ITRON MODULAR

SMART METER
EM420i

A smart meter that paves the way for the smart grid
There is a lot of hype in the market today around the smart grid and the way it affects utilities. With
extensive experience in smart meter deployment and long-standing collaboration with utilities, Itron
introduces a new generation modular smart meter that will help utilities invest with confidence in smart
metering infrastructure the enabling technology for the smart grid.

A TRULY INTEROPERABLE,
MODULAR AND SECURE SMART
METER
Moving towards the smart grid
obviously imposes major capital and
operational investments for utilities.
In a constant changing market, the
speed of technological advances is a
crucial challenge for utilities, given the
scale of the investment needed. Utilities
should ensure that both sustainable and
profitable investments are in place to
make their infrastructure fit with the future.

SPECIFICATIONS

This means being able to forecast future

technology developments, as well as
investing in the required infrastructure
capable of coping with technologies
which are continuously evolving.

KEY BENEFITS

Understanding the end result of what

the utility requires is essential to provide
an effective and efficient smart metering
solution. Itron uses a partnership
approach to understand and analyze
in detail the real market use cases of
each individual utility and to provide a
customized solution for them.

Advanced applications matching

deregulated market requirements

Future-proof platform adapted for

smart grid evolution
Smart Payment ready

Improved operational efciency

End-consumer driven

THE ENABLING TECHNOLOGY FOR THE SMART GRID

The Itron modular smart meter family employs a highly adaptable, platform for advanced metering
infrastructure (AMI) designed to advance the transformation of the energy industry. This new
generation of smart meters is designed to meet the significantly broader set of advanced metering,
communication, control and smart grid requirements that many utilities are facing today and that will
continue to develop in the years to come.

MODULAR

INTEROPERABLE

The new smart meters are designed

with a modular architecture to
seamlessly accommodate two fieldswappable modules integrating
various communication technologies
(PLC, GPRS, Mesh RF, Zigbee,
MBus wireless, etc...). This translates
into easy adaptability for network
interfaces: Wide/Metropolitan Area
Network (WAN/MAN), Local/Field
Area Network (LAN/FAN) and Home
Area Network (HAN) as requirements
and technologies evolve.

Based on open standards for smart

metering and more broadly, for
smart grids, the new modular smart
meters reflect Itrons commitment
to i nte ro p e ra b ili t y. T h ey h ave
b e e n d e s i g n e d to s e a m l e s s l y
integrate with several international
communication standards, ensuring
true communication technology
interoperability and increased options
for utilities.

UPGRADEABLE
Another key capability of Itrons
new modular smart meters is the
remote upgradeability of application
functionality and communication
protocols, allowing the meter to be
easily extensible and future-proof. A
definitive split between metrology,
rich smart metering applications and
communication protocol firmware
provides utilities with greater exibility
to face fast-evolving regulatory and
communication requirements.

SECURE
Security is not an afterthought at Itron
and we firmly believe that the best
way to ensure a reliable smart grid
is to take into account the variety of
potential threats into the complete
design process of our products.
Like all Itron products and solutions,
our new generation of smart meters
have been developed following our
Security by Design methodology.

Security by Design Methodology

IDENTIFY
threats
EVALUATE
vulnerabilities

TEST
security
resilience

DEFINE
mitigations

IMPLEMENT
counter measures

HIGHLY ADAPTABLE PLATFORM FOR ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE

System Architecture
UTILITY

HEAD-END-SYSTEM
GPRS,
3G,
ETHERNET, ...

PLC OFDM IEEE

P1901.2 MESH RF

Gas meter
In Home Display

Water meter

HAN

LAN/WAN

TAILOR-MADE SOLUTIONS

Designed for maximum flexibility, the new EM420i modular smart meters offer many functionalities
that support emerging smart grid needs. They are designed to provide two-way communication with
advanced information to the utility and end-consumer. They also allow to track energy usage to enable
demand-response implementation that is critical to protecting the utility smart grid.
Multi-Energy Measurement
Full four quadrant measurement of
active, reactive and apparent power
including demand registers.
Network Quality Monitoring
Improved monitoring of the network
based on power quality information:
Instantaneous voltage, current and
frequency data monitoring
Voltage quality data monitoring (sag/
swell, average voltage, voltage loss).
Instantaneous power quantity
monitoring (active, reactive, apparent)
Event Log Book
Stores 7 categories of events for easy
access remotely or locally.
Field Swappable Modules
Up to two field swappable modules
(FSM) that can be changed
independently in the field without
breaking any certification or metrology
seals.
Each module fits any meter platform
(single or three phase) and can be
changed without powering down the
meter.

No interruption to the end-consumer

Field swappable modules are secured

with their own sealable cover.
Fraud Detection
Main cover, terminal cover and
communication module cover detection
is included along with registration of
magnetic anomalies.
Time-of-Use Calendar
Highly customisable calendar
managing up to 2 calendars (active &
latent) to address residential and low
end commercial configurations.
Load Prole
Up to 3 independent energy load
profiles individually configured
to address all meter logging
requirements.
Additionally the meter can store load
profile data for up to 4 M-Bus multiutility devices. Each device has its
own load profile configuration.
Load Management
Remote and local control on main
contactor and additional smart
switches (Smart Plugs, Appliance
Control Devices)

Connection to HAN wireless

communication module and 5A
relays
Load controlled by meter through
definition of power limiting thresholds
and internal calendar for scheduled
disconnections and reconnections
Remote dynamic control on group of
loads and emergency load shedding
operation possible.
Prepayment
Compatible with the STS
standardization for prepayment
tokens
Interoperability with any STS
compatible prepayment vending
system
Real two way real-time prepayment
operation with token transfer
processed directly from the vending
system to the meter through the AMI
communication channel

Technical Specifications

Single Phase

Itron Modular Smart Meters

92

Single Phase

Three Phase

Network Connection

1-Phase 2-Wire, DIN 43857

(asymmetric connection)
1-Phase 2-Wire, BS 5685
(symmetric connection)

3-Phase 4-Wire, DIN 43857

(asymmetric Connection)

232

130

Metrology

Active Class 1(IEC 62053-21)

Reactive Class 2 IEC 62053-23
Class B (MID EN 50470-3)

Accuracy

Voltage Operating Range

-20% to +15%
Un (3 x 220(380)V, 3 x 230(400)v,
3 x 240(415)V 3 wire)

-20% to +15%
Un (220 230 240 V)

Frequency

192

5(100)A, Ibase: 5A, Imax: 100A

(Integrated Contactor)

Current Range

92

130

50 / 60Hz +/- 5%

Environment

Single Phase

Three Phase
Operating range: -40C to +70C
Storage and transport: -40C to +85C

Temperature Range
Impulse Voltage Immunity

Three Phase

0.5J +/- 0.05J @ 6kV ((EN50470-1) & 9J @ 12kV (SP1618)

IP Protection Class

IP 54 (EN 60529)

177

Standards: AC field 0.5mT according to IEC62053 - 21 (400AT coil), AAC field

according to VDEW 2.0 (1000AT)
DC magnetic field: 1.2T magnet applied to all meter faces except the rear of the
meter.

Mechanical

Single Phase

330

Magnetic Field Immunity

97

Dimensions

Inputs/Outputs

Three Phase
8.2mm (up to 35mm2 for multi-strand cables)

Terminals (Direct Connect)

DIN Meter - Width: 130mm

Depth: 92mm
Height (with terminal cover): 232mm

DIN Meter - Width: 177mm

Depth: 97mm
Height (with terminal cover): 330mm

Single Phase

Three Phase
According to DLMS/COSEM (IEC 62056-21)

Load Management Relays

(Optional)

Up to two 5A (250V) relays

269

Optical Communications

177

Multi-utility devices to manage up to 16UL

(according to M-bus standard EN13757-2)

M-Bus Wired (Optional)

Itron Field Swappable Modules

FSM1: Wide Area & Local Area Networks

FSM2: Home Area Networks

Communication Type

Description

Communication Type

Description

GPRS

Quad band modem, UDP, TCP/IP protocol,

IPv4 IP protocol stack

Zigbee

Smart Energy Profile V1.1

In Home Display

PLC OFDM

IEEE P1901.2, IPv6

Itron is the leading provider of energy and water resource management solutions
for nearly 8,000 utilities around the world. We offer end-to-end solutions that
include electricity, gas, water and heat measurement and control technology;
communications systems; software; and professional services. With nearly
10,000 employees doing business in more than 130 countries, Itron empowers
utilities to responsibly and efficiently manage energy and water.
To realize your smarter energy and water future, start here: www.itron.com

ITRON
1 Avenue des Temps Modernes
86361 Chasseneuil du Poitou
France
Phone: +33(0)5 4962 7000
Fax:

+33(0)5 4962 7089

While Itron strives to make the content of its marketing materials as timely and accurate as possible, Itron makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness,
or adequacy of, and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in, such materials. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to
the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose, is given with respect to the content of these marketing materials.
Copyright 2014, Itron. All rights reserved. EL-106.2-EN-02/14

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