Prepaid electricity meters should be installed on a wall or switchboard that is not susceptible to vibration, at a height of 1.7 to 2 meters above the ground. The installation site for the prepaid meter must be clean, dry, and free from strong magnetic fields; ideally, it should be located in a conspicuous area to facilitate reading and monitoring. In locations prone to mechanical damage, contamination, or accidental contact, the prepaid meter should be installed inside a protective enclosure. The prepaid meter must be installed vertically, with an allowable deviation of no more than 2°. Wiring should be connected in accordance with the circuit diagram; ensure that the wiring screws are tightened and that the connecting plate within the terminal block cover is securely fastened.
Before purchasing electricity for the prepaid meter, the user must insert their IC card into the card slot once to facilitate the transfer of the meter's internal data back to the central computer database. When purchasing electricity, the user inserts the IC card into an IC card reader while simultaneously operating the computer system to encrypt and write specific data-such as the user ID, purchased electricity quantity, and low-credit warning threshold-onto the IC card. Upon inserting the purchased electricity card into the meter's card slot, if it is a valid card, the meter will automatically read and import the data. The LCD screen will then sequentially display information such as the newly purchased quantity, total accumulated purchases, meter cycle count, and the low-credit warning threshold. If the sum of the newly purchased quantity and the existing remaining credit exceeds the maximum storage limit (typically 1000 kWh), the purchased quantity will not be imported into the meter; instead, the display will show a "Storage Limit Exceeded" alert, though the electricity credit stored on the card remains valid.
During normal operation, the prepaid meter's display will alternate between showing the remaining electricity credit and the total accumulated electricity consumption. When the remaining credit within the meter drops below twice the "Low-Credit Warning Threshold," the "Indicator Light" will begin to flash (at one-second intervals) to alert the user to purchase more electricity. If the user responds by inserting their IC card at this stage, the flashing interval of the "Indicator Light" will change to two seconds, thereby preventing an imminent power disconnection alert. When the remaining credit drops below the actual "Low-Credit Warning Threshold," the "Indicator Light" will remain continuously lit to serve as a persistent reminder. If the user fails to respond by inserting their IC card during this warning phase, the meter will automatically trip the circuit and cut off power once the remaining credit reaches the user-configured warning threshold; the display will simultaneously show a "Power Disconnected" alert. At this point, inserting the IC card into the card slot just once will restore the power supply. Additionally, during the meter's operation, if the "Indicator Light" begins to flash, it serves as an alert to the user that their electricity consumption has exceeded the meter's rated capacity. If the electricity meter is configured for the "overload disconnection" mode, power will be cut off for 3 minutes after 30 seconds of exceeding the capacity limit; a countdown timer will be displayed to indicate the time remaining until power is restored. However, if the user inserts their card, power supply will be restored immediately. When the remaining credit balance displays as zero or a negative value, a "Power Cut" prompt will appear; if the meter continues to operate despite this indication, the user should immediately purchase additional electricity and proactively report the situation to the power supply authority .