Meter Selection

[goebelrj]

I am helping a customer select a metering solution to replace their existing metering. This is in the midwest on Alliant Energy's system. The customer has an existing Allen Bradley PLC/Automation system and is wanting a meter where they can pull in this data and in particular provide some visibility into the power factor for their facility. The old meters for the 5 services only have kW*hr available. Metering selection(s) are usually driven by utility requirements is my current understanding, which I'm in the process of digging through. In terms of grabbing data from revenue grade meters that can be utilized within a facility, can anyone comment on a meter and communication solution that might work to integrate with existing Allen Bradley automation platform?

This customer is also looking for some power factor correction and this is what is driving the need for visibility into power factor.

Thanks in advance.

 

[itsmoked]

Check this company's product selection. I bet they have what you need.
[URL unfurl="true"]http://www.ekmmetering.com/[/url]

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[dpc]

If these meters are actually used by the utility for billing purposes, the meters almost certainly belong to the utility and the utility will have to be involved in any replacement. From experience, I can say that you will have an uphill battle if you want to replace the utility meters with something that is not their standard. Metering departments are some of the most tradition-bound groups I've ever worked with (and I'm trying to be nice here). If these are not actual billing meters, you have a wide range of options. Check Electro Industries Shark Meter, Square D, Schweitzer, and many more.

 

[catserveng]

I just did a retrofit project with the Allen Bradley Power Monitor 1000 and ControlLogix PLC's, they met the customer's need to accuracy and amount of information, they purchased direct so I'm not sure of the cost.

I have also recently done a few system upgrades with the SEL 735, and brought metering data to Allen Bradley PLC's via Modbus TCPIP thru a ProSoft card, not the cheapest route but the customers were happy with the results.

But, as pointed out above, if your are trying to replace utility metering with something else you may be in for a fight. And if you want to add supplemental metering to an existing utility service you likely can't share PT's and CT's.

Maybe some more details on your system could get you some better answers?

Mike L.

 

[stevenal]

I'm confused. If the present revenue metering only provides kWh, why would you want to correct the pf? Nothing to be gained here, and possibly a lose when the utility realizes your customer has been incorrectly metered and undercharged per the applicable rate class.
Traditionally, data could be provided using a meter with KYZ pulse outputs. Now it would be more likely to be through a Zigbee radio link. Sharing of VTs (separately fused) has been approved. Sharing of CTs; nope.
No fighting involved at my local utility, just pay all the costs involved. Meters plus spare if non-stock, labor, vehicle charges, overhead, etc.)