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Sentek PLUS Hardware Manual

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Summary of Contents for Sentek PLUS

  • Page 1 Sentek PLUS...
  • Page 2 , EasyAG , TriSCAN and IrriMAX are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sentek Pty Ltd that may be registered in one or more jurisdictions. Scotchlok® is a registered trademark of 3M. Sentek Pty Ltd A.C.N. 007 916 672 77 Magill Road...

  • Page 3: Emc Approvals

     Consultation with the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician. EMC approvals The Sentek PLUS system complies with “EN61326:1997 Amdt 1:1998 Amdt 2:2001 Amdt 3:2003 EMC standard for equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use”. The equipment complies with the following specifications: FCC Part 15 Class B.

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    Sentek PLUS - Statements of Compliance ............ii FCC note of compliance and statement of liability ..............ii EMC approvals ........................ii Marking ..........................ii Modifications ........................ii Radio Interference ........................ ii Sentek PLUS Introduction ................... 1 Background ..........................1 Features ...........................
  • Page 5 Figure 3 Sentek PLUS front panel layout ................4 Figure 4 Sentek PLUS DTU housing .................. 8 Figure 5 Rear of Sentek PLUS Front panel showing charger and Modem layout ..... 9 Figure 6 Modem power cable connections ................. 9 Figure 7 EnviroSCAN sensor addressing .................
  • Page 6 Figure 39 EasyAG Series II RS232 probe interface board layout ........41 Figure 40 Solar Charger board layout ................42 Figure 41 Sentek EnviroSCAN PLUS interface wiring ............. 45 Figure 42 Sentek EasyAG PLUS interface wiring ............46 Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved...
  • Page 8 Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page vii...

  • Page 9: Sentek Plus Introduction

    In addition to this, Sentek PLUS also has the ability to continuously track fertilizer / salinity data through the use of TriSCAN sensors. Sentek PLUS can utilise GPRS or NextG communications to send soil water and fertilizer / salinity data from the probe to the users PC via the internet.

  • Page 10: Cdma Support

    As an alternative to downloading using the Internet, it is also possible to download by directly connecting your computer to the front panel connector on the Sentek PLUS Data Transmission Unit (DTU). This is typically done with a portable computer. For further Information on how to do this please refer to the Data Exchange manual.

  • Page 11: Figure 2 Completed System Block Diagram

    Sentek PLUS Introduction Hardware Requirement Lists For Sentek PLUS Figure 2 Completed system block diagram Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page 3...

  • Page 12: Referenced Documents

    Referenced Documents  EasyAG Installation Guide  Access Tube Installation Guide  IrriMAX 7.1 Data Exchange User Guide – Sentek PLUS Module  Probe Configuration Utility Version 1.7.2 or later Manual  Sentek Technical Brief - TB064-ESPlus NextG Fails Network Selection ...

  • Page 13: System Setup

    Buying a SIM card and data packet plan for modem Each Sentek PLUS system will require a SIM card for the modem. This SIM card must have a data plan associated with it and must have reasonable coverage in the area where the probe will be installed. This data plan is similar to what is needed for accessing the internet on your mobile (cell) phone.

  • Page 14: Hosting Set-Up And Recommendations

    IrriMAX Data Exchange to log on and download from the server whilst a probe is uploading. Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page 6...
  • Page 15 IP address of 72.9.224.170, but this has now changed. Provided that it is static (i.e. permanently assigned to that server), it is possible to configure a Sentek PLUS system to upload to an IP address. However, this can be difficult to remember and is prone to error. When choosing a server you should also ask the host company about registering a domain name for that server.

  • Page 16: Sentek Plus Dtu

    Numerous web hosting providers are available that offer packages that are suitable for use with Sentek PLUS. Due to the nature of the internet it is not essential that the hosting company be based in your home country. Many US based companies offer very competitive deals.

  • Page 17: Figure 5 Rear Of Sentek Plus Front Panel Showing Charger And Modem Layout

    System Setup Sentek PLUS Probes Figure 5 Rear of Sentek PLUS Front panel showing charger and Modem layout Figure 6 Modem power cable connections Note: When using the DTU battery to supply power to the modem, the Wire Link should be firmly secured in place so that +IN and +VB are joined together.

  • Page 18: Sentek Plus Probes

    Sentek PLUS probes are configured using the Sentek software Probe Configuration Utility (PConfig) version 1.7.2 or later. The most recent version of PConfig is always available for download on the Sentek website. This hardware manual should be used in conjunction with the PConfig Help file.

  • Page 19: Figure 8 Easyag Plus Interface And Wiring Diagram

    Purple Green Yellow Figure 8 EasyAG PLUS interface and wiring diagram a) Slide the probe into the access tube. b) Insert the probe cable through the cable gland into the access tube, ensuring cable is looped around ferrite bead as near to cable gland as practical (see Figure 2). Tighten the cable gland on the cap with a spanner.

  • Page 20: Figure 10 Probe Sitting Correctly In Tube With Connector In Place

    Screw each wire of the internal cable into the interface connector according to the diagram in Figure Figure 12 Flat Cap interface wiring d) Fold a silica gel bag and fasten it to the probe rod, just above the interface Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page 12...

  • Page 21: Figure 13 Silica Gel Bag Placement

    Plug the other end of the internal cable into the Flat Cap and attach the Cap to the probe Hint: To completely test the Sentek PLUS EnviroSCAN Flat Cap probe, the TTL connector on the probe interface must be accessible. Therefore; the Flat Cap can be left out of the tube until final testing is complete.

  • Page 22: Figure 16 Inserting Cable Through Gland Nut

    Warning: Failure to keep the flat edges together will cause the connector not to attach properly to the DTU cable connector and may lead to moisture damage of the connector, probe and/or DTU. Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page 14...

  • Page 23: Cable Probe To Dtu

    These Steps are relevant for all three probes types (EasyAG, EnviroSCAN Screw Cap and Flat Cap) 1. Run the cable back to the Sentek PLUS DTU, ensuring that it is protected from potential machinery or vermin damage and connect it to the DTU cable connector.

  • Page 24: Probe Configuration

    Probe Configuration Utility manual. Connecting to probe The Sentek PLUS probe can be configured using either the DTU Front Panel connection or the probe interface TTL port. However, there are some limitations in using the Front Panel connection, such as; not being able to use any features that utilise the modem.

  • Page 25: Figure 23 Auto-Detected Sensors

    Water reading for both moisture and VIC when normalizing TriSCAN sensors. Important: VIC water counts must be taken in reverse osmosis (RO) water (EC less than 300μScm-1). Always normalise sensors under the same conditions to ensure maximum repeatability. Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page 17...

  • Page 26: Figure 25 Air Counts And Then Water Counts

    8:00am, then 9am, 10am etc. 4. Set the Sample Count. For a Sentek PLUS probe, this is the number of samples taken before an upload is initiated. A value of zero disables the upload process. For information on minimizing data costs, see the section Buying a SIM card and data packet plan for modem.

  • Page 27: Figure 27 Edit Screen

    9. Set the Baud Rate and Parity to match the modem port communication settings. GPRS and NextG Modems supplied by Sentek are preconfigured to the default of 9600 baud and no parity, the probe settings must match this for them to communicate with each other.

  • Page 28: Figure 28 Completed Logger Page

    1. Ensure that you are using the latest available Network settings for the modem that is on the DTU. Note: Latest Network settings are available on the official Sentek web site underneath the PLUS product category in the Downloads section. Distributors will be notified whenever there is a change made to the recommended settings and are encouraged to keep copies of each settings file on their field computer.

  • Page 29: Modem Configuration

    The steps below include instructions on how to configure the modem for your chosen service provider. To ensure smooth operation, these steps should be followed during every Sentek Plus set up; Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved...

  • Page 30: Testing

    3. Set the correct frequency band for the service provider. By default, Sentek supplied ETM modems are set to auto select, and should not need to be changed. The Fastrack modem is set with the command “AT+WMBS=n” (where n = the band select value). For all possibilities of “n”, see section Appendix A –...

  • Page 31: Viewing Data

    This is done using the IrriMAX utility program Data Exchange (DEX). The data can be downloaded directly into “.csv”, “.txt” or “.xls” format for viewing with a text editor or within Microsoft Excel. However Sentek recommends that for maximum benefits to be achieved from the data, Sentek’s IrriMAX software should be used for viewing data.

  • Page 32: Viewing

    For further information on how to create, manipulate and save graphs, refer to distributor training notes and the IrriMAX Help documentation. Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page 24...

  • Page 33: Maintenance

    Exposed cable should be protected by some form of conduit. The Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) battery supplied with the Sentek PLUS has a typical life expectancy of 1 to 3 years. The life of the battery is affected by number of discharges, depth of discharges and operating temperature.
  • Page 34 Probe Cable Connector Once the gland nuts have been loosened they might not seal as well as they originally did. Therefore Sentek strongly recommends covering them in silicon or a similar product to help prevent moisture intrusion. Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved...

  • Page 35: Firmware And Board Type

    Sentek PLUS requires a Sentek RS232 logging interface with Sentek PLUS/MULTI firmware installed on it. Some variations of Sentek interfaces (boards) are very similar in appearance, but it is important to use the correct interface board for the application. Only RS232 logging interfaces can be used in Sentek PLUS systems.

  • Page 36: Figure 36 Checking Probe Type And Firmware Versions

    Firmware and board type Firmware The current version of firmware will always be available on the Sentek web site; in the download section. For instructions on how to update the probe firmware, please read the Readme file included in the firmware download, as this contains full instructions.

  • Page 37: Appendix A - Modem Information

    Alternatively, the Sentek PLUS interface may be set up to with the PIN in the Initialization string. This is the same as having to enter a PIN into a mobile phone when it is turned on, and gives some added security.
  • Page 38 1 - GSM 900 e.g. AT^SCFG=“Radio/Band”,127 Also see section Extra Frequency Band information * AT+WMBS? Used to query the band on which the modem will operate. See set command below. Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page 30...

  • Page 39: Extra Frequency Band Information

    GSM 900, GSM 1800, WCDMA 2100 or WCDMA 850. This would only be necessary if using a service provider other than Telstra. Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page 31...

  • Page 40: Older Sentek Plus Systems

    Information sourced from worldtimezone.com, viewed at 26 July 2011, <http://www.worldtimezone.com/gsm.html> Sentek PLUS systems previously running firmware versions 1.1.4 or earlier will require additional modem configuration to use firmware version 1.2.3 or later. Information in this section relates only to the GPRS Fastrack modems.

  • Page 41: Appendix B - Network Page Explained

    For correct settings, contact your network provider. The Command strings are used to control the modem during each stage of the Sentek PLUS system upload process. Sentek provides configuration files on the Sentek website to restore the network strings for modems sold by Sentek.

  • Page 42: Appendix C - Upload Operation Diagram

    FTP server, then the sample will be missed causing a gap in the data. If it is prior to the PowerDown state then the sample may delay the disconnect. Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page 34...

  • Page 43: Appendix D - Estimated Battery Life With No Solar Panel

    Calculating the Battery Life Due to the extremely low power requirements of a Sentek PLUS system it is possible to run the system for extended periods without a solar panel. The following formulas are intended to aid in estimating the operating time between recharges of a standard Sentek supplied battery when used with a Sentek PLUS system and no solar panel.
  • Page 44 Recharge Cycle (Days) 0.7 x Life Of Battery Note that the rating of the Sealed Lead Acid Battery provided by Sentek is 7 Amp hours, which converted to milliamp-seconds is (7x60x60x1000) = 25,200,000 mA.s Active Dial-in sessions - the time spent connected to the probe with the Probe Configuration Utility using the dial-in capability - are not likely to significantly affect power consumption.

  • Page 45: Appendix E - Pconfig Response Fields

    Clock needs to be reset (modify or re-sync with PC and write to probe) Connection Failure Modem not responding to commands, or could not connect to internet (see note below) Server Error Problem communicating with FTP server Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page 37...

  • Page 46: Upload Log

    The log information should be displayed in the Modem Response field. Copy all text in this field into a text editor program (i.e. Notepad). Save the information. This manual does not attempt to explain how to interpret the \showdetails information. Sentek Distributors can send a copy of the response to Sentek for interpretation and troubleshooting help.

  • Page 47: Appendix F - Technical Specifications

    +Vout(T) Ground TX – RS232 Data RX– RS232 Data Request to send (RTS acts as DTR in the Plus systems) Clear to Send (CTS) Voltage Supply (RS232 +Vin): 4 – 15 Volts (12 V DC @ >200mA recommended) Fuse specifications:...

  • Page 48: Easyag Series Ii Rs232 Interface

    +Vout(T) Ground TX – RS232 Data RX– RS232 Data Request to send (RTS acts as DTR in the Plus systems) Clear to Send (CTS) Voltage Supply (RS232 +Vin): 4 – 15 Volts RS232 Interface baud rate: 1200, 2400, 9600 (default), 19200 and...

  • Page 49: Figure 39 Easyag Series Ii Rs232 Probe Interface Board Layout

    Time to sample 1 sensor: 45 milliseconds maximum (Moisture only) 90 milliseconds maximum (TriSCAN) Maximum sensors supported: 8 Moisture Sensors 8 TriSCAN Sensors Figure 39 EasyAG Series II RS232 probe interface board layout Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page 41...

  • Page 50: Solar Charger Board

    X5 Modem signals: X6 Switch output power (to Modem): Fuse specifications: Solar Panel 1A fast blow Battery 2.5A slow blow Modem 2.5A fast blow Figure 40 Solar Charger board layout Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page 42...

  • Page 51: Appendix G - Glossary Of Terms

    Telstra Australia implementation of 3G Personal Identification Number SIM Card Subscriber Identity Module, required for GSM/GPRS/NextG Access Storage Capacity Available space on server to store data files Universal Resource Locator Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page 43...

  • Page 53: Appendix H - Sentek Plus Quick Reference Guide

    Product Set-up Checklist This appendix is designed to be a short guide for installers of Sentek PLUS. It can be printed and carried into the field and act as a reminder for the basic steps needed to install and troubleshoot a complete Sentek PLUS system.

  • Page 54: Figure 42 Sentek Easyag Plus Interface Wiring

    Appendix H - Sentek Plus Quick Reference Guide Product Set-up Checklist Probe Cable Orange Brown Black Blue Purple Green Yellow Figure 42 Sentek EasyAG PLUS interface wiring 3. Insert the probes into the access tubes. 4. Flat Cap probes only: Install the 7-pin quick connector on the Flat Cap cable and plug it into the DTU cable.

  • Page 55: Troubleshooting Guide

    Note: The USB port supplied voltage cannot be used to power the interface Poor probe cable wiring at DTU or Use Plus manual to check Probe (specifically power and ground Re-terminate all connections wiring configuration wires) Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page 47...
  • Page 56 Open Session Measure probe supply voltage Replace battery or probe cable if low (Pin1 - red wire) Low voltage Check Voltage in PConfig Replace interface if voltage reading is wrong Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page 48...
  • Page 57 Invalid sensor data (0 raw counts), Remove interface screws and Re-install interface on probe (refer to EnviroSCAN Interface pins not all in socket but voltage readings ok check seating of interface probe assembly guide) Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page 49...

  • Page 58: Recommended Maintenance Schedules

     Check cable for damage to outer sheath and wires  Check antenna is secured tightly  Ensure all cables are neat  Clean SIM contacts 3 years  Replace 12V battery Copyright © 2005-2012 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved Page 50...

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