Monnit ALTA User manual

ALTA Wireless 150 Amp Current Meter

User Guide

Table of Contents

I. ABOUT THE WIRELESS 150 AMP AC CURRENT METER 1

ALTA WIRELESS 150 AMP AC CURRENT METER FEATURES 1

EXAMPLE APPLICATIONS 1

III. REGISTRATION

REGISTERING A CURRENT METER

IV. SETTING UP THE 150 AMP AC CURRENT METER

INSTALLING BATTERIES

V. SENSOR OVERVIEW

MENU SYSTEM

SUPPORT

WARRANTY INFORMATION

PAGE II

II. CURRENT METER SECURITY

CURRENT METER COMMUNICATION SECURITY

DATA SECURITY ON THE GATEWAY

iMONNIT SECURITY 2

MOUNTING THE SENSOR 5

ANTENNA ORIENTATION 5

CERTIFICATIONS 15

I. ABOUT THE WIRELESSS 150 AMP AC CURRENT METER

The ALTA wireless AC Current Meter measures the RMS current of an alternating current

(AC) system using a current transformer (CT) that wraps around the “hot” wire of a two wire

(hot, common, ground(optional)) power system. The sensor reports Minimum RMS current,

maximum RMS current, average RMS current, and amp hours to the iMonnit system. The

iMonnit system is capable of generating watt hour or kilowatt hour readings as well.

PAGE 1

ALTA WIRELESS 150 AMP AC CURRENT METER FEATURES

• Wireless range of 1,200+ feet through 12+ walls *

• Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS)

• Interference immunity

• Power management for longer battery life **(12+ years on AA batteries)

• Encrypt-RF® Security (Di󰀩e-Hellman Key Exchange + AES-128 CBC for sensor

data messages)

• Onboard data memory stores up to hundreds of readings per sensor:

- 10-minute heartbeats = 3.5 days

- 2-hour heartbeats = 42 days

• Over-the-air updates (future proof)

• Free iMonnit basic online wireless sensor monitoring and notication system to

congure sensors, view data and set alerts via SMS text and email

* Actual range may vary depending on environment.

** Battery life is determined by sensor reporting frequency and other variables. Other power options are also

available.

EXAMPLE APPLICATIONS

• Current Monitoring

• Current Usage

• Amperage Monitoring

• Amp Hour Meter

• Measures amp hours, max RMS current, min RMS current, and average RMS current

• Two di󰀨erent current transducers available:

• Low Current: 0-20 amp

• High Current: 0-150 amp

• Capable of generating watt hour or kilowatt hour readings using iMonnit

• Data logging for accumulated amp hour readings

• Can notify based on current levels or changes in current levels

• Simple and safe installation of current/power

measurement hardware, no rewiring required

To measure current, clip the CT around only a single wire of the AC system (clipping around

a hot and neutral wire at the same time will result in 0 current readings). After the sensor

powers on and connects to the gateway it will begin taking measurements based on the

averaging interval (5 seconds default). It will report data to iMonnit every heartbeat or if the

current goes outside of the aware thresholds set in iMonnit. The sensor reports amp hours,

max RMS current, min RMS current, and average RMS current. iMonnit can also generate

watt hour or kilowatt hour readings if a default RMS voltage is set in iMonnit.

iMONNIT SECURITY

iMonnit is the online software and central hub for conguring your device settings. All

data is secured on dedicated servers operating Microsoft SQL Server. Access is granted

through the iMonnit user interface, or an Application Programming Interface (API)

safeguarded by 256-bit Transport Layer Security (TLS 1.2) encryption. TLS is blanket of

protection to encrypt all data exchanged between iMonnit and you. The same encryption

is available to you whether you are a Basic user of Premiere user of iMonnit. You can rest

assured that your data is safe with iMonnit.

PAGE 2

II. CURRENT METER SECURITY

The ALTA Wireless 150 Amp AC Current Meter has been designed and built to securely man-

age data from sensors monitoring your environment and equipment. Hacking from botnets

are in the headlines, Monnit Corporation has taken extreme measures to ensure your data

security is handled with the utmost care and attention to detail. The same methods utilized by

nancial institutions to transmit data are also used in Monnit security infrastructure. Security

features of the gateway include tamper proof network interfaces, data encryption, and bank-

grade security.

Monnit’s proprietary sensor protocol uses low transmit power and specialized radio

equipment to transmit application data. Wireless devices listening on open communication

protocols cannot eavesdrop on sensors. Packet level encryption and verication is key

to ensuring tra󰀩c isn’t altered between sensors and gateways. Paired with best-in-class

range and power consumption protocol, all data is transmitted securely from your devices.

Thereby ensuring a smooth, worry-free, experience.

CURRENT METER COMMUNICATION SECURITY

Monnit current meter to gateway secure wireless tunnel is generated using ECDH-256

(Elliptic Curve Di󰀩e-Hellman) public key exchange to generate a unique symmetric key

between each pair of devices. Meters and gateways use this link specic key to process

packet level data with hardware accelerated 128-bit AES encryption which minimizes

power consumption to provide industry best battery life. Thanks to this combination,

Monnit proudly o󰀨ers robust bank-grade security at every level.

DATA SECURITY ON THE GATEWAY

The ALTA gateways are designed to prevent prying eyes from accessing the data that is

stored on the sensors. Gateways do not run on an o󰀨 the shelf multi-function OS (operating

system). Instead they run a purpose specic real-time embedded state machine that cannot

be hacked to run malicious processes. There are also no active interface listeners that

can be used to gain access to the device over the network. The fortied gateway secures

your data from attackers and secures the gateway from becoming a relay for malicious

programs.

III. REGISTRATION

PAGE 3

If this is your rst time using the iMonnit online portal, you will need to create a new

account. If you have already created an account, start by logging in. For instructions on

how to register for an iMonnit account, please consult the iMonnit User Guide viewable at

monnit.com/support/documentation.

REGISTERING THE CURRENT METER

You will need to enter the Device ID and the Security Code from your 150 Amp AC Current

Meter in the corresponding text boxes. Use the camera on your smartphone to scan the

QR code on your sensor and gateway. If you do not have a camera on your phone, or the

system is not accepting the QR code, you may enter the Device ID and Security Code

manually.

• The Device ID is a unique number located on each device label.

• Next you’ll be asked to enter the Security Code (SC) on your device. A security

code will be all letters and must be entered in upper case, no numbers. It can also

be found on the barcode label of your gateway.

When completed, select the “Submit” button.

IV. SETTING UP YOUR 150 AMP AC CURRENT METER

INSTALLING BATTERIES

ALTA commercial current meters are powered by AA batteries. Industrial sensors need a

3.6V Lithium battery supplied from Monnit or another industrial battery supplier. Monnit

encourages customers to recycle all old batteries.

When you are nished adding the sensor to your account, the next step is to insert the

battery. The type of battery you use will depend on the category of your sensor. ALTA

Wireless 150 Amp AC Current Meter will either be powered by commecial coin cell, AA, or

an industrial battery.

AA Batteries

The standard version of this current meter is powered by

two replaceable 1.5 V AA sized batteries (included with

purchase). The typical battery life is 10 -12 years.

This current meter is also available with a line power

option. The line powered version of this meter has a

barrel power connector allowing it to be powered by

a standard 3.0–3.6 V power supply. The line powered

version also uses two standard 1.5 V AA batteries as

backup for uninterrupted operation in the event of line

power outage.

Power options must be selected at time of purchase,

as the internal hardware of the meter must be changed to support the selected power

requirements.

Place batteries in the device by rst taking the meter and sliding the battery door open.

Insert fresh AA batteries in the carriage, then shut the battery door.

Complete the process by opening up iMonnit and selecting Sensors from the main

navigation menu. Verify that iMonnit is showing the meter has a full battery level.

PAGE 4

Industrial Batteries

3.6V Lithium batteries for the Industrial Wireless 150 Amp AC

Current Meter is supplied by Monnit. The ALTA battery life for

the Industrial battery is 10 – 12 years.

Install the battery by taking the sensor and unscrewing the

four screws at the corners. Tuck-in a fresh battery in the

carriage, then adjust clips to hold the battery in place.

Open iMonnit and select Sensors from the main navigation

menu. Verify that iMonnit is showing the sensor has a full

battery level. Replace the battery door by screwing in the

four corners.

In order for the meter to function properly, you will need to attach the included antenna.

Simply screw the antenna onto the barrel connector on the top of the device. Make sure

to snug the antenna connection, but do not over tighten. When placing the meter, make

sure to mount the sensor with the antenna oriented straight up (vertical) to ensure the best

wireless radio signal.

Since the electronics are sealed within the meter housing, we have added an "On/O󰀨"

switch to the unit for your convenience. If you are not using the meter, simply leave the

button in the o󰀨 position to preserve battery life. If the meter needs to be reset for any

reason, you can simply cycle the power by turning the switch to the "O󰀨" position and

waiting 30 seconds before powering back on.

PAGE 5

ANTENNA ORIENTATION

In order to get the best performance out of your ALTA Wireless Current Meter, it is important

to note proper antenna orientation and sensor positioning. Antennas should all be oriented

in the same direction, pointing vertically from the sensor. If the sensor is mounted at on its

back on a horizontal surface, you should bend the antenna as close to the sensor housing

as possible giving you the most amount of antenna pointing vertical. You should make the

antenna wire as straight as possible, avoiding any kinks and curving of the wire. Sensors

must be at least 3 ft. away from other sensors and the wireless gateway to function.

More Signal

Less Signal

PAGE 6

V. CURRENT METER OVERVIEW

Select Sensors from the main navigation menu on iMonnit to access the sensor overview

page and begin making adjustments to your 150 Amp AC Current Meter.

MENU SYSTEM

Details - Displays a graph of recent current meter data.

History - List of all past heartbeats and readings.

Events - List of all events attached to this current meter.

Settings - Editable levels for your current meter.

Calibrate - Reset readings for your current meter.

Scale - Change the scale of readings for your current meter.

Directly under the tab bar is an overview of your current meter. This allows you to see the

signal strength and the battery level of the selected meter.

• indicates the meter is checking in and within user dened safe parameters.

• indicates the meter has met or exceeded a user dened threshold or triggered event.

• indicates that no meter readings are being recorded, rendering the meter inactive.

Details View

The Details View will be the rst page you see upon selecting which meter you would like to

modify.

A. The meter overview section will be

above every page. This will display

the present reading, signal strength,

battery level, and status.

B. This graph charts how the meter

uctuates throughout a set date

range. To change the date range

displayed in the graph, navigate up to

the top of the Readings Chart section

on the right-hand corner to change

the from and/or to date.

C. The Recent Readings section

below the chart shows your most

recent data received by the meter.

D. Battery Life displays the current

battery percentage remaining.

E. The Average Signal shows the

most common signal strength of your

meter. Low signal strength could be

a sign the placement of your sensor

should be adjusted.

F. The pie chart in the Aware or Not Aware Section displays the percentage of aware states

your meter has entered since activation.

History View

Selecting the “History” tab within the tab bar allows you to view the meter’s data history as

time stamped data.

• On the far right of the meter history data is a cloud icon. Selecting this icon will

export an excel le for your sensor into your download folder.

Note: Make sure you have the date range for the data you need input in the “From” and “To” text boxes. This will be

the most recent week by default. Only the rst 2,500 entries in the selected date range will be exported.

The data le will have the following elds:

MessageID: Unique identier of the message in our database.

SensorID: If multiple meters or sensors are exported you can distinguish which reading

was from which using this number even if the names for some reason are the same.

Sensor Name: The name you have given the meter.

Date: The date the message was transmitted from the meter.

Value: Data presented with transformations applied but without additional labels.

Formatted Value: Data transformed and presented as it is shown in the monitoring portal.

Battery: Estimated life remaining of the battery.

Raw Data: Raw data as it is stored from the sensor.

Sensor State: Binary eld represented as an integer containing information about the state

or the meter when the message was transmitted. (See “Sensor State Explained” below).

Gateway ID: The Identier of the gateway that relayed the data from the meter.

Alert Sent: Boolean indicating if this reading triggered a notication to be sent from the

system.

Signal Strength: Strength of communication signal between the meter and the gateway,

shown as percentage value.

PAGE 7

Voltage: Actual voltage measured at the meter battery used to calculate battery percentage,

similar to Received Signal you can use one or the other or both if they help you.

State

The integer presented here is generated from a single byte of stored data. A byte consists

of 8 bits of data that we read as Boolean (True (1)/False (0)) elds.

Using a temperature sensor as an example.

If the sensor is using factory calibrations the Calibrate Active eld is set True (1) so the bit

values are 00010000 and it is represented as 16.

If the sensor is outside the Min or Max threshold, the Aware State is set True (1) so the bit

values are 00000010 and it is represented as 2.

If the customer has calibrated the sensor this eld the Calibrate Active eld is set False

(0) AND the sensor is operating inside the Min and Max Thresholds, the bits look like

00000000 this is represented as 0.

If the sensor is using factory calibrations and it is outside the threshold the bit values are

00010010 and it is represented as 18 (16 + 2 because both the bit in the 16 value is set

and the bit in the 2 value is set).

Note: These two are the only bits that typically observed outside of our testing procedures.

PAGE 8

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