Jim 'Slim' Mimlitz

Jim ‘Slim’ Mimlitz, SCADAmetrics

Dieh Metering USA (Lisle, IL) is a manufacturer of ultrasonic flow meters for both residential and commercial/industrial applications within the municipal water utility industry. Here at SCADAmetrics (Wildwood, MO), we manufacture flow metering instrumentation in support of this industry, with the stated mission of helping users extend such meters for enhanced SCADA interoperability and functionality.

Diehl Bulk Ultrasonic Flow Meter.
Diehl Residential Ultrasonic Flow Meter

Like many manufacturers of AWWA-style flow meters, Diehl’s signaling options are focused upon their 3-wire, encoded protocol for interfacing with AMI/AMR endpoints. Diehl’s protocol implementation is capable of transmitting 9-digit, fine-resolution totalization information — which SCADAmetrics instrumentation leverages to generate additional industrial signal and display options — thereby bridging the gap to solve the unique challenges facing the SCADA, Telemetry, and Building Automation spheres.

The purpose of this document is to provide a summary of several of the main SCADAmetrics devices and methods that we offer to extend the line of Diehl flow meters.


1. Concurrent Basic SCADA and AMI

The following illustrates how a model EMP Signalizer display can be paired with a Diehl flow meter that is outfitted with an encoded output register to provide basic SCADA signaling, while preserving the existing AMI signaling to the water utility. The SCADA signaling is in the form of a 4-20 milliamp output, a pulse-per-volume output, and a meter fault alarm output. Please note that the 4-20 milliamp SCADA output requires a 9-digit encoded signal from the meter. Excellent for custody-transfer stations. Also excellent for utility-owned water meters at commercial and industrial buildings, where the building owner desires a meter reading into its BMS system, without requiring the installation of a new water meter, or without interfering with the utility’s AMI system. Design Basis: SCADAmetrics Model EMP Signalizer:


2. Concurrent Basic SCADA, AMI, and Remote Display

The following illustrates how a Diehl flow meter can provide basic SCADA signaling (4-20 milliamp, pulse-per-volume, meter fault alarm), AMI signaling (3-Wire Encoder Protocol), and a Remote Wall Display. Excellent for custody-transfer stations and commercial buildings. Design Basis: Model EMP Signalizer and Model TMD TheMeterDisplay:


3. Advanced SCADA

The following illustrates how a Diehl flow meter can provide advanced SCADA signaling (Modbus, Allen-Bradley EtherNet/IP). Excellent for custody-transfer pumping and valve stations where revenue-grade accuracy is of paramount importance. Also excellent for military bases and educational facilities. Design Basis: Model EM.100 EtherMeter:


4. Concurrent Advanced SCADA and AMI

The following illustrates how a Diehl flow meter can provide advanced SCADA signaling (Modbus, Allen-Bradley EtherNet/IP), while at the same time provide signaling to a connected AMI System. Excellent for custody-transfer metering, pumping, and valve stations where revenue-grade accuracy is of paramount importance for both the SCADA system and AMI system. Also excellent for commercial and industrial facilities who wish to internally track the utility-owned water meter. The inclusion of a model SDA or SDAW Duplexer (illustrated below) ensures concurrent AMI connectivity. Design Basis: Model EM.100 EtherMeter and Model SDA SCADA Duplexer for AMI:


5. Basic SCADA

The following illustrates how a Diehl flow meter can provide basic SCADA signaling (4-20 milliamp, pulse-per-volume, meter fault alarm). Excellent for well and pumping stations, as well as commercial buildings. Design Basis: Model EMP Signalizer:


6. Visual Batching, Visual Rate-of-Flow, plus SCADA Outputs

The following illustrates how a Diehl flow meter can provide basic SCADA signaling (4-20 milliamp, pulse-per-volume, flow switch, meter fault alarm), along with an always-ON operator flow and batch display. Excellent for well and pumping stations. Design Basis: SCADAmetrics Model APK.PLUS Analog-Pulse Kit, Plus: and Model EMP Signalizer


7. Dual-AMI Connectivity

The following illustrates how a Diehl flow meter can provide AMI signaling to two separate systems. Excellent for custody-transfer stations, where both the water buyer and seller desire meter connectivity to their separate respective AMI systems. Design Basis: SCADAmetrics Model UDA Universal Duplexer for AMI:


8. Concurrent AMI Connectivity and Remote Visual Display

The following illustrates how a model TMD display can work with a Diehl flow meter to provide AMI signaling to the water utility, while concurrently providing a visual remote display whose reading is a perfect match to the Diehl register total. Furthermore, if a the Diehl register is programmed for 8- or 9-digit resolution, then this fine resolution will enable the display of rate-of-flow (GPM, lpm), as well. Excellent for utility-owned water meters at commercial and industrial buildings, where the building owner desires a meter reading without requiring entry to a vault or confined-space. Design Basis: SCADAmetrics Model TMD TheMeterDisplay:


9. Remote Visual Display

The following illustrates how a model TMD display can work with a Diehl flow meter to provide a remote visual display to an otherwise not-easily accessible water meter. The remote display provides a perfect match to the reading displayed on the Diehl register. Furthermore, if the Diehl register is programmed for 8- or 9-digit resolution, then this fine resolution will enable the display of rate-of-flow (GPM, lpm), as well. Excellent for customer-owned sub-meters at commercial and industrial buildings, where the building owner desires a meter reading without requiring entry to a vault or confined-space. Design Basis: SCADAmetrics Model TMD TheMeterDisplay:


10. Connect Pulse Flow Meters to AMI

The following illustrates how a model PTE Pulse Encodalizer™ can transform a pulse-type flow meter into an encoder-type flow meter. The Pulse Encodalizer is a battery-powered signal converter with integral 9-digit display. It counts pulses from most 2-wire, pulse-type flow meters (magmeters, wastewater meters, gas meters, steam meters, reclaimed water meters, irrigation meters, etc…) — and converts to a 3-Wire Encoded protocol. The battery pack offers a life up to 10 years and is user-replaceable. Excellent for wastewater lift stations, irrigation points-of-sale, sewer deduct meters, natural gas meters. Design Basis: SCADAmetrics Model PTE Pulse Encodalizer:


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Want to Learn More?…

Are you interested in learning more about how SCADAmetrics flow instrumentation, when paired with Diehl flow meters, can provide a wealth of value-added SCADA and visual display options? Give us a call!… We’ll be glad to discuss the details!

Jim 'Slim' Mimlitz

About Jim 'Slim' Mimlitz

Licensed Professional Electrical Engineer @ SCADAmetrics. Specialties: Connecting Flow Meters with SCADA, Telemetry, and Building Automation Systems. Electronic Circuit Design, Software Development.

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