Unobtrusive radio telemetry unit

Data Acquisition & Telemetry

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July 2004 Data Acquisition & Telemetry

The Elpro 505U radio telemetry module is unobtrusive, easy to configure and is an economical solution for remote monitoring of process signals.

Radio telemetry has many advantages in applications where process signals have to be transferred from remote or mobile sites. However, there are often significant overhead costs involved such as solar panels, weatherproof panels, battery packs, etc. Installation and commissioning usually requires the presence of a specialist due to the complexity of the set-up.

The Elpro 505U radio telemetry unit offers an elegant, easy and cost-effective solution. Its weatherproof housing (IP65), extremely low energy consumption, internal battery and straightforward set-up procedure make it ideal for transmitting data from trucks, reservoirs, cranes and remote pump stations to the control centre.

The RTU transmits the value of the input signal whenever the signal changes or at pre-configured intervals. Each transmission message includes error-checking to confirm the validity of the message. It may be configured to repeat the transmission several times to ensure that the transmission is received correctly. The input signal is then output as an identical signal (logic or analog) or digitally via a serial data link either (RS232 or RS485).

The power consumption is low, as it conserves power by reverting to 'sleep' mode between transmissions. The 505U can be powered from an external 12 V d.c. supply, or it may be fitted with internal AA batteries. An external battery pack consisting of 3 x D cells will last for 4-5 years if only the digital inputs are used. If a battery pack of 6 D-cells is used and the analog channel (for example: tank level, temperature, %RH, pH etc) is sampled every 15 minutes the batteries will last for between 2 and 3 years. The unit provides an internal alarm on low battery voltage - this alarm may be transmitted by radio. As no external power supply is needed, construction of enclosures and solar panels are unnecessary. The system is also very small and is therefore not obtrusive.

The Elpro 505U is easy to install as it comes with Windows-based configuration software that enables the user/engineer to set it up or make changes as needed. The 505U has two digital inputs as well as an analog input that can transmit 0-20 mA signals. An analog setpoint can be configured for the unit and it will transmit to a register at another location once the setpoint has been exceeded. The device has a range of up to 10 km and can be integrated into any existing Elpro system. The 505 can talk directly to the Elpro WIB (Wireless Instrumentation Backbone) which can interface directly to a wide range of devices like PLCs, scada, Profibus, Ethernet, IP, DF1, Modbus master/slave and Devicenet.

For more information contact Willem Krige, UniTemp, 021 762 8995, [email protected]

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Data Acquisition & Telemetry

Unobtrusive radio telemetry unit

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