When examining the area before installing the system for automatic data collecting it is necessary to provide at least these points:

  • A list of all meters, that the client wants to be automatically captured.
  • A scheme of the area with marked meters. It is necessary to estimate distance between the meters.
  • Possible places where to put central units, which need to be powered with 230 V or 12V.
  • Notes with accessibility to every place, installation difficulty, cabling management. The meters located outside (e.g. shafts) are connected wirelessly.
  • Check urgency of using a lifting platform for installation of cabling in heights. If so, measure the height and which type of the platform will be needed. Ask the investor or the tenant of a building, whether he is capable of renting one.
  • If there is a shaft with watermeters it is necessary to check, whether it is needed to pump off the water or just high boots are enough.

Meters

For all types of meters it is needed to find out following, ideally by taking a readable picture. You can place a tape measure right next to the meter so the size is obvious.

  • Producer
  • Type
  • Is it a main meter or submeter? (find out the meter owner - a distribution company, a tenant or the owner of the building)
  • Notes about location of the meter (shaft, heat exchanger, switchboard) so we can know how difficult access to the meter is.
  • Output options (M-bus, Modbus, pulse)
  • Does anyone already read the meter?

Parameters related to watermeter and gas meters (only those which are needed to be replaced or those wich are going to be newly installed):

  • Installation length L, by capturing a photo with tape measure right next it, so we can clearly see the size from the picture.
  • Screw-thread diameter (DN) - use caliper.
  • Nominal flow-rate Qn. It is written on the label usually on a side of the meter.

Parameters related to electricity meter (only those which are needed to be replaced or those wich are going to be newly installed):

  • Direct/indirect measurement
  • In the case of indirect measurement find out the parameters of the conversion transformer and whether the is already a short-circuit terminal block.
  • Find out on which side is input and output of the current electricity meter.

Spots for placing data concetrators (central units)

  • The ideal case is using a MaR Switchboard, where power supply is available.
  • The spot has to be accessible for service work.
  • For meter reading, the concentrators can be placed in the NN switchboard. Is a spare circuit breaker available?
  • The gauges are connected to the concentrator with a wire. Therefore, we solve the concentrator’s location in relation to the position of the gauges.
  • We select the proper spot for placing the concentrators which use the wireless connection, somehere under the roof and we install an antenna on the roof. If there is no other options and the central unit has to be placed on the roof we choose a shady place.

Area scheme

Area scheme should contain simply sketched floor plan of area where are marked individual meters, switchboards and another important elements in the area.