ThingsLog LoRa Pulse Counter
Ideal device for large retrofitting projects
ThingsLog LoRa Pulse Counter is a mini data logger ideal for massive scale retrofit water meter Lora Projects. It comes with one or two pulse input ports, and is the ideal solution for any project where LoRa/LoRaWAN is needed and there is a large numbers of existing meters that has to be retrofitted and can’t be replaced with smart meters.
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Characteristics
- For Pulse counting on LoRa networks
- For any meter with pulse output
- Where retrofit is a must
- For any project prior smart meter introduction
- Up to 2 pulse metering inputs
- For retrofiting of any water, gas or energy meters
- Battery life up to 12 years
- 100 000 transmissions
- Global frequency range
- Link budget 158dB for long distance application
- Data transmission over LoRaTM/LoRaWAN network with up to 15 km of reach
- IP68 level of protection
- Open protocol
- Global range - 868 MHz, 915 MHz, 923MHz
Key Benefits
of ThingsLog LoRa Pulse Counter
Low power
Just 6uA in sleeping mode! Able to work long years on batteries!
Certified
CE certified – comply with European Safety, LVD, and EMC directives!
Versatile
Low Power, solar panel powered or electricity powered data logger with multiple configuration options .
Configurable over the air
Supports remote configuration over the AiR through the ThingsLog platform!
Documented
Well-documented product used by many utilities and enterprises!
Global Mobile offering
Comes with GPRS/4G global roaming SIM card
Well protected
Has IP68 level of moisture and dust protection
Upgradable
Stick to your current firmware or upgrade to a newer more capable version.
Alarms in low power
Instant alarms in low-power mode in case of abnormal consumption, leak, high/low value, etc.
How ThingsLog Delivers Flexible, Customizable Monitoring Systems
We work “order to configure”, which means that we customize our loggers to your use case.
This makes our delivery time 30 working days for 100+ devices and 10 working days for a sample delivery.
More information on how we deliver and how we price is available here.
ThingsLog Platform
ThingsLog data loggers standardly work with ThingsLog Cloud platform that takes care of device and data management.
Read more about the platform here.
What Is a Pulse Counter and Why Does It Matter?
A pulse counter records the number of electrical pulses generated by a meter’s pulse output — typically an S0 reed contact or open collector. Each pulse represents a fixed quantity: for example, 1 pulse = 10 litres for a water meter, or 1 pulse = 1 Wh for an electricity meter. By counting pulses and transmitting the cumulative total via LoRa radio at configured intervals, the ThingsLog LoRa pulse counter transforms any pulse-output meter into a smart, remotely readable meter — without replacing the meter itself. This non-invasive approach protects the existing meter’s metrological certification and eliminates the cost and disruption of meter replacement programmes.
Compatible Meters and Sensors
- Water meters (cold, hot, irrigation) — all meters with S0 or reed contact pulse output
- Gas meters — diaphragm, turbine, and rotary meters with dry contact pulse output
- Electricity meters — S0 pulse output conforming to EN 62053-31
- Heat meters — calorimeters with pulse output for district heating applications
- Flow meters — magnetic, vortex, and Coriolis meters with pulse output
- Rain gauges — tipping bucket type with reed contact output
AMR and AMI Deployment Scenarios
Walk-By / Drive-By AMR
A meter reader walks or drives through the service area carrying a handheld LoRa receiver that collects readings from all ThingsLog pulse counters within radio range. No individual meter access is required — readings are collected without opening meter pits, entering customer premises, or disturbing traffic. This approach is ideal for utilities transitioning from manual reading to AMR in phases: walk-by reading can begin immediately after device installation, while fixed gateway infrastructure is planned and procured in parallel.
Fixed Network AMI
LoRa gateways installed on rooftops or street furniture create a fixed infrastructure that continuously collects readings from all meters within coverage. Full AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) enables hourly or 15-minute data collection, enabling leak detection through consumption profile analysis, billing based on actual time-stamped measurements, a customer self-service portal showing near real-time consumption, and push alerts for unusual consumption patterns that may indicate an internal leak or meter tampering event.
Technical Advantages for Utility Rollouts
The LoRa pulse counter is designed for mass deployment at scale. Installation is simple: the device clips onto or wires to the existing meter’s pulse output without pipe cutting, meter removal, or service interruption. A battery life of 5-10 years eliminates site maintenance visits for the majority of the device’s operational life. Over-the-air reconfiguration of the reporting interval, alarm thresholds, and pulse multiplier is possible without any site visit — the configuration is pushed from the ThingsLog platform to the device via the LoRa network. The device is LoRaWAN compliant and works on any public or private LoRaWAN network, protecting the utility’s investment if the network provider changes. IP68 protection rating ensures reliable operation in in-pit and underground installations exposed to groundwater ingress.
