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Back when I owned a TED 5000-G, before realizing that it has a critical software design flaw which makes it unusable on my network, I decided to open up the enclosures and see what’s inside. Since it’s a power monitoring system which uses PLC (power line communication, one type of which is the familiar X10) to communicate to a data logger and an embedded webserver I figured it would be fairly interesting.
Here’s the teardown photos, with the more interesting chips called out. Links to full-res photos are in the top right corner of each page:
MTU:
· Unopened
· Enclosure Opened
· PCB Top
· PCB Bottom
– Microchip PIC24FJ64GA004: Microcontroller.
– NXP TD5051AT: Home automation modem. Used for PLC.
– Cirrus Logic CS5461: Power measurement device; does the monitoring itself. EOL’d on 15-Dec-2006, Data Sheet Mirror (PDF).
Gateway:
· Unopened
· Enclosure Opened: ZigBee Daughter Board plugged into mainboard.
· Mains Connection: Ground / earth pin is not connected.
ZigBee Daughter Board:
· PCB Top
· PCB Bottom: Note printed antenna near bottom of photo.
– Microchip PIC24FHJ64GA106: Microcontroller.
– Microchip MRF24J40: IEEE 802.15.4 radio, used for ZigBee communications.
Mainboard
· PCB Top
– Microchip ENC28J60: Ethernet Controller.
– Microchip PIC24FHJ256xxnnn: Microcontroller. Can’t read entire part number.
– Macronix MS25L3205D (PDF): 32Mbit Serial Flash
· PCB Bottom
– Vossel VS1307Z (PDF): Real-time clock, keeps time with main power off by automatically switching to backup source (CR2032).
– NXP TD5051AT: Home automation modem used for PLC; same as in the MTU.
CTs:
· CTs: Sealed, not easy to disassemble. Likely nothing interesting inside.
I was really looking forward to getting a TED, and save for the PLC quirks and the webserver bug that made it unusable, I really liked the device. The PCBs themselves also appear to be very well made, and I particularly appreciated that they were closed with simple Philips and Torx fasteners and thus easy to look inside of. If Energy, Inc. releases an updated version with the firmware fixed I’ll consider buying another one, particularly if they stop using PLC and move to all-ZigBee (or some other PAN) for communications from the MTU(s) to the Gateway.
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