Trumeter APM - Advanced Digital Panel Meters

Best Energy Savings Technology Ltd (BEST), specialise in making energy saving technologies which are used in thousands of companies worldwide. One of their solutions is to help industry eliminate waste from motor-driven systems, and thereby reduce energy and maintenance costs, along with carbon emissions. BEST equipment can make energy savings to industrial clients, usually in excess of 30% with a payback period of 1-2 years.

BEST sell their services throughout the world via a network of distributors. Their distributors demonstrate energy savings using a demonstration unit which is now fitted with Trumeter’s Advanced Panel Meters to visually display how much energy can be saved by showing the swing in amp and voltage, when BEST’s Intelligent Motor Energy controller is used.

The company was using analogue meters, sourced from Taiwan, which were proving to be costly and came with lead times of 8 weeks. After finding them on the internet, newly appointed Technical Director, Andrew Smith, contacted Trumeter to see if they could offer an alternative solution.

At the time, the new Trumeter Advanced Panel Meter was being developed, Neil Cooper, Product Manager from Trumeter, visited BEST with the prototype product and blew BEST away with the features and benefits it could provide over and above the traditional meters.

The Trumeter APM allowed BEST to demonstrate their Intelligent Motor Energy Controller much more efficiently. It enables them to demonstrate the physical swing through colour change and swing, as well as allowing them to personalise the scaling of the swing for different countries, i.e. 50 – 120 V for USA, 100 – 200 V for Europe and 200 V for Japan. This has proven to be a massive benefit for the client as it has enabled BEST to produce just 1 demonstration unit for their distributors worldwide, whereas previously they would have had to produce 1 demonstration case for each country.

Commenting Andrew Smith said “From the onset, Trumeter have been very proactive to our requirements. They have taken time to understand what we need and have even made modifications to the software for us. The new APM has a massive cost benefit for us, not only in the cost of the product but also in the reduction of the size of the case; it’s less weight and easier to transport. The biggest benefit however is how it visibly demonstrates the change in voltage and current to our customers.”

When replacing the traditional analogue displays of their metal spraying systems, Metallisation Ltd simply opted for the product that performed to the highest levels of safety and innovation.

With almost a century’s experience and customers all over the world, the thermal spray equipment specialists trusted Trumeter’s Advanced Panel Meters to meet their required standards of responsiveness and reporting.

Used for applications where metals require repair, protection or coating Metallisation’s technology relies on precision, including the agile adjustment and warning protocol features of Advanced Panel Meters.

Metallisation sales director Stuart Milton outlined the advantages of the new technology:‘Having previously relied on traditional volt, current and air pressure meters with less precise needle readouts, we’re pleased with both the accuracy and adaptability of these APMs. One key benefit is the ability to see the screen in direct sunlight or through a shaded visor, unlike other panel meters we’ve used.

We also like that we can set the screen to flash red if there is a problem.’

Trumeter’s Nick Hughes highlighted further the user-friendly features of the technology:‘For a business like Metallisation that depends on being able to measure and adjust parameters continually to ensure optimum productivity, the Advanced Panel Meter is perfect.

‘In environments with restricted visibility, they really come into their own, with the high contrast digital display and customisable coloured readout still legible even when not 100 percent clean.

‘We’re proud that yet another international business has trust in our track record of product performance and satisfying the most exacting customer requirements.’

Following a successful trial of the APM with Metallisation’s ARC150 metal spraying system, Metallisation are considering other systems and applications where the Advanced Panel Meter can be used.

This application will provide Metallisation’s workers with a consistent user interface by a single supplier, in place of prior products supplied by numerous manufacturers to suit varying voltage, current and air pressure configurations.

The versatility and durability of Trumeter’s products mean that they have been used to solve problems for a plethora of industries and applications. Any job that requires the use of heavy machinery or complex electrical equipment is likely to require the use of some form of process meter to ensure the equipment is working efficiently and within safe parameters.

One such application is the quarrying and manufacture of aggregates for use in the construction industry. These materials include asphalt, cement, concrete blocks, roofing tiles, paving and kerbs and are used throughout the world in infrastructure, commercial, industrial and domestic construction as well as sports and leisure.

There are many quarries throughout the UK, and Trumeter has been able to solve a problem in the processing of raw materials for a number of these quarries. Processing the raw materials requires very powerful machinery to clean, crush and sort the various types of aggregates required. The machinery and conveyor belts are driven by electric motors and in a move to become more energy efficient, many quarries are replacing their old standard motors with variable speed drives (VSDs).

It is important that operators are able to monitor how hard the motors are working, to avoid damage to equipment and personnel and to reduce downtime. Traditionally a simple analogue meter could be installed with a current transformer onto a motor supply to measure current, and the operators could use the meter to keep an eye on things and make speed and process adjustments where necessary.

VSDs work differently as it is not possible to achieve an accurate current measurement in this way.

Trumeter is able to offer a solution in the form of the APM Process Meter. By configuring a VSD to output a linear signal proportional to its motor current, and scaling this within the APM it is possible show the true current reading on the display and bar graph. In addition, the APM dynamic backlighting can be configured to change the normal display from bright green, to a flashing red if a current reaches a critical level, alerting operators to problems as soon as they occur.

The technological sophistication and versatility of Trumeter’s product range has seen it thrive in a number of industries, used in applications worldwide. Any job that utilises heavy machinery or complex electrical equipment is likely to require the use of some form of process meter, helping users to ensure the equipment is always working efficiently, and within safe parameters.

Process meters are used widely in engineering, for example within the design and manufacturing of products, including field service toolboxes and canopies.

When working in the field, service engineers require power on board their vehicles in order to power equipment and tools, so generators are installed, which basically gives the engineers a mobile workshop. For safety and efficiency, it is vital that engineers are able to monitor the voltage and current that is being generated whilst they are working.

Trumeter’s solution comes in the form of our new and revolutionary range of Advanced Panel Meters, (APM). Both amp and volt meter versions of the APM allow engineers to measure and display the voltage generated and the current being drawn as they are working.

The APM’s feature large, easy to read displays, allowing field service engineers to quickly and easily take a reading. It’s vital that the engineers know if the voltage or current of their equipment exceeds customisable parameters, especially if they are working in demanding conditions. Thankfully, the APM has dynamic displays, which flash from green to red as a warning in the event that the readings become critical.