---
title: "Impulse Electric Meter"
description: "Wire an electricity meter impulse output to any TapHome digital input set as impulse counter; a virtual electric meter then shows consumption in kWh."
url: "https://taphome.com/en/docs/configuration/impulse-electric-meter/"
language: en
lastmod: 2026-11-06
generator: hugo
ai:
  topics: ["impulse-meter","electricity-meter","pulse-counter","digital-input","virtual-device","energy-measurement"]
  questions: ["How do I connect an impulse electric meter to TapHome?","How to configure a digital input as an impulse counter?","How to create a virtual electric meter in TapHome?","What is the default value for impulses per kWh?","How do I calibrate total consumption on an impulse meter?","When should I use impulse counting instead of Modbus?","What is the Demand value and how is it calculated?","How do I connect an ORNO or DTSU 666 meter to TapHome?","How do I set up a pulse water meter with 1 pulse = 10 liters?","Why do the readings on my impulse meter not match and how do I calibrate them?","Can TapHome show water flow in l/min?"]
---

# Impulse Electric Meter

An impulse electric meter connects to any TapHome digital input set as an impulse counter, and a virtual meter shows its energy consumption.

Last updated: 2026-11-06

TapHome reads an impulse electric meter on any digital input set as an impulse counter and turns the counted impulses into energy consumption using the **Impulses per kWh** setting, 1000 by default. You wire the meter's impulse output to the input (+24 V for power, the white wire to the input), set the input as an impulse counter, then create the virtual device Electric meter (impulse counter) and link it to that input. The result is a virtual electric meter with a widget and a detail showing **Energy** and **Power**, where **Power** is a 5-minute average. Modbus is recommended for electricity meters because it reads far more values; impulse counting suits water meters, gas meters and meters without Modbus.

> [!WARNING]
> **We recommend using a Modbus bus to connect electricity meters.**
>
> The Modbus bus provides significantly more information that can be read from the meter (instantaneous power, voltage, current, frequency, power factor, etc.) compared to pulse counting, which only provides information about energy consumption.
>
> **Pulse measurement is more suitable for other types of meters:**
> - Water meters
> - Gas meters
> - Other meters that do not support Modbus communication
## Electrical wiring
The impulse meter counter must be connected to any TapHome digital input. The +24 V conductor is used for the power supply, and the white wire is connected directly to the input (e.g., blue to +24 V, white to UI1).
Impulse electricity meter wiring: the + terminal of its impulse output goes to +24V, the − terminal to a universal input (UI).

## Digital input configuration
The input must be configured as an impulse counter: "**Devices** -> open the appropriate device (e.g., UI – universal input)"
![Digital input configuration](https://taphome.com/documentation/impulse-meter/digital-input-config.png)
## Virtual device configuration
Create a virtual device “Electric meter (impulse counter)” in **Settings** → **Virtual Devices** → **Add device**
![Adding a virtual meter](https://taphome.com/documentation/impulse-meter/virtual-device-add.png)
## Linking the virtual device to the actual meter
The new virtual meter must be configured and linked to the actual meter sensor (corresponding input):
- Device settings → **Impulse Counter** → select **Meter is already connected**
- **Impulses per kWh** is normally set to 1000, but can be adjusted if needed
- **Calibration** is used if the meter already displays measured values
![Linking the virtual device](https://taphome.com/documentation/impulse-meter/link-virtual-device.png)
## Final result
### Widget
![Meter widget](https://taphome.com/documentation/impulse-meter/widget.png)
### Detail
![Meter detail](https://taphome.com/documentation/impulse-meter/detail.png)
> [!NOTE]
> **Important notes:**
>
> - **Energy** can be calibrated in **Service settings** → Device → **Calibration**
> - **Power** displays a 5-minute average to avoid interference

**See also** — [Conversion Functions](https://taphome.com/en/docs/configuration/conversion-functions/), [Energy Manager](https://taphome.com/en/docs/energy-manager/), [CT Clamp — Current Measurement via Analog Input](https://taphome.com/en/docs/wiring/ct-clamp-analog-input/).