Gas Meter Pulse Readers: How They Work and What They Measure

A gas meter pulse reader is a sensing module that converts the mechanical motion inside a diaphragm gas meter into electrical pulses. This enables mechanical meters to be integrated into AMR/AMI, IoT, or SCADA systems without hardware replacement.

Operating Principle

Diaphragm meters use gas movement to drive an internal gear train. Many models embed a magnet in the index assembly.

A pulse reader—using magnetic or Hall-effect technology—detects each rotation and generates one electrical pulse per discrete volume.

Common values include:

• 0.01 m³ per pulse

• 0.1 m³ per pulse

• Model-dependent configurations

This pulse train creates a precise digital representation of accumulated gas usage.

Pulse Output Characteristics

Pulse readers typically output:

• Reed switch pulses

• Open-collector signals

• Open-drain signals

These low-frequency, low-power signals are optimized for long cable runs and industrial environments.

Data Provided by a Pulse Reader

Pulse readers provide cumulative consumption only. They do not directly measure flow rate.

To obtain flow, the receiving system must analyze the time between pulses:

This allows external systems to calculate demand curves, identify leakage patterns, and support billing analysis.  

Advantages

• Cost-efficient modernization

• Minimal meter modification

• Long service life

• Compatibility with digital platforms

Pulse readers remain a core component in global gas metering modernization.