Ocean Seven Model 316 CTD

OCEAN SEVEN 316 PROBE

(Successfully completed US EPA Technology Verification Test) Download a copy: 316 ETV Report.pdf

PROVIDED WITH: ASK TELEMETRY AND RS232C OUTPUTS EQUIPPED WITH BUILT-IN DATA LOGGER AND BATTERIES

The 16-bit multiparameter OCEAN SEVEN 316 PROBE is the result of fifteen years of experience in designing high-technology probes for scientific, research and monitoring applications. The long-term stability, combined with the high resolution and accuracy, makes this probe the ideal instrument for oceanographers and limnologists. The 316 Probe is available in two versions: 100 mm diameter and 75 mm diameter; the latter is particularly indicated for bore hole application.

The measurement sensors (see table for SENSOR SPECIFICATIONS) installed in the OCEAN SEVEN 316 Probe are exported all over the world. They are used by several other multiparameter probe manufacturers. All sensors have extremely low time constants: 50 milliseconds for physical parameters (CTD) and 3 seconds for chemical parameters (DO, pH). A high-precision resistor acts as a reference for the accuracy of the sensor electronic amplifiers. This resistor presents a thermal drift of only 1 pmm/deg. C and is temperature-compensated. There is no trim pot adjustment inside the probe.

The OCEAN SEVEN 316 is microprocessor-controlled and can measure, store and transmit sensor data according to various methods. The most significant ones are: real time data acquisition which implies acquisition and transmission of data to a personal computer; timed data acquisition which enables the user to automatically acquire and store sensor data at a configurable time interval (from 1 tenth of second to 24 hours). In the latter case, the probe can work unattended and data can be uploaded at the end of the measuring cycle. Enhancing of the internal battery endurance is obtained through an automatic power management procedure that switches OFF the probe between the data acquisitions. The internal battery package consists of ten batteries: 1.5 V, 1.8 A/h, AA cell which allow a continuous probe operation for about 20 hours. Rechargeable or lithium batteries can be used alternatively. The probe is equipped with an internal non volatile SRAM able to store up to a maximum of 32000 data sets, each data set being composed of measuring date and time and of the seven (7) standard sensors (see SENSORS SPECIFICATIONS). A wide spectrum of data processing functions is provided by the internal firmware: sliding average, polynomial and polynomial rational interpolation over the real time data.

Upon request, the OCEAN SEVEN 316 Probe can be modified to interface additional sensors/probes. Here below, we list the sensors, probes and measurement systems which have been already interfaced:

- GENERAL OCEANICS Mini and Intelligent Rosette Systems

- IDRONAUT Calcium, Copper and CO2 Sensors

- D & A INSTRUMENT COMPANY OBS-3B Sensor

- SEAPOINT Turbidity Meter

- WET Labs WETStart Miniature Fluorometer

- SEA TECH Fluorometer and Transmissometer

- CHELSEA Aquatracka Fluorometer

- BIOSPHERICAL INSTRUMENTS Log Quantum Scalar Irradiance Sensor QSP-200L

- NE SENSORTEC UCM60 Current Meter

The OCEAN SEVEN 316 Probe can be equipped with an external battery package (75 mm diameter, 385 mm length, 12 V, 10 or 15 A/h) which greatly extends the probe operation (150 bar).

The OCEAN SEVEN 316 Probe can be configured to be directly connected to a personal computer by means of: the RS232C serial interface or the telemetry interface (see the Telemetry system performance chart). The telemetry interface remedies the limitations of the RS232C serial interface (cable length and number of conductors). When using the FSK or ASK telemetry interface, the additional deck unit (PORTABLE DECK UNIT) is required to convert serial, RS232C type signals (coming from a PC communication port), into telemetry signals (and vice versa) which must flow superimposed on the probe power supply along the coaxial armored single conductor probe cable. The armored cable supports the probe mechanically.

The following chart resume the OCEAN SEVEN 316 Interfaces performances:

   Telemetry Type     Max cable length       Max transfer rate

        RS232C         100 meters              19200 bps
        ASK           1500 meters               9600 bps
        FSK           1500 meters              38400 bps
        FSK           3000 meters              19200 bps
        FSK           6000 meters               9600 bps
        FSK          10000 meters               4800 bps

The above performances are obtained by using the 6.4 mm diameter Rochester cable 1-H-255 which has an electrical resistance of 23 W/km and a capacity of 138 pF/m. 

The probe communication occurs by means of two male connectors installed in the probe top cover. A four pole connector is used for the RS232C interface, while, a two-pole connector is used for the telemetry interface and to power the probe. 

With a Personal Computer equipped with the P301LINK software, it is possible to manage all operating functions of the OCEAN SEVEN 316 Probe, thus, enabling the user, for instance, to configure a measuring cycle, upload stored data, save them into an ASCII file and, when necessary, to perform sensors calibration. 



The system is composed of: 

A) OCEAN SEVEN 316 PROBE PROVIDED WITH ASK AND RS232C OUTPUTS, EQUIPPED WITH BUILT-IN DATA LOGGER AND BATTERIES 

The unit contains:

- the sensors;

- the electronics for managing the sensors;

- the electronics to digitally transform the measurement signals;

- the memory unit;

- the serial port to communicate with the personal computer via ASK telemetry.

SENSORS:
The probe is equipped with the following standard sensors to measure:

PRESSURE
TEMPERATURE
CONDUCTIVITY
SALINITY
OXYGEN
pH
OXIDATION-REDUCTION POTENTIAL

Salinity is automatically calculated from conductivity, temperature and pressure values.

SENSOR SPECIFICATIONS:

Parameter        Range           Accuracy     Resolution    Time Constant
Pressure      0 - 1500 dbar*     0.2% F.S.     0.03 %         50 ms

Temperature   -3 .. +50 deg C    0.003 deg C   0.0005 deg C   50 ms

Conductivity   0..64 mS/cm       0.003 mS/cm   0.001 mS/cm    50 ms +

Oxygen         0..50  ppm        0.1 ppm       0.01 ppm        3 s ++
               0..500% sat.      1% sat.       0.1% sat.       3 s

pH             0..14 pH          0.01 pH       0.001 pH        3 s

Redox      -1000 to +1000 mV     1 mV          0.1  mV         3 s

+ at 1 m/second flow rate
++ in air
* other standard pressure transducers available have 20, 70 , 300 and 7000 dbar ranges.

Diameter of protection cage: 260 mm, titanium

Cable connectors: 2-pole connector (Brantner RMG-2-FS) for ASK telemetry output;
4-pole connector (Brantner RMG-4-FS) for RS232C output.

Power supply: 10..30V, 95 mA @ 12 V, 1.1 W power consumption

B) RS232C COMMUNICATION CABLE TO CONNECT THE 301 PROBE DIRECTLY WITH A PERSONAL COMPUTER

b.1) 8 mm POLYURETHANE FOUR-WIRE SHIELDED CABLE (Not armored) RS232C data transmission imitates this cable length to 50 meters.

b.2) CONNECTION KIT FOR RS232C CABLE Composed of a waterproof probe connector, a PC serial connector and a holding system for the probe.

C) TELEMETRY CABLE AND OPTIONAL WINCH

c.1) COAXIAL ARMORED CABLE A loading, 7 mm polyurethane coaxial armored cable. Breaking strength is 350 kg.

c.2) CONNECTION KIT FOR TELEMETRY CABLE Composed of a waterproof probe connector, a PORTABLE DECK UNIT connector and a holding system for the probe.

Please note: for cable of more than 25 m length, it is advisable to use the optional manual winch provided with slip-ring.

c.3) OPTIONAL MANUAL PORTABLE WINCH Provided with: handle, waterproof Probe connector, a PORTABLE DECK UNIT connector, quick connection system for the Probe and slip-ring. Capacity: 180 meters of 7 mm cable.

D) PORTABLE DECK UNIT TO POWER AND INTERFACE, WITH TELEMETRY, THE 301 PROBE AND A PC
(Not needed if the probe operates with RS232C only).
The unit enables the OCEAN SEVEN 301 Probe, which is set to transmit data with ASK modulation, to be interfaced with a Personal Computer. The coaxial armored cable is used for connection.

The unit includes:

- power source for the OCEAN SEVEN 301 Probe;

- modulation and demodulation circuits (ASK signals);

- RS232C output for connection to the Personal Computer.

Power is by an internal battery (12V - 6.5 A/h) which is recharged when unit is connected to external 100, 110 or 220 V AC, 50/60 Hz source. The unit allows full operation of Probe for about 35 hours without AC power.

Dimensions: 275 x 250 x 75 mm. Weight: 4,5 kg.

Please note: In case the Portable Deck Unit is required, it is necessary that the coaxial armored cable (item d.1) with associated connector (item d.2) be ordered.

Otherwise, you can simply order the RS232C - 8 mm cable (item c.1) with the associated connector (item c.2). In the latter case, the 301 Probe will work with its internal batteries rather than the ones of the Portable Deck Unit.

E) SOFTWARE

e.1) SOFTWARE FOR DATA TRANSFER - P301LINK
The purpose of the P301LINK software is:
- to recover the memorized data via RS232C. The files are in ASCII delimited format;
- to programmed the Probe main operating functions.

The software is to be installed in a personal computer with the MS-DOS operating system. The minimum hardware requirements are: VGA color monitor, 640 Kbytes RAM, DOS 3.0 or further version operating system, hard disk with 20 Mbytes at least, Epson compatible printer, one RS232C serial interface.

e.2) REAL-TIME GRAPHIC PRESENTATION SOFTWARE
This software extends operation of the above mentioned interface software. It allows creation of real time bidimensional plots on the basis of data acquired by the probe. Up to six parameters can be simultaneously plotted, in relation to depth or time. Plots can be also obtained by data already filed.
THIS OPTION CANNOT BE USED SEPARATELY BUT IT IS TO BE COUPLED WITH ITEM f.2).

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