The SDI-12L offers measurement ranges from 0.5mWG up to 200mWG. The output units can easily be adjusted to mmWG, cmWG, inHg and all the standard engineering units required via the SDI-12 interface and command structure. Temperature range of the transmitter is from –20 deg C up to +60 deg C. Accuracy of the inbuilt temperature sensor is less than ±0.1% of full-scale output.
Due to its SDI-12 compatibility, the transmitter can be corrected according to the specific density of the media being measured and local gravity can be set within the device, adding further to the accuracy of the unit.
What is SDI-12?
SDI-12 stands for serial data interface at 1200 baud. This standard was developed in order to interface battery-powered data recorders to micro-processor-based sensors designed for environmental data acquisition (EDA).
EDA is accomplished by using a sensor(s) and a data recorder that collects and saves the data. SDI-12 is a standard communications protocol that provides a method of transferring measurements taken by a smart sensor to a data recorder. The sensor typically takes a measurement, makes calculations based on the raw sensor reading, then outputs the measured data in engineering units.
SDI-12 is particularly useful in applications where battery-powered operation with minimal current drain is required, or where the use of one data recorder with multiple sensors on a single cable is necessary. This includes acquiring hydrologic data at remote sites, which use battery-powered data recorders that operate for long, unattended periods of time.
Bore hole pump applications
The SDI-12L is ideal for borehole pump applications. Here, submersible pumps are used to pump water from bottom of the hole to the surface. For the pumps to operate efficiently, they must maintain a level of water above them to prevent them running dry, which can destroy a pump in a short period of time.
The SDI-12L can either be submersed with the borehole pump and attached to the bracketry or retrofitted by lowering the device into the borehole to a known height from the cable distance. The sensor will then output a signal to the surface via the cable, which can then be converted to a level reading. Using a digital process display, this signal can then be used to trigger a relay and turn the pump off if the water level is too low or switch the pump on if the level in the borehole has risen too high.
For more information on the SDI-12L range of submersible level transmitters, please call the sales department on 0118 981 7980 or visit the website at www.impress-sensors.co.uk