A3 ALPHA® Meter

The A3 ALPHA Meter Instrumentation

Elster’s A3 ALPHA meter builds upon the strengths of Each A3 ALPHA meter, including the most basic demand
existing ALPHA meter designs. Like its predecessors, the version, can display over 50 different instrumentation
A3 ALPHA meter uses Elster’s patented digital quantities. With this highly integrated capability, the
measurement techniques that offer high accuracy, A3 ALPHA meter can provide the equivalent function of
repeatability, and low ownership costs. In support of all of the following devices:
open architecture standards, the A3 ALPHA meter is the • voltmeter
first Elster meter with full ANSI C12.18, C12.19 and • wattmeter
C12.21 communication protocol support. Other features • VA meter
include advanced four quadrant metering, transformer
• distortion indicator
and line loss compensation, and interval data recording
of instrumentation values. • ammeter
• VAR meter
Interval Data Recording and Self Reads • phase angle meter
The main circuit board in the A3 ALPHA meter has more
• phase rotation indicator
than 40 KB of nonvolatile memory for storing profile,
data logs, and self read data. Recording options include Revenue Metering
interval profiles of instrumentation data and up to 15 The A3 ALPHA meter is a very accurate revenue meter
self reads. Additionally, an extended memory option (0.2 accuracy Class). Existing ALPHA meter users will
board can be easily added to increase total memory by find the basic A3 ALPHA meter types familiar. The
1 MB. A3 ALPHA meter provides advanced four quadrant
When the optional instrumentation profiling is enabled, revenue functions, transformer and line loss
the A3 ALPHA meter stores two separate sets of compensation, and increased data profiling without
instrumentation data. Each data set has an independent adding hardware option boards.
interval length and up to 16 channels (32 total). With Meter type No. of measured quantities
instrumentation profiling, each meter becomes a A3D 1 (Watthours only)
powerful data collection tool to monitor data and A3T 1 (Watthours only)
diagnose problems without installing expensive
A3Q, A3K, A3R 2 (user configurable selections)
temporary monitoring equipment. One of over 50
A3QA, A3KA, A3RA 6 (user configurable selections)
instrumentation quantities can be assigned to each Each measured quantity is stored in nonvolatile memory and
channel, and the storage algorithm for each channel can includes energy, demand, and TOU data. Note. TOU data is
be independently selected. Four storage algorithms are not available for A3D.

available:
• minimum value per interval
• maximum value per interval
• average value per interval
• end of interval snapshot
Power Quality Monitoring A3 ALPHA Specifications and Technical Data
Power quality monitoring (PQM) provides continuous Absolute Maximums
service condition monitoring 24 hours a day. PQM looks Voltage Continuous 528 VAC (AnyPhase option: L-L or L-N)
ANSI C37.90.1 2.5 kV, 2500 strikes
for exceptions to user-defined thresholds for items such Oscillatory
as voltage, current, and total harmonic distortion. Each Fast transient 5 kV, 2500 strikes
ANSI C62.41 6 kV at 1.2/50 µs, 10
of the 12 PQM tests can be configured to control relay Surge voltage withstand
strikes
activation, LCD warning, date/time stamp log entry, and IEC 61000-4-4 4 kV, 2.5 kHz repetitive
burst for 1 minute
even an automatic telephone call to report the condition. ANSI C12.1 insulation 2.5 kV, 60 Hz for 1 minute
Continuous at Class amperes
Current
ANSI Communications Protocols Temporary (1 second) at 200 % of meter max. current

As the industry moves to the ANSI communications Operating Ranges

Nameplate nominal 120 V to 480 V
protocols, more system/communications options will Voltage range
Operating range 96 V to 528 V
become available, enabling A3 ALPHA meter users to Current 0 to Class amperes
benefit from a more competitive environment for data Frequency Nominal 50 Hz or 60 Hz ±5 %
collection and analysis. The A3 ALPHA meter provides Temperature range -40 °C to +85 °C inside meter cover
Humidity range 0 % to 100 % noncondensing
full support for ANSI C12.18, C12.19 and C12.21 Operating Characteristics
communications protocols and data structures to prepare Power supply burden Less than 4 W
Per phase current burden 0.1 milliohms typical at 25 °C
you for the future. 120 V 0.008 W
Per phase voltage burden 240 V 0.03 W
A Communication Enabler 480 V 0.04 W
Data can be retrieved using the standard optical Accuracy Meets ANSI C12.20 accuracy for accuracy class 0.2 %
General Performance Characteristics
communications port. Additional communications 10 mA for Class 20
interfaces are available for A3 ALPHA meters as a simple Form 1S and Form 3S 100 mA for Class 200
160 mA for Class 320
add-on option board: Starting current
5 mA for Class 20
All other forms 50 mA for Class 200
• 2400 bps internal telephone modem with outage 80 mA for Class 320
Creep 0.000A No more than one pulse measured per quantity,
reporting capabilities (no current) conforming to ANSI C12.1 requirements
• RS-232 Primary time base Power line frequency (50 Hz or 60 Hz), with selectable
crystal oscillator
• RS-485 Secondary time base Meets the ANSI limit of 0.02 % using the 32.768 kHz
crystal. Initial performance is expected to be equal to
• external serial interface or better than ±55 seconds per month at room
temperature
• 20 mA current loop Outage carryover capacity 6 hours at 25 °C. Supercapacitor rated at 0.1 Farads,
5.5 V
• internal LAN controller (ILC1) Battery (optional) LiSOCl2 battery rated 1000 mAhr, 3.6 V and shelf life
of 20+ years. 5 years continuous duty at 25 °C
• internal LAN node (ILN1)
Optical port 300 to 28,800 bps
Communications rate
• Itron 50ESS ERT® Remote port 1200 to 19,200 bps
ANSI Standards C12.1; C12.10; C12.18; C12.19; C12.20; C12.21
Shipping Weights All values are approximate
Communications interfaces can be combined with S-base
Single 5.06 lbs [2.30 kg]
4-pack 13.46 lbs [6.11 kg]
alarming options in the A3 ALPHA meter to permit Single 7.38 lbs [3.35 kg]
A-base
immediate notification of critical events. 4-pack 26.02 lbs [11.82 kg]

The relay option boards of all existing ALPHA meters

S-base
are compatible with the A3 ALPHA meter. When relay 6.95 1.35
[177] [34]
option boards are used with the A3 ALPHA meter, the
relay functions are fully programmable.
6.4
Optional AnyPhase™ Power Supply [162]

With the optional AnyPhase power supply installed, the

A3 ALPHA meter is powered from all wires of the 0.75
5.5 [19]
electrical service. If one or more service wires are [139]

disconnected, the meter is automatically powered from 6.95 A-base

[177] 7.6
any two service wires including line-to-line or line-to- [193]
neutral.
10.3
[262]
6.4
[162]
9.4
[238]

LINE LOAD
2.56
[65]
2.5
[62]
Dimensions in inches [millimeters]. For reference only.
Elster Do not use in construction.
Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
+1 800 338 5251 (US Toll Free)
+1 905 634 4895 (Canada) © 2005 by Elster. All rights reserved. Information herein is subject to change without
support@us.elster.com notice. Product specifications cited are those in effect at the time of publication.
www.elster.com Printed in the United States. Rev. A. July 2007.