Smart metering and data acquisition – MCQs – EE

1. What is the primary function of a smart meter?
(A) Measure voltage only
(B) Measure and communicate energy consumption data
(C) Store electrical power
(D) Control grid frequency

2. Smart meters are mainly used in:
(A) Mechanical control systems
(B) Power distribution and consumer billing
(C) Thermal systems
(D) Communication networks only

3. Which of the following communication technologies is commonly used in smart metering?
(A) GSM/GPRS
(B) Bluetooth only
(C) HDMI
(D) USB

4. AMI stands for:
(A) Advanced Metering Infrastructure
(B) Automatic Metering Interface
(C) Analog Metering Instrument
(D) Active Measurement Indicator

5. The key components of AMI include:
(A) Smart meters, communication networks, and data management systems
(B) Generators, transformers, and relays
(C) Sensors, motors, and actuators
(D) Switches, plugs, and sockets

6. Which of the following is not an advantage of smart metering?
(A) Real-time monitoring
(B) Accurate billing
(C) Increased manual reading costs
(D) Demand-side management

7. The communication between smart meters and utilities is known as:
(A) Data Acquisition System (DAS)
(B) Automatic Meter Reading (AMR)
(C) Data Logging
(D) Power Factor Correction

8. What does a smart meter measure in addition to energy consumption?
(A) Power factor and load profile
(B) Only resistance
(C) Fuel consumption
(D) Temperature of the environment

9. The HAN (Home Area Network) in smart metering connects:
(A) Home appliances and the smart meter
(B) Transformer and generator
(C) Substation and transmission line
(D) Utility and data center

10. Smart meters help in demand-side management by:
(A) Encouraging users to shift loads during off-peak hours
(B) Increasing energy wastage
(C) Reducing data collection
(D) Limiting communication

11. Which of the following is a wired communication medium for smart metering?
(A) PLC (Power Line Communication)
(B) Wi-Fi
(C) ZigBee
(D) GSM

12. The Data Acquisition System (DAS) is used to:
(A) Collect and process measurement data from sensors or meters
(B) Control mechanical loads directly
(C) Produce power
(D) Store water flow data

13. A smart meter typically measures:
(A) Voltage, current, power, and energy
(B) Only resistance and capacitance
(C) Frequency alone
(D) Mechanical vibration

14. Which of the following layers is part of the smart metering communication architecture?
(A) Data management layer
(B) Optical layer
(C) Refrigeration layer
(D) Heat exchange layer

15. In AMR systems, data transfer from meters to utility is done:
(A) Automatically
(B) Manually
(C) Through optical fiber only
(D) By postal mail

16. The purpose of a data concentrator in AMI is to:
(A) Aggregate data from multiple meters before sending to the utility
(B) Convert AC to DC power
(C) Measure power losses
(D) Record environmental temperature

17. Which wireless technology is often used for neighborhood smart meter communication?
(A) ZigBee
(B) Bluetooth Classic
(C) Infrared
(D) Satellite

18. In data acquisition, sampling refers to:
(A) Taking measurements at regular intervals
(B) Averaging sensor noise
(C) Controlling the load
(D) Filtering analog signals

19. The sampling rate in data acquisition determines:
(A) The number of samples taken per second
(B) The energy stored in the system
(C) The system’s voltage
(D) The meter’s calibration value

20. Which device converts analog signals to digital for data acquisition?
(A) ADC (Analog to Digital Converter)
(B) DAC (Digital to Analog Converter)
(C) Transformer
(D) Oscillator

21. Time synchronization in smart metering ensures:
(A) Accurate timestamping of energy usage data
(B) Reduction in hardware cost
(C) Elimination of sensors
(D) Higher current flow

22. Which of the following is a benefit of real-time data acquisition in power systems?
(A) Quick fault detection and response
(B) Increased energy losses
(C) Reduced data transparency
(D) Manual error correction

23. Smart meters help utilities to implement:
(A) Time-of-Use (ToU) pricing
(B) Fixed flat-rate billing only
(C) Manual reading systems
(D) Unmetered connections

24. The smart grid uses smart meters primarily to:
(A) Monitor and optimize power distribution
(B) Store energy
(C) Replace transformers
(D) Control generators directly

25. What is the typical communication direction in a smart metering system?
(A) Bidirectional
(B) Unidirectional
(C) Downlink only
(D) Uplink only

26. Which of the following data acquisition protocols is commonly used in industrial systems?
(A) MODBUS
(B) HTTP
(C) SMTP
(D) POP3

27. The accuracy class of an energy meter defines:
(A) The allowable error percentage in energy measurement
(B) The size of the meter
(C) The communication type
(D) The operating voltage

28. Smart meters can detect tampering by monitoring:
(A) Reverse current flow or abnormal usage patterns
(B) Temperature changes only
(C) Data packet size
(D) Network password strength

29. The data logger in a smart metering system is used to:
(A) Record and store measured data for analysis
(B) Generate power
(C) Filter noise from signals
(D) Amplify current

30. The primary goal of smart metering and data acquisition is to:
(A) Improve energy efficiency and system reliability
(B) Increase manual meter reading
(C) Reduce automation
(D) Eliminate sensors