We have three platform levels to choose in our Vision Metering product line – LT, ST, and XT
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Functionality in a Secure Elevated Metering Cluster
No Longer Climb A Pole to Disconnect
In some countries customers feel entitled to electricity and are compelled to find creative ways to acquire free energy. As a result, distribution utilities are compelled to find creative ways to stop them. Some Distribution Utilities have resorted to clusters of electric meters on top of utility poles to divert creative methods of theft.. This is very unattractive but necessary and makes meter reading difficult along with disconnection and reconnection. HAWKEYE by Vision Metering is an attractive alternative and provides a completeAdvanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) solution for about the same cost. HawkEye is read and controlled from EndSight, a control system which provides switching capabilities of each meter and is packed with many advanced features including Prepaid Metering. The HawkEye is available in five packages from 10 meters to 50 meters. In addition to being more attractive than the clusters of ANSI meters, the enclosure provides many levels of security and anti-theft methods to keep your revenue secure.
HawkEye is a custom product! It can be designed to fit a utility’s specific needs. This product was custom designed in conjunction with Visayan Electric Company in Cebu, The Philippines. Shown in the picture above are two options required by the customer. Options include a totalizing Form 4S meter and two CT’s. The Vision 4S meter also has a Data on Demand Radio inside to communicate with the RadioGate. The other option is the five 100 amp circuit breakers to protect each string of 10 meters from external faults. The customer felt the circuit breakers were necessary because there are 10 meters on a common bus and an external fault could damage more than a single meter should 30 Position Enclosure a fault occur.
The HawkEye meter is a variation of a socket type meter with a designation of 2SM. It is equipped with two current transformers to detect imbalances of load when one customer is stealing from another. Each line has a 100 amp switch and both switches act simultaneously when given an “Open” or “Close” command from the EndSight software.
- 900 MHZ RF
- Data on Demand-real time, fixed network system providing voltage, current, and power as often as 15 seconds intervals
- kWh
- Voltage (per phase)
- Current (per phase)
- Power factor
The RadioGate is the heart of HawkEye’s communication system.
It operates between 902 - 928 Mhz and frequency hops between these frequencies. For the Philippines it operates strictly at 916 Mhz. Communication between the HawkEye meters and the RadioGate is accomplished via optical strips behind the meter and hard wired to the RadioGate. In operation, the RadioGate develops an internal table to identify where each meter is located within the enclosure. If a meter is removed or moved to another location within the enclosure, it will send an alarm to EndSight. The RadioGate also has 3 status inputs which are used to communicate various events within the enclosure to EndSight such as door opening. It has a repeater function which allows various RadioGates to relay information from one unit to another and eventually get back to EndSight. The RadioGate has a wide range power supply which operates from 80 to 277 volts. It is internally fused to protect against both internal and external faults.
A two line display is available for the HawkEye Elevated Metering System.
It will display data for two meters at a time showing the serial number and Kwh of each individual meter. The display scrolls every 7 seconds to the next two meters in sequence. A push button is located on the front panel which allows the customer to scroll through the meters to find theirs. The box is NEMA 4 (raintight) and the button is industrial grade and also weather proof. The display is backlit so it can be read at anytime of the day or night. Communication between the RadioGate and Meter is accomplished via optical strips located in the back of the meter. Each meter has an associated optical port to communicate. Each position has a location associated with that spot in the enclosure and is part of a table which the RadioGate manages. The serial number of the meter becomes associated with a location in the enclosure. When the meter is removed or moved to another location an alarm is transmitted to the EndSight Software System. There is a soft rubber shield which goes over the LED’s and is wedged between the optical strip and meter to prevent dust accumulation on the LED’s
HawkEye Testing
Testing the HawkEye meter is as simple as testing a standard ANSI Meter. A special Socket to Miniature Socket Adapter is required and will plug into any ANSI style test fixture. The optical port on the front of the meter is the same as the optical port on a standard Socket Type meter. Pulses are transmitted through the optical port just as a standard meter. Programming the HawkEye is performed through the front optical port. The switches can also be activated through the optical port using Vision’s 20/20 programming software.
Need Advanced Communications?
Vision Metering offers a number of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) / Advanced Meter Reading (AMR) communication options to fit every deployment scenario.
Vision Metering offers a number of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) / Advanced Meter Reading (AMR) communication options to fit every deployment scenario
What is the Lora Alliance®?
The LoRa Alliance® is an open, non-profit association of members that believes the Internet of Things (IoT) era is now. It was initiated by industry leaders with a mission to standardize Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) being deployed around the world to enable Internet of Things (IoT), machine-tomachine (M2M), smart city, and industrial applications. The Alliance members will collaborate to drive the global success of the LoRaWAN® protocol, by sharing knowledge and experience to guarantee interoperability between operators in one open global standard.
In the US, LoRa® operates in the 900 MHz ISM bands. LoRa® is a proven technology with AES 128 encrypted security from end to end. The user’s data is embedded in the LoRa® stack and can be from 11 bytes to 242 bytes. Range is at its maximum when small data packets are used. Higher data packets shorten the range of transmission.
LoRa® radios are ideally suited for electric, gas and water meter reading. They very low power, with long range, up to 20 miles, and economical. A system that uses LoRa® opens the door to multiple possibilities because the radios and gateways are made by many manufacturers and all communicate together. The Electric Utility Industry has wrestled with developing a standard protocol that allowed all manufacturers to play. Even today’s systems lock a utility into solely controlled protocol operated by one vendor. LoRa® is truly open and anyone can play.
The LoRa® radios transmit at about 100 ma or roughly 20 to 22 dbm. Longer distances can be covered with slower data rates and small packets. The LoRaWAN® network operates in a Star configuration (point to point). Ideally the network would be arranged where each end device can hit 2 or 3 Gateways for redundancy. There are many LoRaWAN® network operators that can handle the flow of data from your head end to the end device. You can also create your own network with the open technology.
- LoRa Alliance® Point to Point 20 mile range
- L + G Airpoint (up to 5 in one meter)
- Cat M1 Modem Meter on Verizon’s system
- Data on Demand, a Vision Product in use for 10 years
- Verizon Gridwide distributor and installer Modem
Legacy Drive-By AMR
High Power RF module (ERT equivalent)
- Programmable transmission rate (3-30 seconds)
- Up to 5 ERT radios per meter
- At the request of customers, Vision designed our meters to support 5 SCM IDs – while the industry standard remains 3
- TIM available for the Itron MV-90 System
- This allows the utility to bring back full TOU information
Data On Demand
Demand Management/Sub-Metering
Data on Demand is a very simple system designed to read your meters automatically as often as every one minute. Vision Meters, equipped with 900 Mhz radios, transmit a string of data on a routine basis, (typically every 10 seconds). The meter’s data will be collected by any DataGate installed within 1000 meters and within a clear line of sight. The DataGate can be connected to the Internet via Ethernet or information can be repeated via other DataGates. A direct connection can also be made to the DataGate from a nearby computer which also has a DataGate connected.
Once per minute the EndSight software will poll the DataGates to acquire all collected information. Vision’s singlephase, network and polyphase meters equipped with 900 Mhz radios will work in the Data on Demand System. The 20/20 Programming Software is used to select the data that the meter will transmit to the DataGate . Vision’s EndSight Software will collect, store and report all collected information. Data from EndSight can be exported to Excel and other spreadsheets.
EndSight is a powerful, easy to use software written by Vision Metering to collect information from the DataGates. It provides the ability to get real time data and detect system anomalies related to voltage and current.
- 900 MHZ RF
- Data on Demand-real time, fixed network system providing voltage, current, and power as often as 15 seconds intervals
- kWh
- Voltage (per phase)
- Current (per phase)
- Power factor
- kVAh
- kVARh
- Demand
- Extremely low infrastructure cost
- Data is collected via Vision Metering’s EndSight software
- Data also available using Modbus protocol for integration into building automation systems
- 1S, 120V, Class 100
- 2S, 240V or 480V, Class 200 or Class 320
- 3S, 240V, Class 20
- 4S, 240V, Class 20
- 5S, 120V/480V, Class 20
- 6S/36S, 120480V, Class 20
- 12S, 120/208V, Class 200
- 8S/9S, 120480V, Class 20
- 14S/15S/16S, 120480V, Class 200 or Class 320
- ANSI C12.12001 for electricity metering
- ANSI C12.101987 for watthour meters
- ANSI C12.20 1998 for solid state electricity meters
- ANSI C37.90.11989
- ANSI C12.18
- ANSI C12.19
Verizon Grid Wide
Vision Metering has partnered with Verizon Wireless to incorporate their Grid Wide Cat M1 modem into Vision’s Meter. Between the lower cost of the Cat M1 modem and Vision’s already low cost meters, a more cost effective solution is available to our mutual customers. Verizon’s Grid Wide solution offers customers a plug and play option for metering. The custimer only has to plug the meter in and the Grid Wide system does the rest. The Verizon Cat M1 modem is mounted to the Vision XT meter PCB and can be installed in all meter forms. An optional 200 amp switch is available in Form 2S and 12S meters. The meter/modem combination is also available as a UL listed device. Vision meters are equipped with 12 channels of Load Profile, TOU, Reactive, Net Metering, 4 quadrant metering, Demand, Voltage Sag & Swell and Current. There is no extra charge for and of the above functionality.
METER SPECIFICATIONS
- ANSI C12.18, C12.19, C12.20, & C37.90.1 Compliant
- Avialable Shielded Current Transformer(s) for magnetic tampering avoidance
- 120 - 480 Input Voltage
- 2 Channels Load Profile, TOU, Demand, Reactive, 4 Quadrant Metering, Net metering are Standard
- 400 events can be stored in the event Log
- Alternate Mode with programmable display values
- Accuracy Class +/- 0.2%
- Designed for 20 Year Life
- Battery options for Display, Ram, and Clock
- Continuous Instantaneous KW
- Uses Vision 20/20 Software for Programming (included with meters at no charge)
- 50/60 Hz +/- 5%
- 200 Amp Switch Option
- 30 Digit User Defined Security Key
- -40 to +85 Degree C Operation
- 5 to 95% Relative Humidity
Each upgrade in platform will give you increased functionality and additional features, including more communication options.
All meters are manufactured in York, SC and come with a full 2-year warranty. Vision’s easy to use 20/20 software is included at no charge with any meter purchase.
VISION Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) METERS
Vision CAT M1 Modem
Featuring LTE Cat M1 Modem
Vision Metering is proud to introduce a low cost solution for using the public wireless systems to meter residential, commercial and industrial customers. The LTE Cat M1 modem is data only making it significantly less expensive than 4G LTE modems. It is the perfect choice for Machine to Machine (M2M) communications.
Features:
- Time of Use
- KW, KVAR & KVA Demand
- Continuously Cumulative Demand
- 12 Channels of Load Profile
- Net Metering
- Much more...
Vision XT-E
Fully Loaded Meter
The XT Platform is the “fully-loaded” kWh meter offered by Vision. In addition to having all of the standard features of the ST platform, it also provides in-the-field Demand reads and it is compatible with multiple Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) solutions. This meter is ideal for systems utilizing kV billing or in need of a low-cost smart metering solution.
ALL VISION XT FEATURES PLUS:
- Verizon Grid Wide
- Remote Disconnect Under Glass
- Enhanced Power Supply
- Total Reactive Power (Q1-Q4)
- Multi-Platform compatible
Vision XT-UL
UL Approved, Fully Loaded Meter
The XT-UL Platform is the “fully-loaded” kWh meter offered by Vision. In addition to having all of the standard features of the ST platform, it also provides in-the-field Demand reads and it is compatible with multiple Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) solutions. This meter is ideal for systems utilizing kV billing or in need of a low-cost smart metering solution.
Features:
- kWH
- TOU
- Load Profile
- Demand
- Data On Demand
- L+G Airpoint (ERT)
- Bi-Directional
- Display Battery
- Dual Pulses
VISION METER PLATFORM COMPARISON
Vision XT
Fully Loaded Meter
The XT Platform is the “fully-loaded” kWh meter offered by Vision. In addition to having all of the standard features of the ST platform, it also provides in-the-field Demand reads and it is compatible with multiple Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) solutions. This meter is ideal for systems utilizing kV billing or in need of a low-cost smart metering solution.
Features:
- kWH
- TOU
- Load Profile
- Demand
- Data On Demand
- L+G Airpoint (ERT)
- Bi-Directional
- Display Battery
- Output Pulses
Vision ST
Feature Rich Electric Meter
The ST Platform offers additional capabilities to the kWh only metering of the LT platform. These extra features make it ideal for residential solar applications and radio-read systems. Available in ANSI Form 1S, 2S, 3S, 4S, 12S, & 25S
Features:
- kWH
- TOU
- Load Profile
- Demand
- Data On Demand
- L+G Airpoint (ERT)
- Bi-Directional
- Output Pulses
Vision LT
Standard kWH Meter
The LT Platform* offers a low cost option for kWh only metering applications. It is ideal for basic, one-way metering installations. Available in ANSI Form 1S & 2S
Features:
- kWH