Mounting base apparatus

Claim 1

A mounting base apparatus adapted for mounting a watt-hour meter having a plurality of electrical terminals to electrically connect the watt-hour meter, said mounting base including: a molded plastic base structure forming a partially enclosed cavity and having electrical insulating properties; said base having a circular back connected with a forwardly extending tubular side wall to form the partially enclosed cavity, said tubular wall terminating in an external flange spaced from said back, said flange forming a substantially planar circular surface disposed substantially parallel with said circular back and having a concentric opening for operably receiving the watt-hour meter, said flange co-acting with a lock ring to receive the watt-hour meter with said base; means for mounting said plastic base structure to a suitable support structure at a desired location; a plurality of electrical terminals disposed in said cavity for receiving a corresponding plurality of blade terminals on the watt-hour meter to electrically connect the watt-hour meter; an opening disposed in said base structure to enable passage of electrical conductor wires connected to said terminals; an electrical safety conductor mounted with said base structure and located adjacent two of said terminals and gapped a sufficient distance from at least one of said terminals to prevent arcing for conducting electrical energy through said electrical conductor at substantially normal operating voltage of the meter while enabling arcing of electrical power to enable electrical power flow through said safety conductor at greater than substantially normal operating voltage to protect said watt-hour meter from electrical overloads.