Trilliant Incorporated and Cooper Power Systems have partnered to deploy the SecureMesh Powerline Repeater at Hydro One in Ontario, Canada. The SecureMesh Powerline Repeater enhances Smart Grid coverage at Hydro One. Hydro One has more than 1 million smart devices deployed across its territory.

The SecureMesh Powerline Repeater acts as an intermediate wireless node in the SecureMesh Neighborhood Area Network (NAN) to relay messages to and from SecureMesh-enabled electric meters, gas meters and in-building devices. The Repeater provides an easy method to increase the local density of mesh devices, reduce the range between devices and improve overall SecureMesh NAN performance.

In a release, Mike Stoessl, group president of Cooper Power Systems, energy harvesting power supplies like the one deployed at Hydro One are an essential part of the Smart Grid. Since such power supplies can be installed almost anywhere, the cost of deployment and maintenance get reduced. The SecureMesh Powerline Repeater leverages Cooper's Energy Harvesting (EH) Power Supply, using a current transformer to power operation of a variety of radios and sensors through inductive coupling with the power line.

The SecureMesh Powerline Repeater combines Cooper Power's EH Power Supply technology and Trilliant's (News - Alert) SecureMesh NAN radio into an integrated unit designed to improve a utility's radio coverage, mesh-network density and communications reliability. It is possible to install the Repeater on almost any power line by using the Cooper-patented clamp mechanism and spring-action current transformers.

For the installation of a SecureMesh Powerline Repeater, there is no need for any wires or special tools. According to Rob Conant, senior vice president network products at Trilliant, the SecureMesh Powerline Repeater improves network performance and reliability by reducing the range between NAN nodes and also increases mesh density and the number of possible communication paths. Trilliant Incorporated provides hardware, software and service solutions that deliver on the promise of Advanced Metering and Smart Grid to utilities and their customers.

 

A division of Cooper Industries plc, Cooper Power Systems manufactures world-class power delivery and reliability solutions for electrical and industrial markets. Through its Energy Automations Solutions group, Cooper Power Systems provides software, communications and integration solutions that enable customers to increase productivity, improve system reliability and reduce costs.