MS5200 smart grid medium voltage sensor
Supports detection of electricity theft
Monitor power losses with the MS5200 sensor to detect and prevent power theft effectively
Enables Volt/VAR optimisation
The MS5200 sensor's Volt/VAR optimisation capability enables precise voltage and reactive power control, enhancing grid efficiency and reliability
Detects with 0.5 % accuracy
Has unique proprietary algorithms that detect high impedance faults with high accuracy
Eliminates worry about data security
With cyber crimes on the rise, data security is paramount. The MS5200/MetryView system meets the highest cyber security standards of leading global power utilities
About the product
The MS5200 smart grid medium voltage sensor complements distribution management systems by providing on-line information about faults and grid operations. It includes the ability to connect to ground to enable you to perform a direct voltage measurement instead of calculating the voltage from measurement of the electric field.
The 0.5 % accuracy of the voltage measurements makes the MS5200 the ideal choice for applications such as Volt/VAR optimisation, medium voltage power metering, and the detection of technical and non-technical losses.
The MS5200 is a modular system designed to operate in power grids with solid grounding and any other type of earthing, including Petersen coil compensation. It works by deploying sensors in a radio network, which then automatically create a secured mesh network between themselves. When required, additional routers and sensors automatically and effortlessly connect to the network and report abnormal events such as surges and current/voltage drops. These can be accessed at any time using the MetryView software.
The MS5200 is available in two versions:
- MS5200-SU: Sensor unit with radio communications. The unit can be connected to MS5000-GS sensor/gateway or to other MS5200/MS5000 sensors units or to MS3010 gateway or routers
- MS5200-GS: Sensor unit with integrated cellular gateway
FAQ / Frequently Asked Questions
The system complies to strict information security requirements of leading power utilities in this field, including IEC in Israel. The system includes:
- End-to-end TLS/SSL
- Certificates enrollment
- Encrypted local radio communication between sensors
- Private APN and RADIUS
- Encrypted firmware upload
- Three levels of local access permissions
The application can be installed either on the MGA server on the Azure cloud or on the customer’s server. If on the customer’s server, the MGA will not have access to the sensors in order to monitor or provide service. To do so, it is recommended that the customer provide secure access to this server, especially during the software installation process.
Yes, data can be accessed by the SCADA/DMS master via a MS3010-GW or a MS5200-GS unit.
At the moment, the MS3010 does not include an optical interface.
- Between MS3010 and MS5200 units: IPV6 Mesh Radio (6LoWPAN) with AES encryption
- Between MS3010-GW/MS5000-GS units and MetryView server: TCP/IP with TLS encryption over cellular 2G/3G/4G. MS3010 can also be connected via RS232 (direct wired connection) which can be converted DNP3 or to Ethernet
- Between MetryView server and SCADA/DMS: DNP3 or IEC-104 or Modbus over TCP/IP
All MGA items can be fully installed and activated on ‘LIVE’ power lines if the installation is done by authorised linemen, and as long as they strictly follow all safety procedures of the power utility for live line installation.
There is no need to replace the MS5200 sensors’ batteries. The batteries are extremely reliable and are designed to operate in a temperature range of -40 °C to 85 °C and can operate for up to 20 years. However, it is possible to replace the battery pack in the field with a battery pack that can be supplied by MGA.
In GSM communication, there is no limit, you just need a 2G/3G/4G network coverage. Up to 10 km in radio mesh mode if 915 MHz is a permitted frequency (it depends on the landscape and the location of relay antennas). Several tens of kilometres in radio mesh mode are also a possibility with high gain antennas that Megger can provide.
The MS sensors are designed to operate and perform for at least 10 years without maintenance, but they can last much longer.
- The MS5200 system can identify not only the faulted section but also weak spots in the network before they fail.
- The MS5200 system also gives visibility of power flows and where there are solid tees to connect distributed generation. This can be important to maintain voltage control and monitor power quality issues from generator inverters (e.g., solar and wind).
- Reclosers have the advantage of being able to isolate the faulted section from the remote section, but they are expensive compared to sensors. The total cost of reclosers includes the recloser itself and the planning of the installation feeds the power to the recloser. In contrast, the MS5200 sensors are standalone, self-powered, include an integrated means of communication, and can be deployed in a few minutes via a plug-and-play operation. This way multiple sets of sensors can be installed at the same cost of a single recloser. Because of their cost, reclosers are deployed selectively, and in most cases the final isolation of the faulted grid’s segment is done by the team in the field using manual switches when there is no prior information about the specific location of the fault after the recloser. Therefore, depending on the number of reclosers already deployed, it is often more advantageous to install multiple sets of sensors instead of a single recloser, and reduce the search time by directing the team to the exact location where they can use a manual switch to isolate the fault.
Yes, the MS5200 can operate on all grid systems, though the grid type needs to be configured in advance in the MS system.
Weather conditions may have a critical impact on grid operation but very little impact on the MS sensors, which is very useful during bad weather to help pinpoint the exact location of an event such as a turn cable. The MetryView software is also equipped with the local weather information to help you analyse the root cause of specific faults by comparing with bad weather days.
Further reading and webinars
Troubleshooting
- Connect the GS sensor to the Bloader SW, which was provided by MGA, and confirm the APN code (APN is provided by the SIM provider. Note that some SIM cards will also require a user and password credentials, which should be provided by the SIM provider.)
- Confirm with the SIM provider that the SIM card is active
- Ensure sufficient cellular coverage at the installation site
- Contact MGA support
- This will indicate that the SU sensor is not yet synchronised with the GS sensor, and still trying to connect
- Check the sensor battery (the first blinks after turn-on of the sensor will indicate the sensor’s battery status:
- 1 blink: battery level very low
- 2 blinks: medium battery level
- 3 blinks: battery is full
Charge the battery using a USB cable if necessary - Check set and sensor’s ID number and make sure sensors were not mixed with other sets
- Contact MGA support
- Ensure that the MS5200 divider and grounding hook are properly installed as described in the ‘MS5000 User Guide’, section 7.9.
- Contact MGA support
- Confirm the sensor is properly registered and listed (sensor IDs) in the configuration tab on Metryview
- Sensor connection loss can be related to the low battery of the sensor. In this case, you might need to relocate the sensors to a different line with sufficient current for charging:
- open the ‘Daily Graph’ tab and check the sensor's last connection to Metryview
- once located, open the ‘Battery and Charging Status’ graph and check the battery voltage status and line current while it was last connected. - If the battery voltage and current were sufficient when last seen, check that the SIM card data package is still valid by contacting your SIM provider.
- Contact MGA support
- Contact your Admin User to log in via admin credentials
- Under the “Users” tab, check and confirm the User's Phone Number (+prefix) and the SMS Notification check/tick box is marked.
- Contact MGA support
FAQ / Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in a mesh radio installation, sensor routers and gateway units use radio to communicate with each other, therefore a clear line of sight is required when the range between the units is large. For cellular installation using GS sensors, there is no constraint of radio line-of-sight between sensors, and instead there should be cellular service coverage in the location of the sensors.
Distance depends on the operation frequency and power and requires a direct line-of-sight. The sensors, routers and gateways should be installed in high locations and the range is increased if the routers and gateways are located on high terrain and on communication towers.
- Units operating in 433 MHz with power of 100 mW (20 dBm) – 2 km range
- Units operating in 915 MHz with power of 1 W (30 dBm) – 10 km range. The range can be extended to tens of km using routers and gateways with external high gain antennas. MGA supplies two kind of high gain antennas: Whip antennas that cover 360 degrees, and sector antennas
Typically, when connecting to the MGA server, you will need only the APN in order to connect. Some cellular networks will not require this because the default APN in the device will be sufficient and no configuration will be required at all. When connecting to a private APN however you may need additional configuration:
- APN - An Access Point Name (APN) is the name of a gateway between a cellular network and the public Internet or the customer’s private network. Please ask the cellular provider to provide the APN in advance. The APN can be programmed to the device using the BLOADER software on a laptop connected to the device by USB. Note that in many cases the default APN in the device is sufficient to make the connection to the public internet, but it is not always the case. Usually power utilities are using “private APN” which ensures connection only to their server, and in this case the APN must be programmed into the device.
- Username and password - In some cases, and particularly for private APN, a username and password are required. When using a private APN, you should get the username and password from the power utility. The username and password should be programmed using the BLOADER software. Note that username and password are not required for connection with the MGA server (the MGA server does not use a private APN, instead different strong measures are used in order to protect the data, including TLS encryption)
- PIN code - A SIM PIN code is a way to make sure nobody can use your SIM card without knowing the correct code. In most cases a PIN code is not used, but you should verify this, and if a PIN code is required, you will need to program it into the device using the BLOADER software
- IMEI - The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number is a unique 15-digit code that precisely identifies the MS5200-GS or MS3010-GW device itself. IMEI is not required when using the MGA server, but when using a power utility’s private APN, you may need the IMEI numbers of the devices in advance, which you can obtain from MGA
ICCID - The Integrated Circuit Card Identification Number (ICCID) is a unique 18 to 22 digit code that includes a SIM card’s country, home network, and identification number. You’ll usually find an ICCID printed on the back of a SIM card, but sometimes it’s included in the packaging materials instead. There is no need to configure
- The sensors in a set are labelled 1, 2, and 3, where sensor 1 is the GS (MS5200-GS) and sensors 2 and 3 are the SUs (MS5200-SU)
- The GS (sensor 1) should be installed on phase A, sensor 2 on phase B, and sensor 3 on phase C
- However, if the sensors are installed in a different order, this can be fixed by configuring the MetryView software after installation, provided the actual order is known
Yes, there are several indications to be noticed during installation shown by the LED (near the power button)
- Right after powering up the unit, the bottom LED indication relates to the battery condition:
- 3 short blinks – Full battery
- 2 short blinks – Medium battery
- 1 blink – Low battery
- A few seconds after this, the bottom LED indication will relate to the GS’s cellular connection to Metryview server:
- 3 blinks repeated every 5 sec – Connected
- 2 blinks repeated every 5 sec – Scanning for connection
- 1 blink repeated every 5 sec – Power save mode, not connected and not scanning
- For the SU sensor, the LED indication refers to the radio connection instead of cellular
- When installing the sensor on a live line, the sensor senses the electric field, or the current, and will blink its four surrounding LEDs
- 4 hours after the last installation, the bottom LED indication will stop blinking
Yes, there are four LED indicators around the sensor (two on each side). When a fault occurs on the line, the LEDs will blink once every 5 minutes, for 4 hours (this can be configured). In addition, if the sensor identifies power flow due to a fault, the LEDs will blink by showing the fault direction on the line (first the two LEDs on the side opposite of the fault and right after, the other two LEDs on the side of the fault).
Each type of sensor requires a different amount of current for proper charging:
- GS sensors require at least 5 A on the line for continuous operation. If the current Is lower than 5 A and higher than 3 A, then the cellular modem of the GS is sleeping most of the time and wakes up immediately after a fault and every 6 hours to report
- SU and MU sensors require at least 3 A on the line for operation with full functionality. SU sensors can operate with 1.5 A in low power mode. In this mode, it sends periodic measurements and detects low faults, but doesn’t sample the line at a high sampling range and doesn’t analyse current and voltage waveforms, therefore it can’t detect high impedance faults
Note: MU and SU sensors have identical hardware, but their software configuration is different. The MU is responsible for getting information from the two SUs of a mash radio set, analyse it, and send the results to other sensor sets, routers, or to the gateway in the mesh radio network.
- Very reliable. The sensor is locked and secured to the line by 2 heavy-duty screws
- Main screw – to lock and secure the sensor to the power cable
- Secondary screw – to lock and secure the sensor from opening.
- It is important to follow the installation instructions when installing the sensor
Cable thickness is very much related to the sensor locking mechanism, which is fixed on the sensor, therefore the thickness of the cable line must be between 6 mm (min) and 32 mm (max).
- Yes, the sensor should be placed according to the direction that was defined in the MetryView diagram. Usually, the direction is set according to the direction of the nominal power flow in the line. Each sensor is marked and labelled with an arrow for the installer on site
- It is also possible to reverse the direction of the sensor in the diagram if the physical sensor was installed in the reverse direction
Once a fault occurs, the side LEDs of the related sensor will start to blink for approximately 4 hours. This blink time is configurable and can be changed. The LEDs blinking is mainly for field team usage and blinks can be stopped manually by the operator if not required.
- Self-extinguishing – an event that occurred for less than 1 second and had no effect on the system. The system resumes normal activity by itself
- Transient – an event that occurred for less than 2 seconds and had a minor effect on the system. The system resumes normal activity by protection methods such as reclosers etc
- Permanent – an event lasting more than 4 seconds, during which the system was unable to self-recover
