What is the DC metering applications?

DC metering are becoming more prevalent through increases in renewable energy applications, and microgrid technology. With the proliferation of DC circuits, the need for capable DC metering technology has come to the fore. Some of the greatest demand for DC metering has been found in renewable energy applications like solar energy panels metering, battery energy storage system, electric vehicle charging stations and more. Monitoring these applications allows for energy production before conversion, or tracking amount lost before conversion, measuring efficiencies, and tracking performance.

DC energy meters for DC charging station use

Real-time Monitoring: The energy meter provides real-time monitoring capabilities, allowing EV owners and operators to track the charging process in real time. This enables users to monitor charging status, energy consumption and charging duration, providing transparency and convenience.

Data Logging and Reporting: The DC energy meter records charging parameter data such as voltage, current, power, energy consumption and charging duration. This data logging capability allows analysis of charging behavior, energy usage patterns and generation of reports for billing or analysis.

Integration with Charging Infrastructure: The energy meter integrates seamlessly with the EV charging infrastructure and is compatible with various types of DC charging stations and protocols. This ensures interoperability and ease of installation within existing or new EV charging facilities.

Communication Interfaces: Many DC DIN rail mount energy meters provide communication interfaces (e.g. Modbus) for data transmission and remote monitoring. This enables integration with charging management systems, centralized control and remote access to charging data.

By connecting to the DC power supply at the charging station and the electric vehicle, the DC meter can accurately measure current and voltage, and monitor charging rate, power input and charging time in real time. This provides users with real-time visibility into the charging process, allowing them to plan trips and manage energy costs more efficiently.

DC metering for photovoltaic power generation

With the promotion of clean energy, photovoltaic power generation, as a form of renewable energy, has received widespread attention. In photovoltaic power generation systems, DC meters play an important role, providing support for the efficient operation of photovoltaic power generation by accurately measuring and monitoring the generation and consumption of DC power. The following are detailed applications of DC meters in photovoltaic power generation.

Solar photovoltaic panel output measurement:

The primary task of DC meters in photovoltaic power generation systems is to measure the DC power emitted by solar photovoltaic panels. By connecting to the output circuit of photovoltaic panels, DC meters can accurately measure the current and voltage emitted by photovoltaic panels and monitor the efficiency of solar power generation in real time. This provides basic data for system operation, helps to understand the performance of photovoltaic power generation systems and optimize power output.

Energy flow measurement and recording

The energy flow relationship in photovoltaic power generation systems is complex, including photovoltaic panel power generation, power transmission to inverters, transmission to the grid or energy storage system, etc. DC meters can accurately measure the flow of energy and record the energy flow at each node in the system. This helps system managers gain insight into the distribution of energy within the system and improve the overall efficiency of the system.

IVY Metering offers DC metering solutions including the EM613/619 series. The EM series DC meters offer features such as amp-hour monitoring and data logging, enabling tracking of DC system performance across multiple parameters.