NoWire Model 2100 Installation and Operation Manual
NoWire Model 2100
Submeter Solutions, Inc., 888-64METER
Page 22
Fahrenheit. The typical closets or cabinets where this device is installed have poor
ventilation and often shares the space with water heaters and other heat producing
equipment. The temperature can go up dramatically when the doors are closed. If the
transmitter is inside a closet with louvered doors, make sure the louvers aren’t all
plugged up and air can flow freely.
o
Humidity
. The transmitters must be installed in a non-condensing environment. Watch
for water puddles on the floor, on top of water heaters, etc. as these may indicate leaks
or other problems that require the attention of the property manager. Also look for
condensation (or sweating”) above the mounting location of the transmitter. In humid
environments, cold water pipes, air exchange units and air conditioners will sweat and
drops of water will fall to the floor. Do not mount the transmitter on or under anything
with potential to sweat and drip water on the transmitter. If the location where the
transmitter will be installed is a place where there is a potential for flooding (such as a
basement apartment, in the same room as a water heater, etc.), mount the transmitter
high.
o
Building construction
. Consider the effects of building materials on RF. Are there metal
studs? Are the walls built of stucco with wire mesh inside? Are there steel boxes, sheet
metal air exchange units or metal ductwork that could cause problems the RF signal? If
you run into an unusual situation, give us a call. Installations have been successfully
done in these types of environments however additional RF knowledge and tools are
needed.
o
Line of sight
. Although it is not technically a requirement to be within line of sight,
consider what is between the transmitter and the repeater or the NoWire receiver. Is
there a lot of concrete and steel construction? Are there earthen berms or hills? Are
there a lot of trees (this may not always be evident in the months when leaves have
fallen)? If there is any way to do it, mount the transmitter where it won’t be affected by
these elements. Mount the transmitter as high as possible. If there is any suspicion that
the location of the transmitter may be a problem, you may require a repeaters in the
area to get the RF level to an acceptable stength.
o
Installation in Closets
. In an apartment environment, the utility meters are often
installed in closets. Sometimes, the meters are in closets that are also in use by the
tenants. If the installation location is a closet, take extra care to robustly mount the
transmitter in a location where it will not be bumped or knocked off the wall or covered
with RF blocking agents like foil Christmas wrap.
o
Don’t block the Meter Face
. When installed, the RF transmitter must not prevent the
visual reading of the meter register.
•
Verify you have the correct transmitter for the apartment. It is extremely important to put the
right transmitter in the right apartment so the customer gets billed correctly.
•
Verify you can mount the transmitter to the wall, to the piping, or to the meter. The
manufacturer, type of meter used and the pulser wire (supplied by the meter manufacturer) will
determine where the transmitter can be installed. The preferred installation is to screw mount
the transmitter to a safe wall location or wire-tie it to the piping. If it is installed on a wall, it
should be mounted within 10 feet of the meter (closer is always better).
8.3.4.2
Mounting the transmitter
The following installation instructions are guidelines. No two installations are alike. Some installations
may require some departure from standard procedures so good judgment is the best guide. In most
cases, wall or pipe mounting is desirable. Some of the pulser wires are only 6 inches long so the only
