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How to connect Iskraemeco AM550 energy meter with Reduxi controller

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⚡ Reduxi Controller · Knowledge Base

How to connect Iskraemeco AM550 energy meter with Reduxi controller

Connect the Iskraemeco AM550 smart meter to the Reduxi Controller over the P1 port.

⚡ Iskraemeco AM550 · Reduxi Converter · Reduxi Controller
🔌 P1 port with RJ12 cable
🔑 Block cipher key and authentication key from the XML file

📄 Download as PDF

Iskraemeco AM550 smart meter, top part with a black circle marking a clip at the upper right
Iskraemeco AM550
Text description of this image

Photo of the upper part of a white Iskraemeco AM550 smart meter, seen from the front and slightly from above. Printed on the housing: 'ISKRA' logo, 'AM550', 'Made in EU 2020', '1 000 imp/kWh' and '1 000 imp/kvarh', and '2G/4G' at the left. A label with a legend for the LCD display codes in Slovenian (e.g. 'Pomen stevilcnih oznak na LCD zaslonu' [Meaning of the numeric codes on the LCD display], 0.9.1 Cas [time], 0.9.2 Datum [date], 1.8.T Delovna energija A+ [active energy A+], 2.8.T Delovna energija A-, 3.8.T Jalova energija R+, 4.8.T Jalova energija R-, 1.6.0 and 2.6.0 maximum power, T = tarifa [tariff]). At the top right of the housing a black circle marks a small grey clip or cover latch with a symbol on it. A screw and a seal marked '2020' are at the right. The display window is at the bottom, partly visible.

📋 In this article
  1. Required equipment
  2. Physically connect the Iskraemeco AM550 to the Reduxi Converter
  3. Obtain the keys
  4. Log in to the Reduxi web interface
  5. Add the Iskraemeco AM550 to Reduxi
  6. Check the readings
  7. Resolve non-working communication
  8. Summary
  9. Common issues
  10. Related articles

1 Required equipment

⚠️
Obsolete article This article is rather obsolete. Please use Connect P1 WiFi / Ultra converter to grid meters and Reduxi Controller.

You need the following components:

  • Iskraemeco AM550 smart meter
  • Reduxi Converter with the RJ12 cable (included in the package)
  • Reduxi Controller
  • The XML file with the meter keys (see ⁠Point 3⁠)
  • Laptop or tablet with internet access to configure the device in Reduxi

2 Physically connect the Iskraemeco AM550 to the Reduxi Converter

The P1 port is in the upper right corner of the AM550 smart meter. Connect the AM550 to the Reduxi Converter over the P1 port with the RJ12 cable. The cable is included in the package with the Reduxi Converter. The green LED on top of the converter starts to glow.

Iskraemeco AM550 smart meter, top part with a black circle marking a clip at the upper right
Location of the P1 port on the Iskraemeco AM550
Text description of this image

Photo of the upper part of a white Iskraemeco AM550 smart meter, seen from the front and slightly from above. Printed on the housing: 'ISKRA' logo, 'AM550', 'Made in EU 2020', '1 000 imp/kWh' and '1 000 imp/kvarh', and '2G/4G' at the left. A label with a legend for the LCD display codes in Slovenian (e.g. 'Pomen stevilcnih oznak na LCD zaslonu' [Meaning of the numeric codes on the LCD display], 0.9.1 Cas [time], 0.9.2 Datum [date], 1.8.T Delovna energija A+ [active energy A+], 2.8.T Delovna energija A-, 3.8.T Jalova energija R+, 4.8.T Jalova energija R-, 1.6.0 and 2.6.0 maximum power, T = tarifa [tariff]). At the top right of the housing a black circle marks a small grey clip or cover latch with a symbol on it. A screw and a seal marked '2020' are at the right. The display window is at the bottom, partly visible.

Additional information about the cable: connect the double-insulated twisted-pair wire as follows. Connect the first wire (A) of the converter to Reduxi wire A. Connect the other wire (B) to Reduxi wire B. Connect the braided (shielded) cable to GND.

ℹ️
Note You can test the connection from the Iskraemeco AM550 to the Reduxi Controller without keys. The test shows whether communication works, that is, whether data is received. Without keys, the data cannot be converted into measurements, but you can see if the physical communication works. You can add the keys later over a remote connection to the Reduxi Controller.
Reduxi Configurator Test communication dialog: Unable to communicate with device, no data
Communication is not working
Text description of this image

Screenshot of the Reduxi Configurator page 'Communication channel and device configuration' with a dialog 'Test communication' in front; the page behind is dimmed. Visible behind the dialog: Connection *: Local serial port; Port *: Port 1; Baud rate *: (hidden by the dialog); further fields below are hidden. Dialog 'Test communication' with a close X at top right. First box in red text: 'Unable to communicate with device.' Second box in red text: 'Check wiring and serial port settings!' and 'Received data on communication port: no data'. Button 'Close' (dark) at the bottom right of the dialog.

If communication is not working, make sure the physical connection works before you go to the next step.

3 Obtain the keys

For the Reduxi Controller to connect to the Iskraemeco AM550, you need the keys used for the communication.

3.1 Request the XML file with the keys

Send an e-mail to support@reduxi.eu. Example content:

Dear,

Please send me the key for the AM550 counter – serial number: 1680 xxxxxxxx

Thank you,

Kind regards!

Photo of Iskraemeco meter label with barcode, QR code and serial number starting with 1680
Figure 1: Iskraemeco serial number – example
Text description of this image

Photo of part of a meter label, cut off at the right side, with white (blank) area on the right. Visible: a vertical barcode at the left; the digits 1680 printed vertically beside the barcode, in the same position the caption names as the start of the Iskraemeco serial number; a dark square logo at the top; a QR code at the lower right of the label. Two areas on the label are covered with white patches, one tall narrow patch next to the barcode and one square patch over the lower left of the QR code. Remaining digits.

3.2 Find the block cipher key and the authentication key in the XML file

Open the XML file with a text editor. We recommend Notepad++ on Windows. The XML contains many markups. First find MeterRole with id="103", as shown here:

<MeterRole NodeName="IDIS_role" name="CIP" id="103">
  <Master_key>DE35A2267193843FDF757AD9731605D8</Master_key>
  <Global_encryption_unicast_key>HERE YOU CAN FIND Global_encryption_unicast_key</Global_encryption_unicast_key>
  <Global_encryption_broadcast_key>4D6CC121548658396x</Global_encryption_broadcast_key>
  <Authentication_key>HERE YOU CAN FIND Authentication_key</Authentication_key>
</MeterRole>

In this MeterRole, find Authentication_key and Global_encryption_unicast_key. Copy their content into the matching fields in the Reduxi Configurator (see ⁠Point 5⁠, point 5.2).

4 Log in to the Reduxi web interface

You can open the Reduxi web interface in two ways:

Remote
📱
Reduxi app
Via tunnel connection · works from anywhere
🖥️
Web browser
In the local network · via IP address or reduxi.local
📱 4.1 Via the Reduxi app
1
Open the app and log in
Launch the Reduxi app on your smartphone or tablet and log in with your credentials.
2
Open Reduxi devices
Tap the menu icon (three lines, top left) and select Reduxi devices.
3
Activate the tunnel connection
Switch on the tunnel connection and wait a moment until it is active.
4
Open the configurator
Tap Open configurator. The Reduxi web interface opens.
Reduxi app: menu icon (2), Reduxi devices (3), Activate tunnel connection button (4)
Activate the tunnel connection (step 3)
Text description of this image

Screenshot of three Reduxi mobile app screens side by side, with cyan boxes and number badges 2 to 4. Left screen (dashboard, dark theme): menu icon at top left marked with a box and badge 2; 'reduxi' logo; tabs 'Real time data' (active) and 'Statistics'; price 5.79 € and temperature 3.2 °C; energy flow diagram with a house in the centre (-1.25 kW) and icons with values 69.0 W, 1.3 kW, 1.1 kW (red ring), -165.0 W with 97 % (red ring) and 0.0 W values at the bottom; tabs 'Power' and 'Energy'; bottom navigation: Dashboard, Diagnostics, Device control, Settings. Middle screen (side menu): 'reduxi' logo, 'Number of locations: 1233', heading 'Reduxi device management', entries '+ Add Reduxi location' and 'Reduxi devices' (marked with a box and badge 3), then 'My profile' and 'About app'. Right screen (device page): Back; picture of a black Reduxi controller with two Ethernet ports; status 'Connected'; card 'Update available': 'New update is available for your Reduxi device.' with button 'Download and install update'; card 'Connect to configurator': 'Tunnel connection enables remote access to your Reduxi configurator, without need to be connected to the same local network.' with button 'Activate tunnel connection' (marked with a box and badge 4); card 'Unit details' with field 'Unit ID'.

Reduxi app Open configurator button (step 5) and Reduxi Configurator tunnel connection home screen (step 6)
Open configurator (step 4)
Text description of this image

Screenshot made of two parts side by side. Left part: Reduxi mobile app screen on a dark background. Top: Back button; picture of a black Reduxi controller with two Ethernet ports and a terminal block; status 'Connected' with a Wi-Fi icon. Card 'Update available': 'New update is available for your Reduxi device.' with button 'Download and install update'. Card 'Connect to configurator' with a key icon: 'Tunnel connection enables remote access to your Reduxi configurator, without need to be connected to the same local network.' and button 'Open configurator', marked with a cyan box and number badge 5. Below: card 'Unit details' with a field 'Unit ID' (value not visible). Right part: Reduxi Configurator opened in a browser, marked with a cyan frame and number badge 6. Header: back arrow, 'Tunnel connection', reload icon. Left sidebar with icons (lightning, chip, lightning bolt, bar chart, gear). Page 'Home' with a green link icon. Green notice: 'New patch available. Click here to apply.' with a close X. Time 09:12:56. Energy flow diagram with a house in the centre (1.700 kW) and icons for grid (0.000 kW), solar (1.700 kW), battery (green, 0.000 kW and 0.800 kW), a device at left (0.900 kW), electric vehicle and a charger or device at bottom. Label 'Energy manager' at the bottom.

🖥️ 4.2 Via a web browser
1
Open the login page
On a device in the same network, open a web browser and enter the controller's IP address or http://reduxi.local. You can find the controller's IP address in your router's device list or in the Reduxi app under Reduxi devices.
2
Log in
Username: admin · Password: admin (factory default)
Reduxi Configurator login page at address reduxi.local, address bar marked
Reduxi Controller login screen
Text description of this image

Screenshot of the Reduxi Configurator login page in a Chrome browser window. The address bar shows 'Not secure' and 'reduxi.local'; the address bar is marked with a cyan box and an enlarged copy of it (cyan box, text 'Not secure reduxi.local') is shown at the left, connected by a cyan line. Page background: light grey line drawing of a house with solar panels (green), a wall box, an inverter, a car and a charger. Top left: 'reduxi configurator' logo. Login box in the centre with title 'Login', a language selector (English flag, 'English'), a username field and a password field, and a dark 'Login' button.

Reduxi Configurator home screen after login: energy flow with house 24.20 kW, grid 24.20 kW, EV charger 31.00 kW
Controller web interface after login
Text description of this image

Screenshot of the Reduxi Configurator web interface after login, light theme. Top left: 'reduxi configurator' logo. Header bar: 'Home' at left, green 'Connected' status at top right. Left sidebar: expanded section 'Devices' with a list of entries, then collapsed sections 'Manager' and 'Configuration' and 'Settings'. Main area: energy flow diagram. House in the centre with ring, value 24.20 kW. Grid icon at top left, 24.20 kW (red dot on its line). Solar icon at top right, value '-'. Left icon (battery or device), 6.700 kW (green dot on its line). Right icons (battery storage and a device), values '-'. EV charger icon at bottom left, 31.00 kW. A further device icon at bottom right. Label 'Energy manager' below the house.

5 Add the Iskraemeco AM550 to Reduxi

Use these steps to add a new energy meter or to edit an existing one.

5.1 Basic settings

Log in to the Reduxi Configurator (see ⁠Point 4⁠) and click + Add device. Then enter the basic settings:

  • Device type: Energy meter
  • Type: Iskraemeco AM550
  • Name: a name of your choice
Reduxi Configurator basic settings: device type Energy meter, type Iskraemeco AM550
Basic settings: device type, type and name
Text description of this image

Screenshot of the Reduxi Configurator page 'Basic settings'. Device type: Energy meter (dropdown). Type: Iskraemeco AM550 (dropdown). Name: Iskraemeco AM550 (text field). Buttons: Back (bottom left), Next (bottom right, dark).

5.2 Communication settings

Select the communication channel, then enter the device configuration:

Parameter Value
Interface type HLDC
Block cipher key Global_encryption_unicast_key, copied from the XML file
Authentication key Authentication_key, copied from the XML file
Reduxi Configurator communication settings: interface type HDLC, block cipher key, authentication key
Figure 2: Example of entering the XML keys into the Reduxi Configurator
Text description of this image

Screenshot of three fields of the Reduxi Configurator communication settings, for entering keys from XML files. Interface type: HDLC. Block cipher key: placeholder text 'Here is the field "Global_encryption_unicast_key" from XML files'. Authentication key: placeholder text 'Here is the field " Authentication_key " from XML files'. The picture is cut off below the Authentication key field.

5.3 Advanced settings

Finally, select the Readout type. It is the message that the meter sends. It depends on how the meter is set. Usually, the right setting is Slovenia / SODO, as shown in the image.

Reduxi Configurator Readout type drop-down: Standard Reduxi telegram, Slovenia / SODO
Figure 3: Readout type configuration
Text description of this image

Screenshot of the Reduxi Configurator field 'Readout type' with its drop-down list open. The list shows the options 'Standard Reduxi telegram' (highlighted in grey, selected) and 'Slovenia / SODO'. The picture is cut off on the right and below.

5.4 Test communication

Click Test communication at the bottom of the wizard. It reads the Iskraemeco AM550 once and saves nothing. If the test succeeds, click Done: only Done creates the device.

Reduxi Configurator button bar with Test communication button marked
The Test communication button
Text description of this image

Screenshot of the bottom button bar of a Reduxi Configurator page. Left: button 'Back'. Right: button 'Test communication' (marked with a cyan box) and dark button 'Done'.

Reduxi Configurator communication channel: TCP/IP, IP 192.168.50.243, port 502, Done button marked
The Done button
Text description of this image

Screenshot of the Reduxi Configurator page 'Communication channel and device configuration'. Connection *: TCP/IP (dropdown). IP *: 192.168.50.243, with button 'Scan for IP'. Port *: 502, with button 'Test port'. Modbus unit ID *: 1. Buttons at the bottom: Back (left), Test communication and Done (right). The Done button is marked with a cyan box.

6 Check the readings

6.1 Last measurements

After communication is established, check the values under Devices in the Reduxi Configurator as an additional test.

6.2 Use the meter data in Reduxi

To achieve maximum flexibility and energy cost reduction with dynamic prices and dynamic tariffs, define a strategy as described in Strategies for Reduxi controller.

7 Resolve non-working communication

If communication between the Reduxi Controller and the AM550 does not work, follow this procedure:

1
Check the converter
After the physical connection, check that the Reduxi AM550 converter is active. The green LED shows that power is active.
2
Check the data transfer
The yellow LEDs on the converter flash when data is transmitted. Flashing means communication works. If the LEDs do not flash, there is a problem with the physical connection.
3
Add the meter and test
Add the AM550 meter in the Reduxi Configurator. Then click Test communication.
4
Check the readout type
If data is exchanged but the data is distorted, the cause is most likely the wrong choice of operator. Reduxi can suggest which operator was detected. Click Test communication several times to get a relevant result. The picture shows an example of the printout.
Reduxi Configurator test communication fails but suggests readout type SLOVENIA_ELEKTRO_MARIBOR
Example of the test communication printout with a suggested readout type
Text description of this image

Screenshot of the Reduxi Configurator with a dialog 'Test communication' in front of a dimmed page. Dialog (close X at top right): first box 'Unable to communicate with device.' Second box: 'Found possible readout type: SLOVENIA_ELEKTRO_MARIBOR'; 'Received values:' followed by a list 18/1 to 18/18, each with a value (only the first characters are visible, e.g. 18/1: 0, 18/3: 1, 18/6: 1, 18/16: 0, 18/18: 0); then 'Received data on communication port: 7ea'; a dark horizontal scroll bar; button 'Close' at the bottom right. Dimmed page behind the dialog: a toggle with 'No', text 'Do not set (.) indication for energy import' (partly hidden), a field 'L2 is connected.' with value L2, and the section 'Communication channel' with Connection: Local serial port; Port: Port 1; Baud rate: 38400 bits/s; Data bits: 8; Stop bits: 1; Parity: None.

✓ Summary

Preparation (Point 1): Prepare the AM550, the Reduxi Converter with RJ12 cable, the Reduxi Controller and a laptop.

Iskraemeco AM550 (Points 2–3): Connect the converter to the P1 port. Request the XML file at support@reduxi.eu and copy the two keys.

Add to Reduxi (Points 4–5): Log in to the Reduxi web interface. Add the energy meter, enter the keys and the readout type and run Test communication.

Go live (Points 6–7): Check the last measurements. If communication fails, follow the troubleshooting steps.

→ Common issues

Issue Solution
Communication is not working Check the physical connection first. The green LED must be on. The yellow LEDs flash when data is transmitted.
Data is received but distorted The readout type is probably wrong. Click Test communication several times. Reduxi suggests the detected operator.
No measurements without keys Without keys, the data cannot be converted into measurements. Request the XML file at support@reduxi.eu.
Open configurator does not open or stays empty The tunnel is not active yet. Wait about 30 seconds and check that the controller is online.
Login with admin is rejected The password was changed during installation. Ask the installer. The Reduxi account password does not work here.
reduxi.local does not load Your device is not in the same network as the controller. Use the IP address or the tunnel connection.
Communication test fails, device shows offline Check reachability, IP address / port / unit ID, and that the protocol is enabled on the device.

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