ION9000 LED Pulse Programming

[Scott_MCN]

Hello,

Utility customer is testing out their new ION9000, and has found that the 192mm display's visible LEDs for Watts and VARs (P and N below) aren't programmable in ION Setup and aren't functioning.

The customer typically installs ION7650s in racks/cabinets, and their field techs rely on these types of indicators.

Is this an error/misconfiguration, or are the LEDs to be added in a future firmware update?

Thanks,

– Scott

[DanL · Accepted solution]

The pulse LEDs on the large RMD are not yet implemented, so that is expected behavior.

@Sanjeet_Sahota and Daniel.Brandao@se.com can comment on the product roadmap.

[Scott_MCN]

Thanks Dan,

I reached out to Daniel – he said the tentative date for the feature is Q2/Q3 2021. 

[ShaunTaylor]

Hi all,

Any update on this? I have another customer who was expecting this feature when they moved from 7650 to 9000. I assume it will be a firmware release only?

Any workarounds for them?

Kind regards

Shaun

[Charles_Murison]

Hello @ShaunTaylor ,

Currently still the same, can digital outputs work for the customer? Not knowing how the customer uses the LEDs I can't give much as a workaround.

Regards,

Charles

[DanL]

The only feature that is not yet enabled in firmware is control of the LED indicators on the (large) remote display.

The solid state digital outputs and the LED indicators on the base meter have always been fully functional.

[Daniel_Brandao]

Hi Shaun,

ION9000 meters have calibration LEDs on the meter body, but not yet on the meter front display (RD192). So customers could always use the LEDs on the meter itself.

For the front display LEDs, we do have this feature on our roamap, but no committed date for delivery yet. At the moment it doesn't look like it will be available in 2020 or 2021. When we release the feature, it will be available through a firmware upgrade,

Do you have more details on the customer need, who is the customer, volume of meters they buy and why is this functionality important to them?

Regards,

Daniel

[ShaunTaylor]

Response from our customer (Kenda Electronics. They have just purchased 17 meters, not sure how many previously):

>>>

These meters are being integrated on an offshore platform so firmware upgrades are not straightforward, we typically use ION7650 meters and are able to programmme the CAL LED accordingly. The LEDs are utilised in order to verify accuracy or provide a simple diagnostic indicator when investigating issues. I was told that the ION9000 was a replacement for the ION7650 that was going end of life – they have proved to be expensive and now I find out they don’t appear to offer the same basic functionality - why have the LEDs and why advertise their functionality when it clearly isn’t supported?

I am now extremely concerned that other functionality is missing from that advertised and what you state on the documentation – this may render them not being usable?

As detailed the LED functionality provides independent calibration functionality (hence the reason they are termed CAL LEDs). Additionally, when being diagnosed by somebody remotely with NO knowledge of the system a flashing LED is simple to interpret, rather than searching through for a particular screen (much like the ALARM LED that does work) – in addition the meter may only be visible and not physically accessible in a locked and sealed metering panel. I would urgently ask that this LED functionality is supported ASAP – a year’s time is totally unacceptable – otherwise we will need to review the situation as we have been sold something that does not meet the advertised specification.

>>>

He makes some valid points. The ION9000 user guide doesn't seem to indicate that this functionality is not yet available. Are there any suggestions (ie could the Alarm LED be utilised?) Can this feature be expedited?

Regards, Shaun

[Daniel_Brandao]

Hello Shaun,

I understand the customer's frustration. But we were very clear in all our launch communications that this functionality wouldn't be available for some time. Unsurprisingly, this message got lost in the middle of the way and caused this confusion.

Regarding the use of the functionality, ION9000 are electronic meters that shouldn't require calibration over its lifetime. I understand that there are regulations around how often meters should be verified for calibration, but that verification usually happens at least 5 years after the first installation, and in most cases, around 10 years after the installation. So they probably have time until they are required to do the verification, and if they absolutely have to do it now, they can still use the meter's LEDs.

As for the second use case, yes, it easier to see the LEDs pulsing from the distance, but a quick look at the front display would provide the same functionality, i.e. the confirmation that the meter is working and connected to a load.

Again, I understand the frustration, but on the other hand, we have lots of other customers waiting for more urgent substitution features that we are working on right now. So I have to be pragmatic and prioritize the ones that will give us the maximum return first.

I realize this is probably not the answer the customer wants, so my suggestion is for the country org to manage this problem commercially. Maybe there could be a scenario where the customer could get meters at a higher discount, to compensate for the inconvenience. I suggest you brainstrom locally some of the commercial actions that can make the customer stay with us until we have the functionality available.

Best regards,

Daniel

[ShaunTaylor]

Hi Daniel,

Thanks for the reply. I've fed back the guidance you offered, had a long painful chat over the phone, and to be honest the customer is not happy and on the verge of cancelling the order. 

As they work on off-shore wind farms, they rely on the LED as both a quick check by untrained persons to verify that the meter is operating correctly, and also for use with special calibration equipment which uses the LED and checks compliance to the official standards they need to meet. The meters are behind locked panels and therefore both access and visibility are limited, ie no way to operate the buttons etc.

I discussed with him other options and it seems that for them the LED's on remote display is a non-negotiable. Along with the fact that the User guide and documentation refer to the LED's so he feels he's not received what he had researched to be a suitable replacement for 7650.

He needs 2 things. (1) confirmation of what other features are missing from the initial offering as he is concerned that there may be other gaps in scope. Is there such a document? (2) Assurance that the LED feature will be added soon or he is afraid the can't continue to use the Schneider offering. 1 year roadmap is not acceptable in their case.

Kind regards, 

Shaun

[Daniel_Brandao]

Hi Shaun,

I see David Lam scheduled a call for tomorrow, Let's connect then and see what can be done.

Regards,

Daniel