White Paper
Battery Life In Water Communication Modules
For water providers utilizing automated meter reading (AMR) technology or advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), battery longevity and the frequency of battery change-outs in the radiofrequency (RF)-based endpoints are critical factors in maximizing the benefits of these systems. The cost of replacing batteries—especially the labor portion—can have a huge impact on the total cost of the AMR or AMI system. When comparing technologies, utilities need to consider the total lifecycle cost, including battery replacements, in order to have a full understanding of true AMR or AMI system costs.
Critical to battery life is the frequency of transmission necessitated by the selected meter data collection system, whether it is a mobile AMR, fixed network AMI or hybrid (combination AMR/AMI) system. In designing AMR/AMI endpoint functionality, the laws of physics state.
Designing for extended battery life increases the long-term performance of AMR/AMI systems and minimizes costs related to system maintenance and battery replacement. This paper discusses battery longevity for the 50W-, 60W-, 100W-, and 200W –series water meter modules. Itron's battery predictions are based on understanding the physics of failure, modeling, lab tests and field tests on functional units.
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