Cloud based implementation of smart meter reading server

By adelekand, 12 December, 2024
Forums
General discussion

I have a requirement to build a HeadEnd Server to process meter readings from several meters. Our consideration is to build this as a cloud based solution. I have a of question regarding this as it is not my primary domain. How can we configure these meters in order to connect to a server hosted over the cloud through a TCP/IP connection. I have achieved this in the past for other IOT devices and would also like to implement this for smart meters?

adelekand

1 year 1 month ago

So, let me give more context,

We have a couple of meters that we want to configure. We are currently in the process of purchasing an optical cable in order to connect the meter to a PC. Is there a separate software needed in order to configure these meters and also which of the java projects should be used for the cloud implementation. From the repo i can see

gurux.dlms.client.example.java,
gurux.dlms.server.example.java,
gurux.dlms.push.listener.example,
gurux.dlms.simulator.java,
gurux.dlms.xmlClient

Kurumi

1 year 1 month ago

Hi,

You can use gurux.dlms.client.example.java to establish the connection to the meter and read the values.

gurux.dlms.server.example.java is a meter implementation.
gurux.dlms.push.listener.example can be used if the meter sends push (notification) messages.

BR,
Mikko

adelekand

1 year 1 month ago

So I am still a little bit confused here. We are looking to have a java server application that would be listening for connections on a socket connection. Then at intervals the meters would be connecting to it to send readings into the server application. So let's say every 10 minutes meters send energy readings to the application.

Kurumi

1 year 1 month ago

Hi,

You must implement socket listener by yourself and use with gurux.dlms.client.example.java a base application that reads the meter when the connection is established.

I need to warn you that DLMS is not an easy protocol and the meters are implemented differently. It would be best if you got the meter you want to read and use e.g. GXDLMSDirector to read it so you get a better idea of DLMS meters.
DLMS meters are much more than just devices that read a few values.

BR,
Mikko

adelekand

1 year ago

I have a follow up question. When it comes to the actual configuration, as this part hasn't been clear in all the documentations online.

Let's say I have created a backend application on an IP 198.X.X.X and it listens to TCP/IP or UDP on port 4XXX, If I have 10 meters, which have different GPRS enabled SIM cards in them (meaning they have dynamic or unknown ip addresses), how do I configure these 10 meters to be able to establish a connection to that IP address at let's say an interval of 10 mins to send energy readings into the application. Where does the GXDLMSDirector application fall into the picture with this. Can it be used to configure the physical meter devices to point to my server?

Kurumi

1 year ago

Hi,

Most of the DLMS meters use TCP/IP to send push messages. You can use GXDLMSDirector to configure the meter to establish the connection or implement that with Java.

https://gurux.fi/Gurux.DLMS.Objects.GXDLMSAutoConnect

DLMS is not an easy protocol and I think the best way to start is to get a DLMS meter and learn how to communicate with DLMS meters using GXDLMSDirector.

BR,
Mikko