Auto Reading Meter System
Overview of COLLECTRIC Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) System
The Collectric AMR system automates the collection of billing and other power profile data from individual meter installation and meets the requirement of a cost effective meter reading system without compromising accuracy or reliability. This system is built around unique Power Line Carrier Communication (PLC) technology, which enables it to operate in very hostile, and high interference environments and still work with low attenuation of signal over transmission.
The Collectric AMR system is an efficient system with following functions:

Remove meters
Improved billing efficiency
Prevention of non-technical losses, e. G., theft of electricity, incorrect billing or human errors
Capable of incorporating Time-Of-Day (TOD) Tariff system
Management of customer accounts, e. G., cut-off, analysis etc
Availability of data for statistical analysis
Elimination of non-productive labor
Reduced system maintenance

System Configuration
As clear from the schematic, AMR system comprises of three vital components - the remote unit that is nothing but Multifunction meters (Single phase or Three Phase), which is produced with UniqueIC chips, a data concentrator and lastly the base computing station. The meters deployed in this system are equipped with Power line carrier communication feature (PLCC) and through the power lines connecting these meters, data is transferred from the installation point to a Data Concentrator Unit (DCU) connected at the low voltage side of the distribution transformer. The data concentrators receives data from each Meter and stores the same in its memory and performs some elementary data processing functions and transfers the results to the Base Computing Station (BCS).

Each Data Concentrator Unit (DCU) is located on the low voltage side of the distribution transformer. It collects data at a predetermined programmable time and can handle data and control 1, 024 Energy meters through the power lines. The connection between meters and Concentrators is via proprietary narrow band PLC technology.

The BCS is primarily a desktop PC that collects data from all DCUs on the network. It receives the data for DCU through Telephone/GPRS/CDMA. This is achieved directly through a dial-up modem, which establishes the requisite connectivity for data transfer between BCS and the DCU. Every DCU is equipped with RS232C port for connecting any portable data transfer system like PDA or a Laptop or Notebook PC, using a standard serial cable. This can be used to retrieve data directly from a particular DCU. In either case, Base Station desktop or portable PC, both should run AMR for Windows software for data transfer.