CSG’s Infrared-based Automatic Meter Reading Project

Background
China Southern Power Grid Company Limited (CSG) is one of the two state-owned enterprises in the power system. It takes charges of participating in the investment, construction and management of power transmission, transformation and distribution covering southern China's five southern provinces.
 
Challenges

• Large number of electric transmission produces heaven workload and expense of meter reading.

• CSG needed to send employees periodically to each physical location to read a meter.

• Meter readers record data manually on site and enter it to computer back to the office. This process increases the chance for human error.

 
Solution
Shenzhen Chainway Information Technology Co., Itd (Chainway), the leading manufacturer of IoT devices including handheld computers, offer CSG IR-enabled handheld device C71. IR stands for infrared, which can receive meter readings automatically from an infrared capable meter. In case of the meter’s IR transceiver not functioning, meter reader scans the 1D barcode of the meter to ensure its number, and manually enters visual readings for transferring to a backend system on C71wirelessly.
 
Effects

• Automatic meter reading is realized.

• IR-based meter reading eliminates the inconvenience of meter readers entering private properties, or locating and opening an underground meter pit. Carrying C71, meter reader walks by the locations where meters are installed as they go through their meter reading route.

• The flow of real-time data makes grid connected and smart. It provides real-time billing information, reduces human errors and disputes.

 
PDA Configuration
P/N: C71 Infrared
Functions: Infrared, 1D, NFC, Camera, 4G, GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi