HB Products HBIB Use and care manual

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Installation and calibration manual
HBIB Ice Bank Sensor
Introduction
The HBIB sensor measures the ice thickness between two steel insulated wires. The output is an analog
signal 4-20 mA which falls linear to the ice thickness up to 30 mm and then in a nonlinear curve to appx. 100
mm which is the limit.
The sensor has a standard M12 interface like other HB-product sensors and is configured by the HB tool.
The product consists of a box and two steel wires which can be adjusted in length by cutting.
The sensor is based on the capacitive measurement principle and reacts on ice and water between the wires
The sensor is based on the existing defrost sensor where the wire is mounted between the fins in an
evaporator. The HB tool is not adjusted to Ice Bank application yet, so there are parameters which are
irrelevant and can be ignored. Feedback and ideas are welcome

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Table of Contents
Introduction.........................................................................................1
Table of Contents..................................................................................2
Safety Instructions ................................................................................2
Installation ..........................................................................................3
Wiring the sensor..................................................................................3
Sensor setup ........................................................................................4
Initial setup and calibration .....................................................................5
Technical data......................................................................................6
Sensor Repair.......................................................................................6
Safety Instructions
CAUTION! Always read the operational guidelines before commencing work! Read all warnings
Installation of HBIB requires technical knowledge of both refrigeration and electronics. Only qualified
personnel should work with the product. The technician must be aware of the consequences of an improperly
installed sensor and must be committed to adhering to the applicable local legislation.
If changes are made to type-approved equipment, this type approval becomes void. The product's input and
output, as well as its accessories, may only be connected as shown in this guide. HB Products assumes no
responsibility for damages resulting from not adhering to the above.
Explanation of the symbol for safety instructions. In this guide, the symbol below is used to point out
important safety instructions for the user. It will always be found in places in the chapters where the
information is relevant. The safety instructions and the warnings in particular, must always be read and
adhered to.
CAUTION! Refers to a possible limitation of functionality or risk in usage.
NOTE! Contains important additional information about the product and provides further tips.
The person responsible for operation must commit to adhering to all the legislative requirements,
preventing accidents, and doing everything so as to avoid damage to people and materials.
Intended use, terms of use. The HBIB ice bank sensor is designed for measuring ice formation on
evaporators, brine tubes and similar in water. If the HBIB is to be used in a different way and if the operation
of the product in this function is determined to be problematic, prior approval must be obtained from HB
Products.
Preventing collateral damage: Make sure that qualified personnel assess any faults and take necessary
precautions before attempting to make replacements or repairs, to avoid collateral damage. Disposal
instructions: HBIB is constructed so that the modules can easily be removed and sorted for disposal.

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Installation
The following applies to system design:
1) The box is mounted on the ice bank with the two wires going into the water and being
attached to pipes or tubes where the ice is formed. The wires must be mounted with a
distance between 30 and 100 mm and the active length must be at least 1 m long. The
accuracy is increased with longer wires. The signal will be an average over the total
length.
2) Wires must be fixed using cable ties or similar all the way from the box to the end of the
wire. Loose wires will impact stability
3) The free end of the wires must be placed above water level to avoid short circuiting by the
water. Likewise, it is important that the insulation is unbroken on the wires in the water.
4) The connection between the box and a PLC can normally be installed with a standard
unshielded cable. If the EMC is higher than described in EN 61326, a shielded cable must
be used.
Wiring the sensor
After the wires are mounted in the ice bank they are connected in the box. The picture show the inside of the
box and it should be straight forward. Remember to remove the thin insulation from the wire ends before
connecting.

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The connection to the PLC is done according to the diagram above using a cable with a M12 Female
connector. Stop start pin3 and Digital input for calibration pin5 is not relevant for the ice bank.
Sensor configuration
All HB-product sensors can be configured using a laptop and a “M12-USB”cable. The software can be
downloaded freely on the HB products web page. The configuration data can be stored in the sensor and will
be there until erased even without power connection—just like you store data on a memory stick. When you
change a value/setting there will be put a check mark next to it and that indicates you have changed
something and need to store the data in the sensor.

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Initial setting and Calibration of the sensor
The setting of the sensor depends on the cable
length and cannot be set from the factory.
To get started you need to adjust two figures the
“zero calibration in pF” and “span calibration in
pF”and make sure the configuration is right
The procedure is the following:
1. Install the sensor as described with the
wires in water and the free ends outside
the water.
2. Connect the sensor to a laptop where
HBtools is installed using the USB cable
3. Click on “start scan” to get into the setup
tool
4. Start by setting the configuration like
shown on the picture and click on save to
sensor
5. Go to the diagnostic tab. Here you can
read the actual measurement in red, and
the two critical configuration parameters.
6. Click on the small box at the bottom
called “Enable Zero and Span
configuration”
7. Calculate 0.4*actual measurement and
type that in the box called “Zero
calibration in pF”
8. Calculate 0.6*actual measurement and
type that in the box called “SPAN
calibration in pF”
9. Click on the box called “Send Zero/Span
values”
Now the sensor will send you a signal from 4 to
20 mA linear to the measurement from Zero to
Zero+SPAN in the case shown from 185 to 463.
The ice thickness will now be linear with the
reduction in mA signal up to at least 30 mm, but
the 4 mA will probably not be reached.
Calibration
To make a more accurate setup you need to do a
calibration with maximum ice thickness
1. Follow point 1-5 above
2. Write down the sum Zero+SPAN (equal
to the maximum measurement reached
without ice)
3. Click on the zero-calibration button when
maximum ice level is reached
4. Click on the small box at the bottom
called “Enable Zero and Span
configuration”
5. Calculate the noted “sum Zero+SPAN”-
the new “Zero calibration in pF”and type
that number into “SPAN calibration in
pF”
6. Click on the box called “Send Zero/Span
values”
Now the parameters are saved, and the sensor will
use the full span from 4 to 20 mA

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Technical Data
Supply voltage: 24 V AC/DC
Electricity consumption: 250 mA incl. heater
Electrical connection: Wire terminals
Analog output: 4-20 mA
Installation conditions:
Ambient temperature: -30…+50°C
Wire temperature -30…+90°C
Waterproof rating: IP65
Vibrations: IEC 68-2-6 (4g)
Certifications:
EMC Emission: EN61000-3-2
EMC Immunity: EN61000-4-2
Mechanical specifications:
Materials –mechanical parts: AISI304 wire
Materials –electronic parts: Nylon insulation
Cable entry: PG9 / M12
Sensor Repair
Complaints are processed by HB Products’ dealers/distributors.
Please consider their complaint procedures before returning the sensor.
Note! All terminals are protected against improper termination for a supply voltage up to
40 V. If the supply voltage is higher than 40 V, the electronics will be damaged.