PLC vs RTU vs Microcontroller

Hi All,

Have been out of the automation space for ~10 years and things have changed a lot! Would love a community recommendation on the best way to proceed with a simple application, I've been going around in circles in a research rabbit hole.

I need to install a device in field that will:
- read energy usage data over Modbus TCP or RS485
- Push data via 3G/4G to a server I can host remotely (will need to set this up too)
- use a couple of simple logic statements based on this data to have the controller send a digital output to a secondary system (someone else can worry about it from there)

Programming skills are very rusty so anything with a simple interface would be amazing. At this stage it's only looking like a once off pilot which is why we aren't wanting to over invest.

For those interested I do a lot of economic optimisiation around energy however this is the first time we are looking at bridging the commercial models with the physical world. I've got a proof of concept going with a Arduino Microcontroller and a embedded PC however would be more comfortable deploying a RTU or PLC to an industrial site.

Thanks!

Have a look at Red Lion's new FlexEdge device. I don't recall the particulars on Modbus/TCP, but I'm sure one of the many reps will be more than willing to help you out.

That looks great thanks, seems to be only one supplier in Australia but will try to get one.

cattec said:

- Push data via 3G/4G to a server I can host remotely (will need to set this up too)

Click to expand...

What mechanism do you intend to use ? I think MQTT, but you may have something particular in mind.

I think that this is a job for an all-in-one unit, i.e. an RTU.
Or it could be pieced together with a small PLC plus a 3G/4G router.

cattec said:

That looks great thanks, seems to be only one supplier in Australia but will try to get one.

Click to expand...

The official distributor is Control Logic here in QLD. I had a sit down with them last week when they introduced this product. It's not quite relevant for what I do, but I thought it had some nice features.



Have a chat with Martin Daines and he will be able to help you out with any info. They did mention having access to a demo unit, so you may be in luck.