Technical Manual

14 D C U M a i n t e n a n c e a n d O p e r a t i o n M a n u a l
Data Collector Unit (DCU)
NOTE Certain information is limited to factory or over-the-air (OTA) changes and
cannot be changed through a local menu.
The transceiver boards can be configured to collect the following endpoints within
a single DCU:
• Aclara RF Electric
• I210+, I210+C, kV2, and Distribution Automation
• Aclara RF Water/Gas
• 501, Series 33XX, 34XX, 35XX, and 4XXX MTUs
Global Positioning System (GPS)
The DCU 2+ uses GPS to identify the location of a DCU and to provide an
accurate time reference via 1 PPS signal. When the GPS service is unavailable, the
system will reference the network time from the headend server.
With the DCU 2, the user enters the location information, and the system
references the network time from the headend server.
Battery Protection
DCU 2+
The DCU 2+ can be powered from 120 VAC or solar panel(s), utilizing a sealed
lead acid battery as a backup power supply in the event of a power outage or to
ride through periods of inadequate sunlight.
The DCU 2+ incorporates battery protection features to maximize the overall life
of the battery
The DCU 2+ battery protection process uses a solar model to properly size battery
and solar panels to achieve continuous operation under most conditions. In some
cases, the DCU 2+ may enter a low power mode to protect the battery. The low
power mode reserves enough battery capacity to continue operation through each
deployment site’s probable local weather events without increasing the maximum
size of the product's battery or solar panels.
During low power mode operation, the DCU 2+ will limit battery discharge, but
will still allow the system to operate during daylight hours when the solar power is
available. The low power mode continues to allow the DCU 2+ to send daily time
syncs and provides a default wakeup mode that initiates 6 hours of meter readings
beginning at approximately 10 p.m. local time every three days.
The DCU 2+ transitions between low and full power modes based on battery
state-of-charge. When operating in full power mode, the DCU 2+ compares the
battery state-of-charge to the seasonal state-of-charge threshold every 5 minutes.