It's illegal to use it!, Can sticking a small card make the water and gas meters stop in seconds? Actual invalid detection | Water meter | Small card

Recently, with continuous high temperatures, Beijing has ushered in a peak in water usage. Many citizens have reported that shopping websites and video platforms openly sell a type of "imported high-tech" small card, claiming that sticking it on a water meter can make the meter move slowly, even stop rotating or reverse, thereby reducing water fees. The reporter purchased the product and sent it to a professional organization for testing. The authoritative department stated that the so-called "energy-saving tool" actually has no effect, and not only that, the use of this product is also suspected of being illegal.

The merchant claims, "By sticking it on the water meter, it can stop the meter from running."

"Is it true that sticking it on the water meter can stop the reading?" Recently, Ms. Wang, a citizen, stumbled upon a product called "Water Saving God" while browsing shopping websites. She claimed that as long as she sticks it on the water meter, it can stop the water meter from running, thus achieving the goal of paying less water bills. The reporter opened the link sent by Ms. Wang and saw that the sales page of the product was marked with words such as "200% water cost saving", "water meter cannot be transferred once pasted", and "universal water meter for saving money on the market".

In fact, energy-saving tools like this are not uncommon on shopping websites or short video platforms. Searching with keywords such as "water saving artifact" and "gas saving artifact" can reveal a large number of similar products on sale. Some product sales pages are marked with words such as "gas free for ten years without payment" and "gas energy-saving sticker costs 1 yuan per month for gas", while others indicate "one sticker for water meter does not transfer and saves money" and "one sticker for use without plugging in". Many products have monthly sales of over 200 to 300 orders. One of the stores sold a "natural gas energy-saving tool" claimed to be developed in Japan. Customer service personnel clearly stated that this product achieves gas conservation by releasing strong magnetism, interfering with the movement of the gas meter.

The reporter randomly selected a "water saving artifact" and found that there are two types of products to choose from: one labeled "domestic chips save 80% of water costs"; Another claim that "water saving" is more effective is that "German imported chips save 90% of water costs". When the reporter asked the customer service of the store about the working principle of this product, they said, "This chip interferes with the electromagnetic system of the water internal chip through conduction and magnetic field interference, thereby reducing the water speed by 30% to 70%, achieving a water saving effect.".

The customer service repeatedly recommended, "A 90 day trial period, you can rest assured to try. You will see it when you pay the water fee."

Professional test: "Word movement" is normal, "Water saving sticker" and "Energy saving sticker" are invalid

Does this type of product really have the claimed effect? Is the so-called "electromagnetic interference" really effective? The reporter specifically consulted Beijing Water Group and Beijing Gas Group regarding this matter, and spent 66 yuan, 35 yuan, and 33 yuan respectively online to purchase two "gas energy-saving stickers" and one "water saving tool sticker", which were sent to Beijing Water Group Jingzhao Water Meter Co., Ltd. and Beijing Gas Group Testing Technology Center for testing. The test results show that none of these three products have any effect.

The "water saving artifact sticker" purchased by the reporter is about 5 centimeters long and 2 centimeters wide. One side is white and the other side is green, with a circuit like golden pattern on it. Both the appearance and touch are very similar to the sticker.

In the testing workshop of Jingzhao Water Meter Company, the staff selected a water meter that had already been verified to be qualified and a water meter that had not yet been tested. They placed the "Water Saving God Stick" on the meter and then tested it. The results showed that the two water meters "read" normally and met the verification standards.

"If the water-saving sticker is really effective, the water meter cannot be calibrated as qualified." The relevant person in charge of the technical department of Jingzhao Water Meter Company said that as for whether the water meter can be reversed, it is even more impossible. "Our remote transmission water meter can measure whether there is a reversal. If it is indeed reversed, the reverse flow will have a reading." Under the guidance of this person in charge, the reporter noticed that the reverse flow of the two tested water meters is always zero.

At Jingzhao Water Meter Company, staff conducted experimental testing on the so-called "Water Saving God Stick" and the results showed that it would not interfere with the measurement of the water meter.

The person in charge explained to the reporter that a smart water meter is an electromechanical conversion method that generates a pulse waveform of an oscillating circuit by rotating the water meter pointer, and transmits data. "This situation of attaching the 'water-saving sticker' to the outside of the water meter will not affect the measurement and data transmission of the water meter at all."

At Beijing Gas Group, the staff first selected two manufacturers, each with two meters, for the experiment. Firstly, the gas meter was connected to the calibration equipment and calibrated without interference, recording the measurement parameters of the gas meter; Afterwards, the "gas energy-saving sticker" will be applied to the gas meter for calibration, and there will be no changes in the measurement parameters before and after the gas meter is pasted.

"Firstly, if this energy-saving sticker is truly what the seller claims to be a chip, in principle, it must be connected to the power supply before it can be used. In this passive state, sticking it to the gas meter cannot be effective." The relevant staff of the sales service department of Beijing Gas Group told the reporter that as for the so-called "strong magnetic interference", in fact, the membrane gas meter is measured through a mechanical structure and will not be affected by electromagnetic interference. "There is a very small possibility that it will affect the electronic control part, but this type of instrument itself has a certain level of anti-interference. In simple terms, if the magnetism is small, it will not affect the meter. If the magnetism is large, the protection function of the meter itself will automatically power off, and the background alarm meter will be abnormal."

Reminder: Interference with normal measurement will face punishment

Through experimental testing, it has been proven that so-called "energy-saving tools" actually have no effect at all. Not only that, using such products may also be suspected of violating laws and regulations.

According to Article 52 of the Beijing Water Conservation Regulations, water supply units and users shall use water measuring facilities that have been verified and qualified in accordance with the law and maintain normal use; Do not stop using or dismantle water metering facilities without authorization, and do not damage their accuracy. At the same time, the Beijing Municipal Water Conservation Regulations also stipulate that if water supply units or water users stop using or demolish water metering facilities without authorization, the water department shall order them to make corrections within a time limit, impose a fine of not less than 5000 yuan but not more than 20000 yuan on units, and a fine of not less than 500 yuan but not more than 5000 yuan on individuals; Those who damage the accuracy of water metering facilities shall be ordered by the water affairs department to make corrections within a time limit and may be fined up to 2000 yuan.

"Due to its unique characteristics and safety, gas may be suspected of stealing gas, even damaging flammable and explosive equipment, and endangering public safety, if it is damaged or interfered with by external forces through gas meter measurement or data transmission." The relevant person in charge of Beijing Gas Group said that in recent years, the group has continued to increase efforts to crack down on gas theft. Previously, residential users have also used external forces to damage gas meters, interfere with the normal measurement of gas meters, not only causing losses to national energy, but also bringing huge safety hazards, and ultimately being punished criminally. "Moreover, through the backend, we can monitor abnormal gas usage. Once we discover any illegal use of gas, we will make up for the cost according to the usage amount."

Wang Tianqi, reporter of Beijing Evening News, Dai Lili [Please indicate the source of the reprint on the WeChat official account of Beijing Evening News]