method and apparatus relay for detecting in a power distribution system the wiring phase at a remote location, apparatus for detecting the phase wiring of an unknown phase voltage and remote meter for remote measurement of utility consumption

摘要

Method and apparatus for detecting the wiring phase of an arbitrary unknown phase voltage with respect to a reference phase voltage. The present invention relates to detecting the wiring phase of an unknown phase voltage relative to a reference phase voltage in an electrical power distribution system having a polyphase power line. To reliably detect the wiring phase at the remote location relative to a reference wiring phase even if the remote location is further away from the reference location, at least one relay location is arranged between the reference location and the reference location. Remote location is connected to the wiring phase of the polyphase power line. A first phase relationship is detected between the reference wiring phase voltage at the reference location and the wiring phase voltage at the relay location. A second phase relationship is detected between the wiring phase voltage at the relay location and the wiring phase voltage at the remote location. the remote location wiring phase relative to the wiring phase at the reference location is detected based on the first phase relationship and the second phase relationship. The present invention is advantageous in that a direct communication channel between the remote location and the reference location is not required to detect the phase relationship.