How To Make An Electric Meter Lamp? Multipurpose Usage of Electric Meter

An electric meter functions to measure the usage of electric power. In general, it’s connected to a house, apartment, or building to measure, monitor, and manage electricity use. It shows on the display how many watts have been used in the connected building.

How To Make An Electric Meter Lamp

An electric meter lamp is a regular lamp connected to a meter. The purpose of it is to measure power usage only by the lamp. When you can see how much power you’re using you can easily monitor and manage the usage. The lamp seems to have a simple structure. Yet how can you make an electric meter lamp?

How To Make An Electric Meter Lamp

You can find electric meter lamps online and also in local electronic shops. They may cost more than a lamp. So you can think of making an electric meter lamp on your own to save a few bucks. Again if you’re interested in electronics it can be fun for you. It’s not hard to make an electric meter lamp, you just need to connect the meter with the lamp.

Necessary Equipment

You can make the electric meter lamp in two ways. By setting a meter with a lamp or, making the whole meter lamp by yourself. If you have a lamp and meter from before you can just set them. For this you won’t need more items, you’ll need screws, screwdriver, tape, cutter, wire, etc. Though if you want to make the whole meter lamp you’ll need a lot more items including the mentioned ones. You’ll also need these items:

  • Duplex receptacle
  • Electrical switch
  • Electrical box
  • Toggle/ duplex box cover
  • Electrical meter
  • Light socket (lead)
  • Light bulb
  • 3 and 1 inches screws
  • Power supply wire (16 AWG) and electrical wire (14 AWG)
  • Cardboard or wood board 

How To Connect Electric Meter To Lamp?

For setting an electric meter to a lamp you’ll need a meter that’s voltage is around 120. You’ll see that there are four wires in the lamp under the chamber cover. From left to right the cords are Line, Neutral, Neutral, and Load. now get a lamp cord and separate the wires. Figure out the line, load, and neutrals of the lamp cord and connect them to the meter’s matching wire. Secure them with tape and turn on the meter.

For more fun, if you want to make the whole meter lamp then you need to cut the cardboard or wood into your desired design of a lamp. You can set the meter in front of the lamp under the bulb. In this case, you have to make the shape of a lamp with the boards. You can set the board with screws tucking the connecting wires inside.

A bulb doesn’t have any wire so at first you need to connect it with electric wires then connect the electric wires with the meter’s cords. Finally, connect the power supply wire with the lamp and finish your lamp. Make sure that all the wires are covered with an insulator.

Conclusion

Nowadays you can get digital or smart meters, which are light weighted and more user-friendly. You can connect them with your house, building, or lamp more easily. Monitoring and managing are easier through smart electric meters. 

However, while working on the lamp make sure the parts aren’t connected to the power source. After completing cover all the parts and then connect it to the power.

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