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NexSens Technology XB-200 Data Buoy User Manual

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XB-200 Data Buoy
User Guide
Last Revision: 27 December 2024
Date Generated: 10 January 2025
Copyright © 2025 NexSens Technology, Inc.

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Summary of Contents for NexSens Technology XB-200 Data Buoy

  • Page 1 XB-200 Data Buoy User Guide Last Revision: 27 December 2024 Date Generated: 10 January 2025 Copyright © 2025 NexSens Technology, Inc.
  • Page 2 Table of Contents 1. General XB-200 Data Buoy Overview Key Components Key Specifications CB-Series Data Buoy Planning & Precautions Buoy sizing and power budget Buoy ballast Buoy mooring Electrical connections Safe deployment 2. Buoy Setup XB-200 Buoy Assembly Instrument Cage Installation Solar Tower Installation Ballast Weight &...
  • Page 3 Single-Point Mooring Buoy Deployments Two-Point and Three-Point Mooring Buoy Deployments Planning a Medium-Deep Water Mooring for Small Data Buoys Medium-Deep Water Deployment Considerations Mooring Hardware Materials Deployment 4. Warranty 5. Service Request Service Request...
  • Page 4 1. General XB-200 Data Buoy Overview The XB-200 data buoy is ideal for applications requiring portability and quick deployment, yet strong enough for rough water. The platform is suited for limnology research, dredge turbidity monitoring, temperature or dissolved oxygen profiling, fisheries and aquaculture monitoring, harmful algal bloom detection, and oil spill response.
  • Page 5 Figure 2: Pass-through ports on XB-200. Figure 3: Instrument cage on XB-200. Data Well Two separate compartments in the data well can house batteries, measurement electronics, or telemetric equipment. The well height is 20.5″ (52.1 cm), with a 9.7″ (23.6 cm) diameter above the battery compartment.
  • Page 6 The solar tower is also made of LLDPE and contains an array of (3) 15-watt solar panels wired in parallel to provide 45 watts of solar charging. Each solar panel is user-replaceable and contains a 2-pin connector that plugs into the middle solar hub on top of the buoy data well. A top plate made of Starboard marine plastic provides a mounting location for top-side sensors and a NexSens X3 Environmental Data Logger.
  • Page 7 CB-Series Data Buoy Planning & Precautions Buoy deployments are usually complex operations that involve many elements including sensors, data loggers, mounting hardware, and mooring equipment. Careful planning and precautions are essential to the success of a buoy project, not only for system operation and data collection but also to ensure the safety of project personnel and minimize the risk of damage to expensive system components.
  • Page 8 avoid short-circuiting of battery poles to the metal walls of the data well. Gloves and tools with rubber grips are recommended, and any exposed connections should always be covered with electrical tape or other suitable coverings. Safe deployment Above all else, safety is the most critical consideration to take during the planning and precautions of a buoy deployment.
  • Page 9 XB-200 Buoy Assembly The NexSens buoy instrument cage attaches to the bottom of the XB-200 data buoy for water sensor deployments, simultaneously lowering the center of gravity and increasing stability. The cage is a critical component of a data buoy’s...
  • Page 10 Figure 2: Cage installation. Figure 3: Bolt installation. Solar Tower Installation Use a 1/2” socket or wrench and the (6) included hex head cap bolts, lock washers, and flat washers to install the solar tower. It is recommended to apply an anti-seize compound to the bottom threads of each bolt before installation.
  • Page 11 Ballast Weight & Stability Additional ballast weight may be needed to prevent the overturning of an XB-200 buoy system and ensure its stability in the water. The buoy’s center of gravity is near the water surface without instruments connected. Any weight added above the water surface must be appropriately counterbalanced by adding ballast weight below the surface.
  • Page 12 M550 Beacon for CB-Series Data Buoys NexSens M550 Solar Marine Light is a common accessory added to NexSens data buoys up to and including the CB-450. Depending on the configuration, it has a 1-3 nautical mile range and is normally delivered with flange mount hardware, yellow color, and default 15 flash/minute pattern (Model: M550-F-Y).
  • Page 13 Operation The M550 is controlled using an IR programmer that is normally provided with the beacon. Figure 4: IR remote The IR programmer can be used to perform the following functions: Turn beacon on and off Check the battery pack charge status Change the flash pattern Change the flash intensity...
  • Page 14 Use of Sacrificial Anodes on CB-Series Data Buoys Sacrificial zinc anodes are recommended for use on CB-Series data buoys any time they will be used in saltwater environments. This helps to prevent corrosion on the stainless steel frame, as zinc is a more active metal that will be consumed while protecting the stainless steel. NexSens Sacrificial Anodes Anodes sourced from NexSens are sized specifically for installation onto buoy frames and instrument cages using a pair of screws provided with the anode.
  • Page 15 circumstances. It is therefore generally recommended only to order anodes with buoys intended for use in brackish or saltwater.
  • Page 16 CB-Series Data Buoy Instrument Mounts CB-Series data buoys support a wide range of topside and subsurface instruments with uniquely designed buoy instrument mounts. Mounting accessories are available for many of the most commonly-used sensors and instruments. Click on each accessory name for product information and instructions for use.
  • Page 17 918M-PO4 – 8″ diameter for use HydroCycle PO4 sensor on CB-1250 buoy Click for product information instructions for use. Miscellaneous Instrument Mounts – Mounting hardware for some commonly used sensors: Airmar SS510 Sonar Sensor Mount MC-600 Instrument Mooring Clamp Underwater PAR Sensor Mounting Arm YSI EXO Sonde Mooring Clamps Profiling Instrument Mounts –...
  • Page 18 3. Deployment CB-Series Data Buoy Ballast Weight & Stability Ballast weight may be needed to prevent overturning a CB-series buoy system and ensure stability in the water. The center of gravity of NexSens CB-Series buoys is near the water surface without instruments connected. Therefore, any top-side weight added above the water’s surface (e.g., sensors, sensor mounts) must be appropriately counterbalanced by ballast weight below the surface (e.g., instrument cage, chain, anchors, etc.).
  • Page 19 Top-Side Weight Top-side weight is any weight mounted on the buoy above the water surface or the buoy’s center of gravity. Weight located further from the buoy’s center of gravity will cause greater instability of the buoy. For example, suppose a weather sensor is mounted 36″ above the water surface (Figure 2).
  • Page 20 Ballast Weight Ballast weight is any weight mounted on the buoy below the water surface or the buoy’s center of gravity. Contrary to top-side weight, a ballast weight added further below the surface (Figure 4) will provide a more significant stabilizing effect than the same size weight mounted closer to the surface (Figure 5).
  • Page 21 Buoy Ballast Weights The table below indicates the minimum recommended buoy ballast weights for each CB-Series data buoy, assuming no additional topside weight and calm environmental conditions. Included instrument cages mounted to the buoy frame helps stabilize the buoy and provides a deeper location for mounting additional weight.
  • Page 22 Additionally, the weight associated with biofouling growth can impact the buoy buoyancy and mooring performance. Minimum recommended ballast weights for NexSens Technology data buoys can be reviewed at the link below. NexSens Technology Buoy Ballast Weights More information on buoy ballast can also be found at the link below.
  • Page 23 1. Catenary Moorings For shallow deployments with minimal wind, wave and current loading, most data buoys utilize catenary moorings. Shallow deployments can be designed with all chain or a combination of heavy bottom chain and light water column chain. Deeper water moorings may need to use a combination of chain and rope.
  • Page 24 Small-buoy catenary moorings Additional surface or subsurface floatation may be required for smaller buoyancy buoy applications where the floatation may not be adequate to support the mooring weight. Extra floatation can also free motion for wave measurement applications or offer additional resistance to horizontal loading.
  • Page 25 Horizontal Loading As wind, wave and current loads increase, the buoy is driven away from the anchor and mooring can be pulled taut resulting in the buoy listing to one side. Damage can result with topside equipment and solar panels becoming submerged. Additional surface or subsurface floatation may be required.
  • Page 26 2. Semi-taut two point moorings For calm, shallow water with limited horizontal loading, semi-taut two point moorings can be utilized. These moorings are useful for suspending sensor lines by pulling the mooring lines free and clear. Rough water, shifting bottom or horizontal loads can tangle two point moorings and lead to chafing and cable failure.
  • Page 27 3. Inverse-catenary (S-shape) moorings Inverse-catenary moorings are often referred to as S-shaped moorings. Floats and weights on the mooring lines create an S-shape, which provides spring action in the water column. Waves and water level changes are easily managed. This mooring type is most common on deep water deployments but has utility in shallow rough water applications.
  • Page 28 CB-Series Data Buoy Deployment Tips NexSens Technology supplies mooring hardware to support user-designed systems but does not endorse any particular mooring strategy for any specific application and does not take responsibility for mooring performance or damage resulting from mooring failure.
  • Page 29 Figure 2: Shackle connections between the Figure 3: Shackle connections between the buoy tether line and marker buoy. anchor, chain, and water column line. Bow shackles must be properly connected and secured to prevent loosening, especially in rough water conditions. To attach a mooring line, remove the pin from the shackle and run it through the thimble of the mooring line (left image below).
  • Page 30 Remember to perform a complete system test onshore before buoy deployments. Learning the system’s nuances is better handled onshore or in a lab rather than in the field. Figure 6: Safe deployment of a buoy system. Single-Point Mooring Buoy Deployments 1.
  • Page 31 Two-Point and Three-Point Mooring Buoy Deployments 1. Connect all mooring components inside the boat. Stage the components so that they can be lifted over the side of the boat and laid out without becoming entangled. 2. Navigate to the chosen location for the first anchor. The distance from the anchor location to the location of the data buoy is best determined by drawing out a diagram of the mooring system and calculating the horizontal distance, taking into account the lengths of the mooring lines and the current water level.
  • Page 32 Planning a Medium-Deep Water Mooring for Small Data Buoys Note: NexSens Technology supplies mooring hardware to support user-designed systems but does not endorse any particular mooring strategy for any specific application and does not take responsibility for mooring performance or damage resulting from mooring failure.
  • Page 33 Mooring Line Length and Drift Radius In order to determine the appropriate mooring line length, it is first necessary to have a fairly accurate water depth measurement at the deployment site and overview of the expected water level changes. In most applications, mooring line lengths should be ~50% greater than the median water depth to account for water level fluctuations.
  • Page 34 Figure 2: Depiction of horizontal loading Figure 3: Force diagram representing external resulting in buoy listing to one side. forces acting on buoys in natural environments. Chains for Controlled Movement vs. Ballast Weight One strategy to provide an adequate potential mooring line length but provide some limitation on the buoy’s free movement is to use a heavy bottom chain as a part of the mooring system.
  • Page 35 Figure 4: Mooring system overview with trawl float supporting bottom chain. System Maintenance A secondary consideration in calculation of mooring line length is serviceability of the instruments deployed. For practicality, it may be desirable to be able to access sensors mounted along the mooring line without having to lift the entire anchor system from its placement.
  • Page 36 Mooring Hardware Materials Mooring Lines A wide range of hardware options are available, and these can largely be selected based on site conditions, but there are a few critical points which should be considered. Sensors suspended below the buoy frame can optionally be mounted onto NexSens-issued stainless steel mooring lines.
  • Page 37 Figure 5: S-shaped mooring with weight applied to avoid mooring rope coming into contact with sensors. Mooring Connections To connect mooring components together, various shackle types may be used. Here, it is important to consider the materials of construction. The internal frame of CB-Series buoys is constructed of Type 316 stainless steel.
  • Page 38 Deployment Due to the size and total weight of medium-deep water moorings, it is strongly recommended to deploy using an appropriately-sized vessel equipped with a crane and winch for controlled lifting and release of the mooring system and buoy. The following describes the process for a typical deployment.
  • Page 39 Figure 8: Figure 7: Anchor being Anchor lowered into supported by water with off-load hook. crane. 3. After drawing the wire of the crane back to its original parked position, begin slowly paying out the mooring line using the winch. Before the anchor touches the seafloor, there is the possibility to make fine adjustments to the mooring location by carefully navigating the vessel, being sure to avoid tangling of the mooring line with the motor.
  • Page 40 connections and that the buoy and LED beacon are powered up. Then, carefully place the buoy in the water. This can either be done by lifting it and placing it with the crane and off- load hook as with the anchor, or by placing it into the water through a bow gate if the vessel is equipped with one.
  • Page 41 This warranty is not applicable to any NexSens Technology, Inc. product damage or failure caused by failure to install, operate or use the product in accordance with NexSens Technology, Inc. written instructions; abuse or misuse of the product; failure to maintain the product in accordance with NexSens Technology, Inc.
  • Page 42 5. Service Request Service Request To return equipment for evaluation and repair, request Return Authorization (RA) at the following link: NexSens Return Authorization An email authorization receipt with a reference number will be sent to print and include with your shipment. Products within the warranty period will be fixed at no charge.