IEC 61850 and OPC Communications Options Enhance Versatility of Dranetz Encore Series Platforms in Substation/Industrial/Data Center Applications

EDISON, N.J., Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dranetz announces two new significant communications options for its Encore Series power quality, demand and energy monitoring system. The first is the company's IEC 61850 communications option which will be bundled, when specified, into Dranetz 61000 Series instruments. Thus equipped, interoperability will be achieved between Dranetz and third-party devices in utility substation environments operating under the IEC 61850 automation, communications and integration protocol. Available in Q2/11, the IEC 61850 option will greatly enhance the flexibility and facilitate deployment of the Dranetz Encore Series in the utility substation automation environment.

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Available now, the second offering is the EssOpc Module — a new OPC Gateway for Dranetz Encore Series Software (ESS). Well established in the industrial, utility, data center and other segments, OPC (Object linking and embedding for Process Control) establishes a common interface for third-party devices allowing access by other systems, including building management, SCADA and other software.

The EssOpc Gateway is a separate and optional software module that works alongside the standard Encore Series Software (ESS) to provide real-time metered data, event counters and system status to the user's compatible software systems. The EssOpc gateway communicates with ESS on a periodic basis, and makes the data and status of each instrument in the monitoring system accessible to third-party systems via OPC.  

"In these new communications options, we've leveraged our extensive expertise in the previous UCA-2 protocol environment to develop a fully integratable solution for both new and retrofit substation applications," comments Ross Ignall, Dranetz Director of Product Management. "The Dranetz OPC Gateway in the industrial sector, primarily, and the IEC 61850 platform in the utility sector; open the door to an unprecedented degree of flexibility for Dranetz Encore Series deployment across a broader spectrum of automation, control and integration applications."

For further information about these new communications options for Dranetz Encore Series hardware and software systems, contact us at the number below or visit us at www.dranetz.com.

About Dranetz

Dranetz, the leading provider of intelligent monitoring solutions for electrical demand and energy and power quality, pioneered the power-quality monitoring industry in 1962, merging with Basic Measuring Instruments in 1996. Dranetz was acquired in early 2007 by the multinational corporation Gossen Metrawatt (GMC-I), GmbH of Germany, a world leader in test and measurement instrumentation, leveraging the technologies and markets of both companies. Dranetz corporate headquarters, located in Edison, New Jersey USA, includes sales, product support and manufacturing with distributors and sales representatives located globally, and is also a global supplier of GMC-I's electrical test and measurement products.

SOURCE Dranetz