Prepayment at the connection
Match the electrical service, maximum load, enclosure and customer keypad access. STS token entry supports local credit loading; define low-credit, overload and reconnection behaviour in the selected meter configuration.
Metering solutions
For mini-grid developers, operators and EPCs
Prepaid metering from the first mini-grid pilot to rollout
CalinMeters supplies prepaid electricity meters and supporting communication devices for solar mini-grids. We hold stock for mini-grid products, work with a service provider in Nigeria and provide direct technical support from our China headquarters. Start with a coordinated meter, vending and communication configuration, then validate it at your pilot site.
Discuss your project
Stock for mini-grid projects
Mini-grid products are kept in stock. Confirm the model, configuration and quantity to reserve for your rollout.
Service provider in Nigeria
An existing Nigeria service provider works alongside direct technical support from our China headquarters.
Response within 2 h / 12 h
China headquarters responds within 2 hours during its business hours and within 12 hours outside them. This is the initial response time; resolution depends on the issue.
We are developing service-provider cooperation in additional countries. Discuss a service partnership
Choose the operating model before choosing the radio
Vending and payment reconciliation
Agree who runs vending, manages keys, receives payment confirmations and resolves duplicate or failed transactions. Link a payment reference, token transaction and meter account so the operator can reconcile collections with issued credit.
Remote reading and operations
Select cellular or a gateway-based architecture according to the model and site. Confirm radio coverage, gateway backhaul, reporting intervals and the handling of delayed data. Local token entry and remote communications have separate availability requirements.
Residential and productive-use loads
Plan single-phase household connections separately from three-phase shops, workshops, pumps and other productive-use loads. CT-operated metering requires a defined CT ratio and the appropriate external load-control arrangement.
A deployment process your field team can follow
Adapted from the supplied Calin four-step deployment guide. The final work instructions and keypad codes must match the selected model and firmware.
1. Prepare and register
Allocate meters and gateways to the site. Record device IDs, agree the configuration and provide the device list for registration. Select a representative sample set for pre-deployment testing.
2. Test the complete chain
Connect sample meters, CIUs and gateways, verify backhaul, create test accounts and confirm that meter data reaches the management system. Test each gateway group before dispatch to site.
3. Survey and install
Map the actual service area, test candidate gateway locations and check connectivity at each meter position. Install the devices and associate each connection with the correct operator account.
4. Commission and hand over
Verify power, activation, customer supply, token loading and data reception before the field team leaves. Record exceptions, hand over the device/account list and agree the maintenance and escalation contacts.
Pilot acceptance: agree the evidence before rollout
Proposed acceptance plan for your project, not a report of achieved field results. Set numerical thresholds and observation periods with the operator before testing.
Meter and account identity
Record the installed meter, CIU, gateway and customer-account mapping. Acceptance evidence: a signed device list and a successful test transaction for each sampled configuration.
Credit and reconciliation
Test valid recharge, rejected or repeated tokens, payment exceptions and balance updates. Acceptance evidence: matched transaction records and an exception-resolution log.
Connectivity and recovery
Test representative indoor/outdoor locations, loss of backhaul and restoration of supply. Acceptance evidence: time-stamped read records, recovery observations and a list of unresolved coverage gaps.
Operational handover
Confirm field training, spare-device allocation, account access and escalation. Record open actions and approvals; expand the rollout only after the agreed acceptance criteria are met.
Deployment experience and partner support
Nigeria distribution-metering experience
Company project material documents supply of split-keypad single-phase meters, three-phase meters and DCUs for a Nigeria electricity-distribution project. The experience covers meter supply, installation planning and system coordination for distribution metering.
A service provider in Nigeria
CalinMeters currently works with a service provider in Nigeria. Agree the service location, on-site responsibilities and visit arrangements for your project, with China headquarters supporting the technical work directly.
Service-provider cooperation in other countries
We are developing service-provider cooperation in additional markets. Installation firms, metering integrators and maintenance teams can discuss training, territory coverage, tools, spare parts and escalation responsibilities with us.
Vending and operations in one working view
The supplied platform view shows token generation and records, remote operations, reporting and account management. Plan user roles, payment interfaces and reconciliation outputs with the project team.
Project inquiry
Discuss service-provider cooperation
Tell us your country, installation and maintenance coverage, team experience and the metering services you can provide.
Buyer questions
What support is available for a solar mini-grid metering project?
CalinMeters has a service provider in Nigeria and provides direct technical support from China headquarters. Headquarters responds within 2 hours during its working hours and within 12 hours outside working hours. These are response times; on-site attendance and resolution depend on the issue and agreed service scope. Service-provider cooperation is being developed in other countries.
Are mini-grid meters kept in stock?
Yes. CalinMeters maintains stock for solar mini-grid metering products. Share the meter configuration, communication option, quantity and delivery destination so the available batch and dispatch schedule can be confirmed for your order.
Does STS token entry mean the entire vending system works offline?
No. Local entry of a valid STS credit token and the systems that sell credit are separate. The meter can accept a token through its keypad or CIU without a continuous internet connection at the meter. Token generation, payment confirmation, vending access and reconciliation depend on the selected system architecture and must be confirmed and tested with the operator.
Does programme funding automatically qualify a meter for a mini-grid project?
No. A World Bank-funded or other programme-supported project still has its own technical schedules, procurement rules and acceptance requirements. CalinMeters can support a configuration and document review against those requirements; programme funding does not establish approval of a particular meter.
Project inquiry
Discuss Solar mini-grid metering pilot
Share the target country, model or application, quantity, timeline and technical requirements. We will help define the next configuration or cooperation step.