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Summary of Contents for SOMMER SPA
- Page 1 Snow Pack Analyzer Document version: 2012-Jan Software version: 3.33 User Manual ommer easurement System echnology. All rights reserved.
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser Contents GENERAL INFORMATION............................1 1.1..........................1 RINCIPLE OF MEASUREMENT 1.2..........................2 EASUREMENT PARAMETERS HARDWARE................................3 2.1. SPA- ..............................3 SENSORS 2.2. ) ..................... 3 ORRECTION LENGTH SENSOR POTENTIOMETER 2.3............................3 NOW DEPTH SENSOR 2.4. - Page 3 User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser Safety Information Please read this entire manual before setting up or operating this equipment. The non-compliance of this manual could result in damage to the equipment. Also in the case of non-compliance injuries of individuals cannot be excluded totally.
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Page 4: General Information
Measuring the complex impedance along a flat ribbon sensor (SPA-sensor) with at least two frequencies allows to estimate the volume contents of the individual components. These specific volume contents equate the liquid water, ice and air in the snow pack, which result in the snow density and the snow water equivalent. -
Page 5: Measurement Parameters
User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser 1.2. Measurement parameters Snow density The SPA calculates the snow density of the snow surrounding the SPA-sensor. Snow water equivalent SWE The SWE corresponds to the water column in mm resulting from the melting of the complete snow cover on a defined area. -
Page 6: Hardware
2.1. SPA-sensors The SPA-sensor is a 6 cm wide flat ribbon sensor including three copper wires. The length varies between 3 and 10 m. Its ends are terminated by boxes including mounting rings. The connection cable is led out of one box. -
Page 7: Framework
It includes the basement framework, a mast for the installation of the sloping sensor, the snow depth sensor and the housing and suspension equipment for the SPA sensors consisting of springs, levers and stretching devices. -
Page 8: Installation
After the installation of the basement the mast is installed on the inner cross-beam. The mast holds the snow depth sensor, the rolls for the sloping SPA-sensor and the housing for the measurement and communication devices. It is recommended to install the snow depth sensor before erecting the mast. The mast is supported with two steel wires to be spanned to the near edges of the basement. -
Page 9: Sloping Spa-Sensor
User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser 3.4. Sloping SPA-sensor At the skew SPA the bend of the sensor which is also with strong tension not preventable at snow cover has to be considered. Without snow cover the sensor has, caused by the tension, a straight course. - Page 10 User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser Fig. 8: Upper end of the sloping sensor with the upper part of the tensioner; consider that the potentiometer is not included at every SPA Attention: The inner and outer roll rotate at a length displacement with different extent.
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Page 11: Correction Length Sensor
Fig. 10: Suspension at top of the spring with the pulley sytem (overview and detail) The installation height of the sloping SPA-sensor should be higher than the maximum expected snow depth. On the mast are three predrilled positions at heights of about 1.5, 2 and 2.5 m. Depending on the selected height the L-shaped cross-beam is installed at the predefined positions at the far end of the framework. -
Page 12: Horizontal Spa-Sensors
User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser 3.6. Horizontal SPA-sensors Fig. 11: Spring connection for horizontal sensor Fig. 12: Far end of framework Fig. 13: Same as Fig. 11 but from the other side - 9 -... -
Page 13: Housing
5 forks to ensure an upright and stable position. 3.7. Housing Mount the housing on the mast and connect the cables of the SPA-sensors, the snow depth sensor and the correction length sensor at the marked inputs. 3.8. Power supply The supply voltage of the complete system is 10,5 to 15 VDC. -
Page 14: Parameterization
User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser 4. Parameterization 4.1. Connection establishment via terminal 4.1.1. Local communication The parameterization of the IASP can be performed by directly connecting the serial interface with a PC or laptop. Any communication program can be used. -
Page 15: Main Menu
User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser 4.2. Main Menu The main menu is opened by quickly entering three question marks in the terminal program. Fig. 1: Main menu The menu items are accessed by entering the menu key display left of the menu item. Either sub menus are opened or the specific parameter is displayed with the corresponding unit. -
Page 16: Necessary Parameter Adjustments After Assembly
Fig. 16: SPA without potentiometer Fig. 15: SPA with potentiometer A sloping SPA-sensor is installed with a spring to ensure a tight spanning and to prevent the sensor from damages due to compression of the snow pack. This non static installation may cause changes in the sensor position, that can be corrected by measuring the extension length of the sensor suspension. -
Page 17: Geometric Parameters
The correct calculation of the snow parameters demands the geometric situation of all included sensors. Especially for the sloping SPA-sensor these settings are used to determine the length of the sensor in the snow and to correct a smooth inclination of the measurement site. -
Page 18: Actual Snow Depth
User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser Adjustment The following geometric parameters are necessary: • Sensor length: Length of the sensor from one box to the other. • Roll height: Plumb line height of the top of the roll and the ground •... - Page 19 Attention: Approximately the first 7 minutes after connecting the SPA to the power supply the measured values are not reliable if the SPA was disconnected for more than a moment. During this startup time invalid measurements are indicated with a value of 9999 pF for the measured low frequency capacity and 0000 pF for the measured high frequency capacity.
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Page 20: Description Of The Parameters
User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser 6. Description of the parameters 1 Device identifier The device identifier is included in the output protocol to identify the data values. The first output string is assigned with the device identifier. For every following string the device identifier is increased by 1 (see chapter 7). - Page 21 User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser Values: • After meas (default) push operation of data output after every measurement the data is output • Per ‘!’ over RS232 = 2 pull operation of data output use the '!' for data...
- Page 22 User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser 3 Sync-Out hold-back time The holdback-time defines the time span between the Sync-Out signal (blank or RTS) and the transmission of the output string. Unit: [1/10 s] Value range: 3 to 20 (default: 10) 4 Send delay The sending delay defines the time span between the strings of the protocol.
- Page 23 User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser 2 Parity The parity of the RS-232 interface is set. • none (default) • even • 3 Data bits The number of data bits for the RS-232 interface is set. • 7 Data bits •...
- Page 24 User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser 6 Analog input In this menu the measurement values (offsets) of the snow depth and the analog inputs can be adjusted. Measurements can be performed and the measurement values are displayed. Fig. 5: Submenu: Analog input...
- Page 25 Fig. 6: Submenu: SPA parameter defaults 1 Snow depth excess The snow depth excess defines a layer of snow. SPA calculation for any SPA-sensors is only performed, if the measured snow depth exceeds the foot height of the SPA-sensor by this value.
- Page 26 User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser 3 Snow temp. meas. The parameter defines, if the snow temperature is measured and which input is the snow temperature. • None (default) • Input 1 • Input 2 • Input 3 • Input 4 •...
- Page 27 [mm] Value range: 0 to 10000 (default: 4850) 4 Sensor brace length This length is the distance from the upper roll of a sloping SPA-sensor to the junction of sensor and upper box. Unit: [mm] Value range: 0 to 10000...
- Page 28 (default: 1) 7 C offset lower frequency The offset value of the SPA sensor. Use this parameter to make a fine adjustment if your system retrieves e.g. a snow water equivalent unlike zero although the sensor is not covered by snow.
- Page 29 User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser I Info The software version, the serial number of the device and all settings and measurement parameters are listed block wise. To proceed any key has to be pressed. W Default The complete parameters are set to the default values. All changes are lost.
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Page 30: Data Output
The light green [ ] shaded strings are only output if the sensors are activated (not reasonable at the SPA system) in the menu SPA parameter Active sensors. The light orange [ ] shaded string is only output if in the menu SPA parameter Protocol output set. sensor 1 … slope sensor sensor 2 …... - Page 31 Snow depth Length corr. (Analog 1) Chip temperature ° C Capacitance Phase ° Tab. 4: Units and decimal places; consider that at the SPA the values Snow depth and Length corr. do not represent reasonable values - 28 -...
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Page 32: Mio Protocol
User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser 7.2. MIO Protocol MIO transfer consists of multiple ASCII strings containing four data values. A single string starts with the start ID „I“ followed by the string ID and system number. The four data values are 4 digits long without a decimal separator. - Page 33 User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser The second string represents the "SPA sensor: Peripheral results": Digits (decimal separator not output) cathegory 1 2 2 4 1meaning start ID string ID placeholder no meaning snow depth 8000 mm (max. value of range)
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Page 34: Standard Protocol
User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser 7.3. Standard protocol The standard protocol is the same as the MIO protocol but with following differences: All the values within a string are separated with a blank There is no start ID There is no placeholder... -
Page 35: Support
User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser 8. Support If you need support with the SPA please send us the software version you can see in the main menu. Please depict also the actual adjustments you can display with pressing the slash key in the main menu. -
Page 36: Base Settings And Default Values
User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser 9. Base settings and default values Menu Parameter description Default value 1. Device identifier 1. Device identifier 2. Meas. interval 2. Meas. interval 3. Output time 3. Output time After meas 4. RS232 output 4.1 Protocol type... - Page 37 User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser A.3 Sensor length 4850 mm A.4 Sensor brace length 0 mm A.5 Ground length 0 mm A.6 Input length corr. A.7 C offset lower frequency 0 exp-13 F A.8 C offset higher frequency 0 exp-13 F B.
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Page 38: Technical Data
Power supply Supply voltage: 10,5 to 15 VDC Reverse voltage protection Overvoltage protection Energy consumption Active: 50 mA at 5 s measurement time per SPA sensor Sleep: < 2 mA Measurement range SWE: 0..9999 mm water column Snow density: 0..999 kg/m³... - Page 39 User Manual SPA Snow Pack Analyser SPA Sensor Coating Material: Ultraviolet resistant Kevlar strengthened Conductors 3 copper wires Connection Cable Length: 4000 mm Connector: Watertight sealed Dimension Width: 60 mm Length: 4850 mm 5000 mm (standard) SPA Framework Material Steel...
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