Question 1

What is the difference between brass and plastic water meters?

Accepted Answer

Brass meters offer higher impact resistance, excellent aging resistance (over 20 years lifespan vs 5-10 years for plastic), more stable measurement accuracy over time, and more reliable sealing. Plastic meters are more cost-effective but may experience oxidation, hardening, or embrittlement long-term, especially in high-temperature or direct sunlight environments.

Question 2

Does a prepaid meter have to come with a SIM card?

Accepted Answer

No. The basic technology used in prepaid meters is STS (Standard Transfer Specification), a secure message system that does not require internet. The sales point encrypts credit information to generate a 20-digit token, which the user enters via the meter keypad to recharge. A SIM card is only needed for remote meter reading or remote management functions.

Question 3

What is an STS prepaid electricity meter?

Accepted Answer

An STS prepaid electricity meter is a meter that uses the Standard Transfer Specification to accept secure 20-digit recharge tokens. It is commonly used by utilities, landlords, and property operators that need token-based credit control without requiring every meter to stay online.

Question 4

What is the expected battery lifetime for Calin meters?

Accepted Answer

For both ultrasonic and multi-jet meters, the expected battery lifetime is 5-10 years. Our ultrasonic meters contain double the battery capacity of multi-jet models. The actual lifespan depends heavily on usage patterns — frequent valve operations (opening/closing) consume more battery. Battery replacement is simple for both meter types when needed.

Question 5

What is the difference between LoRa and LoRaWAN?

Accepted Answer

LoRaWAN is an enhanced and optimized version of LoRa technology. Key differences: LoRaWAN has better connectivity and penetration (1-1.5 km vs LoRa less than 1 km), real-time data granularity (hourly vs 24-hour latency), and can manage over 500 meters per gateway versus 200-300 for LoRa.

Question 6

What causes signal noise in PLC communication?

Accepted Answer

PLC (Power Line Communication) signal noise can be caused by: electromagnetic interference from motors and switching power supplies, design flaws like impedance mismatch or aging infrastructure leading to signal reflection, interference from other frequency bands, and inherent environmental noise. LoRaWAN is recommended as an alternative as it operates in a cleaner electromagnetic environment with frequency-hopping capabilities that automatically switch channels to maintain stable connectivity.

Question 7

How many meters can be managed by one gateway?

Accepted Answer

We recommend managing up to 500 meters per LoRaWAN gateway. The communication distance between gateway and meters is up to 2 kilometers by line of sight.

Question 8

When should a utility choose LoRaWAN instead of GPRS for smart meters?

Accepted Answer

LoRaWAN is often preferred when a project has many meters in one service area and wants lower communication operating cost without a SIM card in every meter. GPRS is useful when cellular coverage is available and each meter needs direct wide-area connectivity.

Question 9

How is the gateway powered?

Accepted Answer

The gateway is powered by grid power, not by battery.

Question 10

Do prepaid meter tokens have an expiry date?

Accepted Answer

Tokens for prepaid meters do not have an expiry date. They remain valid indefinitely. However, if a user enters 50 new tokens after losing one, the lost token would no longer work. This scenario is rare, as most users contact their service provider to reprint lost tokens.

Question 11

How does the vending system work?

Accepted Answer

Our vending system is a web browser-based platform. You log in, select the meter number, and generate tokens. The system is flexible and compatible with third-party payment gateways like mobile money. When a customer purchases a token, it can be automatically sent remotely to the meter, so the customer does not need to enter the token manually.

Question 12

Do you provide the management system or can we use our own?

Accepted Answer

We are manufacturers focused on meters and solutions. Most of our clients have their own software. We provide API to allow partners to build their own platform. Alternatively, we also offer our own vending system if needed.

Question 13

What are your payment terms?

Accepted Answer

We usually take a deposit as advance payment, then manufacture, and before shipment we collect the balance. For large quantity orders, we offer batch-by-batch rolling payment terms — you can divide large orders into batches, pay per batch as you withdraw, and we maintain reserve stock for continuous supply.

Question 14

What is your warranty policy?

Accepted Answer

Meters are free from defects in material and workmanship for 18 months from the date of confirmed receipt. We ship 0.2% of the main order as free replacements. Before warranty expiry, after the provided free replacements are consumed, Calin will continue to provide free replacements for any confirmed defective meters due to quality issues.

Question 15

Can you share the price list?

Accepted Answer

Please contact us directly at Scott@szcalinmeter.com or via WhatsApp/WeChat at +8613713788753 and we will send a quote as soon as possible.

Question 16

What is a CIU (Customer Interface Unit)?

Accepted Answer

A CIU is an extension keypad for the meter, especially for meters without a built-in keypad like DIN rail meters. These meters are usually locked and mounted on poles for better communication with the gateway and for theft prevention. The CIU allows users to conveniently enter tokens and check balances.

Question 17

What is a DCU (Data Concentrator Unit)?

Accepted Answer

A DCU is not a meter but a separate data device that acts as a gateway between meters and the back-end system. DCUs are used for cluster installations — for example, in a village with many households. Using a DCU is more cost-effective than putting a SIM card in each meter, as meters with SIM cards are more costly than those without.

Question 18

What equipment is needed for an AMI metering solution?

Accepted Answer

A typical AMI metering solution includes smart prepaid meters, CIUs when users need a separate keypad or display, DCUs or LoRaWAN gateways for data collection, and a back-end vending or meter management platform for token, reading, and device operations.

Question 19

Can ultrasonic meters work without a CIU?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our ultrasonic meters can operate without a CIU as they have an integrated keypad. However, we recommend CIUs when meters are installed outdoors or enclosed in anti-tamper boxes, as the CIU significantly enhances accessibility and functionality in these scenarios.

Question 20

How mature is the ultrasonic water meter technology?

Accepted Answer

After implementing improvements to address initial field issues, our ultrasonic meters (with over 1,000 units deployed) have operated successfully for more than a year without customer complaints. They share similar electronic components with our mature multi-jet meters but feature simpler mechanical structures. We recommend conducting pilot tests before large-scale deployment.

Smart Prepaid Metering Solutions

Smart Metering Products

Energy Meter

Water Meter

Gas Meter

CIU (Customer Interface Unit)

DCU (Data Concentrator Unit)

Gateway

Energy Meter

How to choose an STS prepaid electricity meter

Single Phase Energy Meter

CA168 Smart STS Prepaid DIN Rail Energy Meter (LoRaWAN)

CA168 Smart STS Prepaid Energy Meter (GPRS)

CA168 STS Prepaid Energy Meter

Three Phase Energy Meter

CA368 Smart STS Prepaid Three Phase Energy Meter (GPRS)

CA368 STS Prepaid Three Phase Energy Meter

CT Meter

CT Operated Energy Meter

Solutions for utility metering projects

STS prepaid electricity meter projects

LoRaWAN smart water meter deployments

AMI metering solution architecture

Prepaid gas meter applications

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High Precision

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IoT Enabled

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About Calin Meters

Frequently Asked Questions

Latest News

The Dual-Track Evolution of Gas Meters

Introduction to IoT Protocols

Mechanical Water Meters Introduction

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