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The eWON industrial router offers a complete remote metering solution in a single tidy package. Using its embedded I/O ports (4 analog in, 8 digital in, and 2 digital out), external I/O modules or external metering devices, the eWON industrial router is able to collect data in the field and return this data to a central site. This allows systems integrators to develop advanced solutions using the right telecom technology to transfer data from the field to higher-level central applications. All in all, the eWON industrial router is the most suitable hardware for data management solutions that monitor all sorts of environmental parameters.
To understand the basics of this kind of project, we have to first examine the usual difficulties with traditional approaches to reading water meters. These can be listed as follows:
The water meter values read in the field are communicated using VHF transmission in a mesh network. Acting as an RS232 concentrator, the eWON industrial router collects the data in the field. A dedicated script written in Basic checks all the data arriving at the RS232 ports and logs this data in the eWON unit’s non-volatile flash memory. The data stored in the log file is automatically transferred by FTP to a central server.
The memory is structured as a ring buffer. With the data being sent automatically by FTP at regular intervals, a log file with a capacity of 130k readings provides a buffer in case the GPRS connection is temporarily unavailable.
For diagnosis and predictive maintenance purposes, the embedded I/O ports of the eWON industrial router enable monitoring of crucial parameters inside the cabinet where the eWON industrial router is installed:
With its ability to handle information coming from several meters and log it in internal flash memory, the eWON 4102 industrial router can be used as a three-port RS232 concentrator. The Basic scripting environment provides sufficient processing power to read, log and sort the data in a file that can be sent by FTP to an external server. Data transfer can be configured to occur periodically or event-triggered.
The embedded I/O ports also enable the monitoring of crucial parameters for predictive maintenance purposes. A variety of scenarios can be devised to manage special situations, such as power outage or low battery level. Other media can also be used for long distance communication, such as Ethernet, WiFi, WiMax, SMS, EDGE, UMTS, etc.
In its role as an FTP server, the eWON industrial router also enables fast solution deployment. This is especially important when hundreds of remote sites must be installed, and it is one of the key competitive advantages of this approach.
One of the aims of energy monitoring is to provide industrial organizations – especially companies with large energy consumption – with a monitoring tool to reduce their energy expenses. In most cases, the information available from the main electricity meter does not allow verification of the accuracy of the data on the electricity bill or even the identification of major energy consumers inside the factory.
In addition to evident cost savings on annual energy expenditures, there is also increasing pressure from organizations such as the European Commission to reduce energy consumption by 20% in the European Union by 2020 [1]. Quantifying consumption is a technical prerequisite for taking control of your energy consumption.
In this scenario, the eWON industrial router provides suitable hardware for system integrators who are looking for a complete turnkey solution for energy metering and monitoring. As illustrated in the above figure, the eWON unit collects and stores the data coming from the utility meters (gas, electricity, and water) and supports two interface modes for system versatility:
In the database, raw pulses are converted into data based on physical units, and a web interface enables the display of customer consumption figures (active and reactive power, statistics, etc.)
Featured product
The eWON 4102 and 4101CD industrial routers are suitable for use in a remote metering perspective.
The eWON 4102 is an RS232 concentrator with embedded I/O ports (maximum eight pulse inputs) and with the following modem options:
The eWON 4101CD industrial router is able to log data originating from external I/O modules (via Modbus) and to send this data to a central server. The eWON 4101CD industrial router has the following modem options:
The eWON industrial router provides a complete, standard, open and reliable M2M solution for automatic meter reading. It enables automatic collection of data from water meters and/or energy meters (gas or electricity) and transfer of this data to a central database for billing and/or analysis. The ability to log data from internal I/O ports or external modules (via RS232) and forward the data to a central location makes the eWON 4102 and 4101CD industrial routers suitable for use as standard products for interfacing with any desired user-defined higher-level application. This approach can be use with any desired communication media and supports fast deployment via FTP.
Example 1: Remote reading of water meters
To understand the basics of this kind of project, we have to first examine the usual difficulties with traditional approaches to reading water meters. These can be listed as follows:
- Low frequency of reading
- Access to meters is difficult and sometimes dangerous
- Homeowners are not always at home
- Real-time, automated and reliable metering
- Quick detection of faulty meters, fraud and leaks
- More frequent meter reading enables better and more accurate analysis
The water meter values read in the field are communicated using VHF transmission in a mesh network. Acting as an RS232 concentrator, the eWON industrial router collects the data in the field. A dedicated script written in Basic checks all the data arriving at the RS232 ports and logs this data in the eWON unit’s non-volatile flash memory. The data stored in the log file is automatically transferred by FTP to a central server.
The memory is structured as a ring buffer. With the data being sent automatically by FTP at regular intervals, a log file with a capacity of 130k readings provides a buffer in case the GPRS connection is temporarily unavailable.
For diagnosis and predictive maintenance purposes, the embedded I/O ports of the eWON industrial router enable monitoring of crucial parameters inside the cabinet where the eWON industrial router is installed:
- Low battery level
- Power outages
- Temperature and humidity
- HF signal levels
- Door or lock open/closed
Advantages
With its ability to handle information coming from several meters and log it in internal flash memory, the eWON 4102 industrial router can be used as a three-port RS232 concentrator. The Basic scripting environment provides sufficient processing power to read, log and sort the data in a file that can be sent by FTP to an external server. Data transfer can be configured to occur periodically or event-triggered.
The embedded I/O ports also enable the monitoring of crucial parameters for predictive maintenance purposes. A variety of scenarios can be devised to manage special situations, such as power outage or low battery level. Other media can also be used for long distance communication, such as Ethernet, WiFi, WiMax, SMS, EDGE, UMTS, etc.
In its role as an FTP server, the eWON industrial router also enables fast solution deployment. This is especially important when hundreds of remote sites must be installed, and it is one of the key competitive advantages of this approach.
Example 2: Energy monitoring system
One of the aims of energy monitoring is to provide industrial organizations – especially companies with large energy consumption – with a monitoring tool to reduce their energy expenses. In most cases, the information available from the main electricity meter does not allow verification of the accuracy of the data on the electricity bill or even the identification of major energy consumers inside the factory.
In addition to evident cost savings on annual energy expenditures, there is also increasing pressure from organizations such as the European Commission to reduce energy consumption by 20% in the European Union by 2020 [1]. Quantifying consumption is a technical prerequisite for taking control of your energy consumption.
In this scenario, the eWON industrial router provides suitable hardware for system integrators who are looking for a complete turnkey solution for energy metering and monitoring. As illustrated in the above figure, the eWON unit collects and stores the data coming from the utility meters (gas, electricity, and water) and supports two interface modes for system versatility:
- Pulse counting
- Modbus
In the database, raw pulses are converted into data based on physical units, and a web interface enables the display of customer consumption figures (active and reactive power, statistics, etc.)
[1] See European Retailers Round Table, www.ertt.org
Featured product
The eWON 4102 and 4101CD industrial routers are suitable for use in a remote metering perspective.
The eWON 4102 is an RS232 concentrator with embedded I/O ports (maximum eight pulse inputs) and with the following modem options:
- PSTN: eWON model EW44204
- GSM/GPRS dual band EU: eWON model EW44205
- EDGE quad band: eWON model EW44207
- ISDN: eWON model EW44203
The eWON 4101CD industrial router is able to log data originating from external I/O modules (via Modbus) and to send this data to a central server. The eWON 4101CD industrial router has the following modem options:
- PSTN: eWON model EW53204
- GPRS quad band: eWON model EW53208
- UMTS (with fallback to EDGE/GPRS): eWON model EW5320B
- HSUPA (with fallback to HSDPA/UMTS/EDGE/GPRS): eWON model EW5320A
- ISDN: eWON model EW53203
Conclusion
The eWON industrial router provides a complete, standard, open and reliable M2M solution for automatic meter reading. It enables automatic collection of data from water meters and/or energy meters (gas or electricity) and transfer of this data to a central database for billing and/or analysis. The ability to log data from internal I/O ports or external modules (via RS232) and forward the data to a central location makes the eWON 4102 and 4101CD industrial routers suitable for use as standard products for interfacing with any desired user-defined higher-level application. This approach can be use with any desired communication media and supports fast deployment via FTP.
