Mobile Telemetry for Remote Power Metering

Using mobile telemetry for remote power metering is a great solution for military bases, factories, or large campuses. It helps them monitor power use without needing fixed infrastructure. This application demonstrates a secure 4G LTE solution. It uses Digi industrial routers and the Acromag 989EN-4016. This setup enables real-time energy data collection from substations. This helps with auditing and optimisation.

The Challenge: Accessing Internal Power Usage Data

At a large military complex, electrical usage data is transmitted only to the external utility provider. The internal Public Works division required access to this information for energy audits and operational efficiency improvements. Due to installation constraints and physical barriers, wired data collection was not viable. A mobile telemetry system using 4G LTE routers was selected to overcome these limitations.

System Architecture

Key Components:

• Power Meter Pulse Output: Substation meters output 1 pulse per kWh.
• Acromag 989EN-4016: Reads pulse inputs (up to 8 counters) and converts data to Modbus TCP/IP.
• Digi IX20 or TX54 Router: Transmits data securely over a 4G LTE mobile network.

Step-by-Step Implementation

1. Private APN Configuration
   Set up a Private APN with a mobile carrier to assign internal, reserved IP addresses for secure device access.
2. Router IP Address Setup
   Assign each Digi IX20 or TX54 router a static internal IP (e.g., 10.0.0.20) and configure port forwarding.
3. Device Networking
   Use the same local IP (e.g., 192.168.1.1) for every Acromag 989EN-4016 unit across different sites. This standardises the setup and simplifies deployment.
4. Data Collection via Modbus TCP/IP
   The central server opens and closes a Modbus socket to retrieve the totalised pulse count from each field device in real time.
5. Multi-Site Expansion
   Add more remote sites by assigning new static IPs to each router (e.g., 10.0.0.21, 10.0.0.22, etc.) while keeping a unified device configuration.

Featured Products

• Acromag 989EN-4016
  • 16 digital input/output channels
  • Supports up to 8 high-speed counters
  • Converts pulses to Modbus TCP/IP over Ethernet
  • Designed for industrial telemetry applications
• Digi IX20 / Digi TX54 Industrial Routers
  • 4G LTE connectivity with dual SIM failover
  • Hardened for industrial and defence environments
  • Port forwarding and VPN for secure data transmission
  • Seamless integration with Digi Remote Manager®

Why Choose 4G LTE Mobile Telemetry for Remote Metering?

• No fixed infrastructure required
• Real-time access to field data
• Secure communications via Private APN and VPNs
• Scalable across multiple locations
• Simplified setup with unified device configuration

Conclusion

This mobile telemetry application demonstrates a cost-effective and reliable method for remote power metering monitoring across distributed substations. By using the Acromag 989EN-4016 with modern Digi 4G LTE industrial routers, facilities can securely access pulse data. This helps in smarter energy management.

Application provided by Acromag. Updated 7.5.2025 to show 4G Network availability instead of 3G. Digi products must be checked to ensure they pair correctly with Acromag products.

For product availability, local support, and technical assistance in Australia, contact Metromatics — the authorised distributor of Acromag

Acromag 989EN-4016 16 DIO / Up to 8 Counters