Using the DLMS protocol

The Device Language Message Specification (DLMS) provides an interoperable environment for structured modeling and meter data exchange. DLMS supports applications such as remote meter reading, remote control, and value-added services for metering different kinds of energy, such as electricity, water, gas or heat.

DLMS is an international standard published as IEC 62056.

DLMS configuration

DLMS-enabled meters come preconfigured with frameworks that allow the meter to provide selected values to a DLMS master. You need to configure the meter’s communication settings before you can access values using DLMS master software.

DLMS is available on Ethernet and all serial ports, including the front optical port. Use the front panel or ION Setup to set the protocol for the serial communication port you want to use for DLMS. Use ION Setup to enable DLMS over Ethernet and assign the port.

Serial configuration using the front panel

  1. Press and hold the ALT/ENTER button for a few seconds. The SETUP menu appears.
  2. Use the navigation buttons to highlight the COM port that you want to configure (COM1 SETUP - COM4 SETUP) and press ALT/ENTER to select.
  3. Use the navigation buttons to highlight the Protocol setting and press ALT/ENTER to select.
  4. Select DLMS from the list of available protocols.
  5. Select YES to confirm the change.

Serial configuration using ION Setup

  1. Open the Setup Assistant for your meter. See the ION Setup Help for instructions.
  2. Select Communications > Serial Settings and click on the COM tab that corresponds to the communication port you want to configure.
  3. Select the Protocol parameter and click Edit.
  4. Select DLMS from the dropdown list and click OK.

Ethernet configuration using ION Setup

  1. Open the Setup Assistant for your meter. See the ION Setup Help for instructions.
  2. Select Communications > Advanced Ethernet and click on the Protocols tab.
  3. Select DLMS in the Protocols list and click Edit.
  4. Select the Enabled checkbox to enable DLMS over Ethernet, enter the port you want to use and click OK.

Changing the data exported to DLMS client software

You can configure your meter to export the values from the Data Recorder modules to DLMS client software. To do this, you need to map the applicable data recorder to a DLMS Log Export module and configure that module’s setup registers with the appropriate OBIS codes.

NOTE: Changing these modules and any of their inputs from the default template is an advanced setup procedure that requires an understanding of the protocol and your meter’s internal operations.

  1. Start ION Setup and open your meter in Advanced mode. See the online ION Setup help for more information.
  2. Navigate to the DLMS Log Export Module Modules folder.
  3. Create a new module or edit an existing module. Double-click the module to edit its configuration.
  4. Select the Inputs tab to link the module to a Data Recorder module.
    • Select the input and double-click (or click Edit).
    • Navigate to the Data Recorder module that you want to link to the DLMS Log Export module and click OK.

      • NOTE: You can link a Data Recorder module to multiple DLMS Log Export modules, but you can only link each DLMS Log Export module to one Data Recorder module.

  5. Select the Setup Registers tab and double-click a register to edit it:

    6. Setup register Description

    Profile Generic OBIS

    Enter the Profile Generic OBIS code you want to assign to the values associated with the module.

    Status Register

    Setting this register to ENABLED includes the status field in the Profile Generic object.

    If the Record input of the associated Data Recorder module is linked to a Periodic Timer, the status of the DLMS Log Export module is updated at that recording interval. If the Data Recorder Record input is not linked to a Periodic Timer, the value of the status register is 0xFFFF.

    OBIS Code Source 1 – OBIS Code Source 16

    Enter the register attribute OBIS codes for each input of the linked Data Recorder module that you want to export.

    Each OBIS Code Source setup register maps to the equivalent input register of the linked Data Recorder module. If you do not want to export a value, enter NONE for that OBIS Code Source setup register (this is the default value for a newly created DLMS Log Export module).

  6. Click Send to save your changes to the meter. Use your DLMS client software to validate that you are receiving the expected values.

Related topics:

  • See the DLMS User Association website at www.dlms.com for information about the DLMS protocol.
  • See DLMS/COSEM and ION technology for more information about how DLMS is implemented on your meter.
  • See ION Reference for module settings and operation.