Will 3 A/C Units Blow Up My Electric Meter?

[Fookhaht]

OK, 40 years ago, I took a 6-month electronics course by mail, so I know just enough about house wiring to be dangerous. Plus, I live in a foreign country that's very different (no grounding wires, weird master throw-switches in some of the places I've stayed in, etc.) from where I came.

The house I am in has a more-or-less modern switch box with about 10-12 switches wired into various electrical devices, including lights and A/C. Of course, all the labels are in Thai, so I have no idea what is connected to what. But that's not of concern for my question. I think.

I also have 3 air conditions that cool 2 bedrooms and a closed-off TV room. The dining area (part of the "grand hall/entry") is not cooled.

Tonight we were planning to have guests for dinner, and I have the bright idea to cool the three rooms with A/C, then throw open the three doors, and let the cooled air make the dining area/grand hall more comfortable. All three a/c rooms open onto the dining/grand hall/entry, and I'd let the three A/C units continue to run (3-4 hours) while the guests were here.

When I mentioned this idea to my Thai partner, I thought they'd nearly go nuts. "You can't do that! You'll blow up the electric meter out on the pole!" In the ensuing discussion, my partner got very angry insisting that we'd probably be several days without any electricity at all, if I continue with my hair-brained cooling idea. I was quite taken aback by my partner's extreme reaction. Had they lived in a village where a stupid farang had blown himself up with multiple A/C units running? OK, in such cases I don't mind giving Thailand/partner/developing countries the benefit of the doubt--they often don't know of hazards that I would blindly walk into.

Can indeed the maximum rating of my in-house switch box "overpower" the ability of the company electric meter out on the pole to handle the load? It seems implausible, from what little I know. But again, T.I.T.

So, in secret (so as not to rattle anyone's cage again), I went out and checked the electric company meter on the pole. It has a rating of (15) 45 in the Amps section. What does that mean? Two numbers? I then tried finding an amp rating on some of the paperwork that came with two of the A/C units, and couldn't find it. Further, I've read many times on ThaiVisa about members having 3-5 A/C units in their homes. Surely, they've got to run more than 2-3 units at a time on some occasions, if not regularly.

So my question: Is there anything to the IMPENDING ELECTRIC METER EXPLOSION if I press the matter and fire up all 3 A/C units? I'm hoping for someone with more than a 6-month electronics course-by-mail to enlighten me.

Edited May 6, 2016 by Fookhaht

[stoneyboy]

Turn them all on and see.

At most it should blow a trip switch.

Edited May 6, 2016 by stoneyboy

[Crossy]

OK your 15/45 meter is rated at 45Amps (the 15 is the calibration current). Electricity meters are incredibly robust, they will stand a 100% overload pretty well indefinitely, they will lose accuracy (and never read low).

What is the Amp rating of your main breaker? It will probably be 50A or 63A.

Assuming a reasonable aircon of 18,000 BTU that will draw about 1,800Watts when running = about 8 Amps.

Three of them will pull 24A, your meter isn't even going to flinch

Add in a 7kW (32A) water heater and you may start to stress things but a 50A breaker won't open even then. Take it to 75A and it will open in a few minutes, but your meter will be just fine.

[johng]

It will depend on the size of your aircons as to how much current they draw

my 9000 BTU non inverter aircon was measured to draw 3.3 Amps at full tilt.....

Crossy best me to the rest.

[Fookhaht]

OK your 15/45 meter is rated at 45Amps (the 15 is the calibration current).

What is the Amp rating of your main breaker? It will probably be 50A or 63A.

Assuming a reasonable aircon of 18,000 BTU that will draw about 1,800Watts when running = about 8 Amps.

Three of them will pull 24A, your meter isn't even going to flinch

Add in a 7kW (32A) water heater and you may start to stress things but the chances are a 50A breaker won't open even then.

Couldn't find an Amp rating on the main breaker--I think it's hidden by the cabinet that the breaker is built into. But your advice sounds comforting--didn't know the A/C units pulled that little, relatively speaking. Thanks loads. As in electrical loads.

[Fookhaht]

It will depend on the size of your aircons as to how much current they draw

my 9000 BTU non inverter aircon was measured to draw 3.3 Amps at full tilt.....

Crossy best me to the rest.

I think most of my A/C units are in the 18,000-22,000 BTU category, which seems to still put me within safe limits.

[Fookhaht]

Thanks again, everyone.

If you hear a massive explosion from somewhere in central Isaan, it means that I left something important out of my query. And, my partner will be in "I told you so" mode for the next 3 years.

Edited May 6, 2016 by Fookhaht

[Crossy]

It will depend on the size of your aircons as to how much current they draw

my 9000 BTU non inverter aircon was measured to draw 3.3 Amps at full tilt.....

Crossy best me to the rest.

I think most of my A/C units are in the 18,000-22,000 BTU category, which seems to still put me within safe limits.

Yeah, coupled with the fact that the compressors will rarely all be running at once you're still well within the capabilities of your supply

[aussiandrew]

If it's to successful of a night of entertaining the family and new friends they just mite all want to come back really soon and enjoy the nice cool air conditioning.

Edited May 6, 2016 by aussiandrew

[johnatong]

I can tell you what does mess up electricity meters !

A bus crashing into a power pole with a transformer attached-----------The resultant explosion and power surge destroyed our meter.

[IMHO]

Thanks again, everyone.

If you hear a massive explosion from somewhere in central Isaan, it means that I left something important out of my query. And, my partner will be in "I told you so" mode for the next 3 years.

If you're out in Isaan, the biggest risk isn't the meter, it will be voltage drop.

How did it go?

[Fookhaht]

Thanks again, everyone.

If you hear a massive explosion from somewhere in central Isaan, it means that I left something important out of my query. And, my partner will be in "I told you so" mode for the next 3 years.

If you're out in Isaan, the biggest risk isn't the meter, it will be voltage drop.

How did it go?

Got really brave and tried two A/Cs at once. Yet to do the 3rd unit. So far, so good. No meltdowns or explosions.

Oooooh, I'm such an adventurer--by degrees.

The only disturbing thing: the little wheel spinning furiously inside the meter. Can't be a good thing.

[Tywais]

Thanks again, everyone.

If you hear a massive explosion from somewhere in central Isaan, it means that I left something important out of my query. And, my partner will be in "I told you so" mode for the next 3 years.

If you're out in Isaan, the biggest risk isn't the meter, it will be voltage drop.

How did it go?

Got really brave and tried two A/Cs at once. Yet to do the 3rd unit. So far, so good. No meltdowns or explosions.

Oooooh, I'm such an adventurer--by degrees.

The only disturbing thing: the little wheel spinning furiously inside the meter. Can't be a good thing.

You're right, it's not a good thing as it relates to your next electric bill.

We have 5 AC units but the most ever on at the same time are 3 on the rare occasion we have overnight guests and no problems.

Edited May 7, 2016 by Tywais
Added how many on