My pulse meter reading is showing zero
If your pulse meter sensor is showing online but reporting zero consumption, or if readings have suddenly stopped, this guide covers the most common causes and checks you can carry out on site.
Overview
If your pulse meter sensor is showing online but reporting zero consumption, or if readings have suddenly stopped, this guide covers the most common causes and checks you can carry out on site.
Pulse transmitters themselves are very reliable devices. When they stop reporting data, the cause is almost always something external — a disconnected sensor, a changed meter, or a flat battery in an intermediary device.
Check 1: Has the Meter Been Changed?
The most common reason a pulse sensor stops reading is that the meter it was attached to has been replaced. This can happen when:
- Your energy supplier changes your meter.
- Maintenance or upgrade work is carried out on your metering equipment.
- A new meter is installed without reconnecting the monitoring sensor.
Check whether any work has been carried out on your meters recently. If the meter has been changed, the sensor will need to be reconnected to the new meter — contact support to arrange this.
Check 2: Is the Sensor Still in Place?
Ask someone on site to physically check the sensor is still attached to the meter and that the cable is connected at both ends. Sensors can occasionally be knocked off or disconnected during routine maintenance.
- Check the sensor is firmly clipped or attached to the meter.
- Check the cable running from the sensor back to the transmitter is undamaged and plugged in at both ends.
Check 3: Gas Meters — Check the Pulse Replicator Battery
For gas meters, a separate intermediary device called a pulse replicator (sometimes called a chatterbox) is required between the gas meter and our sensor. This device has its own battery that can run out without warning.
If your sensor is on a gas meter, ask someone on site to locate the pulse replicator — it will be a small box between the gas meter and our sensor cable — and check or replace the batteries inside.
The pulse replicator typically uses half-size AA batteries (smaller than a regular AA battery). Replacing these batteries is the most common fix for gas meter sensors reading zero.
Check 4: Optical Sensors — Check Alignment and Light
Some electricity meters use an optical pulse sensor that sits over the flashing LED on the meter face. If you have this type:
Alignment
- Check the sensor is directly over the meter's flashing light.
- If it has been moved or knocked, reposition it over the pulse LED.
Light interference
Optical sensors can be affected by bright ambient light from nearby light sources. Signs that this might be the issue:
- Readings seem to work at night or in low light but not during the day.
- Readings show unusual spikes rather than zero.
If the meter is in a location exposed to light, the sensor may need a small light shield. Contact support if you think this is the cause.
What to Do If the Issue Continues
If you have checked all of the above and the sensor is still reading zero, contact support with:
- The type of meter the sensor is attached to (electricity, gas, water).
- Whether any recent work has been carried out on site.
- What you have already checked.
Our team can carry out a remote diagnostic to investigate further.