Opto 22 introduces the OptoEMU Sensor, the first component of the company's networkable OptoEMU system, which lets small to medium-sized commercial and industrial end users gather energy consumption data from their facilities' electrical panels, metering devices, and other equipment. The OptoEMU Sensor also provides easy-to-implement communications interfaces and data integration capabilities to instantly deliver the acquired energy data to enterprise business systems so it can be viewed, archived, and used to develop effective energy management strategies that reduce costs.
Designed for maintenance engineers, plant managers, business owners, energy consultants, and others looking for ways to better understand and reduce their facility's energy consumption, the OptoEMU system includes two powerful hardware components — the OptoEMU Sensor and the upcoming OptoEMU Server.
The sensor provides three distinct types of monitoring interfaces. First, it can directly connect to and measure the electrical loads of both individual power panels and subpanels, and key facility equipment, such as manufacturing machinery, pumps, motors, refrigeration systems, boilers, chillers, and HVAC units.
Next, to provide connectivity to existing monitoring devices and instrumentation (as well as larger building automation systems [BAS] from manufacturers like Honeywell and Johnson Controls), the OptoEMU Sensor has serial and Ethernet interfaces and can monitor and communicate via Modbus and BACnet protocols. Finally, the sensor can monitor and accept pulses from utility meters and other sub-metering devices. The sensor can then send all acquired building data to online energy monitoring software portals, including Google PowerMeter and Pulse Energy's Pulse, for presentation and analysis, or to local databases for integration with business systems.
Because the OptoEMU Sensor is based on the same technology as Opto 22's SNAP PAC System, customers are able to easily deploy additional sensors at any time, or even expand their capabilities to gain equipment management and control functions simply by adding a few additional off-the-shelf components, thereby providing an easy way to participate in load curtailment and demand response programs.
The OptoEMU sensor accomplishes this by applying standard, well-understood information and communications technologies, such as analog, digital, and serial signal processing, and Ethernet, wireless LAN, and Internet network connectivity. This "standards-based" approach allows the sensor to exist in a wide variety of industrial and business architectures.
For more information, contact Opto 22, 43044 Business Park Dr., Temecula, CA 92590. Phone: (800) 321-6786.
