Argus TreeQinetic User manual

TreeQinetic
Instruments for Tree Pulling Tests
www.argus-electronic.de
Version 1.7, November 2018

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Contents
1. TREEQINETIC SOFTWARE INSTALLATION ..........................................................................................3
1.1. GENERAL HINTS....................................................................................................................................3
1.2. INSTALLATION OF THE TREEQINETIC PROGRAM.......................................................................................3
2. TREEQINETIC COMPONENTS................................................................................................................4
2.1. CONTENTS OF THE MEASURING CASE.....................................................................................................4
2.2. ELASTOMETER......................................................................................................................................5
2.3. INCLINOMETER......................................................................................................................................5
2.4. FORCEMETER.......................................................................................................................................6
2.5. ANEMOMETER (OPTIONAL).....................................................................................................................7
2.6. COMMUNICATION UNIT ..........................................................................................................................7
3. DATA TRANSMISSION.............................................................................................................................8
3.1. CONNECTION PC -TREEQINETIC...........................................................................................................8
3.2. CONNECTION COMMUNICATION UNIT –INSTRUMENTS.............................................................................8
4. TREEQINETIC PC SOFTWARE................................................................................................................9
4.1. GENERAL .............................................................................................................................................9
4.2. TREEQINETIC DATA DIRECTORY.............................................................................................................9
4.3. MEASUREMENT PROCESS......................................................................................................................9
4.4. SCREEN SHOTS...................................................................................................................................14
5. SETTINGS FOR MEASURING DEVICES...............................................................................................15
5.1. HOW TO TURN ON AND OFF ...............................................................................................................15
5.2. MODULADDRESS.................................................................................................................................15
5.3. ZERO-SETTING....................................................................................................................................16
5.4. CALIBRATION......................................................................................................................................16
6. MOUNTING THE MEASURING DEVICES ON THE TREE.....................................................................17
6.1. ELASTOMETER....................................................................................................................................17
6.1.1. Unmounting the Elastometer....................................................................................................17
6.2. INCLINOMETER....................................................................................................................................18
6.3. FORCEMETER.....................................................................................................................................19
6.4. ACCUMULATOR HINTS..........................................................................................................................20
6.4.1. Auto Power Off .........................................................................................................................20
6.5. CHARGING OF THE COMMUNICATION UNIT...........................................................................................20
6.6. CHARGING OF THE MEASURING DEVICES ..............................................................................................21
7. GENERAL HINTS ....................................................................................................................................22
7.1. TRANSPORTATION...............................................................................................................................22
7.2. DIRT AND DUST ..................................................................................................................................22
7.3. AMBIENT CONDITIONS DURING PULLING TESTS......................................................................................22
8. TECHNICAL REFERENCE......................................................................................................................23
8.1. WARRANTY.........................................................................................................................................23
8.2. MAINTENANCE ....................................................................................................................................23
8.3. SHIPPING OF THE TREEQINETIC®SYSTEMS..........................................................................................23
8.4. PC REQUIREMENTS.............................................................................................................................23
8.5. TECHNICAL DETAILS ............................................................................................................................23
9. CONTACT ................................................................................................................................................24

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1. TreeQinetic Software Installation
1.1. General hints
The TreeQinetic Measuring program is used to control the TreeQinetic system and to store the
data during pulling tests.
1.2. Installation of the TreeQinetic program
Login as administrator in order to install the program!
Make sure that all windows updates are loaded! Refer to Microsoft.com.
Run “setupe.exe“ in Administrator Modus.
CD:\\ TreeQinetic (xx) \setup.exe
The setup program installs
1. Microsoft .NET Framework
2. TreeQinetic program
It might be necessary to restart the computer after installing the framework. If the installation does
not automatically continues after re-boot, please run the setup.exe again.

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2. TreeQinetic Components
2.1. Contents of the measuring case
1 Communication Unit (1 piece)
2 Elastometer (1-4 pieces) with 10 Nails each
3 Inclinometer (1-4 pieces)
4 Forcemeter (1 piece)
5 Nail calibre
6 Impact cap for Inclinometer-fastener
7 Inclinometer-fastener (1-4 pieces, located in the lid of the case )
8 Charging unit
9 USB Cable
10 Charge cable 50cm (3 pieces)
11 Manual (located in the rear of the case)
12 (Long communication cable –on request)

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2.2. Elastometer
Resolution: 0,1 µm
Accuracy: 1 µm
measuring range: +/- 2 mm
Battery capacity: ~ 15 h at 20°C (radio on)
Distance between nails: 198 –202 mm
Diameter of nails: 2 –4 mm
Max. distance of wireless data transmission: 3 to 60 meter
TreeQinetic Elastometer @ work.
2.3. Inclinometer
Resolution: 0,002°
Accuracy: 0,005°
measuring range: +/- 15°
Battery capacity: ~ 20 h at 20°C (radio on)
Max. distance of wireless data transmission: 3 to 60 meter
TreeQinetic Inclinometer @ work
The Inclinometers do have a temperature drift. For best results expose the inclinometers to the
ambient temperature as soon as you arrive on thesite and protect it against direct sunlight. Use “set-
to-zero” function before every pull!

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2.4. Forcemeter
Resolution Force: 0,01 kN
Accuracy Force: 0,3 kN
Measuring range Force: 0 –60 kN
Resolution rope angel: 0,1°
Accuracy rope angel: 1° (0-30°)
Measuring angel: 0-90°
Battery capacity: ~ 15 h at 20°C (radio on)
Max. distance of wireless data transmission: 3 to 60 meter
TreeQinetic Forcemeter with two shackles
The Forcemeter was designed to be used with iron shackles exclusively!
All other material like carabiners, ropes, hooks, so called soft shackles and others must not be
attached to the Forcemeter. Those may lead to inaccuratemeasurements or damage the instrument
(especially the spacer rings).
To avoid shear forces and measurement inaccuracies the forces must be introduced in line. The
ring-shaped spacers will centre the force gauge in the shackles. They cannot absorb forces.
Usually we recommend to use two commercial shackles for forces of 4,75t with a bolt diameter of
22mm and an opening width of 31mm. (3/4 inch WLL 4,75t; DIN EN 13889; RR-C-271)
If you require shackles with higher load capacity choose shackles made of iron which can be installed
in a straight line and transfer the load in the designated way. When in doubt contact argus electronic
for consulting or to acquire appropriate material.
Forcemeters ordered and manufactured in 2019 or later are delivered with two shackles “grade 10”
(usually orange coloured) with a working load of max 6.7 t. These shackles do not fit older
Forcemeters. If you need to upgrade an older Forcemeter to use with these shackles contact argus.

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2.5. Anemometer (optional)
Resolution wind speed: 0.1 m/s
Accuracy: 0.2 m/s
Measuring range wind speed: 0 –30 m/s
Resolution Wind direction: 1°
Measuring range Wind direction: 360°
Accu capacity: ~ 10 h (at 20 °C)
Max. distance of wireless data transmission: 3 to 30 meter
Anemometer and measuring pole (10 meter)
2.6. Communication Unit
Accu capacity: ~ 20 –40 h (depending on connection to PC (Bluetooth or USB)

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3. Data transmission
3.1. Connection PC - TreeQinetic
The TreeQinetic system can be connected to the PC with the Communication Unit via Bluetooth or
USB.
Activating the USB connection:
1. Turn OFF the Communication Unit
2. Install the USB cable between Com Unit and PC (PC is turned on)
3. Turn on the Communication Unit
Activating the Bluetooth connection:
1. Turn OFF the Communication Unit
2. Remove the USB cable from the Communication Unit
3. Turn on the Communication Unit; the blue light is flashing
3.2. Connection Communication Unit –Instruments
The TQ instruments (Elastometer, Inclinometer, Forcemeter, Anemometer) are connected to the
Communication Unit via radio or cable connection.
Activating the radio connection
1. Turn off the measuring device
2. Remove cable
3. Turn on the measuring device
Activating the cable connection
1. Turn off the measuring device
2. Install cable between Com Unit and measuring device
3. Turn on Com Unit
4. Turn on the measuring device
The measuring devices can be connected via cable directly or via the cable- manifold to the
Communication Unit if the radio transmission is not working. This might happen if strong wireless
transmitters like WLAN-Hotspots close. Problems have been reported around the area of radio-
controlled traffic lights, public buildings, schools, embassies, railways and so on. The cables can
connect the measuring devices with the communication unit directly with cable-length up to 30m.
The Communication unit has three slots. If you need more slots you need a cable-manifold with up
to 8 slots. It is possible to mix the usage of cable and radio-connection.
DO not charge sensors using the cable-manifold!

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4. TreeQinetic PC Software
4.1. General
The TreeQinetic Software is used to control the measuring instruments and to save data during
pulling tests.
4.2. TreeQinetic data directory
The standard TreeQinetic directory is
..\my Documents\TreeQinetic
4.3. Measurement process
1. Mount all sensors (Inclinometer, Elastometer etc) to the tree.
2. Connect the Communitation Unit via USB or Bluetooth to the PC. In order to use the USB cable
connection the USB cable must be installed prior to switching on the Com Unit.
3. Start „TreeQinetic“ program and select COM Port. In case of using the USB connection the COM
port is marked with blue colour in the drop down list.
4. Set warning levels in the „settings“ menu. The PC will sound a warning tone if the data measured
exceed those warning levels.

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Warning level for the forcemeter should correlate with the maximum values given for the winch
or forcemeter.
A 16kN (1.6t) Winch requires the warning level of 16 kN.
The Elastometer warning level is set to 200 µm, which correlates with a fiber compression of
0,1% (related to the TQ Elastometer working range of 20 cm).
The warning level of the Inclinometers is set to 0,2°. This value is related to the maximum
inclination of the root plate.
This root-plate inclination of 0,2° must not be exceeded in any case during the pulling tests in
order to prevent damaging the root system of the tree.
To exceed 0,2° of inclination is normal when inclinometers are mounted at higher levels on the
stem.
The set warning levels are saved and do not need to be modified.
A warning tone is generated during the pulling test if warning levels are exceeded.
Attention: If PC speaker is not active the sound is not audible.
5. Turn on all instruments (Communication unit, Inclinometer, Forcemeter, Elastometer,
Annemometer)
6. Open COM Port
7. Search for all instruments by clicking on the magnification glass symbol. Instruments found are
shown:
In this example the following devices have been found:
1 Forcemeter (Address 100)
4 Elastometer (Address 90, 91, 92 and 91)
1 Inclinometer (Address 82)