Product Guide PG42-1005B A3 ALPHA® Meter/Collector
© 2004 by Elster Electricity, LLC. All rights are reserved. No part of this software or documentation may be reproduced, transmitted, processed or recorded by any means or form, electronic, mechanical, photographic or otherwise, translated to another language, or be released to any third party without the express written consent of Elster Electricity, LLC. Printed in the United States of America.
A3 ALPHA Meter/Collector July 2004 Contents Product Guide A3 ALPHA Meter/Collector Product Guide General Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 A3 ALPHA Meter Circuit Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Metercat Programming Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Metering Software and System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Metercat . . . . . . . . .
A3 ALPHA Meter/Collector Product Guide ii July 2004
A3 ALPHA Meter/Collector Product Guide A3 ALPHA Meter/Collector Product Guide July 2004 General Description A3 ALPHA Meter Circuit Board The A3 ALPHA meter/collector is the component of the EnergyAxis® System that provides the interface between the Metering Automation Server (MAS) and the local network of REX™ meters that are registered to the meter/collector. MAS communicates with the A3 ALPHA meter/collector using a standard telephone line.
A3 ALPHA Meter/Collector Product Guide July 2004 An A3 ALPHA meter/collector has a 4-conductor telephone cable exiting the meter with an RJ-11 connector at the end as shown in Figure 3. There is a wire marker approximately 6 inches from the RJ-11 end with “INT MOD ITM3” printed on it for identifying that the ITM3 option board is installed. Figure 1. A3 ALPHA meter electronic assembly ILC1 option board ITM3 option board J5 Meter circuit board J4 Meter electronic housing Figure 2.
A3 ALPHA Meter/Collector Product Guide July 2004 Figure 3. A3 ALPHA meter with ITM3 RJ-11 cable INT MOD ITM3 Metercat Programming Note To have the A3 ALPHA meter function properly as a data collector in the EnergyAxis System, it is important that the meter be programmed correctly using Metercat™. In the Remote component tab in Metercat, be sure that the following options are set: ■ Port 1 usage is set to internal modem. ■ Port 2 usage is set to direct connect.
A3 ALPHA Meter/Collector Product Guide July 2004 Data exchange with MAS is performed using an open XML schema, AMR Data Exchange Format (AMRDEF), so that interfaces with billing systems and other enterprise systems can be easily implemented. MAS also comes with the JSlinger module, a powerful driver for file transfer protocol (FTP) that can transform, compress and encrypt data files prior to sending them to trusted IP addresses across the Internet.
A3 ALPHA Meter/Collector Product Guide July 2004 The A3 ALPHA meter uses its own, separate TOU switch points (programmed into the A3 ALPHA meter using Metercat support software) that are independent from the ILC1 option board switch points. Calendar. The ILC1 option board reads the A3 ALPHA meter calendar to determine the day type for the next 32 days and relays this to the REX meters registered to the collector.
A3 ALPHA Meter/Collector Product Guide July 2004 Power Failure When there is a power failure, the A3 ALPHA meter initiates a shutdown and stores the A3 ALPHA meter billing data and status information in EEPROM. All billing data information stored in the ILC1 option board is stored in batterybacked RAM. The A3 ALPHA meter's real-time clock and the data stored in the ILC1 option board are maintained by the super capacitor and battery during a power failure.
A3 ALPHA Meter/Collector Product Guide July 2004 Changing an A3 ALPHA Meter with ILC1 Option Board Use authorized utility procedures to remove metering equipment. Dangerous voltages are present. Equipment damage, personal injury, or death can result if safety procedures are not followed. If the A3 ALPHA meter/collector must be taken out of service (because of an error condition, the telephone modem fails, etc.), the A3 ALPHA meter/collector can be replaced with another A3 ALPHA meter/collector.
A3 ALPHA Meter/Collector Product Guide July 2004 Figure 4.
A3 ALPHA Meter/Collector Product Guide July 2004 the ILC1 option board ceases LAN communications (modem communication, however, is still possible) and sets an ILC1 option board clock error. Replace the meter battery. Using Metercat support software, reprogram the A3 ALPHA meter/collector. The ILC1 option board clock error will clear within 15 minutes. Once the ILC1 option board clock error clears, the ILC1 will resume LAN communications.
A3 ALPHA Meter/Collector Product Guide July 2004 ILC1 Option Board Information ILC1 option board information can be displayed on the A3 ALPHA meter LCD. Table 3 identifies all the items that are available for display. The quantity identifier must be a numeric character (represented by i in Table 3) and should be unique for each item that you want to display. Use Metercat meter support software to select the display items and their associated quantity identifier. Table 3.
A3 ALPHA Meter/Collector Product Guide July 2004 Table 4. Max.
A3 ALPHA Meter/Collector Product Guide July 2004 limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.
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This page is intentionally left blank. Elster Electricity, LLC Raleigh, North Carolina USA + 1800 338 5251 (US Technical Support) + 1800 257 9754 (US Sales Support) + 1 919 212 4800 (US Main) + 1 905 634 4895 (Canada) support@us.elster.com www.elsterelectricity.
