| Rabbit 2000 Helps IntraCoastal Foil Power Theft |
With a little help from Rabbit, IntraCoastal System Engineering Corporation
is making inroads in foreign markets like never before. As leading providers
of Power Line Communications (PLC) and low-cost Automated Meter Reading
(AMR) systems, Vancouver-based IntraCoastal is helping utilities in developing
nations thwart revenue-draining power theft and more effectively manage
their electricity distribution networks.
IntraCoastal’s proprietary PLC system, based on spread spectrum
technology, detects illegal bypassing of utility meters, as well as any
physical tampering. Implementing AMR systems also eliminates the cost
and inefficiency of manual meter reading.
IntraCoastal selected the feature-packed Rabbit 2000™ microprocessor
to control the “concentrator” units that serve as vital data
management tools for the AMR system. Installed on the power pole—on
the secondary side of the system’s distribution transformer—the
concentrator is designed to collect and store information transmitted
by remote units fitted inside each electric meter.
“We’d been looking for a processor that would speed product
development,” says Jad Grewal, technical support specialist for
IntraCoastal. “We ran across the Rabbit while searching the web,
and it seemed to meet our needs. The high-level programming capabilities
on the Rabbit allow for easier data management, programming, and modifications
to the firmware.”
Located in the electrical center of the distribution grid, the concentrator
constantly scans the power lines looking for data packets being transmitted
by the remote units, which detect “events” such as reverse
power flow, episodic zero energy consumption, and meter disconnection
or bypassing. Once a data packet is identified and retrieved, the information
is time/date stamped and stored within memory in a table format. The Rabbit
2000 provides an hourly reading for each meter, ensuring true time-of-use
billing information and indicating if and when tampering has taken place.
When someone is attempting to “steal” power, the utility has
all the data it needs to take action.
The Rabbit’s four serial ports, meanwhile, are the conduits for
delivering and retrieving meter information. The microprocessor’s
built-in serial ports are connected to an RS-232 transceiver, which facilitates
data retrieval via multiple methods, including telephone or radio modems,
GSM or satellite devices, a direct connection using data loggers or computers,
and any other standard RS-232-compliant device.
“Information from the power line receiver sends an RS-232 signal
down to the Rabbit, and it stores all the data,” says Grewal. “The
Rabbit’s high memory capacity means we can store hourly readings
per day for 45 days. It also allows us to process information, perform
calculations, and keep records.” Though IntraCoastal has been developing
PLC solutions since 1994, the firm required for its newest line of AMR
systems a powerful microprocessor that would not only jumpstart development
but also accommodate upgrades. “The Rabbit added a lot of advantages
to our unit that it did not have before, such as upgradability and memory
storage,” said Grewal. “But the big bonus for us was that
our development time was basically cut in half.”
The new meter-reading system was completed in less time than any of
its predecessors. “To get to this stage took us about 8 months,
and that included making some modifications and testing it out with the
firmware,” says Grewal. “It was pretty easy to make the changes
that we needed.” Steady support from Rabbit staff throughout the
process made IntraCoastal a true believer. “We were sold on Rabbit
in part because of the assistance we were getting while attempting to
analyze the product,” he says. “We got better sales and technical
support out of Rabbit than we have from most other companies.”
IntraCoastal recently delivered the first batch of Rabbit-powered AMR
systems to Vietnam, where they will be imple-mented and evaluated by state-run
utilities. With approximately 25 million electric meters in Vietnam alone,
the potential is enormous, says Grewal. “We just shipped out 150
of the units, and we’ll be hearing back over the next year as to
how they are performing. We’re looking at another 1,000 units over
the next 3 years just in Vietnam.”
With a primary market focus on competitive and cost-conscious markets
in Asia, India, the Middle East, and South America, cost-effectiveness
is key for IntraCoastal. The Rabbit 2000’s low price helps IntraCoastal
provide affordable answers to its customers’ power line problems.
“Cost is always an issue when dealing with emerging countries,”
says Grewal. “They are extremely cost sensitive. But the fact that
we can offer high quality and still win on price is opening doors for
us right now in places like Peru and Iran.”
For more information: 604.717.6373 or www.intracoastal.net
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