Blog

Accelerometer sensor for perfect up-right posture

RAM-1 device uses has a built-in accelerometer sensor for device’s inclination status indication which serves to alert false installation or any physical damages during device’s lifetime. Furthermore, with proper use also the status on high constructions (power grid pylons, wind turbines, railway grid, telecommunication gateways, skyscrapers, high chimneys, cranes, …) inclination can be assessed as…
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The patent for intellectual property has been granted

The subject of the invention is a device and a method for monitoring the condition of metal-oxide surge arresters installed in electricity distribution networks. Condition of metal-oxide surge arresters is monitored by measuring the resistive component of the leakage current flowing through metal-oxide surge arrester. The subject of the invention solves technical problems: precise measurements…
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Longer battery life equals better protection

RAM device is designed to last up to 20 years in the field assuming a use-case specified in Configuration and power consumption. Such lifetime is provided only by LiSOCl2 primary lithium battery chemistry and as such this is chosen for this device. Device supports the following configuration: 2x Primary lithium battery in size 17500 or…
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Bluetooth low-energy interface (BLE)

In addition to NB-IoT connectivity we implemented BLE as well. Each user can connect directly to the RAM-1 device via the Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) wireless communication from a smartphone. When in range of the device, press scan and select the RAM device from the list. Upon successful connection RAM-1 replies with the latest information and…
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Amazon AWS cloud services

We moved the whole RAM-1 project administration to Amazon’s AWS cloud service. AWS enables us to connect to every RAM-1 device remotely using pretty much any known communication protocol and thereby read data from each device, send new configuration parameters as well as do remote firmware upgrades, thus is bringing new features to the devices.…
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Surge counter, first of many additional features

RAM-1 device was upgraded with its first additional feature, the surge counter. The device will be enabled with overcurrent events detection which is commercially known as the surge counter. Combined with location information the system can serve as a powerline lightning strike locator. Measuring range suitable for field operation is determined to be from 1…
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Smart device needs smart connectivity

Project RAM-1 came to a point where 2G communication protocol is not sufficient anymore for the needs of device’s functionalities. Decision was made to upgrade the hardware to support NB-IoT and LTE-M1 mobile network connectivity. This consists of the modem on the device itself and a SIM card specifying the relationship with the mobile carrier.…
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RAM-CENTER monitoring platform

In the end of year 2019 we launched the online monitoring platform for surge arresters called RAM-CENTER. The customer will be offered a choice of package access to the platform functionalities, whereby the basic package will offer only the basic features for arrester monitoring, with more advanced packages the customer will get a full array…
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First installation in the field

On November 29, 2019, we performed the first installation of the prototype device RAM-1 in the field: Location: Uršlja Gora, Elektro Celje System: 20 kV transmission line; transition from overhead line to cable line Surge arresters: Ur = 30 kV, class DH Test device settings: connectivity 2G measurement setting the measurement period in seconds: 3600…
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Development of basic program routines for a microcontroller

Basic program routines have been developed for the microcontroller to be installed in the device: Door initialization Power management for the analog part Signal capture on AD converter (temperature and leakage current) Save the signal in the internal memory FFT Synthesization of auxiliary signals Basic mathematical operations between signals