Technical data

2CMC480022C0003| Electricity meters 9
Communication
Increasing demands on integration of meter data
Not long ago, meters were considered to be stand alone
products, read manually a few times per year. This is not true
anymore. Today, there is a high demand of integration of meter
data into metering data systems for evaluation and for control
of processes. There are strong requirements on connecting
actions, e.g. start of equipment etc, to its consequences, an
increase of energy consumption. It is only by linking these
actions and consequences that we will get tools that are power-
ful enough for increasing the energy efficiency and changing
behavior of the users.
New technologies
Communication is developing with new technologies evolving
all the time. New affordable equipment builds up the infrastruc-
ture, whether it is within the internet, telecom or other. Metering
data is nowadays frequently communicated via LANs and cell
phone networks.
Open standards
Open standards are important to communication. Through open
standards, equipment from various suppliers can work together
and safe solutions be implemented.
Flexible ABB solution
ABB has adopted a flexible solution for communication enabling
all their electricity meters. A serial communication adapter can
be connected to any ABB meter through an infrared interface
on the side of both the meter and the adapter. This solution
enables any ABB meter to be connected to a metering system
and it is easy to change or upgrade the communication without
affecting the installation of the meter itself. Further, a change of
the communication adapter does not effect the approval of the
meter.
Communication is getting more important every day.
Computers and telecommunications drive the development
of both technology and infrastructure for communication.
Communication is widely used in modern metering
applications.