Cannon Technologies, Inc. has announced the availability of a versatile automated meter reading (AMR) device designed for remote reading of popular digital polyphase meters in four to six seconds over utility-owned power lines. The multivoltage/multiprotocol MCT-470 is the first "micro-RTU" capable of bi-directional serial communication with digital meters from different manufacturers over power distribution lines.
The MCT-470 supports Elster ALPHA Plus meters, Landis+Gyr S4 and S4e meters, and Itron SENTINEL meters, from a single cost-effective device at any of the standard meter voltages (120, 240, 277, and 480 V). Cannon Power Line Communication (PLC) features on-demand readings from these meters in four to six seconds, enabling the return of most data registers and the sending of certain configuration commands such as "demand reset," TOU register switch, and time synchronization.
The MCT-470 firmware can be upgraded in the field using the Cannon Technologies' Handheld Tester loaded with MCT-Minder software, which allows upgrading to additional protocols such as DNP 3.0, planned for the future.
The MCT-470 also features pulse and status inputs, plus trip/close control relays, putting the device into the micro-RTU class at a much lower cost due to the embedded power line communications. With this combination of inputs and relays, the MCT-470 can be used to control irrigation pumps, gen sets and downline reclosers in addition to bringing back metering information.
Cannon PLC also communicates with single-phase digital meters from popular manufacturers, demand response equipment, and capacitor bank controls, all over the same low-cost power line network.
