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•Article: Dynamic Changes To The Realm Of Remote Monitoring

By Grant Van Hemert, P.E., Schneider Electric Water Wastewater Competency Center

For years, remote monitoring had few variables—radio, leased phone lines or dial-up phone lines. Regardless of which device was used, the communication from the device to the controller, or remote telemetry unit (RTU), was some form of RS-232- or RS-485-based serial protocol, such as Modbus®. Once the communication method was selected, a choice was made between a programmable controller, a smart RTU (a remote telemetry unit that offers pump control), or a dumb RTU (an RTU that cannot control pumps).

These options were easily implemented during new panel designs. However, some utilities and agencies found that these options restricted networking with existing relay and timer based hardwired panels.

Today's technology allows for greater flexibility. There are now three popular networks available for remote communication and six broad categories of devices that a water and wastewater utility can use for remote monitoring. Let's look at the networks first.

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•Article: Dynamic Changes To The Realm Of Remote Monitoring