Automated meter reading and meters

Automated Meter Reading (AMR) enables remote, quick and, if needed, frequent reading of utility meters – and keeps the need for human intervention and problems with building access to a minimum.

Battery applications

In gas, water and heat meters – as well as in heat cost allocators – batteries are needed to power the meter and generate the pulse output for the AMR module (when embedded in the device; otherwise the AMR unit comes with its own battery).

In mains-powered electricity meters, the batteries provide emergency back-up for memory and power the internal clocks used for triggering day–night tariff changes, for example.

Batteries may also power AMR add-ons and metering ancillary equipment like gas volume correctors, radio frequency (RF) signal repeaters and data loggers. They also power data concentrators for meters installed in the same building or the immediate neighbourhood. They are also installed in shut-down valves that operate both pre-payment units and act as a safety measure in the event of a gas leak, overflow or fire.

Saft battery advantages

• long operating life; as much as 15–20 years (to match the life of the meter itself)
• high capacity and low self discharge
• operation over a wide temperature range, making them ideal for meters installed outdoors which may experience temperatures between -40°C and +85°C. Heat cost allocators located close to boilers may be exposed to much higher temperatures.

In addition, the field and laboratory data collected by Saft over three decades has enabled us to develop a lifetime model that accurately predicts the life of the primary cells against the specific utilization profile in these demanding applications.

Rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) – Saft MP and Small VL- batteries are ideal for powering hand-held portable devices used for walk-by meter reading.