Pulse-output water meters
Remote totalization for distribution meters, submeters, reservoirs, pump stations and isolated utility assets.
EC-M12 · Pulse-output meter telemetry
Pulse Counter Data Logger for Water, Gas & Energy Meters
Turn an existing meter's pulse output into remotely accessible consumption data. The NORVI EC-M12-BC-C6-C-C combines two configurable digital inputs, local microSD storage and low-power cellular telemetry in an IP67 battery-powered field node.
2×
Digital Inputs
3.3V / 5V /
12V
38,000mAh
LTE-M /
NB-IoT
IP67
The meter remains the measuring instrument. EC-M12 counts
compatible electrical pulses and can convert the count into
engineering units in firmware using the meter's documented pulse
value or K-factor.
EC-M12-BC-C6-C-C
Remote telemetry
01 · Meter
Pulse-output water, gas or energy meter
02 · Edge
EC-M12 pulse counting + local logging
03 · Network
Cellular telemetry from remote sites
04 · Application
Your dashboard, server or cloud workflow
2×Digital inputs
IP67Field enclosure
38AhBattery capacity
SIM7070Cellular modem
2Independent digital inputsMonitor one or two compatible pulse sources.
3.3 / 5 / 12VSelectable input levelsMatch supported active pulse voltage levels.
38,000mAhInstalled battery capacity2 × 19,000mAh Li-SOCl₂ cells.
IP67Outdoor enclosureWall or pole mounting for remote assets.
microSDLocal storage supportUseful for timestamped application logging.
Pulse to cloud
Use the meter you already have. Add remote visibility.
Many water, gas and energy meters expose a pulse output proportional to measured consumption. Instead of replacing that meter, the pulse can be counted at the edge, converted using the meter's pulse value, stored locally and sent to a remote platform at the interval your application needs. For remote sites without convenient mains power, explore the full battery-powered cellular IoT data logger platform.
- Keep the existing meter and use its documented electrical pulse output.
- Convert raw counts into litres, cubic metres, kWh or another engineering unit in firmware.
- Store local records on microSD and publish selected totals or intervals over cellular.
- Use your own dashboard or server rather than being forced into a single cloud platform.
01
Read the meter pulse
Field signalConnect a compatible pulse output to one of the EC-M12 Model C digital inputs.
02
Count and totalize
Edge logicFirmware increments a pulse counter and can preserve cumulative values between communication cycles.
03
Apply the K-factor
Engineering unitsTranslate pulse counts into consumption or interval flow using the meter manufacturer's documented pulse relationship.
04
Transmit on a schedule
Remote telemetrySend totals, interval usage, battery status and other application data through LTE-M, NB-IoT or 2G where supported.
Meter applications
One pulse-counting architecture, multiple utility meters
Use the same telemetry pattern wherever a field meter exposes a compatible electrical pulse proportional to consumption, flow, volume or energy.
Gas meter pulse counting
Collect periodic consumption totals from compatible gas meters where manual readings are slow or expensive.
Energy meter pulse outputs
Capture electrical energy pulses for remote submetering workflows after verifying the meter's pulse interface requirements.
Irrigation consumption
Track distributed irrigation flow and total water use from off-grid or difficult-to-reach field locations.
Building & site submeters
Bring pulse totals from tenant, process or facility submeters into a central monitoring application.
Pulse-output flow meters
Use pulse totalization for compatible industrial flow meters when periodic remote consumption data is the main requirement.
Electrical compatibility
Check the pulse interface before wiring
“Pulse output” describes a measurement method, not one universal electrical interface. Confirm the meter's output circuit, signal level, pulse width and expected pulse rate before final deployment.
| Meter output | What to verify | EC-M12 integration guidance | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active voltage pulse | 3.3V, 5V or 12V level, pulse width, polarity and common reference. | Strong direct-fit candidate when the meter output matches the documented selectable digital-input level. | Best documented fit |
| Open collector / NPN | Required pull-up voltage, sink current, polarity and wiring reference. | May need a pull-up or interface arrangement depending on the meter's output circuit. Verify before connection. | Verify circuit |
| Dry contact / reed switch | Wetting voltage/current, contact bounce, maximum pulse rate and cable length. | Typically requires a suitable pull-up/input arrangement and debounce strategy in hardware or firmware. | Verify circuit |
| S0 energy-meter pulse | S0 voltage/current specification, isolation requirement, pulse width and local regulations. | Do not assume direct connection. Use the meter documentation to determine whether an interface or isolator is required. | Interface may be needed |
Pulse-rate check
The public EC-M12-BC-C6-C-C datasheet documents two digital inputs and selectable 3.3V / 5V / 12V input levels, but it does not publish a maximum pulse frequency. Confirm the meter's maximum pulse rate and minimum pulse width with NORVI before specifying the logger for high-frequency counting.
K-factor conversion
Turn raw pulses into useful engineering data
The exact conversion comes from the meter manufacturer. Store the pulse relationship as a configurable parameter so the same firmware can support different meter sizes and pulse values.
When the meter says “1 pulse = X units”
Total = pulse_count × units_per_pulse
Example: 1 pulse = 10 litres. A count of 1,250 pulses represents 12,500 litres.
When K = pulses per unit
Total = pulse_count ÷ K
Example: K = 100 pulses/m³. A count of 2,500 pulses represents 25 m³.
Cumulative totalKeep a running consumption total in the chosen engineering
unit.
Interval usageReport how much water, gas or energy was used during each logging
period.
Flow / rate estimateCalculate a rate from pulse count over time when the meter
resolution and pulse rate are suitable.
Application alertsCreate no-flow, high-usage or threshold rules in firmware or the
connected platform.
Engineering fit
When EC-M12 Model C is the right architecture
Choose around the meter signal, available power, network coverage, pulse frequency and reporting interval, not around a generic IoT checklist.
Good fit
- Remote or outdoor meter sites with no convenient mains power.
- One or two compatible pulse sources that need periodic totalization.
- Projects that need LTE-M, NB-IoT or 2G cellular telemetry.
- Applications where local microSD logging is useful during network outages.
- OEMs and integrators that want programmable firmware and their own cloud/server workflow.
Confirm before selection
- High-frequency pulse trains where the maximum count rate is critical.
- S0, dry-contact or open-collector outputs that may need interface components.
- Revenue/billing applications subject to local metering regulations or certification requirements.
- Projects requiring continuous high-rate communication rather than duty-cycled telemetry.
- Installations where the meter pulse value can change with configuration or scaling.
Engineering resources
Verify the hardware, then build the integration
Start with the Model C datasheet for electrical limits and connector details, then use the quick-start and existing pulse-flow article for implementation context.
FAQs
Common questions
Practical answers for selecting a pulse counter data logger and connecting it to water, gas, energy or industrial flow meters.
A pulse counter data logger records electrical pulses from a meter or sensor, stores the count over time and can convert the total into engineering units using the meter's pulse value or K-factor. A connected logger can also transmit those totals to a remote server or dashboard.
Yes, when the meter's electrical pulse output is compatible with the EC-M12-BC-C6-C-C input circuit. Model C provides two digital inputs with selectable 3.3V, 5V and 12V input levels. The meter's output type, pulse width, maximum pulse rate and wiring requirements should be checked before installation.
Model C has two digital inputs, so firmware can count two compatible pulse sources independently. Confirm the electrical requirements and expected pulse rate for both meters before commissioning.
If the meter specifies a value such as “1 pulse = 10 litres,” multiply the pulse count by that value. If it specifies a K-factor such as “100 pulses per m³,” divide the pulse count by 100 to obtain cubic metres. Always use the scaling published for the exact meter configuration.
The current Model C datasheet lists the SIM7070 modem with LTE Cat-M1, NB-IoT (NB1/NB2) and GSM/GPRS 2G support. Band and operator availability varies by country, so carrier compatibility should be checked for the deployment location.
No claim is made here that EC-M12 itself is a revenue-grade measuring instrument. It counts pulses supplied by the connected meter. Billing or regulated metering applications depend on the meter, complete system design and local certification requirements.
Project selection support
Have a pulse-output meter to connect?
Send NORVI the meter model, pulse-output specification, K-factor, expected maximum pulse rate, reporting interval and cellular region. That is enough to check whether EC-M12 Model C is the right fit and identify any interface requirements.
