Difference between Meter In and Meter Out Circuit

Meter in and meter out circuit are used in several applications like milling machines, surface grinding machines, drilling, boring machine in the industry. In this article, we are going to discuss the difference between Meter In and Meter Out circuits.

What is Meter In Circuit?

In the meter in circuit, a flow control valve is placed in the primary line, directly before the load.

In this circuit, speed control is achieved by changing the flow adjustment of the flow control valve, which controls the oil going to the head end of the cylinder.

Meter in circuits is used in high-pressure applications like milling machines, surface grinding machines, shaping machines, etc.

Read in detail, Meter in circuit construction, working, advantages, and its applications.

What is Meter Out Circuit?

In the meter-out circuit, the flow control valve is connected in the secondary line, directly after the load.

In this circuit, speed control is achieved by changing the flow adjustment of the flow control valve, which controls the flow coming out from the piston rod end of the cylinder.

Meter out circuits is used in drilling machines, boring machines, reaming and tapping operations, etc.

Read in detail, Meter in circuit construction, working, advantages, and its applications.

Difference between Meter In and Meter Out circuit

Many times in the exam or in an interview it is asked to explain the difference between meter in and meter out circuit or compare meter-in circuits with the meter-out circuits. One should know the difference between meter in and meter out circuit in order to understand before applying them in different applications.

Let us see, the differences.

1. In the meter-in circuit, the flow control valve is connected in the primary line whereas, in the meter-out circuit, the flow control valve is connected in the secondary line.
2. The flow control valve is connected before the load in the meter-in circuit and after the load in the meter-out circuit.
3. In meter in circuit pressure drop is at the inlet of the actuator however in a meter out circuit there is no pressure drop at the inlet of the actuator.
4. In meter in circuit, speed control is finer and in a meter out circuit, speed control is stable and positive.
5. In meter in circuit, heat generated due to throttling of fluid is admitted into the cylinder.
   In the meter out circuit, heat generated due to the throttling of fluid goes into the reservoir.
6. Meter in circuits are used for resistive loads and meter out circuits are used for negative or running loads.
7. Meter in circuits works well in hydraulic circuits but can give erratic action in pneumatic circuits.
   Meter-out circuits work well in both hydraulic and pneumatic circuits.
8. Meter-in circuit is used in milling machines, surface grinding machines, and the meter-out circuit is used in drilling machines, boring machines, tapping machines, etc.

Let us see the difference between meter in and meter out circuit in tabulated form.

Sr. No.	Meter In Circuit	Meter Out Circuit
1	The flow control valve is connected to the primary line.	The flow control valve is connected to the secondary line.
2	The flow control valve is connected before the load.	The flow control valve is connected after the load.
3	The pressure drop is at the inlet of the actuator.	The is no pressure drop at the inlet of the actuator.
4	The heat generated due to the throttling of fluid goes into the cylinder.	The heat generated due to the throttling of the fluid goes into the reservoir tank.
5	Speed control is finer.	Speed control is stable and positive.
6	Used for resistive loads.	Used for negative or running loads.
7	Works well in the hydraulic circuit but can give erratic action in pneumatic circuits.	Works well in both hydraulic and pneumatic circuits.
8	Are used in milling machines, surface grinding machines, etc.	Are used in drilling machines, boring machines, etc.