The IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger – Model 3316-00 is another addition to the ALERT/IFLOWS family of products. The IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger is configured in a hinged fiberglass water resistant enclosure with latch to support a variety of installation applications. Examples of IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger installations include a traditional standpipe, pole mount within a larger cabinet, or in a gauge house. Sensor connections to IFLOWS/ALERT Data Loggers are made via MS connectors.

The IFLOWS/ALERT Data Loggers standard configuration accepts up to 8 Analog inputs (plus internal battery), up to 2 shaft encoders, up to 2 precipitation, 2 SDI-12, wind speed, wind direction, vector wind, peak gust, and road ice. Note: The IFLOWS/ALERT Data Loggers – Model 3316-02 supports the ALERT2 Protocol.

The IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger’s basic programming mode allows the user to configure the unit simply by using rotary switches. Four switches are used to set the IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger’s Station ID number and a fifth is used to select from factory-defined or user-defined preset sensor configurations for different station types. This allows for very quick set-up of IFLOWS/ALERT Data Loggers without the need for a laptop computer in the field.

Alternately, users can use the IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger’s Insight Software (a graphical user interface; GUI) for fast, easy set-up from either a desktop or laptop computer in the field. The user can program the following parameters independently into the IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger for each sensor to be logged: Sensor name, sensor type, ALERT/IFLOWS ID number, adder(offset) and multiplier, sample interval, reporting (transmission) interval, logging interval, hold off time, and log on transmission. Other sensor specific parameters can be programmed into the IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger for each sensor depending on the type of sensor. Each IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger enabled sensor can be programmed to transmit on a user Timed-defined basis and/or on a user defined amount of change, also known as Event Mode. Each IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger’s enabled sensor can also log data on a user-defined time interval and can also be set to log data on Transmission.

IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger data is recorded on a Secured Data (SD) memory card and can be retrieved via the USB or serial port. The IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger’s SD memory card can also be removed for later downloading and replaced with a spare card. The IFLOWS/ALERT Data Loggers are supplied with a 16 Gigabyte SD card. Sensor data is stored by the IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger in files with one file per sensor, however each file holds one month’s worth of data. The file size will depend on how often the IFLOWS/ALERT Data Loggers have been programmed to record data for that sensor. As an example, a IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger with five sensors each recording in one minute intervals would not fill up the 16 GB SD card for 746 years.

The IFLOWS/ALERT Data Loggers can communicate via ALERT/IFLOWS and SDI-12 Version 1.3 formats. While the IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger is supplied with a VHF or UHF data radio for ALERT/IFLOWS data transmission, other communication devices such as GPRS radio or CDMA (cellular) can utilize the serial port. The IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger reports/transmits based on the reporting interval set for each sensor. There is a minimum 20 second standard hold off time after an initial radio transmission by the IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger before a second radio transmission will occur. The IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger’s hold off time may be increased. In addition to the standard hold off the IFLOWS/ALERT Data Loggers feature a low battery hold off that disables radio transmissions when the battery drops below 10.5 V. The IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger will continue data logging even if transmissions stop due to low battery as long as the battery has power to power the transmitter. An override feature allows the IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger to report if the override value has been exceeded even if a transmission is not scheduled. The IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger can also act as an ALERT/IFLOWS repeater. If the IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger’s repeater mode is used the extra power consumption required for the receiver must be taken into account with your system design.

The IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger’s internal firmware is upgradable in the field. When new firmware versions are released for your IFLOWS/ALERT Data Loggers, they will be posted on a FTP site for clients to download. The IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger’s firmware versions are downloadable via the USB cable. The IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger’s firmware download process will take just a few seconds.

Additional IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger features include fuse protection on solar input, battery and 12V switched to avoid damage to the unit through shorting (these fuses automatically reset when they cool off). Reversing the IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger’s battery terminals will cause no damage. The IFLOWS/ALERT Data Logger offers a dedicated USB port for programming, data retrieval, and uploading of new firmware versions.