is only designed to work with the solid core Current Transformer (CT) that it comes with.  The other CTs we carry are for any of our Omnimeter models.  The output of the 15E CT is different than the output of our Omnimeter CTs.

Can this meter be reset by turning the voltage to it off?

There is no way to reset the kWh on any of our electric meter models including the EKM 15E.  The kWh will remain even if you turn the power to the meter off and then back on.  The EKM 15E will retain the kWh reading for 10 years with the power off.  Our Omnimeters will retain the kWh data for 30 years with the power off.

Can this meter be re-programmed to display the amperage of the circuit instead of KWH?

The EKM 15E will only display Total kWh since it was installed.  It will retain this kWh reading even through a power cycle.  It cannot be setup to display amps or volts.  Is you want to see amps or volts, we recommend you use one of our EKM Omnimeter models instead.

Do i need CT for current less then 20A ?

Yes, the EKM 15E comes with a single current transformer, you should use the current transformer on all installs, from less than 1 amp to 50 amps.

Hello, I have two 120V circuits coming from the breaker box that I need to monitor. I would like to monitor them with only one meter if possible. Could I run both wires through this meter? I see that it says you can do so but the description also states it can only be used with a 2 wire system. Thanks for the clarification.

Yes, assuming that both hot wires are on the same phase (zero voltage potential when you measure voltage between the 2 hot wires) and both wires pass through the CT in the same direction, then yes you can meter 2 hot wires with an EKM 15E.  When we say 2-wire, we mean 1 hot 1 neutral (which is what the above is because the hots you have are on the same phase).

Will this meter work on current from a modified sign wave inverter or does it require pure sign wave current?

We have only tested that our Omnimeters will work on a modified sine wave.  They functioned fine, though we did not verify the accuracy.  I cannot guarantee that the EKM 15E would function on a modified sine wave from an inverter, but I see no reason that it wouldn't.  I do not know how much variation there is between the modified sine waves of different inverter models for example and how this might affect the performance of the 15E.  All of our electric meters are designed to work on a pure sine wave.  Let us know how it works for you.

is a pulse counter included? If not is it needed for the kwh meter to work?

You do not need a pulse counter for this meter (or any meter we carry) to work.  This meter does not come with a Pulse Counter, it only comes with a single external Current Transformer.  The pulse counter is only used to remotely count the pulses from this meter.  You could locate the pulse counter up to 200 feet from this meter in a location that is more convenient to read (for example).  The EKM 15E pulses at a rate of 1000 pulses per kWh.

Installation instructions say to, "Tap into L1 and connect a wire from it to port 4 on the meter. Also tap into N and connect a wire from it to port 6 on the meter". Is it necessary to tap into the line being monitored? or is this just a means to power the unit? In other words, could I set it up with power from another line?

You would need to tap into the same phase voltage that you are metering. In other words: yes, you need to tap into the same line being monitored, however you can tap that line anywhere in the system that is most convenient for you. It just has to be on the same phase as the line you have running through the CT. This is because the meter needs that specific voltage in order to calculate the kWh accurately.

Will 5v work for the pulse output? The spec says 12 but this is odd as s0 should work down to 3.

Yes, the electronic Pulse Output will work with 5 volts DC or 3 volts DC.

I have an rv park with 50 amp plugs (2 hot ,1 neutral, 1 ground ). Is your meter good for this application?

It sounds like you have a single phase 120/240V electrical system. The EKM-15E is not suitable for metering this type of electrical system because it can only read one hot leg. Instead you would want to use either the EKM-25XDSE, or an Omnimeter I v.3 and 2x appropriately sized Current Transformers.

Will the kWh value be retained even if the power is removed?

Yes, the kWh value will be retained in the meter for up to 10 years without power. When the meter regains power, after a short or long period of time, it will show the same kWh on the LCD screen that it showed when it lost power.

Can this meter be remote metered through Wi-Fi?

There is no easy way to read this meter remotely using our system. You would want to use one of our smart v.3 Omnimeter models in order to read electrical usage data remotely. Pairing an Omnimeter with an EKM Push gateway and a Wifi Bridge would allow you to read the meter over a wifi network.

I would like to use these meters in my RV park. How low of amperage is necessary before meter starts reading power. When some RV's are not in use they are drawing just 2 amps.

At perfect (unity) power factor:
EKM-15E - 5(50) - Class 1 meter
At .05 x 5 = .25A = +/-1.5% accuracy

The EKM-15E is accurate to within 1% from 0.5A, to its max amperage range, which is 50A.

This meter is accurate to within 1.5% when reading below 0.5A and down to 0.25A.  The meter is still accurate under 0.25A, we just cannot certify it to be a known accuracy.

Basically, at 0.25A the EKM-15E meter is accurate to within 1.5%.  At anything above 0.25A the accuracy is to within 0.1%.

CAN I READ MORE THAN ONE BREAKER ON SINGLE CT?

The CT will measure current from whichever wire(s) it is around. If it is around one wire feeding one breaker then it will measure the current from the wire feeding that breaker. If the CT is around the main feed then it will measure the current for all of the breakers on the same phase. You can also pass multiple wires through a single CT, as long as each wire is on the same phase.

Hello - our neighbor uses our electricity to operate some equipment on her farm. We need to accurately charge her for consumption. Will this work for this application?

This meter is designed for 110-120 volts, single phase 2 wire (1 hot, 1 neutral) applications of 50 amps or less. If this describes the circuit that your neighbor using for her farm equipment then there is a very good chance that this meter will work well.

I have another RV application question: If I want to use multiple EKM-15Es in a single box (one for each RV hookup), can I use a common L1 and N to power the meters, but have separate CTs for each hookup?

This is definitely possible, provided that each load (RVs in your case) is supplied with power from the same phase of the electrical system. In other words, the voltage is identical for each RV. It is the combination of the current transformer and the voltage reference that provides for accurate metering, so it's very important that the voltage reference is not taken from an incorrect phase.

I have a 120 volt grid-tied inverter paired with some solar panels. This inverter will be plugged into a power strip that will also have some loads plugged into it. I would like to measure the net energy usage. Can this meter measure current in both directions and net the kWhs, or will it add kWh out with kWh in? Mainly, I'd like to know if the inverter and solar panels generate enough power to offset the loads. The goal is to keep the net usage around 0 kWh. I'd rather not have two separate meters if this one is capable of detecting current drawn vs. current generated.

This meter will only provide Total kWh and does not distinguish between forward or reverse current. In order to do this you would need one of our Omnimeter models. All of them will provide Total and Reverse kWh. You can use these two values to determine Net kWh. Additionally, the Omnimeter Pulse v.4 provides real time direction of current, so you can know in real time if you are generating more power than you are consuming. These meters use external Current Transformers.  This page shows all of the metering options for solar systems: Data Monitoring

What is the CT ratio and its accuracy?

The CT Ratio is a setting that is made in the Omnimeters that is made depending on which CT model the meter is paired with (It would be set to 400 when using 400A CTs for example). This only relates to the Omnimeter models and not the EKM-15E meter model. This meter comes with the CT and cannot be used with any other CT models. In other words, CT Ratio is not something you need to worry about with the EKM-15E.

Is the LCD readout in whole numbers, or is the last digit in 1/10? I can\'t imagine I have used 2500 kWh in only 4 weeks.

The last digit is 1/100 (.00) of a kWh. If you look closely at the LCD display you should see a decimal point before the last two digits. So if the LCD screen were reading all zeros, it would display 00000.00

I have electric panel that has 12 Rv circuit breakers. Is it ok to install the CT inside the electric panel or will the wires that are around the CT affect the reading of the current? Or it will only take care of the wire going through?

From a functionality and accuracy standpoint, it is ok to install CTs inside of a breaker panel or junction box. The CTs only pick up current from the wire(s) that pass through their center. The other wires in the electric panel will not interfere with the CTs ability to accurately read current.

Does this come with the CT and wires? Also, does it come with wires to connect the L1 and neutral reference wires?

The EKM-15E meter comes with one 14mm solid core CT. The L1 voltage and Neutral reference wires are NOT included.

I'm looking for something to read the electrical use on a dryer. Would this work?

This meter is designed to work on a 120v circuit so it is possible that this meter will work. However, many electrical dryers use 240v circuits to accommodate their higher power needs. So before you select a meter I would make sure which voltage your dryer uses. If it is 120 volts then this meter is suitable. If it uses a 120/240 volt circuit then the EKM-25XDSE, or one of our Omnimeters with two Current Transformers will be what you would use.

Can the display on this meter be reset each month? We are wanting to know our monthly electricity consumption on a small unit detached from the main house.

None of the basic electric meters that EKM offers have a resettable kWh value, including this one. This is to prevent tampering when the meter is being used for submetering and billing purposes. The kWh value on this meter always increments upwards. What users typically do is take note of the kWh reading at the end of each month or billing period, and then subtract the previous value from the current value to give the usage during that time period. This is a very common practice if the meter is not "Smart" and can be read remotely with a computer.  

The Omnimeter Pulse v.4 also has a non-resettable kWh value but it also a separate resettable kWh value, which allows users to reset the kWh as often as needed. In order to do this the meter needs to be connected to the EKM Dash software via a USB Converter or iSerial Converter.

I have an in-law unit attached to my house. Both units are hooked up to the same meter. Would I be able to hook this up and determine the energy consumption for each unit?

This is potentially a good option for this use case. You would need to be able to isolate the in-law unit's electrical circuit so a meter can be installed and meter it's usage.   

This meter model is intended for a 120v 2-wire system (one hot, one neutral). If this is the system that you want to meter, if your system is 50A or less, and if your hot wire diameter is 14mm or less, then this meter will work well. Our EKM-15IDS is another option to consider for this type of electrical system.  

If instead the electrical system is 120/240v 3-wire (two hot, one neutral) then the EKM-25XDSE is the meter to use.

Would this be a good product for metering a RV site?

It's very possible that this meter will work well for for metering an RV. This meter is designed to meter any 120 Volt load up to 50 Amps. If this represents your RV load, and your wire diameter is less than 14mm (so the CT will fit around the wire), this meter will work well and provide you with a kWh readout on the LCD display. This meter is not watertight so you would want to install it in an enclosure to protect it from the elements.

Can I install EKM-15E in an enclosed shed (waterproof) that has freezing temperatures in the wintertime?

The EKM-15E meter has a temperature range of -20˚C to 65˚C, which is equivalent to -4˚F to 149˚F.
The meter should simply be installed so that it is protected from tampering and from moisture and the elements.
We do carry just the DIN rail mounting strip if you will not be using an enclosure:
https://www.ekmmetering.com/collections/enclosure/products/3-inch-din-rail-piece-for-mounting

Does meter reading roll-over to 00000.00 when it gets to 99999.99 ?

Yes, once it gets to all 9s it will just roll over to all 0s and continue counting up from there. All of our meters work this way.

Thanks,

Seth
EKM Metering

Can I use two of these meters/CTs on a 120/240 three-wire system (two hot, one neutral) and add the two readings to get a total kWh usage?

Yes, you can use 2 separate 120 volt meters to measure each of the two phases of a 120/240 volt system.  If you add the 2 meters kWh together you would have an accurate kWh reading of your 120/240 volt 3-wire system.

what is the length of the CT leads?

The EKM-15E electric meter comes with 1 Current Transformer.  The wire leads on the Current Transformer are 6.5 feet long.

What length are the leads on the CT? If I need to extend them, what is the maximum distance and what size wire would I use?

Is this CUL rated?

The EKM-15E is not a UL or cUL listed meter.  For our UL listed meters (they are also cUL listed), plese checkout our Omnimeter II v.3 UL or our Omnimeter Pulse v.4 UL

Here is more information about the certifications that we have.

If I purchase a low price meter would it make a difference in my light bill

The meter itself will not change your bill directly, however it will help you to see how much you are using. This usually results in people choosing to use less electricity, or using it less often.

The CT that came with my Basic Meter does not have any Load direction reference marks on it. Does it need to be installed in a particular orientation for the CT to read the outgoing load? If so, without the load direction mark how do I determine the proper orientation.

In the case of the CT for the EKM 15E electric meter, the direction of current flow through the CT does not matter, you can install the CT in either direction.

UL listed?

The EKM 15E is not UL listed.  If you want a UL or cUL listed electric meter, take a look at our Omnimeter II v.3 UL or our Omnimeter Pulse v.4 UL
Here is an article detailing the certifications we have for our products:  https://help.ekmmetering.com/support/solutions/articles/6000068358-do-your-meters-have-any-certifications-

is this product CSA or cUl approved?

No the EKM-15E is not cUL listed.  For this you will want to checkout either our Omnimeter II v.3 UL or our Omnimeter Pulse v.4 UL, both of these electric meters are cUL listed.  Here is information about our certifications 

are the EKM 15E KWH meters addressed so 50 meters can be read individually from 200 ft away

The EKM-15E is one of our basic meters.  It is not a smart meter, so doe not have any data communications (the only output it has is an electronic pulse output of 1000 pulses per kWh.  For a remote readable communicating smart meter, I would recommend one of our EKM Omnimeter models (which can have up to 126 Omnimeters on a bus, or an unlimited number of meters if you use wireless 485Bee radios):  https://www.ekmmetering.com/collections/smart-meters