Trystan Casey
The invention of the electric meter was an important development in the history of electricity. In the early days of electricity, it was challenging to determine the cost of this new form of energy. The earliest meter was Samual Gardiner's lamphour meter, patented in 1872, which measured the time during which energy was supplied. However, this meter became obsolete with the introduction of Edison's light bulb. The quest for an accurate method of measuring electricity consumption led to the creation of various experimental meter types. In 1888, Oliver B. Shallenberger invented the first practical electric meter by accident while working on an arc lamp. Shallenberger's invention paved the way for the widespread adoption of AC power as a consumer technology.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Inventor of the first electric meter | Oliver B. Shallenberger |
| Year invented | 1888 |
| Place of work | Westinghouse |
| How it was invented | By accident while working on an arc lamp |
| Number sold in the next 10 years | 120,000 |
| Previous method of measuring electricity consumption | A chemical ampere-hour meter with two zinc plates immersed in a zinc-sulfate solution |
| Inventor of the first mass-produced induction watthour meter | Elihu Thomson |
| Year of invention | 1888 |
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What You'll Learn
- The first electric meter was invented by Oliver B. Shallenberger in 1888
- Shallenberger's design was based on rotating electric fields in an arc lamp
- Thomas Edison charged per lamp before developing a chemical ampere-hour meter
- Elihu Thomson invented the first true watt-hour meter in 1888
- Thomson's meter was based on an ironless commutator motor
The first electric meter was invented by Oliver B. Shallenberger in 1888
The first electric meter, also known as the watt-hour meter, was invented by Oliver B. Shallenberger in 1888. Shallenberger was an engineer at Westinghouse who developed the first watt-hour electric meter. This invention was a significant milestone in the history of electricity, as it provided an accurate way to measure power consumption, which was crucial for billing customers based on their actual usage rather than just estimated usage.
The story behind the invention of the first electric meter is quite intriguing. It is said that Shallenberger accidentally discovered the principle behind his invention while working on an arc lamp. He noticed that a spring had fallen off the lamp in a peculiar way, as if affected by rotating electric fields. This sparked his curiosity, and he decided to investigate further.
Shallenberger's design was simple yet ingenious. He designed a wheel that turned in relation to the rotational force created by the lamp's spinning electromagnetic fields, allowing him to measure amperes per hour on an alternating current circuit. This basic design has stood the test of time and is still in use today.
The invention of the electric meter revolutionized the way electricity was sold and distributed. Before the meter, electricity providers like Thomas Edison charged customers based on the number of lamps or motors installed in a building. However, as the use of electricity became more variable with the introduction of pluggable appliances, there was a growing need for a more accurate billing system. Shallenberger's electric meter provided the solution, and over 120,000 of his meters were sold in the following decade.
It is worth noting that Shallenberger's invention built upon previous advancements in the field. The earliest meter was Samuel Gardiner's lamphour meter, patented in 1872. However, these early meters became obsolete with the introduction of Edison's light bulb, which allowed for the subdivision of lighting circuits. Shallenberger's electric meter, on the other hand, offered a more practical and accurate solution for measuring electricity consumption.
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Shallenberger's design was based on rotating electric fields in an arc lamp
The first electric meter was invented by Oliver B. Shallenberger in 1888. Shallenberger, an engineer at Westinghouse, noticed the peculiar way a spring had fallen off an arc lamp, as if affected by rotating electric fields. This observation led to the creation of the electric meter.
Shallenberger's design was based on the rotating electric fields in an arc lamp. He realised that the lamp's spinning electromagnetic fields had caused the spring to turn. Within just three weeks, he designed a wheel that turned in relation to this rotational force, providing a way to measure amperes per hour on an alternating current circuit.
Shallenberger's design was a breakthrough, as it offered a practical solution to the problem of metering. Prior to his invention, Thomas Edison had charged customers per lamp, which was not an accurate reflection of electrical consumption or load draw. Shallenberger's meter, on the other hand, provided a means to measure electricity consumption accurately, allowing for fair billing based on actual usage.
The basic design of Shallenberger's meter remains in use today. His invention was instrumental in the widespread adoption of AC power as it consumed virtually no power due to its operation on the electrical current's induced magnetic field. Over 120,000 Shallenberger ampere-hour meters were sold in the following decade, showcasing the impact of his innovation.
Shallenberger's work built upon earlier discoveries and inventions in the field of electricity. For example, the invention of the dynamo by Anyos Jedlik in 1861 and Werner von Siemens in 1867 enabled the generation of large amounts of electrical energy. Additionally, the introduction of Edison's light bulb made subdividing lighting circuits more practical, influencing the development of electric meters.
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Thomas Edison charged per lamp before developing a chemical ampere-hour meter
The history of electricity meters is a fascinating one, with the first half of the 19th century bringing brilliant discoveries in electromagnetism. One of the key figures in this story is Thomas Edison, who played a pivotal role in the development of the first practical electric meter.
In 1882, when Edison began selling electricity for illumination, he charged per lamp. However, this method was not accurate in terms of measuring electrical consumption or load draw. To address this, Edison soon replaced the per-lamp charge with a complicated chemical ampere-hour meter. This meter was an electrolytic jar with two zinc plates immersed in a zinc sulfate solution. As electricity flowed through the jar, it dissolved zinc from the positive plate, depositing it on the negative plate.
Every month, workers had to remove the electrodes and weigh them to determine the amount of zinc transferred between the plates. This process was messy, inefficient, and not very accurate. Despite these drawbacks, Edison preferred this chemical method to a mechanical one. His interest in chemistry may have influenced this preference.
Edison also developed a motor-type meter, but it was his chemical meter that laid the groundwork for subsequent innovations. One such innovation was the walking-beam meter, devised by electrical polymath Elihu Thomson in 1888. This meter was a complex apparatus that used a heating element to warm a small alcohol-filled bottle on a seesaw lever. As the alcohol evaporated and flowed into a matching bottle on the other side, the bottles rocked back and forth, ticking off a notch on the meter with each movement.
In summary, Thomas Edison's early adoption of a chemical ampere-hour meter, despite its flaws, was a significant step forward in the evolution of electric metering. His willingness to experiment and persevere through challenges paved the way for future inventors like Elihu Thomson to build upon his work and create more advanced metering solutions.
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Elihu Thomson invented the first true watt-hour meter in 1888
The invention of the electric meter was a significant milestone in the history of electricity, and Elihu Thomson played a pivotal role in its development. In 1888, Thomson invented the first true watt-hour meter, a device that revolutionized the way electricity was measured and billed.
The story of Elihu Thomson's invention is a fascinating one. Thomson, a brilliant electrical engineer, had been working on various projects related to electricity when he made this groundbreaking invention. His watt-hour meter was a complex machine that could measure the energy consumed by customers, making it an essential tool for electric utilities.
Thomson's meter was designed to work with both alternating and direct current systems, which was a significant advantage over previous meters that often struggled with the challenges posed by different current types. The meter used a disk that spun due to electromagnetic fields, and a counter measured the number of rotations. The faster the disk spun, the more energy was being consumed. This design was simple yet effective and quickly gained traction in the market.
The impact of Thomson's invention was far-reaching. Before the watt-hour meter, electric utilities had to rely on less accurate methods of billing, such as charging per lamp or motor installed in a building. With Thomson's meter, they could now bill customers based on their actual energy consumption, leading to a more fair and transparent system.
Within a year of its invention, Thomson brought the watt-hour meter to market, and it soon became a standard model adopted by many utilities. However, by the late 1890s, it was gradually replaced by the induction watt-hour meter, which became the industry standard. Nonetheless, Thomson's contribution laid the foundation for accurate and efficient electricity metering, shaping the way electricity is distributed and consumed even to this day.
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Thomson's meter was based on an ironless commutator motor
Elihu Thomson of the American General Electric Company invented the commutator watt-hour meter in 1888, which measured the energy consumed. The meter was brought to market in 1889 and worked on both alternating- and direct-current systems. Thomson's meter was based on an ironless commutator motor. This was the first true watthour meter and was an immediate commercial success, with many utilities adopting it as their "standard" model.
The Thomson-Houston Electric Co. was organised in Lynn, Massachusetts, to manufacture the inventions of Professors Elihu Thomson and Edwin Houston. Thomson's meter was designed for use on AC circuits, but it worked equally well with the DC circuits in use at the time. The meter used a disk that spun due to electromagnetic fields, with a counter measuring the number of rotations. The more energy consumed, the faster the disk spun.
The development of the electric meter was a significant achievement, as electricity was something that could not be seen, tasted, grasped, or heard. Engineers like Oliver Shallenberger at Westinghouse invented the watt-hour electric meter in 1888. Shallenberger's basic design remains in use today.
Shallenberger's meter was developed quite by accident. While working on a new AC arc lamp, a spring fell out and rested on a ledge inside the lamp. Shallenberger noticed that the spring had rotated and designed an AC ampere-hour meter in just three weeks. Over 120,000 Shallenberger ampere-hour meters were sold over the next 10 years.
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Frequently asked questions
Oliver B. Shallenberger invented the first electric meter in 1888. He developed the watt-hour meter, also known as the ampere-hour meter, which measured amperes per hour on an alternating current circuit.
Shallenberger was working on an electric arc lamp when a spring fell out and rested on a ledge inside the lamp. He noticed that the spring had rotated and, after testing, discovered that the lamp's spinning electromagnetic fields had caused the spring to turn. Within three weeks, he designed a wheel that turned in relation to this rotational force, which became the basis for measuring amperes per hour.
Elihu Thomson of the American General Electric Company invented the first recording wattmeter, also known as the watt-hour meter, in 1888. It was the first true watthour meter and became an immediate commercial success, with many utilities adopting it as their standard model. Thomson's meter worked on both alternating and direct current systems.
