PM5000 standalone meter or PowerTag integrated energy sensor? How to choose the right power meter for your installation?

[Emilie_Ernwein]

Increasing governmental and ecological pressure has led power meters to become a must for electrical network management. Facing the multiplicity and complexity of offers, building tenants and owners require clarity and support to choose an adapted solution. 

To ease this process, Schneider electric has implemented “Help me choose” a tool designed to highlight the best suited offer for your needs.

Metering devices answer multiple needs and application from simple power monitoring to critical decision making. This article aims to expose two types of dedicated power meters:

• Standalone wired meters such as PM5000, PM3000, iEM3000
• Integrated wireless meters such as PowerTag energy sensors coupled to panel server

When specifying an electrical monitoring system for new or existing installations, it is essential to identify which power measurement data are required to be collected but also what are the intended applications.

Power meters can answer various needs according to their capabilities and design:

• Real time data monitoring
• Power quality and Harmonics distortion
• Network management and alarming
• Cost allocation and bill verification

For example, while a PM5000 or an iEM3000 are more adapted to Cost allocation thanks to its display screen and MID compliance, PowerTag energy sensors coupled to a Panel server enable a more accurate and remote load by load monitoring of your network. 

Additional features also need to be discussed:

• What is the space that can be allocated to my energy monitoring system?
• Is your Panelboard DIN or panel mounted
• Which communication protocol is the best suited: Wireless, Modbus, ethernet
• Remote or On-device Data display and analysis

Those features can be defined through Schneider Electric “product selector” tool.