Table of Contents
Planning the Climkit Gateway connection and network connectivity
This article describes the installation planning. For on-site implementation and equipment configuration on the Climkit platform, please refer to the links at the end of the article.
1. The Climkit Gateway
The Climkit Gateway is the communication gateway that centralizes and manages all equipment within the Climkit solutions. It collects and transmits data from connected devices (meters, charging stations, RFID readers, etc.) to the online Climkit platform.
The Climkit Gateway communicates with equipment via RS485 serial networks and TCP/IP networks, using standard and open communication protocols (non-proprietary), including Modbus, M-Bus, and OCPP.
The main equipment connected to and managed by the Climkit Gateway includes:
- Electricity meters
- Electric vehicle charging stations
- RFID readers
- Control relays
- Sensors
Installation in the electrical cabinet
The Gateway is supplied with its 24V DC DIN rail power supply.
It connects to the network via the RJ45 Ethernet port.
Gateway width: 2 DIN modules.
It is strongly recommended to install a dedicated circuit breaker for Climkit communication devices. This breaker must be clearly labeled. In the example below, the circuit breaker is associated with the Climkit Gateway and the Mbus60 converter.
Connection to meters
The RS485 port allows direct connection of RS485-Modbus electricity meters.
2. Other communication equipment
4G Router
A 4G router is required when no internet connection is available in the building. It enables communication between the devices and the online Climkit portal using an inexpensive 4G subscription.
The router is supplied with a DIN rail mount, its 24V DC power supply, a 3m remote antenna, and an activated multi-operator SIM card.
The device used is a Teltonika TRB140 (or equivalent).
If the 4G signal is too weak or unavailable, order an antenna extension cable (5m or 10m) or relocate the router to an area with signal. Extending the antenna by more than 20m is not recommended.
If necessary, an IP65 outdoor antenna is supplied for installation on the facade or in a dry well.
LAN Router
If local internet connectivity is available from another router, it is recommended to create a subnet with a standard router to which all devices (Climkit Gateway, charging stations, etc.) are connected. This allows independence from the main router for configuration.
The device used is a Teltonika RUT301 with 4 LAN ports + 1 WAN port, supplied with a DIN rail mount and its 24V DC DIN power supply.
MBus-RS485 Converter
The M-Bus/RS485 converter allows connecting M-Bus meters (typically for heat and water) to the Climkit Gateway.
Two models are available depending on the number of meters to be connected:
- M-Bus60: up to 60 meters - 4 DIN modules width
- M-Bus200: up to 200 meters - 8 DIN modules width
It is possible to connect multiple converters to the same Gateway to extend the system capacity.
Each converter is supplied with its 24V DC DIN rail power supply.
RS485-Ethernet Converter (Modbus RTU to Modbus TCP)
The RS485-Ethernet converter allows changing from an RS485 bus network to a TCP/IP network, enabling reading of Modbus RTU devices via Modbus TCP.
The supplied model is a Protoss-PE11, delivered configured with its 24V DC DIN rail power supply.
It can be used to read electricity meters directly via the 4G router (see Cloud Gateway diagram) or to connect electricity meters distributed across different electrical cabinets on the same site, all interconnected via a local IP network (see Microgrid diagram). In this case, only one Climkit Gateway is needed to read all site meters via Modbus TCP.
3. Other connection options
Connecting multiple buildings belonging to the same site
The RS485/Ethernet converter can be used in two main configurations:
- Cloud Gateway Configuration: To read electricity meters directly via the 4G router (see Cloud Gateway diagram).
- Microgrid Configuration: To connect electricity meters distributed across different electrical cabinets on the same site, all interconnected via a local IP network (see Microgrid diagram). Only one Climkit Gateway is then required to read all site meters via Modbus TCP.
- If other providers need to read the same Modbus meters, installing an RS485-Ethernet converter allows for simultaneous read requests, which is not possible on a simple RS485 bus network.
Standard Ethernet Switch
To connect additional devices via Ethernet, a switch is necessary.
Climkit offers a compact switch that installs directly on a DIN rail, accompanied by a 24V power supply (1 module).
With its 5 ports, it can connect the photovoltaic inverter, battery monitoring, or other devices.
PoE Switch
For Ethernet equipment requiring PoE power, a PoE switch is required.
It allows directly powering the gateway, controller, and Wi-Fi access points via the Ethernet cable, without additional electrical power supply.
Furthermore, the SFP ports allow the interconnection of multiple site buildings (see Microgrid diagram) using fiber optics via a single internet router.
Model supplied: Teltonika TSW200 (or equivalent) - 8 PoE Ethernet ports + 2 SFP fiber optic ports.
The switch is delivered with a DIN rail mount and its 48V DC 150W DIN power supply.
