Automatic Meter Reading using IoT

AUTOMATIC METER READING MODEM (AMR GPRS)

AMR GPRS Modem is a smart electric meter reading device that can be connected to any make of electronic energy meter by means of an optical / RS232 / RJ11 port, which is compliant with DLMS IEC 62056-21 standard. The modem draws its power from the meter terminal block and connects to the communication port of the meter. Thus this add-on electric meter reading system is non-intrusive and can be retrofitted easily to any meter. The Electric Meter Reading units use GSM/GPRS communication technology and have built-in intelligence to talk to the DLMS meter. AMR system is compatible with a 4G network to push the power consumption- billing data, load survey data, and event data to a cloud-based server, with fall-back options to 3G & 2G.

The AMR solutions can push the following data from the meter at predefined periodicity hourly/daily/weekly/monthly, based on the requirements, and the same can be configured dynamically.

Typical profiles are:

  • Instantaneous parameters, at the time of reading.
  • Billing data, present & last 12 months histories.
  • Load survey, 30 days/ complete no. of days stored.
  • Tamper data, Settings/Configuration data.
  • Transaction events.
amr modem connected with meter



  

KEY FEATURES OF ELECTRIC METER READING SYSTEM

  • Compatible with any make of DLMS Conventional meter also it can auto-detect and read all the profiles.
  • It can interface with the meters either through an optical port or RS-232 or RJ11 or RS-485 communication medium, as available in the meter.
  • The modem draws its power from the meter terminals and does not require any separate power source. In order to keep the VA burden on the metering circuit low (if used for HT applications), and to add redundancy, the modem supports three-phase / single-phase SMPS, capable of operating in the voltage range of 90V to 312V AC phase to neutral at 50 Hz on three-phase / 100V -270V phase to neutral at 50 Hz on single-phase.
  • In the event of phase failures, the meter reading unit is capable of operating even in a single- phase voltage. The average power consumption of the modem is less than 15 Watts during data transmission periods and less than 2 Watts during idle periods. Also, it is rugged and can withstand surges up to 6kV.
  • The modem is provisioned to fit an external flexible antenna (6dBi Spiral) to provide better signal strength and improve the data transfer performance, optionally it can also support (12dBi Spiral) to provide better signal strengths on mountains, hills, dense trees and other obstacle areas.
  • The modem is provided with a sealable SIM cardholder, to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Modem support Meter RTC synch by utilizing GPRS network based time synch or GPS based time synch by using external GPS antenna.
  • Power outage and Power restoration alerts can be sent to server by utilizing the battery power.
  • Periodic tamper detection and data push to server.
  • Transparent mode support using TCP server port 4059 (DLMS) or Any customized TCP server port using any static IP VPN, M2M based SIM cards.
  • Transparent mode support using TCP client port 4059 (DLMS) or Any customized TCP client port using any dynamic IP SIM cards – no need of static IP requirements.
  • Modem Latitude and Longitude data shall be captured and integrated with meter data, using this feature modem location shall be identified.
  • Modem Signal Quality +CSQ values shall be captured and integrated with meter data.
  • The automatic meter reading unit can be controlled and have its firmware upgraded remotely with a secure password.
  • On demand SMS request for Instantaneous Parameters
 

SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

amr modem system architecture

FAQ

Automatic meter reading (AMR) modem is employed to collect the data from various metering devices which include electricity, water, and gas meters, and send the data to remote data servers, using any of the available/suitable communication technologies. The data received at the server is processed and is used for a variety of functions such as billing, usage pattern analysis, tamper analysis, etc.
The benefits of using an AMR modem include streamlined meter reading processes, timely billing to the customers and study of energy usage patterns. AMR implementation reduces manpower costs associated with manual meter reading, improves accuracy of meter data, faster identification of issues or anomalies, and increased operational efficiency in utility management.
Yes, SANDS AMR modems are compatible with all makes and types of DLMS meters. SANDS AMR modems have additional feature of reading the tamper counts, and initiating alarms. Contact us for more information
The data transmitted by the AMR modem is highly secure. SANDS AMR modem reads the data from the meter and sends the data to the cloud or any designated data server using various encryption schemes. The received data is decrypted and is made available for any third-party applications like meter data management (MDM) system or utility billing system or data analytic tool in a standard csv/json or XML formats. Thus, the data integrity and confidentiality is well protected; minimizing the risk of unauthorized access or tampering during transmission.
Yes, the AMR modem can be easily integrated with any energy management system (EnMS). The meter data will be sent to the cloud/data server by the AMR modem, and the data conversion software/service at the server will convert the meter data to the desired format and seamlessly integrate with any EnMS.
Yes, the AMR modem can be used at all the metering points a) at interface point between the captive renewable energy source like wind or solar or biogas and the utility, b) at the consumer premises between the roof-top solar and the utility bi-directional/net meters.
Yes, the AMR modem can be used at the metering point of the EV charging facility, as the source is primarily from the utility supply fitted with a tariff meter.

AUTOMATIC METER READING MODEM (AMR Wi-Fi)

The AMR Wi-Fi Modem is a smart and compact Automatic Meter Reading device designed for remote energy meter monitoring and data acquisition. It can be connected to any make of electronic energy meter through Optical Port, RS232, RJ11, RS485, or Ethernet interfaces and supports DLMS and Modbus communication standards.

The modem can be powered using a 24V DC or 5V DC supply and communicates with the meter through its communication interface. The AMR unit utilizes Wi-Fi communication technology with built-in intelligence to communicate with DLMS energy meters and Modbus MFMs (Multi-Function Meters).

The AMR system supports Wi-Fi network connectivity for transmitting:

  • Instantaneous data
  • Billing data
  • Load survey data
  • Event and Tamper data

to a cloud-based server through Gateway GPRS networks or Broadband networks.

The solution supports periodic data push functionality:

  • MFM data can be pushed every 5 minutes.
  • DLMS meter data can be configured for hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly uploads based on application requirements.

The reporting intervals can also be configured dynamically from the server or mobile application.

Typical profiles of DLMS meter are:

  • Instantaneous parameters
  • Current and last 12 months billing history
  • Load survey data (up to complete available storage)
  • Tamper data
  • Configuration and settings data (Optional)
  • Transaction events

Typical profiles of MFM are:

  • Instantaneous parameters
  • Modbus RTU & Modbus TCP register reading
  • Modbus RTU (RS485) or Modbus TCP-based communication support
amr wi-fi modem
amr wi-fi modem
amr wi-fi modem
  

KEY FEATURES OF ELECTRIC METER READING SYSTEM

  • Compatible with any make of DLMS meters and Modbus MFMs, with automatic meter profile detection.
  • Supports Optical Port, RS232, RJ11, RS485, and Ethernet communication interfaces.
  • Supports Modbus TCP reading for Ethernet-enabled MFMs.
  • External antenna provision for improved Wi-Fi signal strength and enhanced communication performance.
  • Mobile application-based configuration support for easy field commissioning and parameter updates.
  • Supports data push to the server through TCP Client and MQTT Publish protocols.
  • Meter RTC synchronization through server communication (Optional).
  • Power outage and restoration alerts can be transmitted to the server using internal battery backup (Optional).
  • Operates with external 24V DC or 5V DC power supply.
  • Remote configuration and secure firmware upgrade support.
  • Intelligent store-and-forward functionality with optional SD card memory support for reliable data retention during communication interruptions. Buffered data is automatically synchronized with the server upon network restoration.
  • Licensed mobile application support for local Wi-Fi-based meter data download and upload during network failures, minimizing manual intervention.
  • Periodic tamper monitoring and automatic event/data upload to the server for DLMS meters.
  • Supports Master–Slave Wi-Fi networking, where multiple nearby AMR devices communicate with a single Master Wi-Fi device for centralized data push to the server, thereby reducing individual IP assignment requirements.
 

SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

DCU / GATEWAY

The GATEWAY/DCU is an intelligent device with built-in RS232, RS485. RJ45 and RF modules to acquire data from clusters of energy meters or MFMs, using inbuilt Modbus / DLMS Softwares. It is also equipped with GSM/GPRS module to transmit the data to the remote data acquisition server. DCU is based on an ARM Cortex-A5 processor, having 512MB of DDR2 memory and expandable NAND Flash memory. Edge/Sensor data can be stored locally using the onboard SD card option. The cloud interface is (4G) LTE with 2G/3G fallback.

Applications

  • Automatic meter readings (Electricity, Gas, Water meters).
  • Energy auditing.
  • Power distribution and automatic load control.
  • Home automation tariff switching and automatic load control.
  • Tariff switching and automatic load control.
  • Industrial automation.
dcu/gateway with ethernet



  

KEY FEATURES OF ELECTRIC METER READING SYSTEM

  • SANDS DCU for AMR-AMI solutions is an optimized concept based on different communication interfaces Like RS232, RS485, RJ45, LPRF (ZigBee), GSM/GPRS.
  • Simple and compact design for easy installations.
  • Support for DLMS and Modbus meters.
  • Inbuilt battery-backed RTC.
  • Automatic over the air configuration and firmware updates (FOTA).
  • Standalone AMR performance & automatic profile download at specified intervals.
  • Compatible with various standard existing meters directly interfaced.
  • Real-time tampering and outage alerts/notifications are sent to MDAS server or mobile phones of concerned in-charges. In the field through SMS.
  • Automatic GPRS connection (no AT commands required) and watchdog for reliable Communication.
  • Compatible with all standard 2G/3G/4G SIM cards.
  • In-built power supply (single-phase/three-phase) with battery backup.
  • Communication to central server via GSM/GPRS and Ethernet.
  • In-built SD card for backup data storage.
 

SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

dcu/gateway architecture with wi-fi router
dcu/gateway architecture with ethernet switch
dcu/gateway architecture