Hardware Functions

PoE Meter has 2 working modes, selected automatically:

Stand-alone Mode:

• Default mode;
• PoE meter internal application controls the display;
• It shows maximum/minimum/average measurements using the acquisition units samples (1 acquisition unit per PoE pair, one sample each 10.24 ms) in a configurable interval (default 1 second);
• Screen selection (maximum/minimum/average/help/configuration) is done using the push-buttons;
• Allows a Mode selection (running or logging) and configuration;
• Running mode just shows values on the screen (using a configurable interval);
• Logging mode shows values on the screen (using a configurable interval) and saves them in a uSD card, allowing later retrieval by USB;
• Stand-alone mode is re-entered if USB connection is dropped (either through a disconnect event or outgoing buffer full - only if USB reporting is enabled and event varies depending on what type of data is sent and at which interval - about 40 ms if samples are sent as soon as they are collected or about 2 times the configurable interval, if interval mode is used) or when a specific command ("X") is sent;

Running mode

• Default mode;

• Shown on the display as "RUN";

• Shows max/min/avg per interval;

• Interval can be set:

  • 1 second (default) to 3600 seconds (1 hour)

• Works even if RTC fails;

• Does not require uSD card;

Logging mode

• Shown on the display as "LOG";

• Shows max/min/avg per interval;

• Interval can be set:

  • 1 second (default) to 3600 seconds (1 hour);

• Requires RTC (data will be timestamp using the RTC) and uSD card for logging - if any are not working, Logging mode cannot be used;

• If a USB connection is established while Logging mode is running, it will be stopped and aggregation interval changed to default (1 second).

USB Mode:

• Activated when any USB communication is received;
• Takes precedence over stand-alone mode;
• Allows configuring if data is sent and what is sent;
• Acquisition units samples (Mode/Voltage/Current) may be forward as soon as these become available (10.24 ms) or using a configurable interval (when using a configurable interval, maximum, minimum and average for that interval are sent);
• Allows a detailed analysis application to run on a high end device;
• Allows display control by a high end device.

No reporting

• Activated sending "R0";
• Default mode;

Sample

• Activated sending "R1";

• Data is sent as soon as it is received from the acquisition units:

  • Sends information about the pair, polarity, Voltage (3 decimals) and Current (3 decimals);
  • One message per pair;
  • eg: "r1; PAIR:A; MODE:MDI; V:50.037; I:00.001" - USB reporting mode 1 (as soon as received), Pair A, polarity MDI, Voltage 50.037 V, Current 0.001 A;

Interval mode

• Activated sending "R2,x" - x configurable in seconds, from 1 second to 3600 seconds (1 hour);

• Data is sent every time the interval is achieved: Sends information about the aggregation interval, then the pair and pair parameters, per parameter sends maximum, minimum and average - parameters are separated by ";" while maximum, minimum and average values are separated by ",";

  • Sends information about the aggregation interval, then the pair and pair parameters, per parameter sends maximum, minimum and average - parameters are separated by ";" while maximum, minimum and average values are separated by ",";

  • One message per pair;

  • Eg:

    • "r2; 10; PAIR:A; MODE:MDI, MDI, MDI; V:50.111, 49.851, 50.000; I:00.005, 00.000, 00.000; P:00.264, 00.000, 00.031";

    • "r2;" - USB reporting mode 2 (aggregation);

    • "10;" - 10 seconds aggregation period;

    • "PAIR:A; MODE:MDI, MDI, MDI; V:50.111, 49.851, 50.000; I:00.005, 00.000, 00.000; P:00.264, 00.000, 00.031;" - PAIR A parameters:

      • "MODE:MDI, MDI, MDI;" - mode for maximum (MDI), mode for minimum (MDI), mode for average (MDI);
      • "V:50.111, 49.851, 50.000;" - Voltage maximum 50.111 V, Voltage minimum 49.851 V, Voltage average 50.000 V;
      • "I:00.005, 00.000, 00.000;" - Current maximum 0.005 A, Current minimum 0.000 A, Current average 0.000 A;
      • "P:00.264, 00.000, 00.031;" - Power maximum 0.264 W, Power minimum 0.000 W, Power average 0.031 W.