M-System’s MSRpro is a ‘paperless pen-type’ recording system for PC-based data acquisition and analysis, supporting a total of 2048-channel analog and discrete signals. By employing the R3 Series Remote I/O as an input device, a wide variety of field sensor signals including temperature, DC and AC, and relays and open collectors can be handled.

Furthermore, various math and filter functions can be applied to the input signals in order to maximize the benefit of the expanded analytical functions of MSRpro. Utilizing just one PC, which can run both the Server and the Client, up to 512 points can be monitored. For additional input signals, Server and Client should be installed on independent PCs. Four Client PCs can access the Server with up to 8 field stations connectable.

The MSRpro, model MSR2K, is a suite of three programs: the MSRpro-Server (referred hereafter as ‘Server’), MSRpro-Builder (‘Builder’), and the MSRpro-Client/Analyzer (‘Client’).

This software package provides a simple solution while still maintaining the wide versatility of available types of signal combinations that has made M-System a vendor of choice in many applications around the world.

Success Story — Power monitoring at a large shopping mall
The customer was looking for a solution to monitor the power consumption at a shopping mall in their air-conditioning, lighting, and IT equipment.

The system required the following conditions:

• Maintenance-free data saves because no personnel was available for constant supervision.
• Data easily converted into CSV file format, with further analysis of data on Excel.
• Easy to see comparisons of operational results of various kinds of equipment, targeting energy-savings.
  

Structure and development of system
At a large shopping mall, power consumption data gathering points are scattered throughout wide areas. The data gathering points at each location is small but requires a large network size.

The R3 series remote I/O was used due to its great flexibility of number and type of I/O signals. Modules used include:

R3-PA16, Totalized Pulse Input Module for pulse input of power consumption

This Module is equipped with a standard data back-up feature in the case of power outage, and therefore suited for power monitoring.

R3-RS4, RTD Input Module for temperature input of air-conditioning

R3-NM1, Modbus Interface Module, uses twisted pair cable, which is more economical than Ethernet cable and more cost effective when developing a system.

The data stored by the MSRpro-Server is handed over to the MSRpro-Client/Analyzer (Client), which is specialized in data display in a graphical manner with data analysis functions. Data to be measured can be presented in four ways: TREND, OVERVIEW, ACTIVE TREND, and ANALYZER. The TREND function plots relevant data in a graph chart; the OVERVIEW function is provided to monitor all data sets; and the ACTIVE TREND and ANALYZER function analyzes data.

The R3 series allows users to add more input modules at a later date to existing I/O modules. This makes it easy to configure new I/O and communication modules allowing for an extremely flexible and convenient system architecture.

MSRpro does not require engineering. It can be operable only by creating configurations using the MSRpro-Builder in accordance with your need. Thus allowing any user to building a system in a short time. The system used at the shopping mall was also monitoring temperature at the same time, and the customer was happy to be able to gather very detailed analysis showing them if power was used effectively by checking for differences in data for outside air temperature and room temperature.