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[April 2007]
New GSM Device Enables Long Distance Monitoring
A new GSM device has been launched that is said to look ideal for industrial automation and building management applications. The device enables users to remotely supervise and control a range of industrial and building equipment, including production machines, automation and control equipment, heating systems, escalators, elevators, air conditioning, cooling equipment and servers.
'GAM', the new GSM AlarmModem, distributed in the UK by M.A.C Solutions, is a standalone device based on GSM (global system for mobile communications) and GPRS (general packet radio service) technology. This means the device can be used to keep plant managers and maintenance engineers informed at all times of critical activities within their plant. Alarms, disturbances or status messages can be set up to initialise a freely definable SMS message on a user's mobile phone. Users can even power up or off the respective system using a simple SMS text message.
The device is easy to configure and the user requires no specialist programming skills. Remote equipment and processes, anywhere in the world, can be monitored using GAM. The device has a dedicated SIM card which the user can pay on a contract or pay-as-you-go basis. The user has the ability to set up pre-formatted SMS text message strings, using one of the GAM's digital inputs.
An alarm condition on a remote outstation, for example, can be set up to trigger an SMS text message, which is sent to a pre-defined mobile phone number or list of multiple numbers. The person receiving the alarm message can then choose to acknowledge the message via an SMS text reply or choose to send an SMS text to trigger actual control of the equipment. In the case of a remote outstation, this might involve sending a text to start an emergency pump if liquid levels in a tank have risen beyond a safe limit. Once the appropriate alarm relay has been set, the GAM will then send the user a confirmation message, confirming that the new condition has been set.
In factory automation applications, users may choose to position the controller in a control cabinet. For these types of applications, an aerial is supplied, which is mounted external to the enclosure. The controller itself measures just 71mm by 90mm by 60mm. The device operates on 10-30 VDC and has a low power consumption of less than 4.5W. Back-up power is provided via an internal battery. If the external power fails, the device has enough power to send an SMS message to inform the user that a power out has occurred.
Tim Ricketts, General Manager at M.A.C Solutions (UK) Ltd commented: “The GAM device is ideal for users who need to monitor critical plant and machinery from remote locations. In the industrial sector, the device can be used for a range of monitoring tasks, including pump station monitoring; emergency power systems; sewage and water treatment; level indicators on tanks and silos; empty level warnings on beverage or food vending machines; and to power up or down equipment in server rooms.
“In the building management sector, companies are using the device to monitor heating, lighting, air conditioning and cooling systems; elevators; escalators; smoke detectors; garage door controls; flood warning installations; door, gate and window monitoring systems; theft alarm systems; and other alarm and fault reporting systems.”
www.mac-solutions.co.uk
ENDS