Installing the three-phase energy meter HAM DinMeter3P

One of the most important features that HAM devices have to offer, is that of measuring and recording the load consumption of any three-phase current supply, using the HAM DinMeter3P device.

With the HAM three-phase meter solution, you can get live updates, alerts and records, always free of charge, so that you can draw valuable conclusions about the total consumption of your three-phase load, for any load, regardless of current flow level.

HAM DinMeter3P devices provide you with these features by measuring with built-in current transformers (CTs), for any load up to 450A, for separate - phase, as well as overall analysis.

The primary and necessary condition for the correct operation and measurement of the HAM DinMeter3P three-phase meter, is the proper installation and connection of both the HAM DinMeter3P itself and the device's current transformers, as well as the cables of each phase.

The two key connectivity factors that determine the reception and transmission of correct measurements and data are:

• The correct pairing of HAM DinMeter3P - Current Transformers.
• The correct orientation (polarity) of the current transformer itself on the phase cable.

If any of the above factors are not met, it is most likely that the measurements you receive through the app will not correspond to reality. This will result in a warning symbol appearing next to the device's name, informing you of this fact.

In case you detect this symbol, you can cross-check the information for incorrect installation of the equipment by studying the Phase Angles measured by the HAM DinMeter3P.

HAM DinMeter3P is programmed to consider normal angles to be those angles ranging from -45 degrees to 45 degrees, for any consumption above 1kW per phase. Any other value outside this range, while active consumption is present, indicates incorrect transformer placement or incorrect HAM DinMeter3P - Current Transformer matching.

E.g. In the following example there seems to be an issue in the connection of phases 2 and 3 (Angle B and Angle C).

In order to be able to avoid or repair the discrepancies described above, it is useful to provide some clarifications on the correct placement and connection of the current transformers (CT).

1. Current Transformers- Phases matching 

As you will find in the instruction sheet that comes with HAM DinMeter3P, it is necessary to have a correct correspondence between the lower slots of the HAM DinMeter3P, with the pair of slots directly opposite them. 

The transformer connected to any upper slots, must measure the corresponding phase passing through the opposite lower slot.

Particularly, as you will see in the instruction sheet:

• C/T-11 connected to the upper slots 9-10, must measure the L1 phase passing through the lower slot 3.
• C/T-12, connected to upper slots 7-8, must measure the L2 phase passing through lower slot 2.
• C/T-13, connected at upper slots 5-6, must measure the L3 phase passing through lower slot 1.

2. Current transformer orientation (polarity)

The second necessary requirement that must be met, is the correct polarity of the current transformers. This consists of two factors:

• The wiring of their cables to the HAM DinMeter3P device.
• The wrapping of the phase cable with the correct orientation.

Cable wiring

The wiring of the transformer as proposed is "White - Black" alternating at the transformer slots in the order "Left - Right", as shown in the figure below.

Phase wrap orientation

Given the above wiring (White/Left - Black/Right), the corresponding phase wrapping needs to be done according to the orientation suggested by the transformer manufacturer.

Depending on the type of transformer, the orientation symbol can be:

• K -> L, with K being the phase input from the source and L the direction to the load.
• S1 -> S2, where S1 being the phase input from the source and S2 the direction to the load.

* In any case where you cannot change the phase wrap orientation of the C/T, you can simply change the wiring of its cables (White/Right - Black/Left).

After completing all the above steps, you can confirm the accuracy of the connection by checking the angles recorded by HAM DinMeter3P, in order to make sure that the criterion mentioned earlier is met.

As long as this is fulfilled, you are now able to take advantage of all the features provided by HAM devices and draw valuable conclusions from monitoring the consumption of your three-phase supply!