TRANSPARENT TECHNOLOGIES M1B Utility Radio Transmitter Operations Manual
Transparent Technologies, Inc 5665 Airport Blvd Boulder, CO 80301 720-406-1294 Disclaimer In no event shall Transparent Technologies be liable for any incidental, indirect, or consequential damages or other damages including without limitation loss of profits, loss of revenue, loss of data, loss of use of the product or any associated equipment, downtime, and user’s time associated with the use of this product, the resale hardware or its software.
M1B Utility Radio Transmitter Operations Manual OVERVIEW 1 INSTALLATION & WIRING 2 OPERATION 3 BATTERY 4 APPENDIX 5
1 OVERVIEW M1B Utility Radio Transmitter Univeral The M1 radio is a universal AMR device designed for every utility. Encoder and digital inputs for all major water meter registers. Simple The M1 operates in an unlicensed mode in the 900-Mhz range which requires no utility regulation. The radio is easily configured and interfaced with an off-the-shelf PDA. Powerful In addition to reliable meter reading, the M1 also provides powerful datalogging, consumption profiling and leak detection.
1 M1B Packaging The M1B is housed in a polycarbonate shell with multiple levels of waterproofing. The housing is available in either a clear or smoke tint. The housing is assembled with a UV-cure adhesive which provides the first level of environmental protection. The radio electronics are 100% encapsulated in a dielectric gel for 100% moisture protection. Finally, all cable entry/exit points are sealed with gel grommets to protect against longterm moisture penetration.
2 INSTALLATION & Installation The M1A is designed for all environments and can be installed either in indoor or outdoor environments. Mounting Orientation The most important consideration is to keep the M1B radio unit UPRIGHT when it is installed. The antenna is located on the top of the radio board and the RF transmission pattern is optimized with an upright orientation.
2 Pit & Vault Installations For best transmission, the unit should not be mounted directly on any metal surfaces, such as pipes or valves, or mounted below know water levels. The M1B has multiple mounting options, including a slot for wire ties which can be used to hang the M1A, attach on a plastic stake or screw directly onto a wall. An effective mounting technique for commercial meter vaults is to hang the M1A unit from a fixture (such as a ladder rung or the lid itself) near the top of the vault.
2 Indoor & Wall Installations For best transmission, the unit should not be mounted backing on metal surfaces, reinforced concrete or other dense surfaces. In indoor mounting situations, a higher mounting site will improve RF performance. In below grade sites (e.g. basements), the installer should experiment with the best location before the final mounting. In these instances, the direction/bearing of the receiver should be considered.
2 Wiring Encoders As a default communication The M1B utilizes the ECR-II communications defacto-standard wiring conventions for encoder interfaces: Red: Green: Black: Clock/PWR Data Ground This wiring convention should be consistent with all Metron-Farnier, ECR-II and ECR-III registers. The unit can be ordered with a prewired cable in 5-ft increments. In this case, the cable with leads will exit on the side or bottom of the unit.
2 Pulse Wiring For standard pulse wiring, the red and black wires should be connected to the pulse output of the register. Check the T2 wiring guide for color coding for most registers. Wire Connections The wiring connections are critical for reliable radio-to-register communications. T2 recommends the use of 3m gelcap type terminations. These connectors and the crimping tools are available at many hardware stores and online distributors.
2 Dual Enconder / Pulse Metron-Farnier offers a unique register that supplies a encoderoutput for meter reading purposes and a pulse output for datalogging purposes. This special-order unit will have multiple wiring connections: one for the encoder output and one for the switch closure output. Wire Connections The wiring connections are critical for reliable radio-to-register communications. T2 recommends the use of 3m gelcap type terminations.
3 OPERATION Operation The M1B radio operation is covered in three topics: • • • • • ON/OFF Control Configuration Meter Reading Datalogging RF Operations Refer to the FPDA Manual for detailed instructions on the operation of the M1B radio. This manual only provides an overview on these topics. ON/OFF Control If the M1B radio has been purchased as a separate unit, it will be shipped in the default setting. This will be in the OFF mode.
3 Configuration The M1B radio is a flexible unit with configuration options available for tailoring the unit for a specific utility’s needs. Field PDA The configuration is performed by the T2 Field PDA (FPDA). Refer to the FPDA Manual for detailed instructions on the configuration process. Configurable Parameters The following items are configurable on the M1B radio: Meter Settings This screen allows the user to customize the settings the radio uses for the meter interface.
3 Meter Reading Local Data Access The M1B radio can be read locally via a standard Palm-OS based PDA. The T2 FPDA software is required for this function. All configuration, meter reading and datalogs are accessible with the PDA software.
3 ] Datalogging The M1B radio logs data as an enhanced data function. The basic data functions of the M1B radio – leak detection, backflow, high usage – are all detectable through the normal remote AMR operations (via the reading system). The datalogging function offers a first-hand customer-service tool to examine the consumption pattern of a specific meter.
3 RF Operations - Normal AMR Reading The M1B radio transmits its RF signal on a regular interval (set by the transmit interval). The data is received by a mobile AMR receiver (either T2 R1 or RAMAR FastTrackIT).
4 BATTERY The M1B radio has a replaceable battery. Battery Specifications Mfg: Tekcell Type: Thionyl Lithium Chloride Size: D-cell Capacity: 19.0 A-hr Battery Life All battery calculations include a 20% environmental impact factor and use a baseline of regular function usage (PDA reads, datalogging, etc.) The M1B’s transmit period is directly related to the battery life of the M1 radio. The RF transmission is the largest power consumer and thus drives battery life.
4 Battery Replacement Transparent Technologies can provide replacement batteries for M1B radios. The battery is replaced by first removing the battery cover and then removing the battery cell. The battery is connected to the board with a quick disconnect plug. The replacement battery will come with the identical plug. Once the replacement battery has been re-installed, the battery chamber will need to be filled with commercial grade silicone filler for waterproofing.
4 3
6 APPENDIX FCC Information Information to user. - The users manual or instruction manual for an intentional or unintentional radiator shall caution the user that changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment. Special accessories. (a) Equipment marketed to a consumer must be capable of complying with the necessary regulations in the configuration in which the equipment is marketed.
6 FCC Definitions Class A digital device. A digital device that is marketed for use in a commercial, industrial or business environment, exclusive of a device which is marketed for use by the general public or is intended to be used in the home. Class B digital device. A digital device that is marketed for use in a residential environment notwithstanding use in commercial, business and industrial environments.
