Elster Solutions ILC2I, ILC2 Users manual

June 2008 IL42-4032A

WARNING

!

Preliminary

A3 ALPHA® Meters with External Antenna Capability

For use with the ILC2 option board

General

Typically, the internal antenna used with the ILC2 option board is sufficient for reliable communication with the
EnergyAxis network. However, if the A3 ALPHA meter is enclosed in a meter service cabinet or the antenna must be
mounted higher to overcome signal obstruction, an external antenna may be used.

This leaflet contains general information for installing the A3 ALPHA meter equipped with connections for an external
antenna.

■ For information on the operation of the A3 ALPHA meter, see the A3 ALPHA Meter Technical Manual (TM42-

2190B or later) or the A3 ALPHA Meter Technical Manual For Use in Canada (TM42-2195A or later)

■ For information on installing the A3 ALPHA meter, see the “ALPHA Meter Installation Instructions” (IL42-

4001Q or later)

Use authorized utility procedures to install and service metering equipment. Dangerous voltages are present.
Equipment damage, personal injury, or death can result if safety precautions are not followed.
Use circuit closing devices on current transformer secondaries (3S, 4S, 5S, 5A, 6S, 6A, 8S, 9S, 10S, 10A, 26S,
29S, 35S, 35A, 36S, and 36A meters). Equipment damage, personal injury, or death can result if circuit closing
secondaries are not used.

Connecting an External Antenna

Note. This device has been designed to operate with the antennas listed below and having a maximum gain of

5.15 dBi. Antennas not included in this list or having a gain greater than 5.15 dBi are strictly prohibited for use with this
device. The required antenna impedance is 50 ohms.

Internal antenna: Elster Electricity P/N: 1B12150H01

1

Local external antennas: Laird/Antenex TRA(B)9023P

Remote external antennas: PCTEL/MAXRAD P/N MFB9150 (Tessco P/N 39493) for unity gain (2.15 dBi); PCTEL/

MAXRAD P/N MFB 9153 for 3 dB gain (5.15 dBi)

The external antenna connects to the ILC2 option board using a connector lead as shown in Figure 1. In addition to
the standard internal antenna, there are two options available for connecting an external antenna:

■ Local external antenna

■ Remote external antenna

1

Part number specifies an antenna with a black body. For an antenna with a white body, use part number TRA9023P.

Elster

Raleigh, North Carolina USA
[phone] (US toll free)
[phone] (Canada)
[e-mail]
www.elsterelectricity.com

(3.1 dBi); Laird/Antenex TRA(B)9023NP (3.1 dBi)

IL42-4032A June 2008

NOTICE

N-type connector
to external antenna

Connector lead

External antenna
connection lead

Wire tie

Retaining clip

Preliminary

Figure 1. Retaining clip and connector lead

Local External Antenna

If the A3 ALPHA meter is used in a metal service cabinet, using a local external antenna may be necessary. To obtain
better coverage, the local external antenna can be mounted on the top of the metal service cabinet or the meter
socket enclosure (see [1] in Figure 2).

1

Elster recommends Antenex Inc.’s 902-928 MHz Permanent Mount antenna (TRAB9023P).
the service cabinet or meter socket enclosure, drill a 5/8-inch hole into the cabinet wall with a step drill. Insert the
antenna through the hole. After the antenna is mounted, the antenna’s Type N female connector can be mated with the
meter’s Type N male connector.

For installations where the mounting for the local antenna does not provide a conductive metallic ground plane, the
Antenex TRAB9023NP (no ground plane required) may be employed. The gain and pattern are virtually identical with
the TRAB9023P version and the TRAB9023NP may also be employed on metallic ground planes with good results.

To mount the antenna on

Remote External Antenna

If the A3 ALPHA meter is used in a metal building, or the meter is installed in a location where the site requires an
antenna at a greater height to overcome blocked signals, a remote antenna may be required. If a remote external
antenna is used, a lightning/surge arrestor should be installed at the bottom of the socket enclosure (see [2] in
Figure 2). Elster recommends a PolyPhaser DSXL IN-LINE EMP surge filter (Tessco P/N 491574).

Do not use a standard RG-8/U cable with solid polyethylene dielectric. The losses in solid dielectric RG-8/U cables in
short distances make solid dielectric RG-8/U cables unacceptable.

The most economical connection to the remote external antenna is the RG-8/U “foam” or “LMR-400” type cable. This
type of cable should be suitable for distances of up to 100 feet. The foam dielectric cable will incur a loss of
approximately 3.9 dB in 100 feet (or approximately 2 dB in 50 feet). The coaxial cable should be mounted at the
bottom of the meter socket in “drip loop” fashion. A “drip loop” is formed by bringing the coaxial cable to a point below
the meter socket and then bending it back up to the connector. This forms a U-shape, which allows water to run down
the cable exterior. Antenna cables should be ordered with N-type male connectors on each end.

1

Antenex, 2000-205 Bloomingdale Road, Glendale Heights IL 60131. Telephone: [phone]. Website: antenex.com

2

PolyPhaser Corporation, 2225 Park Place, Minden, NV 89423. Telephone: [phone].
Website: polyphaser.com.

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