Stirling Panels, a local control panel manufacturer which manufactures automatic mains/generator change-over panels (AMF panels) has developed a remote generator monitoring solution based on wireless communications and the RGK generator interface, a fully visual interface showing the dials and screens for the remote generator.
The solution has already been successfully rolled out for MTN in South Africa.
Wally Stirling, CEO of Stirling Panels, says: “We first started manufacturing AMF control panels in 2001, primarily for generator change-over in the case of power failures. Although our panels were successful in the field, our clients were encountering increasing maintenance costs for their remote units. Every time there was a problem with the generator sets, it was not picked up very quickly, and it meant the cell tower went down before realising there was a problem. They would then send out a technician to the remote site without knowing what was needed, which might mean a trip of a few hundred kilometres and delays of hours and even days before knowing what the problem was.
“They had a definite need to manage the generator sets remotely, and so we looked into finding a solution for them. After some research on wireless communications, we chose the Maestro 100 wireless modem from Trinity Telecomms to enable each AMF control panel with communications over the GMS/GPRS network.”
According to Stirling, the addition of the wireless modems enables support teams to monitor the generator sets remotely, and to make diagnoses before anyone is sent to the site. This reduces the support effort significantly, as many issues can now be resolved remotely. “When a cell tower goes down, the technicians can now determine if it is a power failure, if the generator fuel has run out, or if there is a mechanical failure. In some cases, the generator set can simply be reset by sending a command to the AMF control panel via the modem, without the need to send someone out to site,” explains Stirling.
Each site is allocated a name, address and phone number, so the operator in the control room is able to recognise where the call originates from, and can then dial in to check the statistics. In this way the remote generator sets can be monitored and alarms and faults in the system can be rectified either remotely or on site if required. The wireless communications enable technicians to dial in from a laptop and check the key statistics such as temperature, oil pressure, fuel levels, mains readings and whether the system is currently running from the mains or the generator.
The RGK software interface displays the dials and controls visually on the laptop screen, to make it look as though the control panel was right in front of the operator. From this display, the technician can control the generator, and make adjustments to the settings. The generator can also be started or stopped by means of SMS commands from a cell phone, when a computer is not available.
Raymond Fitzpatrick of MTN explains the benefits for his support team: “It is a huge plus not to have to drive out to the site in case of a problem. We are able to stop and start the generator and diagnose faults remotely. This means reduced maintenance costs, lower fuel bills and reduced time spent driving out to remote locations. It is especially beneficial for the more remote sites where we might have to drive for 4 or 5 hours to reach the tower in question. We now have control over these sites from our offices, and we have improved diagnostics,” he adds.
Stirling says that his company is already supplying the generator controller system to other large cellular providers in Mozambique, who are also benefitting from managing their remote sites over wireless communications. “We have just sent our first shipment to Nigeria as well,” says Stirling. “This solution is ideal for operating generators in remote areas, so it is ideal for conditions in Africa. It can be used in any country that has a cellular infrastructure. We look forward to expanding our market to include many other countries in Africa as well.”
For more information contact Steven Ferraris, Trinity Telecomms, +27 (0)11 465 7377, enquiries@trintel.co.za, www.trintel.co.za
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