LoRa
available from stock
available from stock
available from stock
available from stock
LoRa - Modern energy management in any environment
Depending on where you want to set up your energy management system, additional measures may be necessary to transmit usage data. LoRa (long range) gateways optimise the continuous data collection of your energy consumption – even if the energy meters have a wide coverage. This allows for modern energy management in any location. Wireless technology allows continuous, wireless data collection both long range and in locations with typically slow transfer rates.
Below you will find information on the LoRa technology and how it can complete your modern energy management.
What is LoRa technology?
LoRa is a wireless technology to send small, simple data packets. It is based on a modulation method, which sends so-called chirp pulses wirelessly. The LoRa wireless technology has a high communication range; however, due to its low data rate it cannot be used to transmit large files. Energy costs in turn are low, resulting in very long battery lives for the respective modules.
LoRa sensors and gateways are thus connected wirelessly. The connection is established via the public domain ISM band (industrial, scientific and medical band), which can be accessed worldwide. Due to the open basic technology, the connection can on principle be established by anybody – virtually anywhere. Data is generally collected as follows:
- Data is collected via a sensor and transmitted to a gateway via LoRa.
- The gateway forwards the data to a server.
- The server receives and processes the data.
LoRa and an efficient energy management system
LoRa gateways are the interface between the electronic devices and the Internet of Things (IoT). In modern energy management, this is between the electricity meter and server. The gateways are thus the central point for forwarding the energy data. The saved information can then be accessed from any smart device. But who should use LoRa for efficient monitoring of usage data?
Wireless technology, for instance, supports efficient energy management in environments where, due to technical limitations, other networks are not always stable or not available at all. Apart from rural areas, this also includes well shielded indoor spaces or buildings. With LoRa, reliable sensor data can also be obtained reliably in these environments around the clock.
Due to the high communication range of LoRa wireless technology, the energy data of a meter can also be sent to servers far away. The range is up to 10 km. A key advantage if you wish to for instance efficiently monitor measurement data of a large location or building.
LoRa indoor and outdoor gateways
Depending on where you wish to install the interface for data transmission, you can choose from gateways for indoors and outdoors. Distinguishing between these is useful, as devices for outdoors have different requirements. They need to be sturdy and waterproof, for instance, and be able to withstand great temperature fluctuations. In addition to being waterproof, transmission must be guaranteed in all contingencies.
Who can use LoRa in energy controlling?
Technically anybody. However, devices must be compatible to be able to establish a connection to the sensor data. To access the usage data, it therefore needs to have a LoRa interface. If you then plan to manage the data with energy management software, the LoRa server also needs to be connected to the software.
You don't have a power meter with the corresponding interface? When choosing an electricity meter you can also purchase ones with the corresponding LoRa wireless technology from our online shop.
Buy LoRa from EMU Metering
To ensure you too can use modern usage data collection regardless of the installation situation of your electricity meters, the EMU Metering online shop offers LoRa gateways from Kerlink for indoor and outdoor use, along with the corresponding accessories. These include:
- the firmware for configuring the Kerlink gateway
- and the LoRa server SaaS to process data of up to 100 sensors.
The servers can easily be integrated in our energy management software "Joulio-Web". This is the optimal combination for connecting additional sensors via LoRa with systematic collection of measurement data.
Do you have further questions on implementation or how the LoRa wireless technology works? Contact us, we will be happy to advise you.
