The creation of an IS-U device category automatically creates a material with the same number in MM and is based on a basic category and a division.
The basic category:
- groups all device categories with the same basic functions
- determines, which group data is required: register group or winding group
SAP provides the following basic categories:
- Meters have display registers to determine the meter reading of the divisions electricity, gas, water and heat.
- Remote Meters have electronic interval registers and the interval profile values can be read remotely via modem.
- Transformers have winding groups to scale down the electricity, if the allocated meter is not installed in a low voltage grid.
- Audio Frequency Riple Control Receivers switch between the on- and off peak registers of double-rate meters at pre-defined commando times.
- Correctors determine the gas norm cubic meters on the basis of the thermal gas factors temperature, pressure and compressibility.
- Smart Meter Gateways are communication units within Intelligent Metering Systems.
- Pressure Regulators adjust the gas pressure.
The IS-U device category:
- groups all devices with the same technical properties
- is classified by a basic category and a division
- corresponds to a material in MM
The device category data are grouped in the views Basic Data, Group Data, Inspection Data and AMI and they depend on the basic category:
- Electricity meters need a register group as well as the view AMI Data and a measurement type.
- Gas meters need a register group and the view AMI Data but no measurement type.
- Transformers need only a winding group.
The device category's most important data Register Group, Winding Group and Measurement Type are described later in this lesson.
The MM material:
- is a central master data object in SAP S/4HANA
- represents the data of material types such as Raw Material, Finished Products and Utilities
The material data are grouped in views defined by the material type such as Basic Data, Plant Data, Purchasing Data and Accounting Data.
The material's most important field for integration, the Serial Number Profile, is described in lesson Logistics Integration.
Device and Equipment
The creation of an IS-U device automatically creates an equipment with the same serial number in PM and is based on a device category which corresponds to a material in MM.
The IS-U device is used for various functions like measuring consumption (as a meter), processing data (as a corrector), controlling (as an ARCR), or protecting (as a transformer). Each IS-U device is externally identified by its combination of a device category or material number and a device or serial number. Internally, it is recognized by a unique equipment number, corresponding to a serialized piece of equipment in PM.
Creating an IS-U device involves referencing a device category. It inherits data from this category, which can be changed if needed. The creation can happen directly in IS-U without logistics integration or during goods receipt, as shown in the Device Lifecycle figure.
An IS-U device must always be treated as a piece of equipment. This requirement ensures it can be technically installed and referenced in a work order. Additionally, the device must be serialized, providing it with a unique, externally visible device number for individual identification.
The master record of an IS-U device logs all data related to the device's lifecycle. This record displays information in time-dependent data structures. The IS-U data includes details such as device number, device category, registers, windings, meter reading results, device location, utility installation, and rate data. MM data encompasses the serial number, material, material document, plant, and storage location. PM data covers the equipment number, equipment status, and maintenance plant.
Register Group and Winding Group
The register group
- groups all registers of a meter for any division
- can be allocated to multiple device categories of the basic category Meter, Remote Meter or Corrector
The registers
- measure consumption (all divisions) and demand (only electricity)
- can be physical entities (normal meter) or registers in electronic devices (remote- and intelligent meter with interval registers)
The registers of the IS-U device hold significant technical and billing-related data. The register category, for instance, determines whether a register is balancing or cumulative, which is important for calculating consumption during billing. The active/reactive indicator helps verify the register’s role in a register relationship, which is necessary to compute the cosinus-phi value. If a register is relevant for Energy Data Management and Advanced Metering, this is indicated by the interval length.
For gas measurement, the unit can vary between reading (measured in cubic meters, m3) and billing (measured in kilowatt-hours, kWh), which is crucial for thermal gas conversion during the billing process. The thermal gas indicator explains which thermal gas billing factors such as temperature, pressure, and compressibility are computed within the register.
Finally, the OBIS code specifies the measurement task for market communication. For example, the code 1-1:1.8.1 indicates the task of measuring electricity supply active consumption during on-peak periods.
The registers of a register group are the basis to store many important process data such as:
meter reading results
billing factors
rate data
The winding group:
- groups all windings of a transformer
- is influenced by the transformer type Current, Voltage or Combination.
The windings:
- are wire coils inside a transformer to reduce current or voltage
- are divided into primary (grid) and secondary (meter) windings
- define the transformation ratio of transformers
The billing factor is calculated automatically based on the voltage and/or current ratio between the active primary and secondary winding. This factor is the value by which you need to multiply the difference in meter readings to determine the actual consumption.
The measurement type of the electricity meter describes the relationship between meter and transformer:
Meters with direct measurement don’t need a transformer.
Meters with semi-indirect measurement need current- or voltage transformers.
Meters with indirect measurement need combination transformers.