LEM Announces Second Generation of Wi-LEM Wireless Sub-Metering Components
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Key points:
o Measurement of currents up to 2000ARMS
o New Wi-Pulse & Wi-Zone components allow monitoring of other utilities and environmental conditions
o Increased RF-range
o Wireless communication reduces time, cost and disruption during deployment
o Enables companies to increase efficiency and reduce cost of energy and water consumption
GENEVA, Switzerland and MILWAUKEE, WI - July 14, 2009 - LEM, the world's leading manufacturer of isolated current and voltage measurement components, today announced the extension of its Wi-LEM (Wireless Local Energy Meter) family to allow the remote measurement and monitoring of electricity, water and other metered utilities as well as temperature and humidity. It allows industrial and commercial enterprises to break down energy and water usage and identify areas of efficiency improvement. All the new Wi-LEM components feature a ten-fold increase of RF power from 1mW to 10mW, increasing the distance between nodes compared to the previous LEM generation of components.
By using the 802.15.4 wireless communication standard, which has proven reliability, and the use of split-core transducers, Wi-LEM greatly reduces the time, cost and disruption involved in deploying a sub-metering installation.
The Wi-Pulse is a new and additional dual-input pulse counter used to count and transmit pulses generated by utility meters. It can easily be connected to an existing Wi-LEM network, expanding the range of utilities that can be monitored - in addition to electricity. Wi-Pulse therefore enables readings from existing stand-alone water and energy utility meters and sub-meters with a pulse output to be monitored centrally using a Wi-LEM network. The new Wi-Zone is a temperature and humidity transducer that connects to a Wi-LEM network, allowing environmental conditions to be monitored. Both new devices are battery powered, simplifying installation as they require no external power supply. They also both feature an internal integrated antenna, making the transducers compact and ideal for retrofit applications.
The Wi-LEM family of Energy Meter Nodes (EMN) has also been enhanced to offer measurements of high currents up to 2000ARMS. EMNs provide much more information than a simple sub-meter as they measure active, reactive and apparent energy plus maximum current and minimum voltage. EMNs comprise an assembly of one to three current transducers with an integral signal-processing module. They can be deployed to measure energy consumption at any point in a power cabinet and transmit the data. High-accuracy and compact size is provided by the use of split-core Rogowski coils, which also simplify installation.
All three new units work with LEM's established Mesh Node and Mesh Gate to ensure compatibility with existing solutions. The Mesh Node is a repeater linking various nodes to provide reliable wireless communication in larger installations. It can be added to the network without any need for additional configuration or programming. The Mesh Gate is a stand-alone wireless network management gateway that connects the robust self-configuring mesh network of transducers with a PC. Each Mesh Gate allows the monitoring of up to 200 EMNs.
LEM
LEM is a market leader in providing innovative and high quality solutions for measuring electrical parameters. Its core products - current and voltage transducers - are used in a broad range of applications in industrial, traction, energy, automation and automotive markets. LEM's strategy is to exploit the intrinsic strengths of its core business, and develop opportunities in new markets with new applications. LEM is a mid-size, global company with approximately 900 employees worldwide. It has production plants in Geneva (Switzerland), Machida (Japan), Beijing (China), plus regional sales offices, and offers a seamless service worldwide. Further information is available at: www.lem.com.
For further information please contact:
Suzanne Hochheimer
Corporate Communications Manager
Tel: +41 22 706 1257
E-Mail: SuH@lem.com
Website: www.lem.com
or
Andrea Doeringer
Hart-Boillot, LLC
Tel: +1 781 893 0053
E-Mail: adoeringer@hartboillot.com
