353 West Grove Ave. Orange, California 92865
This guide explains how to read and understand the data displayed by the Micro-Meter system on its web or cloud dashboard1. The system uses a LoRaWAN wireless network to send measurements (voltage, current, power, energy, etc.) from the field device to the cloud2. Because LoRaWAN uses long-range wireless communication, there can sometimes be small transmission delays, which are normal.
1. Understanding the Different Views
A. Summary View
- Shows key readings for each timestamp.
- Each timestamp may be off by up to 6 seconds due to sampling timing.
- You can select your preferred reporting interval (for example, every 5, 15, or 30 minutes) in the Edit Page settings.
B. Table View
- Displays data at 5-minute intervals.
- The most recent record may not yet be fully populated because not all readings have been received from the device.
- To see complete data, click on older records.
- If you choose a longer reporting interval (e.g., 15 or 30 minutes), you may see many empty fields this is normal because data is still collected every 5 minutes.
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Example: if your reporting interval is 15 minutes, data will appear every 3 records (since each record represents 5 minutes).
C. Demand Cumulative View
- Always displays data in 15-minute blocks, regardless of the interval you select.
- Each block shows average and cumulative values for that 15-minute period.
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This view is useful for identifying energy demand peaks and usage patterns.
2. Why Some Data May Appear Missing
The Micro-Meter sends its data through the LoRaWAN network, which can experience small delays (latency) or data queuing when traffic is heavy.
- If some readings arrive late, they are automatically inserted into the next record.
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Therefore, to ensure you see all data, it’s a good practice to step through previous records.
3. Understanding Each Measurement
The following table explains the parameters:
| Parameter | Meaning | How It’s Measured |
| Power Factor (PF) |
Measures how efficiently electrical power is being used. A PF close to 1 means good efficiency. |
Sampled every 6 seconds; only the most recent sample is displayed. |
| Voltage (V, RMS) |
Shows the root-mean-square (RMS) voltage of each phase. |
Sampled every 6 seconds; last sample before transmission is shown. |
| Current (A, RMS) |
RMS current for each phase. |
Sampled every 6 seconds; last sample is shown. |
| Peak Current (A, RMS) |
The highest RMS current recorded over a 5-minute window. |
Sampled every 1 second; the highest value out of 300 samples ($5~min \times 60~s$) is sent. The Peak Current is always transmitted every 5 minutes. |
| CPU Temperature |
Internal temperature of the Micro-Meter’s processor (not room temperature). Monitors for overheating in hot environments. |
Sampled every 6 seconds; only the most recent sample is displayed. |
| Active Interval Energy F (kWh) |
Total accumulated energy use, similar to a utility meter or vehicle odometer – it always increases and cannot be reset. |
Starts counting as soon as the meter is powered, even during factory testing. |
| Active Interval F Diff (kWh) |
The difference between the current and previous reading shows energy consumed during that specific interval. |
For a 3-phase system, total energy = sum of the three phases: E_total = E1 + E2 + E3. |
| Active Power (W) |
Instantaneous real power in watts. |
Sampled every 6 seconds; last sample before transmission is displayed. |
| Active Demand Power (WD) |
Average real power (Watts-Demand) over a 15-minute period standard for utilities such as SCE. |
150 readings (every 6 seconds for 15 min) are averaged. The value displayed is for the previous 15-minute block. |
| Reactive Energy L (kVARh) |
Inductive reactive energy from loads like motors and HVAC. Works like an odometer continuously increases. |
Measured cumulatively and cannot be reset. |
| Reactive Energy C (kVARh) |
Capacitive reactive energy from capacitors or batteries. Works like an odometer. |
Also cumulative and non-resettable. |
4. LoRaWAN Gateway Information
- The gateway name used to send the data appears in the display.
- If multiple gateways are in range, their names may appear as well.
What is a LoRaWAN Gateway?
A LoRaWAN gateway is a bridge between the Micro-Meter (end device) and the internet.
It:
- Receives LoRa radio packets from Micro-Meters.
- Forwards them via Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or cellular to a cloud server (for example, AWS).
There are two main types of networks:
- Private LoRaWAN network: uses your own gateways supplied by CWS (indoor or outdoor).
- Public LoRaWAN network: shared by many users, managed by a carrier. Your Micro-Meter can join one if it’s registered and within range.
5. Demand Cumulative View – Details
This view provides the most utility-like display of total and demand energy data.
| Parameter | Description |
| Active Cumulative Energy F/R |
Shows continuously increasing energy totals (forward and reverse). To find actual energy used, subtract the previous reading from the current reading. |
| Active Demand Power |
Average real power over a 15-minute block. |
| Reactive Cumulative Energy L/C |
Continuous totals for inductive and capacitive reactive energy. Use differences between blocks to find actual consumption. |
| Reactive Demand Power |
Average reactive power over a 15-minute block. |
| Peak Demand Power |
The highest 15-minute demand power value of the day (since midnight). |
| Peak Demand Power Time |
Timestamp of when the peak demand occurred. |
6. Summary
- Data intervals: Summary and Table views depend on the user’s interval setting, but Peak Current and Demand Power always follow fixed timing (5 or 15 minutes).
- Sampling: Most parameters are sampled every 6 seconds; only the last sample before transmission is displayed.
- Cumulative meters: Energy readings work like odometers and cannot be reset.
- LoRaWAN delay: Occasional gaps or slight timestamp offsets are normal due to network latency.
- Gateway role: Transfers data between the Micro-Meter and the cloud may be CWS-supplied or public network.
