The meters used in smart apartments are mainly electric meters and water meters. The current local communication technologies used are mainly M-BUS, RS485, micro-power RF, NB-IOT, wireless public network, etc. The following is the selection of communication technology and metering and acquisition equipment for different application scenarios:

1. Both electric and water meters are centrally installed in outdoor pipeline wells

The electric meters are installed centrally in the outdoor weak current wells. They can be installed with guide rails. They can use guide rail meters. The meters have built-in relays and have remote valve control functions. The communication supports RS485 and micro-power RF. The guide rail meters are small in size and cost-sensitive. Therefore, the communication method is suitable for use. RS485 or micro power RF. Each meter box is equipped with one XZ5102 gateway. The data gateway is small in size and also installed on rails. The downlink uses RS485 or micro-power RF to communicate with the meter, and the uplink communicates directly with the master station through 4G or NB-IOT.

Water meters are centrally installed in outdoor water pipe wells, which are cost-sensitive. The communication method generally uses M-BUS or micro-power RF. Each unit is equipped with an XZ1372 gateway where it is convenient to get electricity. The data gateway is small in size. It uses M-BUS or micro-power RF to communicate with the water meter in the downlink and directly communicates with the master station via 4G or NBIOT in the uplink. If the water meter adopts the M-BUS mode, the gateway supports the M-BUS bus to power the water meter; if the water meter adopts the micro-power RF mode, the water meter needs to be in a low-power operation state and powered by a battery.

2. Electricity and water meters are scattered and installed in apartment rooms

The electric meter adopts guide rail installation, which can adopt guide rail electric meter, the electric meter has built-in relay, has the function of remote valve control, and the communication supports RS485 and micro-power RF. The rail meter is small in size and cost-sensitive, and because of its scattered installation, it is suitable for micro-power RF communication. Because the water meter is installed separately and is cost-sensitive, it is also suitable for micro-power RF communication. The water meter needs to be in a low-power operation state and powered by a battery.

Each apartment is equipped with an XZ5101 routing gateway. The routing gateway has the function of a router and supports Internet access. At the same time, the routing gateway supports meter reading. The downlink uses micro-power RF to communicate with the electricity and water meters in the apartment, and the uplink communicates directly with the main station through Ethernet.