Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Technology => Topic started by: donalcona on 29/10/2018 19:26:07

Title: Does using a ground replacement for the neutral line bypass the meter?
Post by: donalcona on 29/10/2018 19:26:07

I know this is illegal and you dont condone this.

But most of electricity theft is using this method wherein they install ground rod, and replace their neutral to it, therefore bypassing the meter. In analog meters yes.

But will this still work with digital meters?

Title: Re: Does using a ground replacement for the neutral line bypass the meter?
Post by: Bored chemist on 29/10/2018 19:30:07

Quote from: donalcona on 29/10/2018 19:26:07

most of electricity theft is using this method

Is it?

Title: Re: Does using a ground replacement for the neutral line bypass the meter?
Post by: donalcona on 29/10/2018 19:32:52

 

Quote

Is it?

well based on what i have observed in our country yes.

Title: Re: Does using a ground replacement for the neutral line bypass the meter?
Post by: chris on 29/10/2018 19:45:13

Where are they doing this?

Title: Re: Does using a ground replacement for the neutral line bypass the meter?
Post by: donalcona on 29/10/2018 19:50:47

where? place or the circuit?

Title: Re: Does using a ground replacement for the neutral line bypass the meter?
Post by: syhprum on 29/10/2018 20:37:28

No the meter measures current in the live line, you could bypass this by removing the fuse on the incoming power line which is illegal and tapping in there the power company would soon notice a drop in your bill and investigate and then prosecute you for theft.
Even if you only stole a small amount of power a meter reader would notice that the wire securing the fuse in had been broken and unless you could give a good reason for doing it you would come under suspicion, don't do it !! 

Title: Re: Does using a ground replacement for the neutral line bypass the meter?
Post by: evan_au on 29/10/2018 20:51:49

Quote from: OP

they install ground rod, and replace their neutral to it, therefore bypassing the meter

In my area, the electricity grid uses a technique called "multiple earthed neutral", where every house has a ground rod, which is attached to the neutral at the network side of the meter.

We also have core-balance relays, so any imbalance between active and neutral on the customer side of the circuit will shut off current to the circuit.

I think you live in Philippines (which has a long association with USA)?

I see that Philippines has a 220V 60Hz retail supply. If they use US-style 2-phase meters registering both the active and neutral current, then bypassing the neutral current to earth will halve the current registered by the meter (while making the voltage regulation in the house rather erratic).

I would expect that a single-phase meter (electromechanical or electronic) would be cheaper, and not susceptible to this hack.

Title: Re: Does using a ground replacement for the neutral line bypass the meter?
Post by: syhprum on 29/10/2018 21:01:54

Yes I considered the eccentric three phase/bi phase system used in the USA so I checked the time stamp of this correspondent and found it to be UTC which rules out the Philippines.
There is a procedure you could use to achieve this end but I will not publish it here.