Battery-Operated Residential Water Meter with SUB Metering (RS485)

Centralized Wired Metering and Cloud-Based Visibility with SUB Metering (RS485)

Introduction

The Ultrasonic Residential Water Meter (RWM) is a battery-operated, high-accuracy meter designed for drinking water measurement in residential complexes. Using the Transit-Time Differential Measurement Principle, it provides reliable flow measurement with no moving parts, ensuring long life, zero maintenance, and compliance with OIML R49, ISO 4064, IP68, and drinking water approvals.

In multi-apartment / tenants buildings, water consumption varies significantly across individual homes. Utilities and society management often face billing disputes, manual reading difficulties, and no transparency in consumption. Independent meters are needed in each apartment, but there must be a central system that collects all data and makes it available for management. A wired communication network ensures reliable data transmission over communication RS485, even where wireless signals are weak.

SBEM provides a SUB-Metering solution using RS485 communication, where RWMs installed in each flat are connected through wired network to a central RTU (Remote Terminal Unit). The RTU collects consumption data f rom all meters and then transmits it via wireless communication to the cloud server. All readings, alarms, and analytics are available on SenSphere Web App, enabling accurate billing, consumption tracking, and efficient system
management.

General Arrangement

SBEM’s Solution

  • Individual apartment is equipped with an RWM
  • RWMs communicate via RS485 wired network
  • All meters are connected to a central RTU
  • RTU collects readings at defined intervals
  • RTU sends data through wireless towers to cloud
  • Cloud server processes and stores data
  • Users access data through SenSphere Web App
  • This approach ensures centralized monitoring and simplified billing.

Working Principle

  • Individual RWMs measure flow using ultrasonic transit-time
  • Wired RS485 ensures interference-f ree communication
  • The RTU acts as a single master device
  • Data f rom all meters are collected and transmitted to cloud
  • Cloud and SenSphere portal display:
    • Consumption data
    • Billing summary
    • Alerts and diagnostics

Features & Benefits

Centralized wired communication - RS485

No dependency on local wireless range

Single RTU for multiple apartments

Battery-operated meters - extended service life

High accuracy

IP68 rugged design

Certified for drinking water

Automatic data transfer to cloud via RTU

Transparent billing with consumption history

Leak, reverse flow & empty pipe alerts

Applications

Apartment buildings & residential towers
Multi-block housing societies
Townships & gated communities
Hostels, PGs, and staff quarters
Hotels, resorts & campus facilities
Commercial complexes with multiple users

Outcome

  • The RWM SUB-Metering system delivers a centralized, accurate, and transparent water billing platform for multi-residential properties.
  • Using RS485 wiring and a single RTU, SBEM ensures reliable data collection f rom all meters, while cloud connectivity and SenSphere Web App provide complete visibility and analytics.
  • Management can monitor usage, generate bills, detect anomalies, and improve water conservation efforts, all f rom a unified dashboard.