METZ CONNECT Modbus Energy Meters for Industry

Compliance with European energy efficiency regulations requires industrial companies to rigorously monitor the electrical consumption of their facilities. To meet this operational need, METZ CONNECT offers its new DIN rail energy meters, designed to integrate seamlessly into existing IP network infrastructures.

Engineering Context and Operational Challenges
Production companies are often legally required to systematically inventory and optimize their energy consumption to satisfy energy audits, such as the DIN EN 16247 standard or ISO 50001 energy management. The lack of granular visibility into machine load profiles leads to excessive energy costs and complicates the identification of potential savings. However, implementing an intelligent measurement system requires equipment capable of adapting to dense electrical panels without interrupting production lines.

Technical Explanation and Operating Principle
METZ CONNECT measurement modules acquire energy data on networks of up to three phases plus the neutral conductor (L1, L2, L3, N). The devices offer Class B measurement accuracy, evaluating current, voltage, and active, reactive, and apparent power. The hardware architecture comes in two variants to adapt to existing infrastructure. The MR-(F-)SM4i series supports conventional current transformers with a secondary current of 1 A or 5 A. The MR-(F-)SM4u series is dedicated to transformers with a 333 mV voltage output and Rogowski coils providing a 50 mV output signal. Physical connectivity is provided by a choice of screw terminals or spring-loaded terminals utilizing Push-in technology, which significantly reduces wiring time.

Data Integration and Visualization
The transmission of measured values is carried out via the standardized Modbus RTU protocol. These meters work in synergy with the METZ CONNECT MR-(F-)GW Modbus gateway or the EWIO2-M(-BM) data logger. This data logger integrates a Node-RED graphical development environment, allowing energy data to be processed, analyzed, and visualized directly by drag-and-drop via a web interface. Operators can thus configure real-time dashboards, detect peak loads, and automate the sending of email notifications if predefined power limits are exceeded.

Product Relevance and Industrial Applications
This solution is aimed directly at residential and industrial applications seeking to centralize the management of their energy costs. The use of Rogowski coils (split-core transformers) allows the measurement system to be installed without requiring production shutdowns. The configuration templates pre-integrated into METZ CONNECT equipment facilitate commissioning, although the hardware flexibility also allows for seamless integration into third-party Modbus systems via the parameterization of standardized registers.




Additional Context
This section details technical specifications and competitive benchmarking not included in the original product announcement

In the field of industrial automation, the digitalization of low-voltage electrical distribution boards favors the adoption of decentralized IoT measurement devices. The use of open protocols like Modbus RTU guarantees maximum interoperability with existing supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. On the electrotechnical side, the growing adoption of Rogowski coils for modernization (brownfield) projects is explained by their exceptional mechanical flexibility in confined spaces. Unlike ferromagnetic core current transformers, these coils do not experience magnetic saturation during the intense inrush currents generated by large machine drives, ensuring stable measurement linearity over a very wide range of industrial currents.

Edited by Maria Brueva, Induportals editorial team – adapted by AI.

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