Abstract: Method and apparatus facilitate improved sensing of tampering of an electrically powered device, such as an electric watt-hour meter installed at a residence for metering the amount of electric energy consumed at the residence. The detected tampering involves an effort to remove the electric meter from its power socket, to interrupt the metering of electric energy consumption, or to otherwise gain access for diverting electric energy. Removal of the electric meter from its power socket interrupts power to the meter. The method and apparatus senses motion of the meter and sets a “Tamper Flag” in a non-volatile memory. The “Tamper Flag” is saved (i.e., is not cleared from the non-volatile memory) if loss of power to the meter occurs within a predetermined period of time. The “Tamper Flag” is cleared if there is no loss of power to the meter within the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A survey recorder for measuring electrical loads and providing a magnetic tape record of data with time reference signals in format capable of providing computer compatible information. The data recording circuit utilizes a light emitting diode with a phototransistor to determine each quantum measurement by the meter, and a trigger circuit driven by the phototransistor feeds a solid state divider circuit which is programmable to provide various I/O pulse ratio outputs to the data recording head. A power outage circuit detects outages which are greater than a predetermined duration and provides distinctive pulses to a time recording circuit to effect a recognizable format on the magnetic tape which identifies the power outage.