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EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Basic Programming Concepts

August 22, 2018 – Track C – Chris Lindsay-Smith

NWEMS

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Agenda

● Programming software

● Computer maintenance tasks

● Windows update

● Antivirus and anti-malware

● Device manager

● Discuss items in a demand and bidirectional meter program

● Differences between single-phase and three-phase meter confgurations

● Retrieving data from meter after it is programmed

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Meter Programming Software

● In order to confgure a solid-state electric meter it is necessary to use software to send the confguration to the meter

● Typically done at the utility metershop or in the feld with an optical probe, wi-f, or zigbee dongle

● May be possible via remote communication

– AMI system, cellular, analog telephone, etc

● May need meter password or encryption key to successfully initialize or reconfgure a meter

● May need a username and password to start the programming software.

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Meter Programming Software

● Use the appropriate program for the type of meter being confgured

● Sign up for download capability before it is needed – don't wait until billing day!

● Develop a good method for tracking program changes and revision history

● Make sure all computers have the same version of confguration fles

● Keep a backup of meter programs

● Export to a location other than the computer being used for programming

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Keeping Up-to-Date

● Just as it is a good practice to keep the operating system up-to-date with security patches, it is also important to keep the meter programming software up-to-date

● Repairs software bugs

● Works with current operating system

● Avoids unforeseen issues in the feld

● Makes it easier to get timely technical support

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Computer Maintenance Tasks

● It is important to keep computers up-to-date by applying patches to the operating system and other applications on the computer

● Don’t just click on any link or fle that is sent. Look at the link and be sure it makes sense

● Device Manager in Windows control panel is helpful for determining which com port is assigned to various peripherals

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Demand Meter Program

● Let's discuss the construction of a demand meter program

● What are the typical components?

– Register confguration

– Method of demand calculation

– TOU calendar, if applicable

– Display items

– Diagnostic items

– Demand interval length (normal and test)

– Event log

– Communication confguration, if applicable

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Register Confguration

● The meter needs to be confgured as to what it will measure. This is commonly called the register confguration

● Wh delivered, for example, would be a register

● Differs from display confguration because it is setting the base quantity to be measured

– For example, meter can have Wh delivered as a register and Wh delivered off-peak on display

● If using meter for bi-directional or net measurement, those registers need to be selected

● Delivered typically means line-to-load from meter perspective

● Received typically means load-to-line from meter perspective

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Methods of Demand Calculation

● There are two types of demand calculation

● Block demand

– Maximum demand calculated as the maximum average value over the interval length

● Rolling demand

– Maximum demand calculated as the maximum average value within the subintervals over the interval length

● It is important to know what method of calculation is called out in your utility's tarriff so the meter can be properly programmed

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Methods of Demand Calculation

Time (minutes)

Pow

er (

kW)

60453015

10

3

8.5

Interval 1

Interval 2

Interval 3

Interval 4

Maximum Demand

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Methods of Demand Calculation

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Demand Interval Length

● Demand interval length is defned in the program

● Block demand requires only the length of the interval to be defned

● Rolling demand requires the interval length and number of subintervals to be defned

● Cold load pickup time can be defned

● Grace period before the meter begins to calculate demand

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Time of Use Registers

● Time of use (TOU) register(s) may be calculated in the meter

● Requires loading a TOU schedule which defnes seasons, day types, rate patterns, and holidays

● The active rate should show on the meter's display

● Program a demand reset at season change

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Meter Display

● The items to display on the meter are typically determined by the utility tariff document and the requirements of the meter reading department

● There are three modes

● Normal, alternate, and test

– Normal mode is what the meter cycles through “normally”

● Usually has load emulator and directional arrows for power fow– Alternate mode is used by the meter department

● Engaged by magnet or software– Test mode is used by the meter department and sometimes the

customer

● Test mode is a separate register used with doing phantom load meter test

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Meter Display

● Normal mode typically shows kWh and max kW

● A quantity code may be used to identify values

● Diagnostic information is typically in the other display modes

● Potential indicators

● Disk emulator (proportional to Kh)

● Show “primary” units

● TOU rate

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Meter Diagnostics

● One of the benefts of solid-state meters is the ability, with even a demand meter, to analyze the electric service

● Typical values include

● Phasor wheel

● Instantaneous W, VAR, VA

● Instantaneous per-phase V&I

● Polarity check

● Phase angle check

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Meter Diagnostics

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Event Log/Service Confguration

● The event log can be used to track changes to the meter

● In a non-time aware meter, one will know the event occurred, but not when

● Service confguration is used to tell the meter the sort of service to measure

● Typically auto-senses

● In a time aware meter, the method of clock synchronization can typically be set here

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Communications

● The meter may be programmable and have a communications module

● It is important to confgure it to transmit the proper register(s) and correct number of digits and decimals

● Other items to consider for confguring communications

● Baud rate

● Sequence of transmission

● Module ID number

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Types of Communication Modules

● AMI Radio Frequency (RF) (1-way or 2-way)

● Power Line Carrier (like TWACS or Turtle)

● Analog Telephone Modem

● Cellular Modem (2G, 3G, 4G)

● Ethernet (Cabled or Wi-Fi)

● ERT

EXCHANGING EXPERTISE SINCE 1893

Thank you for your attention

Any questions before concluding?