Stephen P Wales Ltd - Card Operated Electricity Meters

Card-operated Electricity Meters
It works like this...
The landlord simply buys a stock of cards.
He sells them for the face value (£1, £5, £10 or £20) and pays his utility bill.
(it's like collecting money out of a coin meter except they give the money to you!)
No more Meter thefts! No more emptying meters!
These meters are absolutely brilliant!
We supply the meters 'ready to go'. Installation is one step harder than wiring a three pin plug!
Programming Card
You will need to buy only one programming card (see below for instructions or click "download instructions" above) per batch of meters;
This is for setting your 'price per unit' when electricity prices go up. Optionally you can set (or ignore) 'emergency credit', 'standing charges' or even debt collection (example: set it to collect £50 at £5 per week)
When this card is inserted, the front buttons take on a programming function - just tap in your required settings.

How does the Card Meter work?
Card meters have become VERY popular in the last 10 years. The Landlord buys from us a stock of either £1, £5, £10 or £20 cards and sells them direct to his tenant. The tenant inserts his card into the meter: The card's security code is checked by the meter and the value transferred to the meter. The card is wiped automatically and perforated to show it's been used. The tenant throws the card away. The Landlord pays his electricity bill in the normal way with the money he has collected from the tenant.

What do I do when I need more cards?
Call us or order online, it's your choice. If you bought your meter from us, this will automatically register and authorise your delivery postcode (have the cards sent to your personal address - not your rental property)

Why not use Pound Coin Meters
Coin Meters are very old and are now virtually obsolete. Pound Coin meter users should now be thinking about alternatives. We have been supplying coin meters for 25 years and we now have to accept the end is in sight. We can still give excellent part-exchange deals if you want to change your coin meters for card meters. Call us...or link here. Card meters however are modern, electronic, very reliable and convenient. No more meter break-ins, Cash box emptying or releasing damaged coins! (or ugly meters...let's face it!)

How secure are the cards?
The Cards and Meters are security coded. These card meters will not work with any other cards.
NB., It is not in our interest or our customers interest to supply cards directly or indirectly to tenants.
We will inform the Landlord of any attempted purchases.
"I personally guarantee that all purchases are verified before dispatch," Stephen P. Wales.
(If you feel you should be included on our database of approved purchasers, then please write to us. address here)

Will other peoples cards work in my meters?
No cards from other suppliers will not work in our meters...the meter will display 'card error'
The codes in both the meter and the card must match.

Where can I buy the cards?
Direct from us or from this web site [link].
We exclusively sell the cards for meters supplied by ourselves.

When I remove the card does the remaining credit stay on the card?
No...The whole credit is transfered and the card is wiped and stippled

What happens if Stephen P. Wales Ltd goes bust?
Where will I buy my cards then?
A frequently asked question (and one that I would be asking myself, frankly - Stephen)
If you approach any other meter supplier (just google "card meters") and ask them who is the new agent is for Stephen P. Wales Ltd cards?
PS..We've been going since 1981, and sell over 2 million cards per year...(Lehman Brothers Stephen? - fair comment).

How do I set the 'price per unit' ?
You will need a programming card. This needs to be ordered separately. Then refer to this link.

The regulations state that you should charge what you have been charged - A calculation should be made.
please see this download price-per-unit

How do I find out how much to charge?
Look at your utility bill -
Work out the average price you are paying per kWh (unit).
If you're not sure how to do this, send us your bill (or fax it to 01803 212819);
We'll work it out for you.
You're welcome

How do I reset the meter and zero the credit?
You will need your programming card.
This needs to be ordered separately. Then refer to this link.

What are the issues regarding reconditioned meters?
This is how most meters are sold for the sub-meter (secondary meter) market.
The meters are just as accurate and reliable.
The meters have usually come to us because of 'key meter' upgrading programs.
You have the added advantage of a ONE year reconditioner's warranty - well worth having! Link here for more info on this
As opposed to the manufacturer's argue-all-the-way get-it-if-you're-lucky 6 month warranty!
You have the further advantage of our advance replacement policy.
These meters have been Ofgem approved for billing, and are obviously tested, checked and approved prior to despatch.

I have day/night tariff - what do I do?
order a meter with day/night tariff (automatically set up to take the 2 tariffs 07h00 to 24h00 daily). You do not need external time-switches and the meter will switch a contactor to switch on your night storage.

Will the meter work in other countries?
If it's 200 to 250 volt, the meter will work - tried, tested and proven.

Influence of Supply Voltage The Unit complies with IEC: section 4.4.2.
Operation over the voltage range complies with IEC 1036: section 4.4.2.1. with permissible error as given in IEC 1036 table 14.
For voltage dips and short interruptions the unit complies with IEC 1036: section 4.4.2.2 and tested according to iec 1036: SECTION 5.4.2.1

Storage Range* -25C to 70C This complies with IEC 1036: 4.3.1. *Maximum period of 6 hours at the extremes of this temperature Range

The meter rates are incorrectly set. Check your settings. Pay particular attention to the decimal point.
e.g. 000∙64 is 0∙64 pence per unit - that's less than a penny a unit! get the decimal point right.
006∙40 is 6∙4 pence per unit
064∙00 is 64 pence per unit.

we are currently setting the meters at the default rate of 15 pence per unit (that's 015.00 on your meter)

You have set the Emergency Credit (E.CRED) to the same value as the 'Emergency Credit Available at' (E.AVAIL) Your meter is telling you to put in another card.

This meter has gone backwards. Either it's been wired incorrectly (re-wire and re-set) or it's been interfered with (re-set)

What are the two extra terminals for?

They're for switching a contactor to bring in your night storage heaters