VibWire-201-Pro User Manual 10
Device Configuration Software
The VibWire-101-Pro configuration software runs with on most modern
Windows platforms such as XP, 8.1 and 10 operating systems.
The software automatically identifies the USB port in use and allows for a true
plug and play operation. Simply enter the sensor calibration factors and select
the ‘Connect’ button to store parameters into the device.
Download the software at:
Description
Physical Size
(Excluding boot cover)
Weight
Height 184 mm - Width 74 mm - Depth 32 mm
125 g
Battery
Auto-logging no back light
4 x AA - 2000 mA/Hr
6 mA - standby - 340 Hours continuous use
20 mA/Hr with display - Low
50 mA/Hr with display mode - Full brightness
150 mA/Hr with MUX-16/32 - Peak (Note-1)
Communication Ports 1 x RS-485 Slave - 1200 Baud, 8 data, 1 stop, no parity
1 x SDI-12 - - 1200 Baud, 8 data, 1 stop, no parity
1 x micro USB configuration port
External Power Supply 10 - 15V DC @ 100 mA min specification
Vibrating Wire Measurements
Analogue Input 24 Bit Sigma Delta
Differential Coil (V
+
) and Coil(V
-
) for direct connection of
sensor, excitation and resonant frequency measurement.
Digital signal processing for excellent noise rejection,
Sensor Excitation Auto-resonance - Fully automatic
Operating Frequency 400 - 15 KHz
Measurement Resolution 0.001 Hz RMS - 20 to 70 Deg C
Measurement Accuracy ± 0.014% of reading - 20 to 70 Deg C
Spectral Analysis
Resolution
Window Function
1024 line Zoom FFT - with data weighting
0.001 Hz
Hamming
Update Rate 0.25 Sec typical
SI Units Hz, Digits (Hz2/1000), Eng Units
(Quadratic Cal Factors)
Temperature Measurements
Used for temperature compensated vibrating wire
measurements, and stand-alone temperature sensors for
Geotechnical applications. Ratio-metric measurement.
Analogue Input 24 Bit Sigma Delta
Measurement Range - 50 to 100 Deg C
Measurement Accuracy ± 0.25 % of reading - 20 to 70 Deg C
SI Units Deg C
Cal Factors Steinhart-Hart
Beta Value - lower performance using Beta
Bridge Type Half Bridge
Expansion Options
1 x MUX-16/32 expansion unit
1..32 - 2 Wire Freq inputs
1..32 - Temp (thermistor) inputs
1..16 - 4 Wire vibrating wire sensor inputs
Scan rate 2 Sec/Chan - using expansion module
250 ms update to screen
Memory Expansion 1 x SD Card = 1 .. 32 GB
Storage file format CSV - Comma Separated Variables
Logging Rates
16 x 4 Wire Mode
32 x 2 Wire
Internal to flash card
1s, 10s, 1 Min, 10 Min, 1 Hour, 6 Hours
MUX-16/32 Expansion
30 Sec/Chan
1 minutes
No. Pre-set Sensor Configurations
10 user defined sensors options
File Type Format DOS
Operating Temp Range -20 to 75 Deg C
Storage temperature >5 Deg C with batteries installed.
Technical Specification
The current technical specification for the VibWire-201-Pro is:
Temperature Measurements
The VibWire-201-Pro is factory set to use the most common thermistor
calibration factors that is fitted into most manufactures vibrating wire sensors.
The thermistor is used to measure temperature.
The thermistor calibration factors are taken from the sensor material
manufactures data sheet and are as accurate as possible.
The voltage input measurements are factory calibrated to traceable national
standards, and can be externally calibrated upon request. There is an extra
charge for operation.
The part numbers are for 3 K Ohm thermistor commonly used by most
different VW sensor manufacturers to measure temperature
The sensors give 3 K Ohm resistance at 25 Deg C
The most common material used in these sensors uses material type F
from GE sensing.
YSI 44005
Vishay 1C 3001 B3
RS Part no: 151-215
Common VW Sensor Thermistor Part Numbers
Under most practical applications, the in-built thermistor calibration factors will
give accurate results without the User having to be concerned with
understanding of process involved.
Simply connect the thermistor output from the sensor to the VibWire-201-Pro
and the device will instantly display the temperature.
Sources of Error
The principle source of error in field measurements will the added resistance
due to long sensor wires. The resistance added to the thermistor measurement
will give a fixed offset error. Make temperature measurements as close to the
temperature sensor as is practically possible.
Calibration Factor Error
Take care when using the calibration factors supplied on a vibrating wire sensor
manufactures data sheet. The factors are often given from sample sensors taken
from a batch and not necessarily from the individual sensor being used. Where
possible ensure that the sensor manufacturer calibrates the sensor and supplies
all test data so that the calibration factors can be verified.
User Defined Stein-hart-Hart Calibration Factors
The VibWire-201-Pro has the facility to enter User defined Steinhart-Hart
calibration factors.
The calibration factors are entered into the device using the VW201cal software
package. See figure 57 on Page 20.
Sensor Information
A calibration report should be provided with each vibrating wire sensor and it will
contain all the information required to convert Hertz, the frequency value output
by the sensor into appropriate SI units (e.g., displacement, pressure etc..)
1. If the values in the Calibration Report are in digits, use the following equation
to convert the VibWire-201-Pro frequency values from Hertz to digits.
2. Use the gauge factors and polynomial provided in the Calibration Report to
calculate SI units.
The VibWire-201-Pro uses:
Calibration equation.
and this is expanded to:
when initial conditions in the measurements are involved.
The additional terms used in equation 2 only change the constant parameter
( A ) when used.
Digits = Frequency
2
1000
(Hz
2
)
1000
Natural Units = A(R1)2 + B(R1) + C + K(T1-T0) - (S1-S0)
(Equ 1)
= C(R1-R0)
2
+ B(R1-R0) + A + K(T1-T0) - (S1-S0)
(Equ 2)
Part No:
VibWire-201-Pro - FFT VW Sensor Interface
USB-485-Pro - Isolated USB to 485 media converter
USB-SDI12-Pro - Isolated USB to SDI12 media converter
MUX-16/32 16 x 4 Wire/ 32 x 2 Wire Expansion unit
Associated Part Numbers
Table 1
Note-1 - Use external supply for long term monitoring with MUX-16/32 unit
150 mA peak .
