An instrument that samples analog electrical signals and converts them into discrete digital values for display or transmission. In utility applications, this refers to a solid-state revenue meter that tracks energy consumption and communicates remotely with the grid operator. On the test bench, it refers to a digital multimeter used for troubleshooting.
Swap out that old mechanical disc unit for a digital meter before we finish the service upgrade.
Also heard as
- smart meter
- DMM
Related terms
Clamp meter
Handheld meter whose jaws close around a conductor to measure current without breaking the circuit.
Time-of-use meter
An electricity meter that records power consumption in different tariff periods based on the time of day.
True RMS
Describes a meter or reading that computes the real RMS of any waveform, not one scaled from a sine-wave average.