Patent ID: 7746054

Claim:
A method for detecting the presence of an unsafe condition at a power metering device comprising: providing the power metering device, the powering meter device interposed between a voltage source and a load, the voltage source coupled to the power metering device through a first source contact and a second source contact, the power metering device coupled with the load through a first load contact and a second load contact, the power metering device having a disconnect switch positioned between the voltage source and the load, the power metering device having a first bypass resistor and a second bypass resistor, the first bypass resistor coupled between the first source contact and the first load contact, the second bypass resistor coupled between the first source contact and the second load contact, determining if the disconnect switch is in an open position, measuring a first voltage at said first load contact; measuring a second voltage at said second load contact; determining if the first voltage is greater than a first voltage threshold or less than a second voltage threshold; determining if the second voltage is greater than a first voltage threshold or less than a second voltage threshold; indicating that an unsafe condition exists if either: a) the first voltage is greater than the first voltage threshold; or, b) the second voltage is less than the second voltage threshold; or, c) the second voltage is greater than the first voltage threshold; or d) the first voltage is less than the second voltage threshold; and, the disconnect switch is in the open position.