The Idronaut 320 Probe is a multiparameter CTD unit with 24 bit resolution. The modular design and probe mounting system facilitates the installation of an redundant sensor pair without the need for underwater connectors. The redundant sensors permit the gathering of extremely precise data with verifiable data quality. Small size and "contained" measurement field allow verification of the calibration of the CT pairs with two ampoules of standard seawater. Although the 320 probe does not require pumps, water may be pumped through the whole sensor array if the optional transparent flow cell is installed. Data output in a standard RS232 format, with FSK telemetry options available for on-line full ocean depth data gathering. The 320 multiparameter probe has five high resolution 24 bit channels and can optionally accommodate up to a maximum sixteen 16bit sensor channels, which can, if required, be added retrospectively, making the 320 probe an investment in the future.
320 Probe mounted on 1014 500ml Mini Rosette
· Temperature Sensor
Features a very fast platinum resistance thermometer (time constant 50 ms). Negligible self- heating effect. drift within 0.0003·C/year.
·Flow Conductivity Sensor to Meet WOCE Standards
Features a large diameter, seven ring quartz cell which does not require platinum black deposition and which can be cleaned without recalibrating. No external pump is necessary even for high accuracy measurements.
· Optional Redundant Pair of Temperature and Conductivity Sensors
More reliable operation at sea minimizing risk of data loss.
· Optional Salinity Field Calibration Capability
Once the calibration of the thermometer has been determined, then conductivity may be cross calibrated by using two ampoules of standard seawater. An Idronaut designed field calibration transparent cell supplied with a magnetic stirrer, permits checking of the conductivity calibration at a fixed salinity and several different temperatures. A system with the optional redundant pair may immerse both sensor pairs in the calibration transparent cell simultaneously.
· Oxygen Sensor (7000m operation)
Features an innovative pressure-compensated polar graphic sensor, with a replaceable cap for membrane support. Because stirring effects are negligible, no external pump is necessary.
· pH Glass Sensor (7000m operation)
High-pressure glass membrane pH electrode in conjunction with a ceramic junction-less reference electrode and a differential amplifier.
· Data Transmission
Via RS232C interface and FSK (10,000 m cable) telemetry systems.
· Internal Memory
Permits storage of up to 56,000 data sets for each of the CTD acquired parameters together with date & time using the 1Mbyte base memory. Extension memory up to 64 Mbyte can be optionally added.
· Battery Operation
Internal or external submersible battery packs permit continuous probe operation, for 10 or 50 hours respectively. Moreover, the internal battery pack can be used as a backup energy system whenever the probe operates in the real-time data acquisition mode. This feature minimizes the micro-interruption of telemetry due to problems with slip rings and/or cable terminations thus avoiding spikes during real-time data acquisition. The internal battery consists of 10 (ten) batteries 1.3V, 1.8 A/h, type AA cells which allow continous probe operation for about 10 hours.
· Optional Probes
General Oceanics- Rosettes® mod 1014, 1015, 1016 and 1017 ·Idronaut- Oxygen Sensor ·Wet Labs- WetStar Miniature Fluorometer ·Seapoint- Fluorometer and Turbidity Meter ·Seatech- Fluorometer and Blue LED Fluorometer ·Seatech- Transmissometer and dual range Transmissometer ·D&A Instrument Co.- OBS-3B Sensor ·Chelsea- Aquatraka Fluorometer ·Biospherical Instruments- Quantum Scalar Par Sensor QSO-200l ·NE Sensortec- UCM-60 DL and Nobska MAVS3 Current Meter ·Satlantic- Ocean Color Radiometer System.
All sensors have extremely low time constants: 50ms for physical parameters (CTD) at 1m/sec profiling speed and 3 seconds for chemical parameters. A high precision resistor acts as a reference for the accuracy of the other sensor electronic amplifiers which are temperature-compensated. There are no trim pot adjustments inside the probe. CTD sensor high resolution and accuracy are obtained because of advanced sensor conditioning circuits and to the 24 bit Sigma Delta A/D Converters. The 320 is controlled by the internal advanced electronics (32-bit MCU) and can measure, store and transmit sensor data by various methods, the most significant ones are:
Unattended acquisition can be activated by means of a magnetic ON/OFF switch. Acquired data is uploaded at the end of the measuring cycles. Extension of the internal battery life is obtained through an automatic power management procedure that switches the probe off between the data acquisitions. The internal battery pack consists of ten batteries: 1.5V, 1.8 A/h, type AA cells which allow continuous probe operation for about 10 hours. Rechargeable or lithium batteries can also be used. The probe is equipped with an external non volatile SRAM able to store up to a maximum of 56,000 data sets, each data set being composed of date and time measurement of the three (3) standard sensors. Data storage capabilities can be extended by means of the multimedia card slot (up to 64Mbyte) that can be optionally installed inside the probe. The probe can also integrate data from third party sensors and perform data acquisition of up to 16 analog channels in less than 50ms.
The Idronaut 320 Probe can be configured to be directly connected to a personal computer by means of the RS232C serial port or by telemetry . The telemetry interface remedies the limitations of the RS232C serial interface (cable length and number of conductors). When using the FSK telemetry interface, the additional deck unit (Portable Deck Unit) is required to convert serial, RS 232C 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 armored single conductor coaxial probe support cable.
Probe communication is achieved through one of the two male connectors installed on the top end cap of the probe. A six- pole connector is used for the RS232C interface and for the auxiliary power input, while a two-pole connector is used for the telemetry interface and probe primary power.
| Range | Accuracy | Resolution | Time Constant | |
| Pressure |
0...7000dbar* | 0.05% FS | 0.001% | 15ms |
| Temperature 1 |
-5..+45 ºC | 0.001 ºC | 0.0001 ºC | 50ms |
| Conductivity 1 |
0.. 70 mS/cm | 0.001 mS/cm | 0.0001 mS/cm | 50ms ** |
| Temperature 2 (*) | -5..+45 ºC | 0.001 ºC | 0.0001 ºC | 50ms |
| Conductivity 2 (*) | 0.. 70 mS/cm | 0.001 mS/cm | 0.0001 mS/cm | 50ms ** |
| Oxygen | 0.. 50ppm | 0.1 ppm | 0.01 ppm | 3 s in air |
| Oxygen | 0.. 500 %sat | 1% sat. | 0.1 %sat. | 3 s |
| pH | 0..14 pH | 0.01 pH | 0.001 pH | 3 s |
| Redox | -1000..+1000 mV | 1 mV | 0.1mV | 3 s |
| Auxiliary Inputs | .0..5000 mV | 0.5 mV | 0.076 mV | 50ms (10 analog inputs |
Salinity, Sound Speed in Seawater Density (Sigma), Pressure to Depth Conversion, Potential Temperature (Theta); according to UNESCO 1983 "algorithms for computation of fundamental properties of sea water.
SENSOR
Sampling frequency: 20 Hz raw data
Real time data output rate:5 samples per second (derived variables), up to 10 Hz using REDAS software and fast binary communications.
Communication ports: RS232C, up to 38400bps. FSK telemetry, up to 4800bps. over cables up to 10000 meters long.
Communication protocol: Proprietary byte-oriented message protocol.
Operator Interface: Friendly menu-driven user interface
Data memory basic: 1 Mbytes nonvolatile CMOS memory (data retention > 10 years).
Data memory extension: up to 64 Mbytes using multimedia cards.
Firmware memory: 512 Kbytes 5V flash memory, built-in automatic updating function allows easy, non intrusive, firmware upgrading.
A/D Converter CTD Sensors: up to 5 24 bit Delta Sigma A/D Converters. Synchronized acquisitions guarantee negligible time lag (less than 1 ms) between sensor readings.
Auxiliary inputs: 16 bit 76 mV/bit successive appromaximation.
Analog inputs: 16 multiplexed analogue input channels allow interfacing of additional sensors.
Telemetry system power supply:10...30V, 95 mA @ 12V, 1.1W power consumption.
Battery power supply: 9...18V, 200 mA, @ 12V. The internal battery pack consists of 10 (ten) batteries: 1.5V, 1.8 A/h, type AA cells which allow continuous probe operation for about 20 hours.
| for | 1500dbar | 7000dbar | ||||
| Dimensions | housing dia. | 100mm (3.9") | 89mm (3.5") | |||
| total length | 710mm (28") | 710mm (28") | ||||
| Weight | in air | 4.7kg (10.3 lbs) | 7.5kg (16.5lbs) | |||
| in water | 1kg (2.2 lbs.) | 4.5kg (9.9lbs) | ||||
| Material | White POM | Titanium GR5 |
Diameter of protective cage:260 mm, Titanium
Cable connectors: 2-pole connector (Brantner RMG-2-FS) for FSK telemetry output. 6-pole connector (Brantner RMG-6-FS) for RS232C output and auxiliary power input.
Cable characteristics: The Idronaut MK 317 Redundant Probe operates with standard Rochester coaxial armored cables (1/8, 1/4, 1/2 inch) installed in oceanographic vessels and with sea cable having a resistance of up to 250 ohms.
REDAS (WINDOWS)
The REDAS (REmote DAta Sofware) has been designed for real-time acquisition and graphics. It is true windows software, allowing changing of the graphic parameters, printing of the current plot, display and printout of sample information during acquisition. It automatically manages the beginning and ending of a cast, bottle sampling, the selected alarms and the acquisition information through a geographical positioning system (GPS). The user can manage probe deployment without needing to trigger the acquisition software at the same time. During the cast, other users can look at plots, print them or define the sampling depths in advance. Acquisition stops automatically when the probe is on board. The REDAS software allows the operator to set-up the probe before carrying out unattended data acquisition and to retrieve data stored in the probe internal memory once the probe is on board.
SOFTWARE (MS-DOS)
320 Probe w/AC9 in titanium cage
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