The ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter – Model 3306-00 is a powerful and flexible addition to HSE’s ALERT/IFLOWS family of products designed with the field technician in mind. The ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter is housed in a 17.8 cm (7 inch) diameter aluminum canister for use in ALERT/IFLOWS standpipe applications. Sensor connections to ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitters are made via MS connectors.
The ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter’s standard configuration accepts up to 6 Analog inputs (plus internal battery), up to 2 shaft encoders, up to 2 precipitation, SDI-12, wind speed, wind direction, vector wind, peak gust, and road ice. Note: The ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter – Model 3306-02 supports the ALERT2 Protocol.
The ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter’s basic programming mode allows you to configure the unit simply by using rotary switches. Four switches are used to set the ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter’s Station ID number and a fifth is used to select from factory-defined or user-defined preset sensor configurations for different station types. This allows for very quick set-up of the ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter without the need for a laptop computer in the field.
Alternately, you can use the ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter’s Insight Software (a graphical user interface; GUI) for fast, easy set-up from either a desktop or laptop computer in the field. You can program the following parameters independently into the ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter for each sensor to be logged: Sensor name, sensor type, ALERT/IFLOWS ID number, adder(offset) and multiplier, sample interval, reporting (transmission) interval, logging interval, hold off time, and log on transmission. Other sensor specific parameters can be programmed into the ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter for each sensor depending on the type of sensor. Each ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter enabled sensor can be programmed to transmit on a user Timed-defined basis and/or on a user-defined amount of change, also known as Event Mode. Each ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter enabled sensor can also log data on a user-defined time interval and can also be set to log data on Transmission.
The ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter communicates via ALERT/IFLOWS and SDI-12 Version 1.3 formats. While the ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter is supplied with a VHF or UHF data radio for ALERT/IFLOWS data transmission, other communication devices such as GPRS radio or CDMA (cellular) can utilize the serial port. The ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter reports/transmits based on the reporting interval set for each sensor. There is a minimum 20 second standard hold off time after an initial radio transmission by the ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter before a second radio transmission will occur. The ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter’s hold off time may be increased. In addition to the standard hold off the ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter features a low battery hold off that disables radio transmissions when the battery drops below 10.5 V. The ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter will continue data logging even if transmissions stop due to low battery as long as the battery has power to power the transmitter. An override feature allows the ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter to report if the override value has been exceeded even if a transmission is not scheduled. The ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter can also act as an ALERT/IFLOWS repeater. If the ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter’s repeater mode is used the extra power consumption required for the receiver must be taken into account with your system design.ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter data is logged on a Secured Data (SD) memory card and can be retrieved via the USB or serial port. The ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter’s SD memory card can also be removed for later downloading and replaced with a spare card. The ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter is supplied with a 16 Gigabyte SD card. Sensor data is stored by the ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter in files with one file per sensor, however each file holds one month’s worth of data. The file size will depend on how often the ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter has been programmed to record data for that sensor. As an example, a system with five sensors each recording in one minute intervals would not fill up the 16 GB SD card for 746 years.
The ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter internal firmware is upgradable in the field. When new firmware versions are released for the ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter, they will be posted on our FTP site for clients to download. The ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter firmware versions are downloadable via the USB cable. The ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter firmware download process will take just a few seconds.
Additional ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter features include fuse protection on solar input, battery and 12V switched to avoid damage to the unit through shorting (these fuses automatically reset when they cool off). Reversing the ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter’s battery terminals will cause no damage. The ALERT/IFLOWS Data Transmitter offers a dedicated USB port for programming, data retrieval, and uploading of new firmware versions.
