Power monitoring unit
Client:
Tellumat
Date:
2011 - 2012
Position:
Senior designer at ...XYZ Design
Roles:
Industrial design, Detailed mechanical design, Design for manufacture
The GLS monitoring unit (MU) was designed in conjunction with a customer interface keypad (CIU). The monitoring unit gets mounted to a DIN rail inside an electricity box on the street while the keypad gets mounted in a residents' home. Together these devices work as a simple system for prepaid electricity distribution and management. The keypad is used to input prepaid electricity vouchers while the monitoring unit accurately monitors how much electricity is used. The monitoring unit makes use of infrared technology for the accurate collection of power usage meter readings. Service personnel collecting meter readings simply use an IR scanner to get readings directly from the MU. This helps with accurate meter reading collection as well as making the process more efficient.
The MU's enclosure design offers an IP54 rating through a series of baffles designed into the plastic mouldings. The baffles allow water ingress in certain areas and through capillary action leads any water away from the internal electronics. The enclosure makes use of fire retardant glass filled PC material and is also designed to comply with ESD regulations. In-mould markings on the exterior of the enclosure show where the power terminals need to be connected in the correct manner.
Once the MU enclosure and electronics are assembled then the enclosure design also offers a number of tamper proofing features. The enclosure uses snap fit clips to keep it together. Once the enclosure is clipped together then 4 tamper evident clips are inserted which show if anyone has tried to tamper with the unit. Tamper evidence is further enhanced by the application of the label which is applied across the splitline of the enclosure. Once the MU is fitted to the DIN rail and the terminals have been connected then security cables can be passed through the enclosure in front of the terminal screws to further help prevent tampering.
Contributors: Byron Qually (Design director), Dewald Koegelenberg (Production and procurement), Ryan Fowler (Design support)