Top 10 Tips for Choosing a Gas Meter

Popular vote - who is the best manufacturer of gas meters?
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Neptune-Ural

Gazdevice

electrical appliance

Turbulence-Don

ELSTER Gaselectronics

Signal

Tochmash

Taipit

Total voted: 4

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Before proceeding directly to the evaluation of models, one should decide on the type of gas meter. The most widespread are three varieties, which we will consider in more detail.

Chamber or membrane gas meter.This is the most popular type of meter in domestic use. It is safe due to its strong hermetic case and advantageous due to its simple design and durability. The service life of such a device is up to 30 years, while verification is performed every 15 years. The device is not demanding on gas quality. But it is quite large and noisy.

Rotary or rotary type is used much less frequently. The counter differs in the small sizes and reasonable cost. However, there are many drawbacks to this design. Glass is prone to damage, which means that there is a greater chance of gas leakage, verification should be carried out every 2 years, the service life is short, and the accuracy of the readings is not always high.

The most expensive and presented - electronic (jet) gas meter. The device is easy to set up and has a compact size. Calculates gas consumption most accurately. Verification is carried out every 10 years. Makes virtually no noise. Turbine and ultrasonic extremely rarely produced for domestic use, designed to measure large volumes on an industrial scale.

We advise you to choose an electronic or membrane type device for installation in an apartment. Rely on available budgets. Both of them keep records of consumption equally effectively.

Gas meters are different throughput, which is very important to consider in order to choose the right counter.Professionals advise entrusting the calculations to the designer or calculating the consumption yourself and taking the device with a margin.

The gas meter with the smallest throughput will be the best solution for an apartment in which there is one gas stove and no other flow points. If there is only an HSV column in the house, then a meter is needed G-2.5, if both devices, then G-4. Accordingly, class devices G-6 and G-10 necessary in a room where there are three or more points of consumption. This must be taken into account when choosing a meter based on standard regulated costs.

Marking on the counter	Throughput (m3/h)
G-1.6	1,6-2,5
G-2.5	2,5-4
G-4	4-6
G-6	6-10
G-10	10-16

 

The meter size is indicated in the accompanying documents and on the front panel of the device. The most common and most suitable gas meters for installation in an apartment or house are marked G-2.5, G-4. However, it is necessary to choose the device in accordance with the planned costs.

Another guideline for choosing the best gas meter for an apartment will be the direction of gas flow. This parameter is very important to take into account, since the gas meters themselves are divided into right-sided and left-sided. Installing the equipment on the contrary is physically impossible.

To choose the right device, it is important to clearly understand the installation diagram of the measuring device. On the meter case, the direction is indicated by an arrow, compliance with this condition is critical.In a gas pipeline, it is determined by the gas flow, the gas meter indicator must correspond to it.

When choosing the right gas meter, you also need to take into account the features of the connection. How the device is attached to the pipes of the gas pipeline. There are two possible options here: threaded and flanged compound.

The choice depends directly on the characteristics of the gas pipeline. But, as a rule, apartments are used threaded models. They are also widely represented in stores, allow you to ensure the proper level of sealing. Easy and quick to install.

Flanged the connection is typical for a gas pipeline with a large throughput. They are not widely used in the domestic segment and are more often used in industry. However, when looking for a device, one should be guided by the characteristics of the pipes to which the meter will be mounted: sometimes in private houses you can find a similar solution.

The diameter of the connecting thread of the meters directly depends on the characteristics of the pipe. The question should be given sufficient attention, as the values ​​may differ.

If a gas meter is purchased for an apartment, then you can safely take a device with a diameter 1/2" (15 DN). This is a basic solution for a domestic gas pipeline, which is included in the building standards. Therefore, it is almost impossible to make a mistake.

If the house was built on an individual project, then the diameter may vary.Here, in addition to the standard solution, pipes with a diameter of 1 (25 DN) or 3/4 (20DN) inches. For reliable data, refer to the project documentation.

If you have already bought a meter, and the diameter of the connecting thread differs from the parameters of the pipeline, you can use adapters. This will prevent you from purchasing a new device.

In accordance with the rules, the gas meter can be installed both indoors and outdoors. The latter is relevant for private houses.

Choosing indoor instrument, it is important to take into account the capacity, location, direction of gas flow and noise level. According to experts, the presence of a thermal corrector for a gas meter operated in an apartment is completely unjustified. As a rule, a stable temperature regime is set in a room with good ventilation.

Choice street counter practically does not differ from the room. Except that in this case the presence of a thermal compensator is necessary. The absence of a sensor will lead to incorrect accounting of gas flow and distortion of measurement results due to temperature changes. Without this addition, in winter the consumption will be underestimated, and in summer it will be overestimated. But it should be noted that the presence of such a function affects the cost of the device. A meter with a temperature compensator is distinguished by the letter “T” at the end of the marking and is more expensive.

Another parameter to consider when choosing the right gas meter is center distance of fittings. This parameter is of great importance at the time of meter replacement. If the center distance is incorrectly determined and an unsuitable meter is selected, then its installation will be impossible. Adapters in this case are not provided, and the movement of pipes is a very complex technical process.

For installation in an apartment on a standard gas pipeline, devices with an indicator 110 mm. In this case, you can safely take the device and not be afraid to make a mistake. Gas meters with distance 130 mm and 250 mm are used less frequently. Such solutions are intended for a gas pipeline with a high gas flow rate. Usually they are used in private homes.

The presence of some options allows you to make measurements more accurate, and the gas meter itself - efficient. temperature compensator, which has already been mentioned above, avoids the distortion of measurements associated with the influence of different ambient temperatures. However, according to experts, for meters in an apartment, its presence is not necessary.

Would be a great addition dust filter. It is designed to clean the gas flow from mechanical particles.This reduces wear on the meter and improves reading accuracy.

Backstop counting mechanism. It does not allow you to rotate the counting mechanism in the opposite direction. The function ensures the accuracy of measurements, its presence is also welcomed by representatives of gas supply organizations.

pulse output for remote reading. Such counters are used in our own automated system for comprehensive accounting of resource consumption "Smart House". All information on manipulations with the device (including power off for volatile models) is recorded in the archive of the electronic unit, which can only be read using special equipment.

The first thing I would like to draw attention to is that the countdown of the calibration interval starts from the date of manufacture, and not from the moment of purchase or installation of the device. Therefore, we advise you to pay attention to release date specific model. The service life of gas meters is on average 20-25 years. But the value declared by the manufacturer is calculated for ideal operating conditions, in practice this period is less. The need for replacement is determined by the specialist at the time of verification.

Check intervals instrument accuracy is determined by its type. So, a membrane device is checked every 8-15 years (more accurate information is in the accompanying documents). The rotary counter needs to be checked most often - the procedure is performed every 2-5 years. An electronic device is serviced every 10-12 years.

In this connection, we advise you to choose the one that was made later from two identical models.It is also worth giving preference to membrane or electronic gas meters, they deliver the least maintenance hassle.

Despite the fact that now the use of a gas meter is not mandatory, there are many manufacturers on the market offering their products. As for the cost, the spread is very large: you can buy a gas meter at a price of 1.5 to 50 thousand rubles. Specialists and gas supplying organizations identify five manufacturers whose metering devices are worthy of attention.

Neptun-Ural LLC produces gas meters under the Betar brand. The gas meters are easy to install, undemanding in terms of location and equipped with a tee that allows you to use gas while the device is under repair or for verification.

"Gazdevice" since 1998 has been manufacturing diaphragm and ultrasonic gas meters. The devices are widely represented in stores and are popular due to their affordable cost and long service life.

LLC "Elektropribor" specializes in membrane gas meters. The devices meet all the requirements of Russian and European standards. Gas meters are distinguished by reliability, durability and affordable cost.

Turbulence-Don LLC produces counters known under the Grand brand. Jet-type devices do not have moving parts, due to which they practically do not make noise. They are expensive.

"ELSTER Gaselectronics" is an international group of companies. It includes the German company Kromschroder, which produced the first gas meter. Elster meters are reliable non-volatile devices of high quality and long service life.