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AMS-9000 – A Battery Free System  

The single largest source of failure in stand-alone time-based metering systems is the individual meter battery. The time-keeping function is obviously critically important in these meters. Without batteries these meters would lose all reference to time any time an electrical outage occurred at the meter, leaving their time-based reads unsuitable for billing.

Batteries have a useful life that is typically lower than any other meter component, even in the best of conditions. Underneath the glass of an electric meter is seldom the best of conditions. Temperature extremes, exposure to sunlight, and other environmental variables can greatly decrease a battery’s useful life. And the moment the battery fails, the time-based meter no longer a reliable billing device.

Batteries also contain substances requiring prescribed disposal when removed from service. This additional requirement adds headaches and costs to utilities experienced in dealing with meter batteries.

The AMS-9000 system achieves accurate and reliable time-based functionality WITHOUT the use of batteries by utilizing an integrated design strategy that combines ongoing network clock management, non-volatile internal meter memory, and built-in disaster recovery algorithms.

With AMS-9000 the special field trips caused by battery failures, the meter shop battery replacement programs, and the battery disposal programs shops must undertake, can all be eliminated from consideration when moving to an AMI environment.