Multiple Panel System

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CountFred
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 1:52 pm

Multiple Panel System

Post by CountFred » Thu Jan 19, 2017 2:11 pm

I've got 3 panels in my system.

The primary panel is with the meter on a pole 50' from any building. In it are:

200A circuit going to the house subpanel
100A circuit going to the shop subpanel
50A circuit going to a hot tub
several 20-30 A circuits to various outbuildings

In the near term I want to monitor the above. Eventually I will also want to monitor most of the circuits on the 200A subpanel. I'm willing to treat the 100A shop panel as a single data point, rather than break it down.

Because my primary panel is outside, I will need to build a weatherproof enclosure for whatever device I put out there, so I'm trying to keep that as compact as possible.

My thought is to have an ECM-1240 at the primary pole monitoring:
- 200A with 2x split CT-200 combined on Channel 1
- 100A with 2x Micro-100 combined on Channel 2
- 50A with 1x Micro-50 on Aux1
- 4x 20A circuits each with 1x Micro-50 on Aux2 - Aux5

This would be connected via ZigBee to a DashBox located inside the house near the 200A subpanel.

The DashBox would be connected to my network via a WiFi stick.

Eventually I'd add a GEM for the 200A subpanel and connect it via serial to the DashBox.

Does this make sense? Am I missing anything? Is there a better way to do this? Or a cheaper way to do it? This seems to be around $600 for the above CT, ECM, and DashBox.

I'd prefer to keep the DashBox inside to keep my equipment enclosure on the pole as small as possible. I'm also not sure my WiFi will reach all the way to the DashBox if it were on the pole. Running an underground ethernet cable would be a pain and risk crossing all the utilities to get there and I'd just rather not.

Couple other questions:

1. Do all DashBox units come with ZigBee? Some documents seem to make it sound like it's optional, but I don't see any indication on the store page how to add this option.

2. I see a note indicating all Micro-CTs must be Micro-100 or Micro-50 if any of them are for the ECM-1240. Is this correct?

3. Do I need any resistors to support the CTs I have outlined above?
Teken
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Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2010 4:09 pm
Location: The Bad Lands

Re: Multiple Panel System

Post by Teken » Thu Jan 19, 2017 3:09 pm

As far as I am aware ZigBee is no longer an option for the Dash Box. Brultech will need to comment on that portion and whether or not its still available for purchase. What is the distance from the pole to the final placement of the Dash Box?

As there are many factors which will impact the reliability of the wireless signal.
Teken . . .

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CountFred
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 1:52 pm

Re: Multiple Panel System

Post by CountFred » Thu Jan 19, 2017 9:41 pm

It's about 30'. So I guess marginally doable via a buried RS-232 cable. Again, I don't like the notion of digging there, but if wireless is not an option, I suppose I could.

I don't think I get very good WiFi signal out there and would rather not put the DashBox out in the events (even inside an enclosure) unless I have to.
Teken
Posts: 2700
Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2010 4:09 pm
Location: The Bad Lands

Re: Multiple Panel System

Post by Teken » Thu Jan 19, 2017 10:14 pm

I'm not sure how a 30 foot run would impact the RS-232 signal considering the OEM cable is only 3-4 feet. If you decide to go this route ensure the cable is of sufficient gauge and shielded. Assuming the ZigBee radio is still available you can always purchase a ZigBee repeater for the energy profile not home automation.


=========================

The highest calling in life is to serve ones country faithfully - Teach others what can be. Do what is right and not what is popular.
Teken . . .

My ongoing projects thread: http://www.brultech.com/community/viewt ... ?f=2&t=929
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CountFred
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 1:52 pm

Re: Multiple Panel System

Post by CountFred » Fri Jan 20, 2017 1:07 am

Nominally RS-232 will run up to 50' (for 19200 baud), but I know it's sensitive to capacitance of the cable. However, it occurred to me that I may be skipping over the obvious point that there's no reason the DashBox can't be mounted half-way in-between. It would be at a random point along the garage wall, but then 15-20' from both the ECM and the GEM.

It will mean I still have some digging to do, which I always dislike, and need to find a cable I can re-attach the end to, in order to fit down conduit and through my wall. But if the DashBox is no longer available with ZigBee that is sounding like my best option.

Sometimes I just go to think through solutions in public :P

Now to source an appropriately long high-quality RS-232 cable I can bury in a conduit.

That still leaves my other two questions:

2. I see a note indicating all Micro-CTs must be Micro-100 or Micro-50 if any of them are for the ECM-1240. Is this correct? I know the System 1 package comes with 2 80A CTs which would be enough current wise, if they'd fit the wire size of my 100A shop wires. If not, then it sounds like if I want a set of Micro-100s I've got to replace most of the CTs from that package.

3. Do I need any resistors to support the CTs I have outlined above?

Thanks.
CountFred
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 1:52 pm

Re: Multiple Panel System

Post by CountFred » Fri Jan 20, 2017 1:35 am

Ok, I found the CT Settings document and the resistor specs. Somehow I missed this before.

But I'm still not understanding the "ECM-1240: (All AUX channels must be Micro-50s/100s)." statement on the store page.
Teken
Posts: 2700
Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2010 4:09 pm
Location: The Bad Lands

Re: Multiple Panel System

Post by Teken » Fri Jan 20, 2017 9:09 am

CountFred wrote:Nominally RS-232 will run up to 50' (for 19200 baud), but I know it's sensitive to capacitance of the cable. However, it occurred to me that I may be skipping over the obvious point that there's no reason the DashBox can't be mounted half-way in-between. It would be at a random point along the garage wall, but then 15-20' from both the ECM and the GEM.

It will mean I still have some digging to do, which I always dislike, and need to find a cable I can re-attach the end to, in order to fit down conduit and through my wall. But if the DashBox is no longer available with ZigBee that is sounding like my best option.

Sometimes I just go to think through solutions in public :P

Now to source an appropriately long high-quality RS-232 cable I can bury in a conduit.

That still leaves my other two questions:

2. I see a note indicating all Micro-CTs must be Micro-100 or Micro-50 if any of them are for the ECM-1240. Is this correct? I know the System 1 package comes with 2 80A CTs which would be enough current wise, if they'd fit the wire size of my 100A shop wires. If not, then it sounds like if I want a set of Micro-100s I've got to replace most of the CTs from that package.

3. Do I need any resistors to support the CTs I have outlined above?

Thanks.
- I would see what Brultech has to say about the ZigBee portion before giving up. You never know they might still have the components for the DB on hand for sale.

- Cable: The OEM cable is simply a three conductor 24 AWG stranded cable. Some have used CAT5e / CAT6 Ethernet for the very same. Since this will be buried you will need to insure what ever cable you use is so rated. Since this cable will run through conduit you still need to ensure its rated as such. Since its easier to find 22-4 alarm wire / Ethernet cable rated for both if you need to focus upon looking for this type of cable.

Always run a extra pair of cable just in case and leave the pull string . . .
Teken . . .

My ongoing projects thread: http://www.brultech.com/community/viewt ... ?f=2&t=929
Buy me a cup of coffee: https://www.paypal.me/Teken https://gfinotify.com/ Discount Code: PC10
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