Controller of Meters, Data Acquisition and Transmission

What a Data Acquisition Controller Does

A meter controller sits between the metering devices on site and the upper-level software. It reads pulse outputs and digital interfaces of meters, stores the readings and transmits them over a cellular, LoRaWAN or wired channel. The same device monitors the state of the remote object — leaks, temperature, cabinet opening, alarm signals — so one unit covers both commercial metering and basic dispatching of a site.

PUMA controllers are used to build automated information and measuring systems for commercial energy metering (AIMSCEM), resource accounting systems, Smart City projects and monitoring systems for remote facilities.

Supported Meters and Inputs

• Meters with RS-485: Mercury 203, Mercury 230, Mercury 234, AIST A100 and AIST A300 (PUMA 30.04 series).
• Pulse inputs: water meters and flow meters with pulse output, including NAMUR inputs.
• Sensors and alarms: leak sensors, external temperature sensors, security and alarm contacts, built-in lid opening sensor.
• Serial interfaces: RS-485 and RS-232 for metering devices and controllers of other manufacturers; 1-wire temperature sensors on PUMA 30.05.06 LoRaWAN and NB-IoT.

Battery-Powered PUMA 30.04 and DIN-Rail PUMA 30.05.06

The catalog has two main families. The choice depends on whether there is a power supply at the metering point.

PUMA 30.04: Autonomous Units for Remote Metering Points

PUMA 30.04 controllers run from a built-in lithium battery and need no external power. Five independent inputs accept pulse signals, NAMUR, security contacts and an external temperature sensor; meters with RS-485 connect directly. The polycarbonate IP65 enclosure and lid opening sensor protect the metering point from tampering. The LoRaWAN version also has a built-in magnetic sensor and accelerometer and transmits data over MQTT or CoAP with DTLS-PSK encryption.

PUMA 30.05.06: DIN-Rail Controllers for Switchboards

PUMA 30.05.06 controllers are installed on a 35 mm DIN rail and powered from a DC supply. They have two Ethernet ports, RS-485 and RS-232 and supply voltage outputs for external devices; on most models the interfaces have 1000 V galvanic isolation. LoRaWAN and NB-IoT versions add a hardware watchdog and are configured through a web interface.

Choosing a Communication Channel

PUMA controllers are available with several channels, so the same metering system can combine different sites:

• 3G or 4G cellular with two SIM cards — for sites where operator coverage is good and data volumes are larger. PUMA 30.05.06 3G, 4G and v2.8 (3G, Ethernet).
• NB-IoT — for battery-powered and DIN-rail controllers in basements and meter shafts; more devices in the Industrial NB-IoT Modules and Equipment section.
• LoRaWAN — for sites with their own LoRaWAN network; PUMA 30.05.06 LoRaWAN works as a Class C device with a range of up to 5 km in urban areas and up to 15 km in line of sight. See also Industrial LoRaWAN Equipment.
• Ethernet — where a local network is available; DIN-rail models have two ports.

Dual SIM and Wired Backup

Cellular PUMA 30.05.06 controllers take two SIM cards and also have Ethernet ports, so a site can keep a backup channel: if one operator or the wired network is unavailable, data is sent through the other.

Rack-Mounted and Interface Devices

Besides meter controllers, the section includes devices for specific tasks:

• PUMA 30.05.09 — a 1U 19″ rack unit for server rooms and telecom cabinets. It monitors up to 5 temperature and humidity points, smoke and liquid leaks, switches a controlled socket (load up to 12 A), has 4 PoE ports and sends data over TCP and SNMP.
• PUMA30 IRIDIUM — a controller for large metering points with up to 256 digital metering channels and a built-in clock accurate to ±1 s/day.
• PUMA 30.05.05 — a basic DIN-rail controller with two pulse metering channels and RS-485, powered from 18–72 V.

Interface Converter KI ERC-5.2

KI ERC-5.2 connects equipment with RS-232, RS-485 and 1-wire interfaces to an Ethernet network over UDP and TCP/IP. The interface type is selected with a built-in DIP switch, and interfaces have 1000 V galvanic isolation. Use it when existing meters or controllers need to be connected to a network without replacing them.

Integration and Supply

Data from PUMA controllers goes to the upper-level system — commercial energy metering, resource accounting or dispatching software. For a ready commercial energy metering system, see AIMSCEM. Meters for the system are available in the Resource Accounting Systems section, and other controller types are collected in Automation Controllers.

Quote for a Metering Project

Send us the number of metering points, the meter models and the communication channel available on site, and we will select the controllers and return a quote within one business day.

PUMA controllers ship from the JCOM IoT warehouse in Dubai (Dubai Digital Park, Dubai Silicon Oasis) to utility, industrial and commercial projects across the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and Asia.

Share the number of metering points, the meter models and the communication channel available on site, and JCOM IoT engineers will return a controller configuration with pricing within one business day.