Rhein Tech Laboratories 360 Herndon Parkway Suite 1400 Herndon, VA 20170 http://www.rheintech.com AMCO Automated Systems VRT Residential Gas Transponder FCC ID: G8JVRT01 FCC Part 15.231 RTL WO# 2002187 APPENDIX H: MANUAL Please see the following pages.
USER GUIDE TRACE ™ VRT Transponder
Copyright Acknowledgements The contents of this document are the property of AMCO Automated Systems and are copyrighted. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. For additional copies of this document, please contact: AMCO Automated Systems 107 Erskine Lane Scott Depot, WV 25560 Phone 304-757-3300 Fax 304-757-3388 The information contained herein has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate; however, no responsibility is assumed for inaccuracies.
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: • • • • Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. Increase the separation distance between the equipment and receiver. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. Consult the dealer or an experience radio/TV technician for help.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Transponder Manual and Installation Guide Table of Contents Chapter One—Introduction................................................................................. 2 About this Document ....................................................................................... 2 Audience ................................................................................................... 2 Conventions ............................................................................................
INTRODUCTION Chapter One Introduction ® The TRACE VRT Transponder is the heart of AMCO Automated Systems’ portfolio of products for automated meter reading (AMR). About this Document The Transponder manual and installation Guide provides instructions for installing and troubleshooting transponders. It also includes an overview of both AMR in general and TRACE technology in particular. Audience This document is designed for utility industry meter readers and supervisory staff.
AMR OVERVIEW Chapter Two Automated Meter Reading Overview The TRACE system uses radio frequency (RF) signals to allow utility personnel to read meters from a distance while the reader is in motion. This technology is called automated meter reading (AMR). This technology greatly increases the speed at which routes can be covered with a high degree of accuracy.
TRACE SYSTEM OVERVIEW The TRACE AMR System Overview In addition to standard automated meter reading functions, AMCO’s TRACE system portfolio of products permits the remote recording of tamper conditions and linking of meter latitude and longitude data using a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system. With the optional Vehicle Interactive Display, TRACE makes driver-to-meter orientation more intuitive and efficient. TRACE interrogators transmit at 451.35 MHz and receive transponder messages at 415 MHz.
TRACE SYSTEM OVERVIEW Meter interface. Using a mechanical-to-digital interface, the TRACE transponder senses the output from the index of a utility meter, translates this into electronic form and stores it in the transponder’s memory. Transponder data acquisition. The transponder is programmed with a unique serial number at the time of manufacture. Upon installation on a meter, the current (or baseline) meter index reading is also programmed into the transponder’s memory.
VRT TRANSPONDER OVERVIEW Chapter Three VRT Transponder Overview The TRACE VRT Gas Transponder is designed for use with most residential and commercial diaphragm meters from American Meter, Equimeter/Invensys®, and Sprague/Schlumberger®. The transponder can be programmed to work with a fixed factor, pressure-compensating index. The transponder maintains the current time and date, which are used to record real-time data for retrieval as required during the normal read cycle.
VRT TRANSPONDER OVERVIEW How the Transponder Works When a transponder is installed on a meter the installer programs the transponder’s e-index to correspond to the meters mechanical index. As the mechanical index accumulates count the transponder’s e-index accumulates count as well from a magnet and reed switch configuration integral to the transponder. Once a day, at a pre-programmed time, the transponder stores the current index reading for that day into the e-index for that day.
VRT TRANSPONDER OVERVIEW from 10:15:00 AM until 2:29:59 PM. TOU registers can span midnight – a start time of 08:00:00 PM with a stop time of 01:59:59 AM is valid. Index Drive Size / Subcounts per Revolution / Pre-Dividers. The number of subcounts recorded with each revolution of the drive dial on 13 3 3 ft and 2-ft indexes is one. A 1-ft index requires 100 revolutions to yield 3 3 3 100 ft and a 2-ft index requires 50 revolutions to yield 100 ft .
VRT TRANSPONDER INSTALLATION & PROGRAMMING Chapter Four Transponder Installation & Programming Installation 1. Prior to removing the existing index and index cover, verify that the transponder style is compatible with the meter style. 2. Verify that the battery is properly seated, and that the battery wires are flush to the left side of the transponder wall (facing the rear of the transponder).
VRT TRANSPONDER INSTALLATION & PROGRAMMING the possibility that the subcounts rolled over. If the values do not meet to your expectations, repeat from Step 7a. 8. Mounting Transponder a. Visually align transponder wriggler with meter wriggler. b. Mate the transponder wriggler with the meter wriggler. (Picture here, all three TP styles) 9. Holding the transponder on the meter, place the index cover onto the transponder, verifying that the index cover weep holes are at the bottom. 10.
VRT TRANSPONDER INSTALLATION & PROGRAMMING This value is programmed at the factory and is retained in the event of a power interruption. The value can be reprogrammed if your requirements change. 5. Daily Read History The value in each Daily Read e-index is recorded at a predetermined time every day and can be retrieved for up to 35 days. In the event of a power interruption these values are lost and cannot be retrieved. 6.
TROUBLESHOOTING Chapter Five Troubleshooting The following table offers troubleshooting tips for some common Transponder conditions. For all other matters, contact AMCO Automated Systems.
TROUBLESHOOTING Table 01 - DST / ST Date Values Year 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Daylight Saving Time Starts Date Day No.
TROUBLESHOOTING Table 02 - TOU Time Slots Time Slot Start Time End Time Time Slot Start Time End Time Time Slot Start Time End Time 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 12:00:00 AM 12:15:00 AM 12:30:00 AM 12:45:00 AM 1:00:00 AM 1:15:00 AM 1:30:00 AM 1:45:00 AM 2:00:00 AM 2:15:00 AM 2:30:00 AM 2:45:00 AM 3:00:00 AM 3:15:00 AM 3:30:00 AM 3:45:00 AM 4:00:00 AM 4:15:00 AM 4:30:00 AM 4:45:00 AM 5:00:00 AM 5:15:00 AM 5:30:00 AM 5:45:00 AM 6:00:00 AM 6:1
