Feature Notes |
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Pulse Counting Module |
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PUL / DIN / LPT / ...
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Main Features
Connects to Utility Meters (e.g. Gas, Electricity) for remote
monitoring
Counts Pulses from 2 external Volt-free contacts
Scales pulses into engineering units (e.g. KWh etc.) up to
9999999.9 units
Holds current value, and Daily usage for up to 5 weeks in non-volatile
memory |
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Description of Features
General
The Pulse Counting Module can be used to monitor Utility Meters remotely;
meters must have a pulsing output with a Volt-free or Open-Collector (solid-state)
output with a pulse frequency not exceeding 30Hz. The Pulse Counting Module
has 2 channels; each channel provides the capability to monitor a meter for
current total usage, and daily total usage; daily totals are stored for up
to 35 days (5 weeks).
The data stored in the Pulse Counting Module may be extracted
using Doorway Supervisor (either directly connected or via a modem connection).
Once captured by Doorway, the data may be exported to other Windows software
programmes (e.g Excel) for further analysis.
The current value of the count may be displayed on a Zone Controller
(only the lower 4 digits of the reading are displayed).
Doorway can be used to display a graph of the last 24 hours consumption.
Setup - Engineering Units and Current Transformers
It is necessary to set the scaling parameters which scale the
pulses into engineering units. There are 2 scaling parameters provided for each
channel. The first, PPKA scales the pulses directly; for instance, if
an electricity meter generates 640 pulses/KWh, the PPKA parameter should
be set to 640. Now, if 640 pulses are received by the Module, it will increase
the count on Channel ‘A’ by 1 unit.
The second parameter, CTRA, applies a multiplying ratio
to the count, and is intended for use where electricity meters are fitted with
a Current Transformer (CT). Electricity Meters measure current (and voltage)
in order to determine power consumed; CTs are used when the current being measured
is very large, and would damage the meter if it flowed through it. The CT is
clamped around the conductor carrying the heavy load to be measured, and a much
smaller current flows in the CT’s secondary winding which is connected
to the meter. The ratio between the Primary Current flowing to the load and
the Secondary Current flowing through the meter is called the CT ratio.<
If the CTRA parameter is set to a CT ratio of 10, then
640 pulses received by the module would now result in a increase to the count
on Channel ‘A’ of 10 KWh.
PPKB and CTRB make the same scaling adjustments
for Channel ‘B’.
Setup - Setting this initial count
The initial count value will start from zero, but this may be adjusted to match
the reading on the meter’s own display if desired; this makes verification
of the remote reading much easier.
The 8 digit meter reading is split into two, 4 digit numbers;
for Channel ‘A’ the lower 4 digits (least significant) e.g. 9999999.9
are set on parameter IV0A and the upper 4 digits (most significant) e.g.
9999999.9 are set on IV1A. The initial values
for Channel ‘B’ are set on IV0B and IV1B.
Collecting the Counts
The meter counts are available in three different forms:
1) Current Value
The current value of both meters is provided on sensor 1 MTRA
(channel A) and sensor 2 MTRB (channel B), if displayed on a Zone Controller
only the lower four digits are displayed, if Doorway is used and the SLT is
issue 3b5 or later the full eight digit count will be displayed. The count is
0 to 9,999,999.9 kWH (or other units).
The counts are also available as upper four digits and lower four digits
on the next four sensors.
2) Plot of daily usage
Sensor 7 DE1A shows the accumulated usage in the current 15 minute
period, the periods start on the hour and every quarter. This value is logged
to a SeaChange plot, the last 24 hours usage will be shown as a plot if the
sensor value is clicked.
Sensor 8 provides the same information for channel B.
The plot is configurable and could be set to record the quantity
used every minute, 15 minutes or 1 hour.
3) Daily Log
Every day at 00:05, the current meter reading in whole kWH is stored to non
volatile memory, 35 readings are stored in a rotating store, which provides
the last five weeks data. The data is stored into a location based on the day
of the week, if any readings are missed they are filled in with zeros, so interpolation
is then possible to spread the usage over these missed days. This data can be
retrieved a week at a time by requesting config variable C200, for the current
week, C201 for the previous week etc. The data is displayed in Doorway, with
SLT3b5, as seven comma separated values, Monday through Sunday. A simple utility
can be written to allow this data to be transferred automatically to a spreadsheet
using DDE.
Registration
Registration is the simple process by which logical connections
are made between Controllers in a SeaChange system; it is done during commissioning
and involves pressing buttons on the Controllers in a specific sequence.
The Pulse Counting Module must be registered in order to receive
its System Address; this is done by briefly pressing its Register button; the
Status Lamp should flash to indicate the address that has been allocated.
The Pulse Counting Module will be allocated an address with a
‘Z’ prefix (like a Zone Controller), this means that the System Housekeeping
Module will allocate the next available ‘Z’ address, so that if for
instance 3 Zone Controllers have already been registered on the system, the
Pulse Counting Module will be given address Z4, and the Status Lamp will flash
4 times.
For further details of the registration process, see our ‘Commissioning
Guide’ publication.
Accessing Configuration and Monitoring Parameters
Generally, Configuration Parameters are used to adjust
settings from their factory defaults; Monitoring Parameters are used to monitor
internal readings (such as temperature readings) during the Commissioning process.
The Parameters may be viewed, and in the case of Configuration
Parameters, adjusted by using the SeaChange Doorway Supervisor.
Data Points may be added to a Doorway page to access/adjust any Configuration
or Monitoring Parameter. Graphs of the consumption over the previous 24 hour
period are also available. The code used to access a Pulse Counting Module is
Zn, where n is the address of the Module. The code for each parameter is shown
in the adjacent tables.
Further details of how to set up Doorway pages may be found
in the SeaChange Doorway Manual, or in the online help facility supplied with
SeaChange Doorway
The PC running SeaChange Doorway can be connected locally
via a Serial Adaptor Module, or remotely using standard High-Speed Modems.In
this manner all parameters can be monitored and adjusted remotely.
Utility Meter Monitor
The SeaChange Utility Meter Monitor has been designed
in conjunction with the BREEAM assessment to monitor and quantify the
energy usage in commercial premises, and to provide an early warning should the
energy consumption exceed the target set by the building operator.
The module is compatible with utility meters
that have a pulsed output with a Volt-free
contact, or an open-collector (solid-state)
output with a pulse frequency not exceeding 30Hz. Up to two utility
meters can be connected to a module.
The operation of a Utility Meter Monitor is similar to the
Pulse Counting Module, but it provides the user with additional features and
functionality for quantifying and measuring the energy consumption from utility
meters as well as the facility to raise alarms under certain conditions.
As an example,
the module can be used in conjunction with an electricity meter to monitor the
electricity usage and alert the building operator if the measured consumption
exceeds a predefined value. Equally
this feature can be used to detect plant failure by monitoring the minimum
amount of electricity used when the plant is in operation.
Each channel provides the capability to
monitor a utility meter for the current total
usage, and daily total usage. The
daily totals are stored in the non-volatile memory for up to 5 weeks.
The data stored in the unit may be extracted via a Doorway Supervisor for energy
monitoring and analysis using third party aM&T software packages.
Data can be captured remotely via a dialup connection, or via internet
using a SeaChange smartserver
module. In addition, graphs can be
generated via the supervisor to
display the energy usage in the last 24 hours.
The current meter reading can be displayed on a zone controller user interface
or the SC Touch Panel
to enable the building operator to view the meter
reading locally.
Water Leakage Detection Facility
The module can be used with a water meter to provide an early warning when a
water leakage is detected on the premises.
The module can be used to monitor the activity on a water meter during
and out of
occupancy times, and to raise an alarm if the water consumption in a given
period
exceeds the leakage rate set by the building operator.
The leakage rate can be monitored and
adjusted locally, or remotely via a dialup
connection or a suitable web interface for occupied and unoccupied time
schedules.
Electricity Meter
The module can be used in conjunction with an electricity meter to monitor the
energy usage in a building and
where excessive energy consumption
is detected, alert the building energy manager.
Equally, the
module can be used to detect plant failure by measuring the minimum amount of
electricity usage in the current period.
The alarm reporting facility enables the user to setup an upper and lower
limit electricity usage and generate an alarm should the
energy consumption falls outside operating parameters.
When the building in
unoccupied, the Utility Meter Monitor can be setup to report irregular energy
usage using the off peak alarm reporting features.
Alarm Reporting
Alarms can be generated in a number of
formats including local alarm indication, email or
Short Message Service
(SMS)
using an email to SMS service.
For applications
that require
audible
or visual alarm indication is required, additional
SeaChange sub modules can be
utilised
to provide a switched output when an alarm is raised.
In addition, a SeaChange
actuator module can be used to
shutoff a motorised water valve when a water leakage is
detected by the module.
Configuration Parameters
The following additional configuration setting are provided with the Utility
Meter Monitor.
C5 OMXA
ChA Occupied Maximum plot period count
C6 NMXA
ChA Non-Occupied Maximum plot period count
C7 OMNA
ChA Occupied Minimum plot period count
C8 NMNA
ChA Non-Occupied Minimum plot period count
C9 OMXB
ChB Occupied Maximum plot period count
C10 NMXB
ChB Non-Occupied Maximum plot period count
C11 OMNB
ChB Occupied Minimum plot period count
C12 NMNB
ChB Non-Occupied Minimum plot period count
C13 ALRM
Alarm mode (set to 1 to report alarms)
Alarm Parameters
C91 HOCA
ChA High Occ Count
C92 HNOA
ChA High Non-Occ Count
C93 LOCA
ChA Low Occ Count
C94 LNOA
ChA Low Non-Occ Count
C95 HOCB
ChB High Occ Count
C96 HNOB
ChB High Non-Occ Count
C97 LOCB
ChB Low Occ Count
C98 LNOB
ChB Low Non-Occ Count
Options and Product Codes
Pulse Counting Module
PUL / DIN / LPT / [option]
Options
Option |
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/ 001 |
Standard version |
Utility Meter Monitor
MTR / DIN / LPT / [option]
Options
Option |
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/ 001 |
Standard version |
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Input Configuration |
Input 3-4 |
Pulse counting input a |
Input 5-6 |
Pulse counting input b |
SC Controls Ltd
PO Box313
Wadhurst
East Sussex
TN5 6JL
phone 08707 606040
fax 08707 606041
e-mail seachange@sccontrols.co.uk
http:// www.seachange.co.uk
