Remote Meter Reading

The Meter Reading problem

Utilities are constantly seeking tools for improving operations and reducing costs.

The reading of inaccessible meters is one of the most challenging activities facing utility management. With rising safety concerns, increasing theft and diversion, and more dual-income households resulting in poor access, the manual reading of even a small number of indoor meters can be a major source of operational problems. Full-scale AMR programs are an obvious solution; in many cases, however, a focused, selective approach can provide a tremendous improvement in efficiency at very low cost.

The Hexagram strategy

The Hexagram Compumatic® system solves the no-access problem. The result is system-wide savings without the substantial expense and effort associated with other electronic meter-reading systems. With fixed-network approaches, system-wide conversion is necessary. Even a "drive-by" AMR system usually requires the costly conversion of all meters in the system, including those that are easily read. With the Compumatic system, however, only inaccessible or difficult-to-read meters are converted.

The Compumatic® Product

The key component of the Hexagram Compumatic Remote System is a sealed, weather-resistant, unobtrusive module which is mounted outside the structure in a location that is accessible to the meter reader. The module is wired to the utility meter and records and stores usage data. In addition it stores the customer ID number which has been programmed at the time of installation.

Hexagram Compumatic Modules are compatible with all gas, electric, and water meters that provide a "pulse" output. Hexagram can provide sensors that will adapt to most meters.

When the meter reader wishes to obtain a read, a properly equipped hand-held terminal is brought to within 1/2" of the module. Within one second the hand-held interrogates the meter module and acquires the meter reading, account number, and tamper status. The hand-held will reliably read the module through ice, paint or even glass.

Reading Hexagram modules

The hand-held terminals supplied by major vendors can be equipped to interrogate Compumatic modules. Once stored by the hand-held, the meter data is processed by the system software just as if it had been manually entered; few system changes are necessary. Please contact Hexagram or your hand-held vendor for more information on interface capabilities.

On occasions where modules are to be read by supervisory or service personnel, the small, inexpensive Hexagram MiniReader is available.