Qualified Electricians Only

Any meter should be installed by qualified electricians only. WattMetrics cannot provide support or instruction for the installation of electricity meters.

Retrofits

WattMetrics can connect to an existing PM800 meter, if one has already been installed. If a new meter is to be installed, the meter cannot be preset with a production total. WattMetrics cannot apply production offsets to PM800 meters.

RS485 or Ethernet

PM800 meters come standard with support for RS485 communications. Communication via Ethernet is available as an option (with the PM8ECC or equivalent card for the PM800). WattMetrics can communicate the meter via either method. Using RS485 avoids the cost of the extra option on the meter. The Ethernet option costs more but allows greater flexibility in the physical location of the meter and WattMetrics Agent.

Please specifiy RS485 or Ethernet when ordering support for PM800 meters from WattMetrics.

Connecting to a WattMetrics Agent via Ethernet

1.  Using a Residential or Commercial WattMetrics Agent:

• Make sure the PM800 has the PM8ECC communications card installed.

• Follow the manufacturer's instructions to properly configure the PM800 for Modbus TCP communication, including the assignment of a static IP address to the meter by the local network administrator (a static IP is not necessary for the WattMetrics Agent).

• The WattMetrics Agent and the PM800 meter must be on the same subnet of the same Ethernet network, i.e. if the meter IP address is 10.80.200.xxx, then the agent IP address must be 10.80.200.xxx.

• Once the meter and the WattMetrics Agent are on the same network (and subnet), no other connection is required. The Agent will automatically discover all PM800 meters on the same network and subnet.

2.  Finish installing the agent as outlined in the "installing agents" section of this manual.

3.  If the meter is not wired to measure production:

• If the meter is wired to measure energy demand (or net demand), the installer must mark the meter as being a "demand" or "net demand" meter via the WattMetrics projects portal.

Connecting to a WattMetrics Agent via RS485

1. Using a Residential or Commercial WattMetrics Agent:

• Follow the manufacturer's instructions to properly configure the PM800 for Modbus RTU communication (see the illustration at right). 

• Make sure the COM address of each meter to be monitored is unique.

• The baud rate should be set to 9600, parity set to 'none'.

3a.  If a WattMetrics Residential agent is being used:

• Connect the USB end of the cable provided by WattMetrics to one of the USB ports on the agent.

• Connect the bare wires at the other end of the cable to the RS485 terminal on the PM800, as outlined in the PM800 instruction manual (see the illustration at right).

3b.  If a WattMetrics Commercial agent is being used:

• Use shielded CAT5/6 cable to connect the agent to the RS485 terminal on the PM800, as outlined in the PM800 instruction manual.

4.  Finish installing the agent as outlined in the "installing agents" section of this manual.

3. If the meter is not wired to measure production:

• If the meter is wired to measure energy demand (or net demand), the installer must mark the meter as being a "demand" or "net demand" meter via the WattMetrics projects portal.