AT GP2 User manual

GP2 Data Logger
and Controller
Research-grade logger controller -capable of complex calculated
measurements and advanced feed-back control
User Manual version 3.0
Delta-T Devices Ltd

Page 2 Contents
Contents
CONTENTS............................................................................................................... 2
UNPACKING ............................................................................................................ 3
OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................. 4
INSTALL DELTALINK................................................................................................. 7
CONNECT TO GP2.................................................................................................... 7
SOURCES OF HELP ................................................................................................... 8
CREATE A SIMPLE PROGRAM IN 6 EASY STEPS ........................................................ 9
THE GP2 SIMULATOR ............................................................................................ 10
SAMPLE PROGRAMS ............................................................................................. 11
CHECK SENSOR OPERATION AND START LOGGING ............................................... 11
RETRIEVE, VIEW AND SAVE LOGGED DATA ........................................................... 11
DATASET IMPORT WIZARD.................................................................................... 11
APPENDIX 1: GP2 RELAY EXPANSION MODULE ..................................................... 12
APPENDIX 2: GP2 NETWORK CABLING .................................................................. 16
APPENDIX 3: CABLE EXPANSION LID...................................................................... 20
APPENDIX 4: WS-CAN CANOPY ............................................................................. 21
APPENDIX 5: DL-MKT UNIVERSAL DATA LOGGER MOUNTING KIT......................... 22
APPENDIX 6: M-ENCL-B2 ENCLOSURE WITH MODEM GATEWAY TO DELTALINK
CLOUD................................................................................................................... 22
APPENDIX 7: MAKE SURE THE GP2 IS PROPERLY SEALED....................................... 24
GP2 SPECIFICATIONS ............................................................................................. 25
PRODUCT CARE AND MAINTENANCE .................................................................... 33
GP2 CALIBRATION CERTIFICATE ............................................................................ 33
LEGAL AND REGULATORY ADVICE ......................................................................... 33
INDEX.................................................................................................................... 34

Unpacking Page 3
Unpacking
The GP2 package contains:
•GP2 Logger (with 6AA batteries to be fitted by the user)
•GP2-USB USB cable for GP2
•This GP2 User Manual
•Screwdriver and cable gland spanner
Accessory Options
GP2-RLY Relay Expansion Module - 4 extra relays
and power terminals
Page 12
WS-CAN an open Protective Canopy with U-bolts
and logger mounting kit for GP2 or DL2e loggers
Page 20
M-ENCL
lockable enclosure
Page 22
DL-MKT Universal Mounting Kit – a flat plate with
U-bolts, nuts and bolts for GP2, GP1 and DL6
loggers
Page 22
GP2-G5-LID Expansion Lid with 5 cable glands for
3 to 10 mm dia. cables
Page 20
8-way M12 analogue signal extension cables
(EXT/8W-xx where xx = 5,10 or 25m)
Page 16
5-way M12 serial communication + power extension
cables (EXT/5W-xx where xx = 1, 5,10 or 25m)
Page 16
GP2-NTP 3-way network T- Piece for connection to
EXT/5W-xx cables
Page 16
GP2-NPC Network Power Cable – to supply power
via a GP2-NTP and/or EXT/5W-xx cable
Page 16
GP2-USB USB cable, 1.5m Page 16
GP2-RS232 RS232 cable, 1.5m Page 16
GP2/GP1-M8 network adapter cable, 1m Page 16
GP2-PSU Mains Power Supply1with mains cable
PC-XX where XX = UK, EU, US, IN or CN
Page 16
GP2-SER Service Pack:– battery holder, desiccant,
cable gland bungs & seals, lid screws, wire links,
screwdriver and dust cap on lanyard
1Not weatherproof, for indoor use only

Page 4 Overview
Overview
•The GP2 has 12 differential analogue input channels2, four event/digital
counter channels, and a serial input channel for up to 62 SDI-12 sensors3or
a single WET sensor.
•Two output relays can be extended to 6 using a relay expansion module.
•Two banks of terminals provide a 3V precision reference, or unregulated
power for sensors. There is also one 5V and one 12 V power terminal.
•Each sensor can be read at a different rate, from 1 second to >1000 days.
•Multiple recording rates are possible for any combination of measurements.
•Multiple recording types are provided:- average, minimum, maximum, total,
integral, wind-rose, conditional.
•The logger can hold about 2.5 million readings.
•Each relay can control a separate experiment, zone or test protocol, each
based on different threshold settings or conditional logic.
•Simple programs are quickly created on your PC, assisted by the sensor
library and a helpful user interface, and then sent to the logger.
•Sophisticated program scripts can be created without having to learn a
programming language or typing out any commands.
•New measurements can be created mathematically along with complex
control algorithms, using algebraic and trigonometric functions and conditional
logic, with easily created sequences of instructions.
•You can create and manipulate your own “variables” for e.g. disease risk
factor, integral error, days since soil moisture below a threshold, etc.
•Thresholds can be changed while logging, by using program settings.
•A simulator assists the checking and understanding of the behaviour of
logging and control programs. A weather pattern can be repeated, or new one
randomly created. It is particularly useful for irrigation.
•Video tutorials, online help, a sensor library and friendly user interface are
provided for the DeltaLINK 3 software.
Sensors Supported
•All Delta-T sensors. Many third party SDI-12 sensors.
•User defined sensors based on voltage, current, resistance, bridge,
potentiometer, counter, frequency and digital state sensors.
•Any number of calculated measurements.
Tutorials
See GP2 Intro Series Tutorials at
http://www.youtube.com/user/DeltaTDevices/videos
2or 24 single-ended analogue channels – but note the limitation on the number of cable glands.
3See also the SDI-12 for GP2 User Manual

Overview Page 5
Layout
Relays Coun te rs Ext
pwr
Internal Battery
connector
Reset
button
WET
Space for Relay Expansion
Board
6 long life alkaline 1.5V
AA/LR6 battery cells
PR2PR2
1
2
3
4
5
6810 12
711 9
+12V
+5V
9 cable
glands for
3-6mm dia.
sensor
cables with
sealing
bungs
Signal input terminals
for analogue channels
7-12
+ power terminals for
each sensor, from
Power Bank B
M12 connector for
joint serial comms.
& external power
cable
Signal input terminals
for analogue channels
1-6
+ power terminals for
each sensor, from
Power Bank A
SDI-12

Page 6 Overview
Event Channels
Use Event 1 or 2to monitor fast switch closures or pulses up to 30 kHz, such as a
flow meter.
Use Event 3 or 4to monitor slower switch closure or pulses <100Hz, such as a rain
gauge. A 5ms de-bounce feature reduces the risk of double counting.
Relay Channels
The Relay channels have an open or closed latching switch, protected with a resetting
thermal-fuse. They can be used in a variety of ways, e.g. to control several different
experiments or irrigation zones, or alarms, or to switch power to sensors.
Each relay can switch up to 1A at 24VAC or 32V DC.
See also the Relay Expansion Module on page 12.
Status LED
Two flashes per ten seconds means the GP2 is logging.
Four flashes in a group indicate an error.
No flash means not logging or no battery power.
If the logger locks up, briefly press the Reset button.
After pressing Reset,4 LED flashes indicate that the GP2 is doing a warm reset.
Your program and data are preserved and logging will resume.
Hold Reset for more than 5 seconds until a second set of four LED flashes occur to
initiate a cold reset. This restores the factory-set default program and deletes all data
including any program which you may have added.
Analogue Channel Considerations
The differential analogue channels accept signals nominally
0 to 2.5V, with a full signal range of -1.4 to +2.7V.
The input range of custom sensor types can be set to auto-
range or to fixed ranges.
Ensure each voltage input on the (+) or (-) terminals is kept
within the permitted common mode range of -2.5V to +3V relative to logger GND.
Ensure these limits are not exceeded, particularly if powered sensors
are not powered by the GP2. The input signal may need to be
connected to the logger ground. If the signal is floating then place a
10kohm resistor between (-) and (SGND).
Sensor Power
Analogue channels have (PWR) terminals to allow power to be
switched to sensors. Sensors can be powered with an adjustable
warm-up time prior to taking a reading. The duration of the warm-up
period can be increased in multiples of one second.
The PWR power terminals associated with channels 1 to 12 can
supply a regulated or unregulated voltage.
On Bank A and B the GP2 can provide either 3V (±0.2mV) or 5 to
10.5V (unregulated). In addition 5V (±2%) and 12V (±0.4V) DC are available on

Install DeltaLINK Page 7
separate screw terminals. External power can also be switched to sensors via the
two internal relays and four extra relays of the Relay Expansion Module.
For SDI-12 sensors refer to the SDI-12 for GP2 User Manual.
The WET sensor PWR terminal also supplies 5.0 to 10.5 VDC unregulated and can
be used by another sensor if no WET sensor is connected.
Install DeltaLINK
To operate the DeltaLINK 3 software for the GP2 logger you need:
•A PC running Windows 10 or later
•One free USB or RS232 port
•Internet connection for software install
•GP2 to PC USB cable (supplied with GP2) or GP2 RS232 cable
The following are also useful
•Acrobat Reader for .pdf documents (free from www.adobe.com)
•Microsoft Excel 2013 or later for the Excel Dataset Import Wizard
1. Obtain DeltaLINK 3 from http://www.delta-t.co.uk.
2. Select Install DeltaLINK and follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Setup creates a desktop shortcut to DeltaLINK, and puts a Firmware Upgrade
program, a GP2 Calibration Certificate Generation program, and a Document
Library folder in the DeltaLINK 3 program group.
4. Install USB drivers for the cable. See https://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/D2XX.htm
and FAQ “How do I set up my USB to RS232 Converter?” at www.delta-t.co.uk.
5. See the Release Notes in the Document
Library or at http://www.delta-t.co.uk.
Connect to GP2
1. Connect GP2 to the PC using the serial cable
provided.
2. Run DeltaLINK.
3. If DeltaLINK discovers your logger it displays
this in the status bar – see at right.
If the GP2 is not found select Connection
Details, Add,
Details, Detect
USB Port or select
the correct COM
port from the drop
down list.
See How to find your
USB COM port on
page 19.
If using networked loggers
see page 18.

Page 8 Sources of Help
Sources of Help
Online Help
Click Help from any DeltaLINK window (or press F1) in selected areas for context
sensitive information about DeltaLINK operation and functionality.
Select Start, All Programs, Delta-T Devices, DeltaLINK, Document Library.
Video Tutorials
Before attempting to program the GP2 watch the video tutorials –
at http://www.youtube.com/user/DeltaTDevices/videos.
These tutorials show the progressive development of a soil moisture sensor
program, followed by its use to control soil moisture using an irrigation control relay.
Run DeltaLINK at the same time and see if you can reproduce the instructions
along with the instructor.
Sensor Wiring Instructions
Wiring, installation and programming notes are provided for all sensors in the GP2
sensor library. This information appears in the Info Panel when a sensor is selected in
the Measurement section as shown in Step 2 below,
Left click on the wiring diagram to enlarge it.
If wiring up in the field it may help to have these printed - see steps 3 & 4.
1
2
3
4
Print (Preview)

Create a Simple Program in 6 Easy Steps Page 9
Create a Simple Program in 6 Easy Steps
Before you start you need to have DeltaLINK connected to your GP2 (see above),
or to the GP2 Simulator (see below).
1. Select Program
2. Select Change
3. Click on “Click to add new item, under Measurement
4. Select Temperature (or any other option from the list)
5. Select 2K Thermistor (or any other option)
6. Select Apply to send the program to your GP2 or the simulator
6
12
3
45

Page 10 The GP2 Simulator
You can now, if you wish, click on the Sensors tab and Read Now to watch real-
time readings, or select the Logger tab and Start Logging.
Note after step 5 above, the icon and label for the sensor appear in the
Measurement list in the left hand window. Also, detailed properties for the chosen
sensor appear in the right hand window, including the channel number, and, as we
saw earlier, the sensor connection instructions appear in the lower left Info Panel.
Under Recording the row labelled Individual reading indicates a rate of once per
hour. To change this, select the row – which will open the recording options on the
right hand panel, and choose your own Recording rate.
Note: Before you can change a program, stop logging and delete the logged data
(select Logger, Stop then Delete Records).
The GP2 Simulator
This simulates the weather and its effect on a
variety of sensors. Before sending a program
to your logger, try it out on the Simulator.
You can speed up time in the simulator to
check the behaviour of your program.
Restart the simulator and it will recreate the
same weather as before, from the same date.
This lets you see the effect of changes to a
program.
(Note the simulated weather uses an artificial
pattern and pseudo-random numbers, so don’t
rely on it for anything important.)
Connect to GP2 Simulator
1) Ensure DeltaLINK is connected to the GP2
Simulator as follows:-
a) Select Connection Details, Add and on the Connection Properties,
Connection tab set Connect to logger using to Simulator
b) On the Details tab set Select simulator model to GP2 simulator.
2) Click on OK, then OK again to connect
Graphs of solar radiation, rain, soil
moisture, salinity and temperature
generated by the DeltaLINK
Simulator