RBMS Plus Installation and Opera
RBMS Plus Installation and Operation Manual
Alpha Technologies Ltd. | www.alpha.ca
PAGE 7
0370260-J0 Rev B
A label on the front of the carton will contain the MAC address of the RBMS Plus controller.
System Overview
The Alpha Technologies Remote Battery Monitoring System(RBMS) Plus is the first in a series of low cost controller
options designed to dramatically lower cost and provide battery health and cabinet/hut facility monitoring capabilities.
The RBMS Plus can be equipped with either an eight-battery wiring harness or a battery sensor option. The eight-
battery harness allows for the lowest-cost solution monitoring, battery string and individual battery voltages. Using the
sensor option provides additional battery measurements, including ohmic measurements and individual battery
temperatures. Both solutions offer facilities and cabinet monitoring capabilities.
The control unit connects to a network switch, router or cable\DSL\cellular modem via an Ethernet connection. Among
the facilities parameters monitored are AC line voltage (optional), equipment AC load current (optional), moisture
(optional), controller internal temperature, two monitorable digital inputs and one controllable digital output.
The RBMS controller typically obtains its operating power from the battery string being monitored and supplies a 12
Vdc output to power a companion cable\DSL\cellular modem, thus eliminating the need for a separate modem power
unit.
The RBMS has a built-in SNMP agent, a built-in web server and a built-in SMTP mail client. The SNMP agent supports
IEEE/SCTE HMS MIBs making the RBMS compatible with virtually any management system. HMS traps are generated
based on alarm conditions defined using the HMS Property MIB. The built-in web server allows the status of the
monitored batteries to be analyzed from anywhere in the network using a common web browser. This eliminates the
need for expensive client application software licenses. Near real-time monitoring and alarm provisioning are available
via standard web browser or software. The built-in SMTP mail client can be set up to send alarm messages to another
computer (via e-mail addresses) or to a mobile phone when an alarm occurs.
The RBMS is downloadable over the network, facilitating firmware upgrades and feature enhancements as they
become available. The unit also contains a special “watchdog timer” that monitors the modem and automatically
resets it in case of a modem “hang” situation.
