Data Logging

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Data Logging Products

• Magpie introduction
• Data logger Prologger
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• Magpie 2 upgrade
• Sensor Field Station
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Sensor Field Station

If you need 17 analog measurement channels, Murphy's Law states that your data logger will only have 16. And sometimes you will need more channels than any known data logger can handle, maybe 256 or more? Or perhaps you need differential inputs or more signal resolution or a mix of voltage, current, resistance, counter and state channels. What to do?

The MEA2043 Sensor Field Station lets you connect all sorts of sensor combinations, in blocks of eight sensors, to your data logger or SDI-12 radio link, via a daisy-chained, SDI-12, 3-wire cable, within a radius of up to 30m from the data logger. Typically, up to thirty-two (32) field stations can be connected to a simple data logger, provided the data logger is capable of logging and storing the values.

Installing new sensors onto a MEA2043 Sensor Field Station for the first time is dead easy, as is exchanging faulty sensors. The MEA2043 includes integral measurement of the local sensor supply voltage and current. It also has electronic over-current protection that automatically shuts off the sensor power when it exceeds a safe level. This helps protect sensors and maintain bus integrity in case of a fault. The sensor warm up period is programmable to suit various sensor types, or the power can be switched on permanently.
� Simple and quick connection of sensors, with two SDI-12 ports to make daisy chaining easy.
� Connect up to 8 x 12-bit differential-input voltage, current-loop, AC and DC resistance, counter, frequency or contact closure sensors in any combination
� Internal maths engine calculates real values for almost any sensor type
� Factory or field programmable.
� Switching and monitoring of sensor power
� ESD protected with lightning protection of SDI-12 ports
� Rich configuration options stored in field station's memory
� SDI-12 V1.3 compliant
� Very low power consumption in stand-by mode

Measurements are converted into real values inside the MEA2043, using selectable algorithms, including 5th-order polynomials, the Steinhart-Hart Equation for thermistors, square root, natural logarithmic and exponential functions. The MEA2043 includes an internal list of sensor definitions, and can be configured in a matter of minutes. The software sensor configuration and all measurement parameters are programmable over the SDI-12 bus.

For field applications, the MEA2043 is supplied by MEA on an 'ag-bar' post in a 'clam-shell' galvanised-steel hinged frame connected to a lightning protection stake.