The M-Bus ("Meter-Bus") is a new European standard for remote
reading of heatmeters and it is also usable for all other types of
consumption meters as well as for various sensors and actuators.
With its standardization as a galvanic interface for
remote readout of heat meters this bus wins a great importance for the
energy industry as relevant users.
The remote reading of heat meters can take place in different
ways, beginnig with the classical method - manual reading by the
personnel of the providers - up to the remotely controlled
collection of all the meter values for a complete housing unit. The
latter
is a logical continuation/extension of the technical development of
consumption meters and is realizable with the help of the M-Bus.
Here some substantial characteristics of this interface are
mentioned regarding their new possibilities:
- The data (e.g. heat consumption) are read out
electronically
- At one single cable, which connects to a building controller all
consumption meters of a housing unit can be attached
- All meters are individually addressable
- Apart from the availability of the data at the controller also a
remote reading is possible
A set of advantages arise, both for the supply enterprises,
and for their customers:
- The reading is fast and avoids reading errors
- The data being present in machine-readable form makes the
further processing easier.
- A remote readout saves personnel expenditure, avoids
unnecessary penetration into the private sphere of the inhabitants and
permits to mount meters in places which are difficult to access.
- Short reading intervals are possible, which
reduces the problems with tenant change or tariff amendments
- Due to the short reading intervals statistical data can be obtained,
which can be used as a base for network optimization
The standardisation of the m-bus results in further
technical possibilities. In particular devices of different
manufacturers can be operated on the same bus; the users are free
therefore
in the choice of the manufacturer. On the other hand, a stimulation of
the
market can be expected, also regarding other m-bus
based counters, so that with the very variable
configuration options even difficult problems can be
solved.
In the development of the m-bus also economic and
technical aspects of the interface have been considered, that are
relevant
for everyday use. These are essentially:
- Large number of connectable devices
- Possibility for network expansion
- Fail-safe characteristics / robustness
- Minimum cost
- Minimum power consumption in the meters
- Acceptable transmission speed
None of the many already existing bus systems was able to fulfill all
these
constraints. Now with the M-Bus as a new standardized interface for the
reading
of consumption meters, an optimal compromise between price and
performance can be offered.
