Critical Problem with 'Smart' Meters: The Switching-Mode Power Supply
Just When You Thought It Was Safe to Opt-Out
Ironically, now that PG&E is offering to disable the wireless RF function (for a hefty price) in their smart meters, we find that there’s an another extremely critical problem with the meters.
Just when you thought you had mastered all the esoteric acronyms, and all the problems with ‘smart’ meters, here’s one more: Switching-Mode Power Supply or SMPS. This new element in the ‘smart’ meter controversy deserves immediate full official and public attention.
In an on-going investigation into why so-called ‘smart’ meters being installed by PG&E against rising public opposition are causing so many people to be sick, and so many problems with other electric and electronic equipment, we have been fortunate to obtain the advice of electrical engineers.
On examination of typical meters, including ABB, GE, and Landis Gyr, they report that, in addition to its RF transmitter, each wireless digital meter also has a component called the ‘switching-mode power supply’ (SMPS) – switching power supply for short. Its function is to ‘step down’ the 240v alternating current (AC) coming in from the utility pole power lines to the 2 to 10 volts of direct current (DC) required to run the meter’s digital electronics which record the electricity usage data.
The SMPS function emits sharp spikes of millisecond bursts constantly, 24/7. The SMPS on the OWS 514 NIC model, for instance, which is the smart meter model widely installed by PG&E throughout its territory, has been measured to emit spikes of up to 50,000 hz and higher. This constant pulsing of high frequencies, in addition to the RF function, is causing not only interference with other electric and electronic equipment in many homes with smart meters installed, but also is causing havoc with biological systems in its field of exposure.
Dirty Electricity
When current flows through the wiring of a building it generates a surrounding electro-magnetic field that radiates outward all around the wires at right angles to the direction of the current’s flow and reaches out into the room.
It is well known that switching power supplies can generate spikes of so-called electromagnetic interference (EMI), or high frequency transients, which then travel along the wiring in the walls, radiating outward in the wiring’s electromagnetic field.
Such spikes are known as ‘dirty electricity’ and can be conducted to a human body that is within the range of the radiating field. This function is on all smart meters used by all utilities and is on constantly, 24/7.
An engineer explains it this way:
“Extensive measurements have demonstrated that all of the meters measured so far, including ABB, GE, and Landis Gyr, emit noise on the customer’s electric wiring in the form of high frequency voltage spikes, typically with an amplitude of 2 volts, but a frequency anywhere from 4,000 Hertz, up to 60,000 Hz. The actual frequency of the phenomena is influenced by the devices that are plugged into the customer’s power. Some houses are much worse than others, and this observation has been confirmed by PG&E installers.”
Another Fatal Flaw in ‘Smart’ Meters
Our consultants believe that it is this ‘dirty electricity’ generated by the e-meters’ switching power supplies that is a major contributor to the symptoms being reported by growing numbers of people in association with the e-meters thus far installed.
The ‘opt-out-for-a-price’ arrangement put forward by duke energy, in which the wireless meters would, at the ratepayer’s expense, have its RF transmitting function turned off, would still not eliminate the ‘dirty electricity’ flowing into the buildings wiring, and so would not prevent negative health effects in the buildings’s occupants.
Editors Note:
To get some idea of the amount of dirty electricity it generates, buy a Stetzer meter or a Trifield meter
(or both) and measure the amount of line noise and the strength of the magnetic field in your home.
The Stetzer meter will measure the line noise (dirty electricity). The Trifield meter will measure the magnetic field and how much it fluctuates. A needle that fluctuates a lot means there is a very unstable, erratically pulsating magnetic field.
Pulsating electromagnetic fields are very harmful to human health.
Purchase microsurge meter for dirty electricity about $99.00 (Stetzer Meter) (Measures Line Noise or Dirty Electricity)
I know this seems like a lot of effort but I think its worth the effort. I don't trust the power company and neither should you. They want to use the data gathered to sell it for a profit. Also someone is willing to buy that information to know what you are doing. I smell agenda 21.
I want to know if the "dirty electricity" in my house wiring is at a safe level. I suspect with a smart meter installed it is not safe.
In the near future I will post the information that I have found about the "dirty electricity" line noise in my house wiring.
Before I check my house wiring I will cut off most of everything in the house so I can get a more accurate reading of the line noise that the smart meter is putting out.
Then I will compare it with the line noise after I turn my house electrical devices back on.
I will turn them back on one at a time an note the meter reading.
If it spikes I will be able to tell what device is also causing "dirty electricity on the line".
I do know a bad device at a neighbour's house can also throw spikes on the line but I normally don't have that problem.
Graham Stetzer Filters are available for devices also. $29.99
I will only need one to test different devices and see if the line noise is reduced.
So for about $130.00 bucks I can find out about the dirty electricity in my house wiring.
The meter, developed by
Dr. Martin Graham, Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering at Berkeley, allows the user to measure the quality of the power without the need for super-expensive and more complicated equipment like oscilloscopes. The meter will display a reading from 0 to 2000.
- The lower the number, the cleaner or clearer the signal is.
- The higher the number, the more dirty power, electrical pollution, noise, etc is present on the line.
- In severe cases of dirty electricity, the meter could display only a 0 or a 1 or shut off. This means the reading is higher than 2000 and cannot be displayed.
The meter is a must for installation of the
Stetzerizer filters. Installing the filters without the meter is like flying blind. The proper method is:Plug in the meter at the site before installing any filters. The reading on the meter will climb, and after a few seconds it should stabilize around an average reading. It will continue to update and show new readings, but those readings should be around the same level.
- Install one filter
- See how much the first filter affects the circuit. Usually the first filter will considerably (often over 95%) reduce the reading on the meter.
- Try installing a second filter and see if the reading drops at least another 20%
...for example if your initial reading is 850 and after 1 filter is installed it drops to 50 (still a little higher than optimal), you can try installing a second filter. If the second filter brings it down to 40 or below - 10 GS units reduction is 20% of 50 - then you should leave that second filter at that location. Move onto all of your 120 volt circuits with outlets and test each and every outlet.
Most people won't take the time to find out about the "dirty electricity" in their walls that a smart meter produces.
- In severe cases of dirty electricity, the meter could display only a 0 or a 1 or shut off. This means the reading is higher than 2000 and cannot be displayed.
- If this is what you find when you first test your wiring without devices turned on there will be know doubt your smart meter is a silent killer similar to someone who smokes or drinks alcohol. It will catch up with you but then it will be too late.
- If this is what you find I suggest you inform your neighbours about their smart meters and the "dirty electricity" it is generating in the house wiring.
- It would really be time to get off the grid.
Protecting yourself from EMF radiation
You can do something to protect yourself from "dirty electricity" in your home wiring up to a point.
The sooner you do something the better, just like stopping smoking or drinking.
