The CIMScan architecture is very straightforward and easily understood. The simple diagram below shows how it works.

Sensors, transmitters, and other instruments send their measurement values to one of two sensor interface devices.  One is called an eLink Controller and the other is the Conservation Station. Both are described in more detail later on this page. The diagram below illustrates how these units gather measurements from a variety of instruments over a common 4-wire Modbus network.

1. Measurements (rates and totals) are read from up to 32 Modbus instruments.
2. I/O Pod Data Acquisition Units convert the outputs from analog and digital transmitters.
3. The eLink Controller or Conservation Station stores the measurement data in its internal database.
4. Current measurements can be displayed at any time on a low cost LCD display module.
5. The rate information is sent to the server as it's acquired and the accumulated totals are transferred up once an hour.

The server can be located anywhere and any number of remote stations can be connected to it. The operation of the server is described in detail on "OPERATION" page.

DA-07 eLINK DATA ACQUISITION UNIT

The DA-07 eLink can can gather rate and total consumption information from virtually any Modbus-based instrument. This includes our I/O Pods which are used to interface with simple analog (4-20 ma) and digital output (pulses) transmitters. The diagram below shows an eLink, power supply, an a single I/O Pod.

Up to 32 instruments can be attached to a single eLink through the common 4-wire Modbus RS-485 network. The diagram below shows some of the instruments that can be used.

I/O PODS

  CIMTechniques can provide a variety of Modbus-based I/O Pods. The ones below are used most often for energy and utilities monitoring.

DA-20 CONSERVATION STATION

The Conservation Station performs the same general function as the DA-07, but includes graphic display with an easy to use interactive consumption analysis package. A variety of monitors can be used with DA-20, but more often than not, a 20-26" touchscreen is mounted in the lobby of the building for all to see and use. The object, is to get every day people involved in the conservation process.

The screen shot below shows some of the data display capabilities of the DA-20 Conservation Station.

The display was specifically designed for used with a touchscreen monitor. An average person can easily see a consumption plot over a specific period of time or compare consumption over two separate time periods.

Click here to download a PDF copy of the Conservation Station brochure.

In addition to displaying energy and water consumption, a Conservation Station can optionally contain a Building Directory. A user of the directory can search for a specific person or department and then see a floor plan map of exactly how to get to the desired location. 

THIRD PARTY INSTRUMENTATION

Almost any instrument that can communicate via RS-485 utilizing the Modbus-RTU protocol can be used with the DA-07 or Conservation Station. Analog or pulse output instruments can be attached through one of our I/O Pods.

• Power Meters (Modbus and Pulse Output)
• Current and Voltage Transmitters (4-20 ma)
• Temperature Transmitters (4-20 ma)
• Liquid Flow Meters (Modbus and Pulse Output
• Gas Meters (Pulse Output)
• Steam Meters (Modbus, 4-20 ma, and Pulse Output)
• BTU Meters (Modbus)

Contact CIMTechniques for a list of the available third party components that have been qualified.