Rack-mounted power meter having removable metering options module

Abstract

A meter for measuring power parameters on one or more electrical power lines/loads is configured to operate with our without a removable metering options module. The meter includes a meter housing designed and dimensioned for rack mounted installation in a bay of an equipment rack or cabinet, and metering circuitry configured to provide revenue accurate metering and power quality analysis for a power line/load. The metering options module may be mounted to an externally accessible surface of the meter to change the functionality of the metering circuitry without increasing the dimensions of an outer envelop of the meter, and without disturbing tamper-proof seals included on the meter.

1 . A power meter configured to measure electrical parameters of electrical energy present in a conductor, the power meter comprising: 
 a meter housing configured to be rack mounted in a bay of an equipment rack; and    a metering options module configured to be removably mounted on an externally accessible surface of the meter housing to be within the dimensions of the bay,    the meter housing comprising a first electrical connector, and the metering options module comprising a second electrical connector, the first electrical connector configured to be engaged with the second electrical connector only when the metering options module is removably mounted on the meter housing.    
     
     
         2 . The power meter of  claim 1 , comprising a first rack electrical connector positioned on an external surface of the meter housing, the first rack electrical connector positioned to engage a second rack electrical connector in the equipment rack when the meter housing is installed in the bay.  
     
     
         3 . The power meter of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical connector is mounted on an external surface of the meter housing, and the second electrical connector is mounted on an external surface of the metering options module.  
     
     
         4 . The power meter of  claim 3 , wherein the external surface of the meter housing is positioned proximate the external surface of the metering options module so that the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector engage when the metering options module is removably mounted on the meter housing.  
     
     
         5 . The power meter of  claim 1 , further comprising a tamper proof seal coupled with the meter housing and configured to indicate when the meter housing has been opened, wherein the metering options module is removably mountable on the meter housing without disturbance of the tamper proof seal.  
     
     
         6 . The power meter of  claim 1 , wherein the externally accessible surface of the meter housing comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion formed as a slot to accommodate the metering options module.  
     
     
         7 . The power meter of  claim 6 , wherein the first portion is recessed with respect to the second portion, and a first planar surface of the metering options module is substantially contiguously aligned with a planar surface of the first portion when the metering options module is mounted, and a second planar surface of the metering options module is in substantially the same plane with a planar surface of the second portion of the meter housing.  
     
     
         8 . The power meter of  claim 1 , wherein the metering option module comprises a tab configured to be coupled with the meter housing, wherein a ground lug included on the meter housing is configured to ground the metering options module and fixedly mount the metering options module on the meter housing via the tab.  
     
     
         9 . The power meter of  claim 1 , wherein the metering options module comprises a flange configured to be substantially contiguous with the meter housing when the metering options module is mounted on the meter housing, the flange further configured to be coupled with the meter housing by a fastener.  
     
     
         10 . The power meter of  claim 1 , wherein the metering options module further comprises an options rack electrical connector configured and positioned on the metering options module to engage an options rack electrical connector included in the equipment rack when the meter housing with the metering options module removably mounted thereto is rack mounted in the bay of the equipment rack.  
     
     
         11 . A power meter configured to measure electrical parameters of electrical energy present in a conductor, the power meter comprising: 
 a meter housing dimensioned to be mounted in a bay of an equipment rack, the meter housing having a first electrical connector positioned on a surface of the meter housing to engage a second electrical connector positioned in the equipment rack when the meter housing is mounted in the bay;    metering circuitry disposed in the meter housing that is configured to receive one or more electrical parameters via the second electrical connector, the metering circuitry operable to measure and process one or more electrical parameters;    a tamper proof seal coupled with the meter housing and configured to indicate the occurrence of access to at least one of the meter housing or the metering circuitry, or a combination thereof;    a slot formed with the meter housing, the slot configured to receive a metering options module without disturbance of the tamper proof seal; and    a third electrical connector disposed in the slot and electrically connected with the metering circuitry, the third electrical connector configured to be coupled with the metering options module to change the functionality of the metering circuitry.    
     
     
         12 . The power meter of  claim 11 , wherein the metering options module is positionable in the slot to extend outwardly no further than about flush with an outermost external dimension of an externally accessible surface of the meter housing.  
     
     
         13 . The power meter of  claim 11 , wherein the third electrical connector is mounted in an externally accessible surface of the meter housing.  
     
     
         14 . The power meter of  claim 11 , further comprising a bus operable to couple the third electrical connector with the metering circuitry.  
     
     
         15 . The power meter of  claim 14 , wherein the bus is a printed circuit board that is coupled with an edge connector included in the metering circuitry.  
     
     
         16 . The power meter of  claim 11 , further comprising a removable cover formed to cover an opening to the slot.  
     
     
         17 . The power meter of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second electrical connectors each comprise a pluggable panel mount connector.  
     
     
         18 . A power meter configured to measure electrical parameters of electrical energy present in a conductor, the power meter comprising: 
 a meter housing dimensioned to be mounted in a bay of an equipment rack;    a processor disposed in the meter housing and operable to process measured electrical parameters to perform revenue metering and power quality metering;    a tamper proof seal coupled with an external surface of the meter housing and positioned to indicate the occurrence of access to the meter housing;    a first electrical connector mounted on an external surface of the meter housing, the first electrical connector coupled with the processor and configured to engage an electrical connector in the equipment rack; and    a second electrical connector mounted on a surface of the meter housing, the second electrical connector coupled with the processor and configured to engage an electrical connector mounted on a surface of a metering options module, the metering options module mountable on the meter housing without disturbance of the tamper proof seal, to change a functionality of the processor.    
     
     
         19 . The power meter of  claim 18 , wherein the metering options module includes an input/output module configured to increase the input/output capability of the processor.  
     
     
         20 . The power meter of  claim 18 , wherein the metering options module includes a communications module configured to increase the communication functionality of the processor.  
     
     
         21 . The power meter of  claim 18 , wherein the metering options module includes at least one of a hardware authorization or a software authorization each configured to enable additional functionality already existing, but previously disabled, in the processor when sensed by the processor.  
     
     
         22 . The power meter of  claim 18 , wherein the metering options module includes an option key, the option key readable by the processor to indicate to the processor the functionality change providable by the removable options module.  
     
     
         23 . The power meter of  claim 18 , wherein the second electrical connector is operable to supply power to the metering options module only when the metering options module is mounted on the meter housing.  
     
     
         24 . A power meter configured to measure electrical parameters of electrical energy present in a conductor, the power meter comprising: 
 a metering options module configured to be removably coupled to a surface of a meter housing; and    an electrical connector positioned on a surface of the metering options module, the electrical connector positioned to engage an electrical connector included on a surface of the meter housing when the metering options module is coupled to the surface of the meter housing;    wherein an external housing of the metering options module is formed to be mounted external to the surface of the meter housing and to be substantially within an outermost dimension of the meter housing.    
     
     
         25 . The power meter of  claim 24 , further comprising a flange coupled with the metering options module, wherein the flange is configured to fixedly couple the metering options module to the surface of the meter housing.  
     
     
         26 . The power meter of  claim 24 , wherein the combination of the metering options module removably coupled to the meter housing is dimensioned and configured to be rack mounted in a bay of an equipment rack.  
     
     
         27 . The power meter of  claim 26 , wherein the electrical connector is positioned on a first surface of the metering options module and an options rack electrical connector is positioned on a second surface of the metering options module, wherein the options rack electrical connector is positioned to engage an options rack electrical connector positioned in the equipment rack when the metering housing, with the metering options module removably coupled thereto is positioned in the bay of the equipment rack.  
     
     
         28 . The power meter of  claim 24 , wherein the electrical connector is positioned on a first surface of the metering options module and a communications connector is positioned on a second surface of the metering options module.  
     
     
         29 . The power meter of  claim 24 , wherein the electrical connector is positioned on a first surface of the metering options module and an input/output connector is positioned on a second surface of the metering options module.  
     
     
         30 . The power meter of  claim 24 , wherein the metering options module is configured with functionality that is removably combinable with functionality present in metering circuitry included within the meter housing.  
     
     
         31 . The power meter of  claim 24 , wherein the metering options module is configured with access key functionality, the access key functionality operable to enable pre-existing functionality present in metering circuitry included within the meter housing.  
     
     
         32 . The power meter of  claim 24 , wherein the metering options module is configured with protective relay functionality.  
     
     
         33 . The power meter of  claim 24 , wherein the metering options module is formed to include alignment apertures, the alignment apertures are configured to engage corresponding alignment pins included on the meter housing.