METMOTEC offers the following Local Area Netowrks (LANs) that are designed specifically for I&C electricity meters but with potential application on other industrial terminal types with RS232 ports.

RS 485 Local Communication System

This system is based on individual PCB adapters that connect to a meter’s RS232 port and provide RS232/485 conversion and breakout to an RS485 network of many meters connected to a single modem or computer. Key features:

• ‘Daisy chains’ up to 255 meters
• Can connect meter or terminal to a distant modem (up to 100 metres depending on safety conditions)
• Individual RS232/RS485 adapters easily chained using CAT5 Ethernet cables up to 1km total (see Ethernet Cables section, below)
• Meter port powered and externally powered versions
• Very low power consumption – network can be powered from any one meter or AC/DC power adapter
• Supports different meter models on same network
• Plug and play, no set up required
• High reliability
• Adapters available as standard are for meters with RS232 9 or 25 pin D-sub connectors. Flying lead versions of the adapter can connect to RS232 ports via RJ11/12 and RJ45. Among meters that can use these adapters are:
  • Elster Metering: A1700
  • Elster/ABB: Alpha Meter (Sweden/Russia)
  • Itron: ACE6000
  • Itron: ACE7000
  • Secure Meters/PRI: Premier Meter
  • Actaris/Schlumberger: Indigo+
  • Ampy/Ampy-Email/Landis+Gyr: Certain meter models – consult us for details
  • Cewe: Prometer W (with meter RS232 port option)
  • GEC/ABB: PPM Poly-Phase Meter

Consult with METMOTEC for other meters that might be supported.

‘TERMINETOR’ Serial to Ethernet Adapters

METMOTEC’s proprietary ‘TERMINETOR’ adapters connect I&C electricity meters to industrial Ethernets and provide local connection to meter reading systems. They enable creation of large networks of remotely readable meters either on local-only Ethernets, or through routers to the Internet, they thus represent an economic alternative to using GSM modems to access many individual meters at a single site. Key features:

• 10Base T / 100Base TX Ethernet PHY Embedded
• Auto-Negotiation (Full & Half Duplex)
• Hardwired TCP/IP protocols – TCP, UDP, ICMP, IPv4, ARP, IGMP, PPPoE – provides high security
• 25 pin D-sub (F) connector standard
• Serial signals: TXD, RXD, RTS, CTS, GND
• Max.230kbps serial speed
• Supports AT command & configuration
• Configuration tool program operates on Windows, Linux & MAC OS
• Non-volatile memory for settings
• Small size and ‘pocket modem’ format
• Low priced
• Very high reliability – based on proven Ethernet modules
• Highly secure – Un-attackable hardware network engine for preventing network attacks such as flooding, spoofing, injection
• Low power consumption <154mA, 3.3V internal (500 mW approx)
• Power down & wake-on LAN over UDP
• 5V to 14VDC input
• Uses meter port DC power supply
• External DC power option
• Ethernet connection cables (CAT5 – straight-thru) available in straight and left or right RJ45 connector formats

Ethernet Cables

METMOTEC supplies high quality CAT5E ‘Ethernet’ cables supplied in custom lengths and terminated with a choice of RJ45 connector formats. These can be supplied for use with METMOTEC’s LAN products (above) or for general use on other products.

• CAT5E (Enhanced) 350MHz Ethernet cable
• Sheaths: PVC or Plenum-rated,
• STP (shielded twisted pair) only – no UTP (unshielded twisted pair)
• Lengths available: Any length from 1 foot (30 cms) to 300 feet (90 metres approx)
• Choice of RJ45 connector formats – straight, left, right, up or down

Contact Us for budgetary pricing and delivery times.