SmartMeter™ System Elster A3 ALPHA® Meter/Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide 2008 SmartSynch™
A3 Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide Copyrights ® Copyright 2008 SmartSynch , Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this documentation may be reproduced transmitted, processed, or recorded by any means or form, or be released to any third party without the express written consent of SmartSynch, Inc. Trademarks ® SmartSynch , SmartSynch logo, TMS™, and SmartMeter™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of SmartSynch, Inc.
A3 Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................................5 1.1 ABOUT THIS GUIDE ........................................................................................................................................5 1.2 REFERENCE MATERIALS .............................................................................................................
A3 Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide 1 Introduction 1.1 About This Guide This document is a manual designed to help guide you through the testing, installation and activation of ® your A3 ALPHA Collector SmartMeter.
A3 Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide 1.3.2 Documentation Feedback SmartSynch, Inc. strives to produce quality documentation for our products and welcomes your feedback. If you have comments or recommendations about our online help or printed guides, you can email us. Please send email messages to cs@smartsynch.com. This email address is only for documentation feedback. If you have a technical question, please contact your technical support representative. 1.3.
A3 Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide 2 Getting Started Please review the reference documentation before you begin the installation and use of the supporting software. 2.1 Operations ® ® The A3 ALPHA Collector SmartMeter is an Elster A3 ALPHA Collector electronic single-phase electricity meter integrated with a SmartSynch Interface (SSI) Module, which fully supports ANSI standards for electricity metering and is intended for use by commercial and industrial utility customers.
A3 Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide 2.2.3 Interference with Other Devices ® The communication module embedded in the A3 ALPHA Collector SmartMeter receives and transmits radio frequency (RF) energy while in operation. Interference can occur if it is placed too close to televisions, radios, computers, or inadequately sheltered equipment. Follow any applicable regulations if you suspect that this device may cause interference or danger. 2.
A3 Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide 3 Installing the A3 ALPHA® Collector SmartMeter 3.1 Preliminary Inspections ® The A3 ALPHA Collector SmartMeter is calibrated and tested at the factory and is ready for installation. Before installing and applying power to the SmartMeter, a quick inspection of the SmartMeter is recommended to ensure there is no damage to the SmartMeter, which could possibly occur during shipping.
A3 Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide 3. Once in the Pre-Configured state, the SSI embedded software transmits an Auto-Configuration message to the configuration server. 4. Upon receiving the meter’s Auto-Configuration message, the configuration server will set all of the customer specific parameters into the SSI module’s non-volatile memory. 5.
A3 Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide 4 Troubleshooting 4.1 Troubleshooting Process Flow The troubleshooting support directives may involve a number of participants to resolve the issue, depending on the type of issue involved. Resolution may include TMS Administrators, TMS Operators, Field Meter Support personnel, or any user who may be required to support the TMS, its clients, or related data. Section 4.2 describes the required corrective action that corresponds with each step in the flowcharts.
A3 Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide With either process, be sure to perform these initial steps: 1. Confirm that the meter is actually installed in the field. 2. Verify that the PIN for that meter is correct. 3. Verify that the site exceeds the acceptable minimums using the Coverage Validation Unit. TMS Troubleshooting Flowchart (for meters that have been previously provisioned successfully) 4.
A3 Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide Process Steps 3 Description Action Is Pin # Correct? 4 Did site pass CVU tests? 5 Get Version? 6 Restore Meter to Factory Defaults? Validate that the pin number in the TMS system is indeed the pin number that is matched with the correct meter. Checking the manufacturer’s spreadsheet sent with the meters and/or visually inspecting the label on the meter can accomplish this task.
A3 Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide 5 Requirements and Compliance ® The A3 ALPHA Collector GPRS SmartMeter is compliant with all applicable Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Industry Canada (IC) requirements. The FCC and IC identification numbers for ® the A3 ALPHA Collector GPRS SmartMeter are listed as follows: FCC identifier: QHC-GPRSCOLL1 IC identifier: 4393B-GPRSCOLL1 This certification is granted to SmartSynch Inc. 5.
A3 Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide • • Move the receiving equipment farther away from the A3 ALPHA meter/collector. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. 5.6 Industry Canada Statement The term “IC” before the certification/registration number only signifies that the Industry Canada technical specifications were met. ® In addition, the A3 ALPHA Collector GPRS SmartMeter fully complies with the TS 51.010 tests as adopted by the PTCRB and defined in the NAPRD section 11.
A3 Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide 5.7 Acceptable Antenna Configuration The only acceptable GSM/GPRS antenna configurations are as follows: 1. SSI-SAC-ANKEG-ODG-010 Monopole GPRS Antenna Kit (External Mount). 2. Laird/Antenex pn TRA821/18503P GSM/GPRS Antenna (Meter Panel Mount). The only acceptable LANOB 900Mhz antenna is the Elster pn 1B12150H01 antenna that comes from the factory installed on the meter under the meter’s cover.
A3 Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide FIGURE 2 Typical routing of SSI Monopole cable for external remote antenna.
A3 Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide FIGURE 3 Internal connection of SSI Monopole to A3 I/O “Pigtail” FIGURE 4 Mounting example of Laird/Antenex antenna directly to meter panel.
A3 Collector GPRS SmartMeter User Guide FIGURE 5 Internal connection of Laird/Antenex antenna via N-Male to SMA-Male Adapter A3 Collector 19
