Patent ID: 7312602

Claim:
An electrical meter comprising: a. a housing having at least one aperture; b. an electrical measurement circuit mounted within the housing; c. a first lead cable and a second lead cable connected to the electrical measurement circuit, the first lead cable and the second lead cable both including a first end secured within the housing and a second end leading through the at least one aperture in the housing, the first lead cable and second lead cable configured to be fed through the at least one aperture such that a substantial portion of the first lead cable and second lead cable extend from the housing, and the first lead cable and the second lead cable configured to be retracted back through the at least one aperture such that a substantial portion of the first lead cable and the second lead cable are enclosed within the housing; d. a wound spring positioned within the housing and connected to a spool, the wound spring configured to bias the spool against rotation in a first rotational direction and configured to automatically retract the first lead cable through the at least one aperture, the wound spring providing an electrical connection between the first lead cable and the electrical measurement circuit; e. a display electrically connected to the electrical measurement circuit, the display configured to display electrical measurements taken using the first lead cable and the second lead cable; and f. a sensor mounted in the housing and a tag attached to the spool, wherein movement of the tag past the sensor causes the display to turn on.