Badger Meter E Series User manual

E-Series® Ultrasonic Plus Meter
with Integrated Valve
ESM-UM-02156-EN-02 (August 2020) User Manual

CONTENTS
Scope of this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
About the E-Series Ultrasonic Plus Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Product Unpacking and Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
System Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Storage Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Meter Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Outdoor Installations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Indoor Installations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Special Fittings and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Pre-Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Meter Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Endpoint Installation and Valve Activation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
BEACON First Time Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Integrated Valve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Valve Routine Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
BEACON Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Actuating the Integrated Valve In BEACON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Valve Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Meter Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Status Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Activating the Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Unit of Measure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Rate of Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Flow Direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Specications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
E-Series® Ultrasonic Plus Meter with Integrated Valve
Page ii August 2020ESM-UM-02156-EN-02

SCOPE OF THIS MANUAL
This manual contains installation and operation instructions for the E-Series® Ultrasonic Plus meter. Failure to read and follow
these instructions can lead to misapplication or misuse of this product, resulting in personal injury and damage to equipment.
Proper performance and reliability of the product depend upon installation in accordance with these instructions.
ABOUT THE ESERIES ULTRASONIC PLUS METER
The E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meter uses solid-state ultrasonic transit-time technology to measure cold potable water,
and incorporates an integrated valve into the lay length of the meter. With an ORION® Cellular LTE-M or LTE-MS endpoint
connected to the meter, authorized utility personnel can schedule the integrated valve on the meter to open, close and
partially close via commands sent from BEACON® AMA (Advance Metering Analytics), allowing you to remotely restrict and
restore water service in a secure manner. The modular design of the meter gives utilities the option to order and install a
valve-ready meter first, then install the valve later.
The E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meter can be installed using horizontal or vertical piping, with water flow in the up direction. The
meter will not measure flow when an empty pipe condition is experienced. An empty pipe is defined as a condition when the
flow sensors are not fully submerged.
E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meters comply with the lead-free provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act, are certified to
NSF/ANSI Standards 61 and 372, and carry the NSF 61 marking. All components of the meter comprise the certified system.
E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meters comply with the applicable portions of the most recent revision of the American Water Works
Association (AWWA) Standard C715.
All electronic components utilized in the E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meter and RF Transceiver design comply with applicable FCC
Part 15 standards and AWWA C707 for encoded remote reading systems.
Safety Information
The installation of the E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meter must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local rules, regulations,
and codes.
WARNING
THIS PRODUCT HAS A MAGNETIC FIELD.
Product Unpacking and Inspection
Upon opening the shipping container, visually inspect the product and applicable accessories for any physical damage such
as scratches, loose or broken parts, or any other sign of damage that may have occurred during shipment.
OTE:N If damage is found, request an inspection by the carrier’s agent within 48 hours of delivery and file a claim with the
carrier. A claim for equipment damage in transit is the sole responsibility of the purchaser.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
• BEACON Advanced Metering Analytics (AMA) - New users see "BEACON First Time Setup" on page 9
• ORION Cellular LTE-M or LTE-MS Endpoints with firmware version 2.0 and higher
Scope of this Manual
Page 3August 2020 ESM-UM-02156-EN-02

STORAGE MODE
Meter Storage Mode
All E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meters are shipped in Storage mode so that a meter alarm is not triggered. During Storage mode,
the empty pipe shows up on the LCD display as an error message, but it will not trigger a meter alarm. After sensing a full pipe
for 24 hours, the meter moves from Storage mode to normal operation.
If installed when the meter is still in Storage mode, the meter will function as expected with the addition of also displaying
“err” on the flow rate screen. The meter will display consumption and, if connected to an ORION Cellular LTE-M or LTE-MS
endpoint, will send a reading to the endpoint.
When the meter is in normal operation, the meter alarm displays immediately upon detecting an empty pipe condition. The
alarm clears immediately after the condition is corrected and the pipe is full. BEACON AMA is notified that an empty pipe
condition has occurred.
Integrated Valve Storage Mode
When shipped, the integrated valve on the E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meter is also in Storage mode to prevent valve actuation
and routine maintenance cycling prior to installation. See "Valve Routine Maintenance" on page 11.When the ORION Cellular
LTE-M or LTE-MS endpoint is activated after installation, the valve automatically transitions to Active mode.
METER INSTALLATION
The E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meter is permanently sealed to eliminate the intrusion of moisture, dirt, or other contaminants,
and is suitable for installation in harsh environments, including meter pits subject to continuous submergence.
Figure 1: E-Series Ultrasonic Plus with integrated valve
Outdoor Installations
When installed outdoors in a meter box, follow these guidelines:
• The E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meter should have a two- to three-inch clearance to avoid damage or strain to the
service piping or meter, and to accommodate any settling that may occur after installation.
• The service pipe in the meter box should be properly bedded to make sure it is not axially misaligned and that it lays
evenly on the bottom of the pipe trench. The backfill material covering the pipe should be placed appropriately to
maintain pipe alignment in the event of eventual ground shifts. This will prevent damage to the pipe.
• Protect the service lines and the water meter from freezing.
◊ The earth covering the service line must be adequate to prevent frost penetration. Due to the smaller volume of
water, service line pipes will freeze sooner than the main distribution line.
◊ The meter box pit should be excavated below the frost line. Even though the meter itself may be positioned
above the frost line, the warmer air rising from the earth below the frost line will reduce the possibility of freezing.
Storage Mode
Page 4 August 2020ESM-UM-02156-EN-02

Indoor Installations
As a precautionary measure when working with metallic pipes,
check indoor locations for electrical continuity through the
service pipe before you remove or service a meter.
AWWA policy specifies that service pipes must not be used as
an electrical ground. Check your local codes and practices. A
permanent ground strap or metal setter must be used if electrical
grounding to water services is required in your community.
IMPORTANT Figure 2: Electrical grounding
To prevent floor damage, close the service valve downstream from the meter before installing or removing a meter.
Special Fittings and Accessories
To accommodate meter installations, special fittings and accessories are available. Metal meter setters, re-setters, horns and
meter yokes are available for holding the service pipe in proper alignment to the E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meter and lay
length spacing. Metal setters and meter yokes can provide electrical continuity to protect meters and consumers from
electrical shocks.
Pre-Installation
Before you begin an installation, take these considerations into account:
• Inspect the piping around the E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meter for suitable conditions. The service line, valves,
connections and meter must be watertight. Repair the piping system if pipes are corroded or damaged.
• Install the meter in the pipeline in a horizontal or vertical position so that the flow arrow on the meter housing points
in the same direction as water flow. Registration should be upright and protected from damage, freezing
and tampering.
• Position the meter so it is accessible for installation, removal and reading.
• Verify that a suitable, electrical grounding wire is properly attached to the upstream and downstream pipe
connections of the meter. The grounding wire provides an alternative path for any electrical current that may exist
across the opening in the line.
• The line opening for the meter should match the lay length of the meter, allowing slight additional space for
coupling gaskets. The inlet and outlet sides of the meter should be axially aligned to the pipe.
• The installed meter must not be an obstacle or a hazard to the customer or interfere with public safety.
• DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE ANY METER AS A LEVER OR CROWBAR TO STRAIGHTEN A MISALIGNED METER
POSITION. THIS COULD DAMAGE THE METER.
• DO NOT ATTEMPT TO INSTALL A METER INTO AN OPENING THAT IS TOO LONG BY FORCING THE PIPING INTO
PLACE WITH THE METER COUPLING NUTS. THIS WILL CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE THREADED ENDS OF THE
METER AND HOUSING.
• TO AVOID POTENTIAL PROBLEMS, CORRECT ANY IRREGULARITIES IN PIPE SPACING AND MISALIGNMENT BEFORE
PLACING THE METER INTO ITS POSITION.
OTE:N The meter will not measure flow when an “empty pipe” condition is experienced. An empty pipe is defined as a
condition when the flow sensors are not fully submerged.
Meter Installation
Page 5August 2020 ESM-UM-02156-EN-02

Meter Installation
Follow these steps to install the E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meter:
1. Begin at this step if cutting in for new service. If cutting in is not required, begin at step 2.
• Close the curb (shutoff) valve to relieve water pressure in the line before starting the cutting operation. Be sure
to use a high-quality upstream shutoff valve with a low pressure drop.
• Flush the pipe to clear chips, pipe dope or other plumbing residue.
2. Close the meter inlet-side valve.
3. Open a faucet and wait until water ow stops to depressurize the system. Do not remove the existing meter until the
water ow stops.
DEPRESSURIZE THE LINE BEFORE STARTING ANY DISASSEMBLY OPERATION. REMOVING A METER THAT IS UNDER
LINE PRESSURE CAN RESULT IN COMPONENTS BECOMING PROJECTILES, CAPABLE OF CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY.
4. Check the service valves and make necessary repairs to the curb (shuto) valve or inlet side valve, if necessary.
5. Before installing or removing a meter, close the outlet-side valve to relieve pressure. Protect the area around the
meter against potential spills or leaks that could occur.
6. To replace an existing meter continue with step 7. To install a new meter skip to step 9.
7. Loosen the meter couplings or ange bolts and remove the existing meter and the old gaskets in the coupling nuts.
We recommend replacing the old gaskets with the provided thick rubber gaskets (PN: 34819-038).
8. Clean the coupling nuts or ange bolts, removing any pipe dope, old gasket material, or dirt from the threads or
ange bolts.
9. Check the existing position for proper alignment and spacing. Correct any misalignment or spacing issues.
10. Place the connection gaskets inside the connection coupling nuts.
11. Install the meter in the pipeline in a horizontal or vertical position with the flow arrow on the meter pointing in the
direction of flow. Registration should be upright.
Start the coupling nuts at the threaded meter ends. Verify that the nuts are properly aligned to avoid damage to the
meter ends. An eective method for starting a coupling nut is:
• Position the nut squarely against the meter spud end.
• Turn the nut counterclockwise (left) while holding the nut against the meter spud end. When the first
threads on both the nut and the spud end coincide, you will hear a slight click and feel the nut move into the
starting position.
• Turn the nut clockwise (right) until it is hand-tight.
• With an open-end wrench, apply a partial turn. Do not over tighten.
12. After the meter is installed, slowly open the inlet shuto valve until the meter is full of water and make sure there are
no leaks. (The more ow you allow through the meter, appropriate for the meter size, the better.)
13. Slowly open the outlet valve until air is out of the meter and service line.
14. Open a service valve downstream of the meter and verify that no foreign debris in the water obstructs the operation
of the system.
15. Check the read on the meter to make sure it is registering a positive number. If it is not, make sure the meter is
installed with the ow arrow on the meter pointing in the direction of ow.
• The meter is shipped in Storage mode so that customers do not experience alarms during shipment or
installation. In general, a meter may take up to 2 minutes to begin measurement once the meter senses a
full pipe.
• The meter requires that the pipe is cleared of air and filled with water. If the customer is attempting to purge the
meter at low flow rates, it would likely be more difficult and take longer.
16. When the meter starts recording positive ow, note the meter reading for your records.
Meter Installation
Page 6 August 2020ESM-UM-02156-EN-02

ENDPOINT INSTALLATION AND VALVE ACTIVATION
OTE:N ORION Cellular LTE-M/LTE-MS endpoints connected to an E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meter must be firmware version 2.0
or higher.
ORION Cellular LTE-M/LTE-MS endpoints must be installed, activated and provisioned in BEACON for the meter valve to
work correctly. Follow endpoint installation and activation directions below. For endpoint provisioning, refer to BEACON Help.
1. Connect the Endpoint
OTE:N This step can be done before or as part of the endpoint installation step.
Connect the ORION Cellular LTE-M/LTE-MS endpoint to the E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meter to complete the assembly.
The meter is available with an in-line wired lead connector (Twist Tight® or Nicor®) for easy connection to the endpoint.
2. Install the Endpoint
Choose an appropriate location within the limits of the endpoint/meter connector harness.
• Indoor installation of the endpoint is recommended. Mount the endpoint indoors in the floor joist, near an outside
wall, and away from large metal objects.
• Outdoor installation of the endpoint is acceptable and may be required where signal strength does not support an
indoor installation.
• Pit Installation: Mounting through a non-metal pit lid is required.
3. Activate the Endpoint
Activation depends on the endpoint radio mode. Endpoints are shipped with the radio in Pause (soft sleep) or Stop
(hard sleep) mode.
Smart Activation for Endpoints in Pause Mode
With Smart Activation, water consumption automatically starts an endpoint in Pause mode. No field programming or
special tools are required. After installation, the endpoint radio “wakes up“ and begins broadcasting data when the meter
encoder detects enough water usage from the register. The amount of consumption required depends on encoder
output and meter size. For the E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meter, 0.05 gallons or 0.005 ft3of water is required. Activation of
the endpoint can take up to 15 minutes to complete.
Activation for Endpoints in Stop (or Pause) Mode
Endpoints shipped by air are in Stop mode and must be manually activated via infrared (IR) communication. Endpoints in
Pause mode can also be manually activated via IR. You can activate the endpoint via IR in two ways:
• Use the Badger Meter IR Communication Device (Figure 3) to activate
an endpoint in Stop or Pause mode and verify the encoder connection.
Instructions are included with the device. For a short video about how to use
the device, go to https://youtu.be/0tWMWeiH3xA.
• Use ORION Endpoint Utility software with an ORION handheld device or mobile
reading system. The software can also identify the endpoint radio mode (Pause,
Stop, Active). For more information, see the ORION Endpoint Utility Software user
manual in the Resource Library at www.badgermeter.com.
Figure 3: IR Communication Device
(PN: 68891-001)
Endpoint Installation and Valve Activation
Page 7August 2020 ESM-UM-02156-EN-02

MPORTANTI
Valve Activation
Once the endpoint is activated, the following process occurs automatically:
1. Endpoint senses and activates the valve on the E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meter. The endpoint then captures the initial
meter reading and valve information.
2. Endpoint begins the network registration process. BEACON assigns multiple daily call-in times to the endpoint as
part of this process. For weekdays, the endpoint call-in schedule is based on the congurable time slots as dened
in BEACON Utility Settings. (See "BEACON First Time Setup" on page 9 for more information.) The endpoint obtains a
current encoder read every 15 minutes.
3. Approximately 10 seconds after activation, the valve LED starts blinking once per minute.
Green = Open. Red = Closed. Amber = Partially Closed.
OTE:N E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meters become accessible on the Monitor page after endpoints are provisioned in BEACON.
For complete ORION endpoint installation guidelines and instructions, see the ORION Water Endpoints Installation
Manual, available in the Resource Library at www.badgermeter.com.
4. Confirm Installation
Before leaving the installation site, you can confirm endpoint activation with any of these:
1. Check the endpoint activation status with the ORION Endpoint Status tool. See the ORION Water Endpoints Installation
Manual for more information.
2. Use the ORION Endpoint Utility software to conrm activation via IR. Refer to the appropriate ORION Endpoint Utility
Software user manual for more information.
3. When provisioned, check endpoint signal strength in BEACON. See Figure 13 on page 13.
OTE:N Endpoints automatically transition to the appropriate network.
Endpoint Installation and Valve Activation
Page 8 August 2020ESM-UM-02156-EN-02

BEACON FIRST TIME SETUP
Perform these steps to make sure the integrated valve information is accessible in BEACON.
OTE:N Do these steps one time only, regardless of the number of E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meters you have installed or will
install. They should be performed by the Utility Administrator after ORION Cellular LTE-M or LTE-MS endpoints are
provisioned in BEACON.
1. In BEACON, go to Assets > Utility Settings.
Figure 4: BEACON tab menu
2. On the Utility Settings page, go to the ORION Cellular LTE-M Congurable Time Slots (Figure 5).
Three of the four endpoint weekday call-in times are user-congurable. Use the time slot slider bar if you want to
change the call-in times. The time slots are time ranges because not all endpoints will communicate at the same time,
but they will all communicate within the 2-hour range.
OTE:N A fourth workday endpoint “off-peak“ call-in time is scheduled in BEACON between the hours of 6 pm and
2 am. On weekend days, the endpoint calls in once a day at a time that is also scheduled in BEACON. Those
call-in times cannot be changed.
Refer to "Accelerated Endpoint Call-In" on page 15 to see how call-in times change after a valve closing.
Figure 5: Endpoint weekday call-in time settings
BEACON First Time Setup
Page 9August 2020 ESM-UM-02156-EN-02

3. Go to the Monitor Page Filters section, select the valve lters as shown in the example (Figure 6). Selecting these lters
enables valve information to display on the BEACON Monitor page and the meter card.
Figure 6: Valve filters
4. Select Update Utility at the bottom of the page to
save your changes.
Figure 7: Update Utility to save changes
5. Go to the At A Glance tab and select Add/Remove
on the right side of the screen below the main
tabs menu.
6. On the window that opens, select Add for Valve
Health. Then select Done.
The Valve Health module is now displayed on the
At A Glance page.
First time setup is complete.
Figure 8: Valve health module
BEACON First Time Setup
Page 10 August 2020ESM-UM-02156-EN-02

INTEGRATED VALVE
The valve position LED (Figure 9) provides visual cues as green, red and amber lights to indicate valve position and status.
Figure 9: Valve position LED
Valve Positions
Status Valve Position LED Color LED Indicator
Active Open Green Blinks once per minute
Active Partial Amber Blinks once per minute
Active Closed Red Blinks once per minute
Valve opening Moving Green Blinks continuously until the valve movement stops
Valve closing Moving Red Blinks continuously until the valve movement stops
Obstacle/Error on Close Closing Amber Steady (up to a minute), then blinks once per minute
Storage Open -- Valve does not operate in Storage mode
The valve is OPEN and in Storage mode when the E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meter is shipped from the factory. It automatically
transitions to Active status when the ORION Cellular LTE-M or LTE-MS endpoint is activated. Active valves can be moved into
three different positions:
• OPEN Normal water flow
• PARTIAL Reduced water flow (0.35 gpm*)
• CLOSED Restricted water flow (0.125 gpm or less* for humanitarian, life-sustaining measures)
* Typical flow based on 60 psi at the meter
Valve Routine Maintenance
To make sure it is working properly, the valve cycles once
every 30 days, automatically, at about 2 a.m. local time. One
cycle is two consecutive actuations, from—and back to—
the valve starting position.
Example: Open (starting position)> Closed> Open.
In BEACON, the maintenance cycle date/time is displayed as
Last Maintenance Cycle on the expanded meter card, under
the Valve tab (Figure 10).
OTE:N The valve will not close if it detects any flow. It will
make three more attempts (2:15, 2:30, 2:45 a.m.)
and if there is still flow, the valve will re-attempt the
following day at the same time.
Figure 10: Last Maintenance Cycle date
MPORTANTI
The valve uses a lithium battery that supports a minimum of 480 actuations or 240 cycles (on average, one cycle per month for
20 years). Each valve actuation affects battery life, therefore routine maintenance is not performed during any month the valve is
actuated by the utility.
Integrated Valve
Page 11August 2020 ESM-UM-02156-EN-02

BEACON Monitor
BEACON AMA monitors, updates and displays information about each E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meter. Each card on the
Monitor page in BEACON corresponds to a meter in the Utility portfolio. The card is a resource for meter account information,
including meter ID, account ID, name and address.
Click the plus sign (+) in the upper right corner to expand the card. Expanding the card reveals tabs with additional account
information: Location, Meter, Reads, Endpoint and Valve. Select a tab to see information specific to the tab label. In Figure
11*, the Endpoint tab is selected.
*The endpoint must be active and provisioned in BEACON and the Utility Settings must be configured. Complete information is available in BEACON Help.
Figure 11: Sample expanded meter card on BEACON Monitor page
Next Endpoint Communication
With the Endpoint tab selected, you can see endpoint status information.
The Next Comm field displays the next endpoint call-in time, which includes configured time slots, accelerated endpoint
call-in times when the valve is closed, and“off-peak“ and weekend endpoint call-in times that are scheduled in BEACON. See
"BEACON First Time Setup" on page 9 for more information.
The Endpoint tab also displays the endpoint Signal Strength, which is important for actuating the integrated valve.
Actuation History
With the Valve tab selected, you can see information specific to the valve, including the actuation history. On the expanded
meter card, click the Valve tab, then click the Actuation History arrow to expand the view to see actuation dates, times and
positions (Figure 12).
Figure 12: Actuation History
Integrated Valve
Page 12 August 2020ESM-UM-02156-EN-02

ACTUATING THE INTEGRATED VALVE IN BEACON
Best Practice
Actuate the valve through BEACON AMA. Make sure the ORION Cellular LTE-M or LTE-MS endpoint is connected to the meter
and activated.
MPORTANTI
Make sure to complete first time setup in BEACON Monitor. See "BEACON First Time Setup" on page 9 for details.
OTE:N To schedule multiple valves for actuation, see "Batch Actuation" on page 16.
Scheduling Actuation
In BEACON, you can schedule valve actuation for
• the next endpoint communication time, or
• a specific date
MPORTANTI
Before scheduling valve actuation, check BEACON to see the signal strength of the endpoint connected to the E-Series Ultrasonic Plus
meter. You should have good signal strength to close/open the valve (Figure 13).
Figure 13: Endpoint signal strength - Endpoint tab on expanded meter card
Actuating the Integrated Valve In BEACON
Page 13August 2020 ESM-UM-02156-EN-02

Scheduling Valve Position Change
OTE:N Scheduling a valve to open can only be set for the next communication.
1. On the Monitor page in BEACON, locate the desired
account. You can use the lters on the left side of the screen,
enter the Account ID, Name, or Meter ID into the Search
eld, or scroll to nd the desired account meter card.
2. On the account meter card, click the Valve button
(Figure 14) to open the Schedule Valve Actuation popup
window (Figure 15).
Figure 14: Valve button on meter card
3. Schedule valve position change.
To schedule actuation for the next communication:
a. Click to select the desired valve position.
b. Click On Next Communication. Then click Next.
c. On the conrmation window that opens, click Conrm.
The valve will move at the next communication time which is
shown at the bottom of the popup window.
To schedule actuation for a specific date:
OTE:N This option only applies to closing a valve.
a. Click to select the desired valve position.
b. Click Specic Date and click the date eld. Choose the
desired weekday from the calendar that displays. Then
click Next.
c. On the conrmation window that opens, click Conrm.
The valve will move on the date shown at the bottom of the
window, during the rst congurable time slot as dened in
BEACON Utility Settings. The alert bar on the meter card
(Figure 16) shows the scheduled valve actuation message.
Figure 15: Schedule Valve Actuation popup
Canceling Scheduled Valve Position Change
1. On the Monitor page in BEACON,
click View Details in the meter
card alert bar for the valve that is
scheduled to change (Figure 16).
Figure 16: Meter card alert bar
2. In the popup window that opens (Figure 17) click
Cancel Position Change.
3. The change is canceled and the message is removed
from the alert bar on the meter card.
Figure 17: Cancel scheduled change
Actuating the Integrated Valve In BEACON
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After Actuation
• BEACON information updates approximately two (2) minutes after scheduled actuation is completed.
• For five (5) calendar days after a valve closes, the endpoint communication accelerates to once every 2 hours. See
"Accelerated Endpoint Call-In" below. When the valve is opened, the call-in schedule reverts back to normal.
• The daily endpoint check-in time changes after a scheduled valve actuation. Select the Endpoint tab on the
expanded meter card to see the Next Comm (next endpoint communication) time.
Figure 18: Sample expanded meter card - Next Comm
MPORTANTI
For newly opened valves, check the alert bar on the meter card for any Post Open Flow Action alerts that might indicate an
unexpected flow condition.
Accelerated Endpoint Call-In
After closing a valve, the ORION Cellular LTE-M or LTE-MS endpoint communication changes temporarily.
Closed Valves
After the valve closes, the ORION Cellular LTE-M or LTE-MS endpoint will call in every 2 hours for five (5) calendar days.The
accelerated call-in schedule will occur on even hours regardless of when the valve is closed. The call-in will occur within 1…5
minutes of the top of the hour.
Example of accelerated endpoint call-in times after valve close:
Endpoint Call-in Times
Day 1 Valve CLOSED at 8 am 10 am 12 pm 2 pm 4 pm 6 pm 8 pm 10 pm
Day 2…5 12 am 2 am 4 am 6 am 8 am 10 am 12 pm 2 pm 4 pm 6 pm 8 pm 10 pm
Day 6 Endpoint resumes the normal call-in schedule (4x each weekday, 1x each weekend day) on Day 6
(or earlier if valve is opened)
During the first five days, this accelerated call-in schedule provides multiple opportunities each day to open the valve quickly,
if needed. After five days, the endpoint reverts to the normal call-in schedule.
Opened Valves
After a scheduled valve opening, the endpoint reverts to the configurable time slots selected as the normal call-in schedule
(see "BEACON First Time Setup" on page 9).
Actuating the Integrated Valve In BEACON
Page 15August 2020 ESM-UM-02156-EN-02

Batch Actuation
To schedule multiple valves to actuate, you can perform a batch actuation. On the Schedule Batch Valve Actuation popup
window in BEACON, you can search for specific valves, filter results based on the current or scheduled position movement,
and select multiple valves to schedule position changes. You can also cancel scheduled actuations for multiple valves.
See instructions below.
When scheduling batch actuation, remember the following criteria:
• You must select valves that are currently in the same position.
• If you schedule actuation for a specific date, the actuation date applies to all valves in the batch. Each valve in the batch
will actuate during the first configurable time slot (as dened in BEACON Utility Settings).
• If you schedule actuation for the NEXT COMMUNICATION, each valve in the batch will actuate at its own unique endpoint
call-in time.
• Check the meter card alert bar to see any pending valve actuations.
Scheduling Batch Actuation
1. Select Actuate Valves from the Actions drop-down menu on
the top right of the BEACON Monitor page (Figure 19).
The Schedule Batch Valve Actuation window opens (Figure 20).
All E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meters with valves are listed.
2. Search for the desired valve accounts. You can also lter
accounts by valve position by clicking the desired position icon
at the top.
3. Click the of the valves you want to schedule for batch
actuation. Then click Next.Figure 19: Actions drop-down menu
Figure 20: Schedule Batch Valve Actuation in BEACON
Actuating the Integrated Valve In BEACON
Page 16 August 2020ESM-UM-02156-EN-02

4. On the next window, select the
desired new position.
Then schedule the actuation.
You can select On Next
Communication or select a
specic date after the
next communication.
Figure 21: Select valve position and schedule actuation
5. Click Next to see the conrmation window.
You will see the valve position you selected and the scheduled actuation date. If you selected On Next
Communication, the window shows the date all valves will actuate (Figure 22). If you selected a specic date, the
window shows the date you selected (Figure 23).
Figure 22: On Next Communication Figure 23: Specific date
6. Click Conrm. The window closes.
On the Monitor page, the valve actuation message displays in the alert bar for the valves scheduled to
change (Figure 24).
Figure 24: Valve scheduled to close
Actuating the Integrated Valve In BEACON
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Canceling Batch Actuation
You can cancel scheduled batch actuation for any or all accounts in the batch any time before the scheduled date. Follow
these steps.
1. Select Actuate Valves from the Actions drop-down menu on the top right of the BEACON Monitor page (Figure 25)
to open the Schedule Batch Valve Actuation window.
2. In the lter menu at the top of the window, click to lter the valves that are pending actuation (Figure 26).
3. Click the for any valves you want to cancel. Then click Next.
OTE:N To verify your selection, click the Valve tab to see the current and scheduled valve positions of the
pending account.
Figure 25: Actuate valves
Figure 26: Select pending
4. In the next window, click Cancel (Figure 27). Then click Next.
5. The conrmation window opens as shown in Figure 28. Click Conrm.
Figure 27: Cancel valve movement Figure 28: Confirm cancelation
Actuation is canceled immediately and the message is removed from the alert bar on the meter card(s).
Actuating the Integrated Valve In BEACON
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VALVE CONDITIONS
The following chart describes the possible conditions specific to the integrated valve that may be triggered. Exceptions are
communicated to BEACON when connected to an ORION Cellular LTE-M or LTE-MS endpoint.
Integrated Valve
Exceptions Description
Command Failed Endpoint sends message saying it cannot complete command. Valve may have reached the desired
position, but settings did not update.
Local Actuation Valve actuation takes place at the meter site via IR at the valve or endpoint IR port.
Low Battery Valve battery life is low. Approximately 1 year of battery life remains.
Movement Delay Scheduled valve movement is delayed. Occurs when excessive flow through the meter delays the
scheduled valve change time. Exception clears automatically when scheduled valve change occurs.
Magnetic Tamper Valve detects a strong magnetic field. Could cause malfunction by disrupting the positional sensing
feature. Requires attention at meter site to move/remove the magnet.
Movement Error Valve did not successfully reach desired position. May require attention at meter site.
Replace Battery Battery life, based on calculated valve usage, is nearing end of life. Approximately 6 months (or less) of
battery life remains. The valve remains in its current position if the battery reaches end of life.
Valve Tamper Valve disconnected from the endpoint. Requires attention at meter site to resolve.
OTE:N Additional information about the integrated valve is available online in BEACON Help.
Valve Conditions
Page 19August 2020 ESM-UM-02156-EN-02

METER OPERATIONS
Display
E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meters use a nine-digit
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) to show consumption,
flow rate and alarm information.
Status Indicators
Indicators and alarms illuminate when the
condition is active, and dim when the condition
is eliminated.
Lines Indicating Black/White
Number Wheels
Indicators/Alarms
Unit of Measure
Flow Rate
Figure 29: E-Series Ultrasonic Plus Meter LCD
All E-Series Ultrasonic Plus meters are delivered in Storage mode so that a meter alarm is not triggered. During Storage mode,
the empty pipe shows on the LCD as an error message, but it will not trigger a meter alarm. The meter needs to sense a full
pipe for 24 hours for the meter to go from Storage mode to normal operation. If installed when the meter is still in Storage
mode, the meter will function as expected with the addition of also displaying “err” on the flow rate screen. The meter displays
consumption and, if connected to an ORION Cellular LTE-M or LTE-MS endpoint, sends a reading to the endpoint. When the
meter is in normal operation, the meter alarm displays immediately upon detecting the empty pipe condition. The alarm
clears immediately after the condition is corrected and the pipe is full. Systems that support the additional alarm conditions
will be notified that an empty pipe condition has occurred.
The chart below describes meter conditions that may be triggered and communicated when connected to an ORION Cellular
LTE-M or LTE-MS endpoint.
Meter Status
Indicator Icon Description
Meter
functioning
correctly
Meter operating correctly.
Meter alarm
Meter alarm and consumption data are sent to the endpoint. Several potential conditions may
exist, including:
• Empty pipe: “err”displays on LCD. Last known good read is displayed. Alarm clears when
pipe is filled.
• Temperature limits exceeded: meter continues to operate but outside specified accuracy
range. Alarm clears after 60 days unless alarm condition continues.
• Maximum flow rate is exceeded. No consumption is displayed until back within specified
flow range. Both the meter functioning correctly and the meter alarm are active. Alarms
clear after 60 days unless alarm condition continues.
• Other meter or sensor issue: interference of ultrasonic signal. Meter continues to operate
unless sensors are damaged. Alarm clears after 60 days unless alarm condition continues.
Reverse flow
The meter detects reverse flow, triggers the reverse flow alarm icon on the E-Series display
and sends alarm message to the endpoint. The alarm remains active for 60 days. The alarm
automatically clears after 60 days if the condition has not recurred.
Suspected leak Meter detects 24 hours without one 15-minute interval of no ow and sends alarm message to
the endpoint. The alarm clears automatically when a 15-minute no-ow interval occurs.
30 day no usage No measured flow in past 30 days. Meter detects 30 day no usage and sends alarm to the
endpoint. The alarm automatically clears once flow occurs.
End of life
battery indicator
Indicated battery life based on pre-calculated consumption. Alarm is activated after 19 years
and does not clear. Meter sends alarm message to the endpoint.
Meter Operations
Page 20 August 2020ESM-UM-02156-EN-02