Wireless Retrofit Monitoring for Existing Industrial Sensors

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the universal analog input interface digitize signals from third-party 4-20mA or 0-10V field sensors?

The RM-IS features precision high-resolution Analog-to-Digital Conversion (ADC) circuitry. When wired to a third-party instrument, the unit measures incoming current loop values (4-20mA) or voltage drops (0-10V / 0-5V). The onboard microprocessor applies user-configured scaling factors to translate raw electrical values into exact engineering units (e.g., bar, °C, L/min) before packaging the digitized payload into an AES-128 encrypted packet for wireless transmission.

How does the integrated switched sensor power supply eliminate external wiring loops and DC power supplies?

Traditional 4-20mA current loop sensors often require external 24V DC power supplies and extensive cabling loops. The RM-IS incorporates a built-in switched excitation power circuit. During sampling cycles, the unit briefly powers the attached third-party sensor, captures the stable analog signal, digitizes the output, and instantly disconnects sensor power before returning to deep sleep. This pulsed power technique enables fully autonomous operation of third-party sensors directly from the internal battery.

What digital and resistance sensor interface options are available on the RM-IS platform?

Beyond standard current and voltage inputs, the RM-IS series offers dedicated interface configurations, including RTD temperature inputs (Pt100 / Pt1000 in 2-wire or 3-wire setups), dry-contact pulse counters (reed switches for flowmeters), I2C, TTL UART, and serial protocols like RS232, RS485, and SDI-12 / Modbus. This broad hardware choice allows operators to retrofit virtually any industrial sensor output onto a single LPWAN architecture.

How does the Ellenex Software Platform convert raw voltage or current inputs into meaningful process trends?

The Ellenex Software Platform features a flexible sensor calibration and formula configuration interface. Operators input the linear or non-linear scaling parameters corresponding to the retrofitted field instrument (e.g., mapping 4mA to 0 bar and 20mA to 16 bar). The platform automatically converts incoming raw current or voltage telemetry into real-time engineering metrics, displaying live trends, historical charts, and process threshold alarms on the user dashboard.

Why are LPWAN wireless networks superior to running new instrument cabling across established industrial plants?

Retrofitting wired cables across established manufacturing plants or processing facilities involves high capital costs, including trenching, cable tray installation, conduit runs, and facility shutdowns. The LoRaWAN option (-L) uses sub-GHz radio frequencies to penetrate dense metal siding and concrete plant walls, broadcasting telemetry to central gateways up to several kilometers away without physical wires. The Cellular LPWAN option (-N) uses NB-IoT / LTE Cat-M1 to connect directly to public cell towers, bypassing local IT network infrastructure entirely.

How does retrofitting existing field instruments prevent unplanned downtime in aging industrial facilities?

Aging industrial plants often contain reliable mechanical instruments that lack digital connectivity, leaving operators unaware of developing faults until machines trip. By retrofitting these stranded sensors with RM-IS nodes, facility engineers receive continuous, real-time data streams and rate-of-change alerts. Catching minor process deviations early allows maintenance teams to fix minor issues during scheduled downtime rather than dealing with unexpected line shutdowns.

What internal power preservation routine enables up to 10 years of autonomous operation while powering external sensors?

The RM-IS device is powered by an internal, replaceable 3.6V Lithium primary battery (LiSOCl2) built for harsh operating temperatures (-30°C to +55°C). Guided by low-power firmware algorithms, the transmitter stays in a deep sleep state for over 99% of its operational life. At scheduled sampling intervals, the device wakes up, switches on the sensor power supply, reads and digitizes the analog output, transmits the encrypted telemetry payload via LPWAN, and shuts down excitation power before returning to deep sleep. This efficient power routine supports up to 10 years of field operation.