4G remote monitoring of unmanned sites: architecture and checklist
How to connect an unmanned site over 4G: outgoing connections or VPN, power, alarms, buffering when offline, and which ICP DAS devices fit.
Edge controllers, MQTT and OPC UA devices, 4G gateways and software for remote sites and machines.
Remote monitoring means knowing the state of equipment without being on site: pumping stations, substations, machines installed at customer sites, cold rooms or technical rooms spread over a large area. The core components are I/O or sensors on site, a device that collects the data and sends it securely, and software that stores and displays it and raises alarms.
Many ICP DAS I/O modules publish their data directly over MQTT or provide it through an OPC UA server, so no separate gateway is needed. The WISE series adds IF-THEN logic rules that are configured in a web browser, so a module can switch outputs, log data and send notifications on its own. Ethernet I/O such as the ET-7000 and ET-2200 series offers Modbus TCP and a web interface, and the ETS-7200 series adds cybersecurity features for networks with stricter requirements.
Edge controllers collect data from I/O modules, meters and other Modbus devices, apply logic and forward the results to SCADA, databases or cloud services. Communication servers such as the UA series convert Modbus data to OPC UA and MQTT, which makes existing equipment visible to MES and IT systems without changing anything at field level.
For sites without a wired Internet connection, industrial 4G modems and gateways provide the link. Selected models combine the modem with I/O or Modbus gateway functions in one device.
IoTstar is ICP DAS software for managing IIoT devices and visualising their data, with dashboards, alarms and data storage. It can be installed on your own server or a cloud instance, so you decide where the data is kept.
At each pumping station a WISE module reads pump status, level and pressure and runs local IF-THEN rules, for example to stop a pump on dry-running. It publishes the values over MQTT through a 4G connection to IoTstar on a central server, where operators see all stations on one dashboard and receive alarms. The local rules keep working if the mobile connection drops.
Describe the sites and the data you need, and we will suggest a combination of I/O, edge device and software.
The PET-7017-10 is a PoE-powered Ethernet analog input module for engineers who need voltage or current measurement on a networked I/O node. Its inputs can be set as 10 differential or 20 single-ended channels in software, and each channel can be given its own range, so one module can serve mixed sensor types on the same network.Each channel offers a choice of voltage ranges from ±150 mV to ±10 V and current ranges of ±20 mA, 0 ~ 20 mA and 4 ~ 20 mA, selected with jumpers. Resolution is 16-bit, and the module has two sampling modes: normal mode at 10 Hz total and fast mode at 50 Hz total. Open wire detection is available for 4 ~ 20 mA inputs, and differential channels are rated for 240 Vrms overvoltage protection.Configuration and monitoring are handled through a built-in web server with Web HMI, and the module supports Modbus TCP and Modbus UDP. Access is controlled by ID, password and IP filter. The unit is powered either from PoE (IEEE 802.3af, Class 1) or from a +12 ~ +48 VDC terminal block, and it mounts on a DIN rail.ApplicationsBuilding automationFactory automationMachine automationRemote maintenanceRemote diagnosisTesting equipment
AR-200 CR is a dynamic signal acquisition module for vibration monitoring and analysis. It accepts two IEPE accelerometers, each supplied with a built-in 3 mA excitation current, and digitises the signals with a 16-bit converter. Sampling of both channels runs simultaneously, at rates up to 200 kHz per channel.Recordings are written to a Micro SD card, so data can be taken away and analysed offline. Capture can be started by a push button, a schedule, an analog threshold, a digital input or a remote command from the supplied utility on a host PC, which also lets you set the sampling rate and scheduling for each application. A single relay output and one digital input add basic event handling to the unit.The logger suits panel or machine installations that need to run unattended. It works from a wide +10 to +30 VDC supply, operates from -25 to +75 °C, and provides 4 kV contact ESD protection on all terminals. Mounting is by wall or DIN-rail.ApplicationsVibration monitoring and analysisIndustrial automationFactory automationProcess automation
The AR-400 is a dynamic signal acquisition module for vibration monitoring and analysis. It samples four channels simultaneously with 16-bit resolution and supplies a built-in 3 mA excitation current for IEPE accelerometers, so compatible sensors can be connected directly without an external supply.Acquired data is written to a micro SDHC card (4 to 32 GB), allowing offline analysis after capture. Recording can be started by push button, schedule, analog threshold, digital input or remote trigger from the utility software installed on a host PC, which also handles sample rate and sampling schedule settings.Suited to condition monitoring setups where vibration data must be captured at defined times or on defined events.Includes a relay output (Form A, 5A@250 VAC) and a digital input for use within trigger or control logic.ApplicationsVibration monitoring and analysisIndustrial automationFactory automationProcess automation
180° Hold-Down Clip (include 50 pcs).
How to connect an unmanned site over 4G: outgoing connections or VPN, power, alarms, buffering when offline, and which ICP DAS devices fit.
How MQTT and OPC UA differ in communication model, data description and security, and which ICP DAS devices support each protocol.
How the browser-configured IF-THEN-ELSE rules on WISE modules handle local logic, logging and alarms, with a worked example and the limits.
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