Intelligent power meters and monitoring equipment can be used to show electricity consumption, help with load management, transformer monitoring, and power monitoring. Smart power meters give you access to real-time power consumption and can save you time and money since changes can be made automatically to reduce energy usage when it’s not needed. Touch screen PLCs, data loggers, Programmable Automation Controllers, and PCs running SCADA software can be used for control, monitoring, and displaying data in a way that’s easy to understand and analyze.
So, what are the 3 most important things to consider when selecting an energy meter?
When choosing an energy meter, the first thing you need to consider is how many phases are required for the system. Most suppliers provide single-phase and three-phase power meters.
Single-phase electric power is the distribution of alternating current in which the electric charge periodically reverses direction. If the system you are logging data from uses single-phase alternating current, then you need a single-phase power meter.
Three-phase electric power is a method of alternating current used in electric power transmission, distribution, and generation. It has three or more conductors that carry alternating current that periodically reverses direction, with voltages offset by one-third of the period. If the system is a three-phase electric system, then you must use a three-phase power meter.
Single-phase power meters like PM-3112 and PM-3114 are compact, DIN-rail mountable, and flexible for various energy monitoring applications. They come in 2-loop and 4-loop versions, and support a wide range of input types such as Vrms, Irms, kW, kWh, kVA, kVAh, kVAR, kVARh, and PF. They can be used on both low-voltage primary side and medium/high-voltage secondary side systems, enabling users to obtain reliable and accurate real-time energy consumption readings.
After determining the phase type, the next thing to consider is how many amps the system uses. ICP DAS USA provides intelligent power meters that can monitor systems with up to 1000 amps using the clip-on current transformers included with our smart meters. You can monitor systems with higher currents using third-party current transformers.
The number of amps supported varies by model. The PM-3133 series three-phase smart power meter comes in three versions:
-PM-3133 – supports 60A
-PM-3133-160 – supports 100A
-PM-3133-240 – supports 200A
With their high accuracy (1%, PF = 1), they deliver very reliable power consumption data. These compact and cost-effective meters are equipped with wired clip-on CTs for easy installation—simply clip the CT onto the cable. Our power meters operate over a wide input voltage range of 10–300 VAC, making them compatible worldwide.
Smart power meters communicate over different mediums and protocols, so it is very important to determine which protocol your system requires.
Modbus is one of the most widely used industrial communication protocols. Developed by MODICON in 1979, Modbus is standardized, openly published, and easy to use for communicating with instruments, PLCs, and data acquisition devices. Power meters like PM-3112 support Modbus RTU, while PM-3112-MTCP communicates over Modbus TCP. Modbus networks require a Master device.
CAN bus is a Controller Area Network protocol used in systems requiring communication without a host PC. It is used in automotive, cycling, industrial, and entertainment industries. Smart power meters like PM-3133-240-CAN support CAN bus and can seamlessly integrate with existing CAN bus systems in vehicles and aircraft.
CANopen is a higher-level automation protocol built on CAN that includes an addressing scheme and application layer. Power meters supporting CANopen include the single-phase PM-3114-160-CPS and the three-phase PM-3133-100-CPS.
Choosing a power meter with the correct communication protocol is essential for system compatibility. Protocol gateways and converters can also be used to bridge different systems.
After considering phases, amps, and communication protocols, what else is needed for a successful energy monitoring system?
One major advantage of smart power meters is that they can be integrated with SCADA and HMI software, allowing full system automation. With SCADA software, you can:
-display equipment status
-send email or text message alarms
-log data
-implement control operations
-generate detailed reports
Touch screen controllers like TPD-433-H can be used in home and building automation projects to display real-time consumption data and control devices from a control panel or wall-mounted touchpad. Since Ethernet cabling is often already available in buildings, installation is fast and straightforward.
