Aclara MTU, Installation Manuallines

Page 1: ...ritten authorization of Aclara Any software or firmware described in this document is furnished under a license and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of such license DISCLAIMER T...

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Page 3: ...loyment Process 1 Recommended Equipment 2 Signal Propagation 3 Free Space Attenuation 4 RF Absorption 4 RF Reflection 5 RF Shadowing 6 Mounting Considerations Exterior Mounting 9 Interior 14 Pit 17 Wi...

Page 4: ...ii M T U I n s t a l l a t i o n G u i d e l i n e s Table of Contents...

Page 5: ...exposure guide and the field calibration procedure FCC IC RF Exposure Guide Aclara Technologies LLC low power RF devices and their antennas must be fixed mounted on indoor or outdoor permanent structu...

Page 6: ...iv M T U I n s t a l l a t i o n G u i d e l i n e s FCC IC Compliance...

Page 7: ...ion Support The Aclara Customer Portal http customer aclaratech com provides a wide range of information that can serve as a starting point when you have a question If at any time you would like to sp...

Page 8: ...8 x 1 3 4 exterior screws Hammer Flashlight Diagonal cutters Wire stripper Drill bits 6 x 1 5 8 drywall screws Cordless drill Screwdrivers and screwdriver bits Silicone gel filled electrical insulati...

Page 9: ...commended intallation guidelines may create conditions that exceed the limits of the STAR Network All devices that operate in the UHF band are considered to use line of sight transmission and operate...

Page 10: ...e actual installation of the MTU will not change the free space attenuation considerably certain locations may require the use of an extended range MTU or an increase in the number of DCUs to improve...

Page 11: ...vely affect system performance the RF signal may be reflected into an absorbing material such as dense foliage or the concrete foundation of a building Common objects that reflect RF signals are metal...

Page 12: ...gnal Propagation RF Shadowing RF shadowing is a phenomenon related to absorption and reflection that occurs when a transmitter is too close to another object The image below illustrates how the downsp...

Page 13: ...ser an object is to the MTU the greater the impact the object will have on the signal This is illustrated in the image below where the close proximity of the garbage dumpster is blocking the signal fr...

Page 14: ...8 M T U I n s t a l l a t i o n G u i d e l i n e s Signal Propagation...

Page 15: ...t the MTU must be mounted securely Exterior Mounting Issues with performance of exterior mounted MTUs are typically the result of mounting the MTU too low or mounting it in such a way that it is block...

Page 16: ...10 M T U I n s t a l l a t i o n G u i d e l i n e s Exterior Mounting In this example the RF signal is reflected off of the iron fence and absorbed by the exterior wall of the home...

Page 17: ...l i n e s 11 Simply raising the MTU above the fence and moving it to the end of the home B will drastically reduce the amount of RF energy reflected by the fence and improve system communication The i...

Page 18: ...terior Mounting The image below illustrates how the hose reel the meter and the wall ledge all shadow the RF signal Raising the MTU above the ledge and moving it to the edge of the building eliminates...

Page 19: ...om any metal objects including pipes conduit and downspouts Mount the MTU so that the top is at least one inch below the siding overlap When mounting multiple MTUs in the same location leave at least...

Page 20: ...to entering the building and then again at the proposed mounting location A drastic drop in cellular signal reception may indicate potential problems with MTU transmission When mounting an MTU inside...

Page 21: ...s 15 Mount the MTU at least 5 10 feet away from large metal objects like furnaces duct work refrigerators and cabinets In the example below the MTU is mounted between the HVAC duct and the refrigerat...

Page 22: ...e ground level Mount the MTU perpendicular to the ground with the Aclara logo facing the installer Mount the MTU at least six inches away from pipes and conduit Mount the MTU so that the top is severa...

Page 23: ...MTUs should be mounted with the Aclara logo facing the pit lid as shown in the following image Pit lids that are ribbed on the underside require short spacers while meter pit lids that are smooth on t...

Page 24: ...ccording to pit lid model Please refer to the appropriate pit lid installation instructions for specific mounting procedures Summary Mount the MTU to approved non metallic meter pit lids only Mount th...

Page 25: ...r exact limitations Always use cable of with 22 AWG solid copper wire preferably with similar insulation coloring when extending the wiring Wire Routing All wiring should be secured every 18 inches an...

Page 26: ...manufacturer s instructions Please consult the appropriate meter installation instructions for specific MTU wiring instructions Interior Exterior Environment All wire connections outside the building...

Page 27: ...r crimping tool X X X Fine point permanent marker X X X Safety glasses X X X Spare serial adapter batteries AA X X X Known good meter register X X X Known good MTU X X X Supplies Indoor Outdoor Pit Ca...

Page 28: ...22 M T U I n s t a l l a t i o n G u i d e l i n e s...

Page 29: ...he MTU and any large metal objects such as dumpsters HVAC ducts or cabinets Is there any damage to the wiring e g nicks or cuts Exterior Is the MTU mounted at least 12 inches above the ground Is the M...

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