NexSens X2-CB User manual

X2-CB Buoy-Mounted Data
Logger
User Guide
Last Revision: 16 March 2023
Date Generated: 16 March 2023
Copyright © 2023 NexSens Technology, Inc.

Table of Contents
1. System Power
Apply Power to the X2-CB
Power Jumper
Basic Requirements
Connector Wiring
Power & Communications Accessories
UW-6 Universal Pinout
Buzzer Indicator
Performing a Measurement System Power Budget
Instructions for Use
Advanced Custom User Entry
Disclaimer
Additional Resources
2. Establish Communication
X2 Data Flow
Wi-Fi
Cellular
Iridium
Radio to Cellular
Radio to PC
Cellular
Set up a 4G Cellular Account for an X2 Data Logger
Install a SIM Card into an X2-CB/X2-CBMC Cellular Logger
Set an X2 Data Logger APN Using CONNECT
Iridium
Setup Gmail Account to Allow WQData LIVE Access (Iridium)
Setup Iridium (SBD) Data Account
Setup Iridium Logger Through CONNECT
Iridium Transmission Delay
Radio
Set Up a NexSens Radio Network
3. Connect Sensors
X2 Supported Sensors
Tier 1 Sensors
Tier 2 Sensors
Tier 3 Sensors
CONNECT Software
UW Connectors
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UW-8 Sensor Port Pinout
UW-8 Plug Pinout
X2 Sensor Detection
When Sensor Detections Occur
Important Considerations
Setup in WQData LIVE
Creating a WQData LIVE Project
Adding a Data Logger to a WQData LIVE Project
Changing Sensor Log Intervals
Changing Data Logger Transmission Interval
Run Remote Sensor Detection
X2 Logger Diagnostic Readings
X2 Meta Parameter Descriptions
4. Troubleshooting and Maintenance
Sensor(s) Not Found During X2 Auto-Detection
Running a Sensor Re-Detection
Re-Detection Considerations
Re-Detection Process
Confirming the New Sensor Configuration
Updating the Sensor Configuration on WQData LIVE
Verify Battery Voltage of a CB-Series Buoy
Replace a Battery in a CB-Series Data Buoy
Tools Required
Data Well Lid Removal
Battery Removal
New Battery Installation
Buoy Plate Re-installation
Remove an X2/iSIC-CB for repair
Replace Desiccant
Desiccant Replacement Process
Replace the desiccant and re-assemble the X2-CB Housing
Check an Antenna Connection on an X2-CB
Component Overview
Verify a Connection is Tight
Inspect the RF Connectors for Moisture
Access a Main or RTU SD Card in an X2-CB Data Logger
Tools Required
Open the X2-CB Data Logger
Access the RTU SD Card
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Access the Main SD Card
Reassemble the X2-CB Housing
X2 Storage Requirements
5. Warranty
6. Service Request
Service Request
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1. System Power
Apply Power to the X2-CB
The X2-CB has an innovative power design that allows for simple connectivity and
interfacing with sensors on NexSens CB-Series buoys.
Power Jumper
CB-Series solar towers have a special UW-6 plug with a jumper built in that completes the
circuit for the battery to supply power to the X2-CB data logger. The X2-CB will not
receive power unless the solar panel is connected to the COM/SOLAR port.
Alternatively, a UW-JUMPER plug may be connected to the COM/SOLAR port to complete the
connection.
NexSens CB-Series Jumper Plug
Figure 1: X2-CB Buoy-Mounted
Data Logger.
Figure 2: CB-Series
jumper plug.
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Basic Requirements
Supply Voltage: 5-24VDC [+/-15%]
Operating Current Max: 300mA
Peak Current: 500mA for 1 second (@ 12V)
All standard CB-Series buoys meet and exceed the X2-CB required specifications.
Connector Wiring
Solar power is supplied to the CB-Series battery pack via the UW-6 Receptacle (marked
‘COM/SOLAR‘) port, which also acts as a power switch between the battery and data logger.
This allows quick power disconnection when the logger is not in use, as removing the solar
plug from the port also removes power from the logger. The below table and diagram show
the proper connections for the X2-CB’s UW-6R port.
X2-CB UW6 Power Port Pinout
Pin Number X2 Wire Color Signal
1 Green Host RS-485A
2 Blue Host RS-485B
3 Red BAT +
4 Black X2 GND | Regulator GND | BAT
–
5 Yellow Regulator Solar
6 Orange X2 Primary Power | Regulator
BAT
Figure 3: NexSens UW-6 receptacle port pin numbering.
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The schematic below shows the CB-Series buoy wiring from top to bottom.
Power & Communications Accessories
Please visit the accessories tab on the X2-CB product page to purchase power/comms
accessories.
CB-PW-AC-30W: CB-Series battery float charger, 30W
CB-PW-AC-60W: CB-Series battery float charger, 60W
UW6-USB-485P: Direct connect USB PC cable
Figure 4: X2-CB power schematic.
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UW-6 Universal Pinout
The schematics and table below detail the 6-pin plug and receptacle (UW-6) universal
pinout for all 6-pin NexSens cables excluding the 6-pin AC adapter.
Figure 1: NexSens UW-6 receptacle pinout Figure 2: NexSens UW-6 plug pinout
Figure 3: X2-CBMC/SDLMC MCIL-6-FS 6-pin
power port Figure 4: NexSens MCIL-6 plug pinout
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Universal Pinout
Note: For instruments shown below, all signals in the table refer to their 6-pin receptacle
port.
Plug Pin Receptacle Pin Wire Color G2-Series Signal X2 Signal X2-CB Buoy Solar Signal**
1 6 Red Ext. Power Input Main Power Input X2 PCB Power In
2 5 Yellow — Secondary Pwr Input* Unregulated Solar In
3 4 Black Ground Ground Ground
4 3 White — Backup Power Input Internal Buoy Bat.
5 2 Blue RS-485 B RS-485 B RS-485 B
6 1 Green RS-485 A RS-485 A RS-485 A
*X2-SDL’s purchased
after August 2021 do not
include secondary
power.
**Wire colors for the X2-
CB/X2-CBMC follow the
UW-6 Bulk Pinout
iSIC-V2 X2 X2-CB**
G2-RAIN X2-SDL* X2-CBMC**
G2-EXO X2-SDLMC
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Buzzer Indicator
X2-SDL & X2-CB data loggers are equipped with an onboard buzzer to provide audible
system status feedback to the user.
X2-SDL/X2-CB Buzzer Indicator Status Lookup
Event Beep Type Status
When power is applied Short beep System boot successful
During telemetry
connection Two short beeps Connection successfully established
During telemetry
connection
Three short
beeps No signal/connection failed
During Sensor Detection 3 second beep WQData LIVE setup completed
successfully
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Performing a Measurement System Power Budget
Analyzing a measurement system power budget is a useful practice to help ensure that a
proposed system design will meet the monitoring objectives and reliably deliver data. To
aid with this, NexSens has developed a power budget tool which can quickly estimate the
expected power performance of systems using the most common NexSens buoy platforms,
data logger configurations, and commonly integrated NexSens and third-party sensors for
deployment locations throughout the world.
The power budget tool is frequently updated with site locations, sensor types and other
information. Contact a NexSens applications engineer to request an up-to-date copy:
Contact NexSens
Instructions for Use
1. Begin by entering the company and/or project name and date in the top section. It is
recommended to save the file with a unique identifier before proceeding past this
point.
2. Proceed to enter basic information about the system – equipment type (logger and
hardware), telemetry option (if any), sample and transmit intervals, and extra battery if
used.
a. The example below shows a CB-950 data buoy with X2 data logger and CB-A05-3
battery pack with (3) 28 A-hr batteries. The system will sample every 20 minutes
and transmit all data every 60 minutes and has no additional batteries connected
(as is normal on buoy-based systems).
3. Proceed to select the sensors to be connected to the system from the predefined
sensor list (drop-down menu in Sensor column). Select the quantity of each sensor type
and whether they will use full power, switch power or internal power.
Project information header.
Enter system information.
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a. The example below shows an Airmar 200WX-IPX7 weather station, NexSens T-Node
FR temperature string with 10 nodes, Nortek Signature 1000 current profiler, and a
YSI EXO3 sonde all on switch power.
Select sensors from drop-down list.
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b. While the pre-populated sensor list is fairly extensive and frequently updated, there
may be cases where a sensor is not listed. In such cases, it is possible to enter up
to four devices manually by selecting Custom 1/2/3/4 from the drop-down list.
Custom sensor entry.
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c. Once selected, proceed to the Custom User Entry tab of the spreadsheet. Navigate
to the Sensor Details section and fill in the prompted information either using data
from the device manufacturer or measured data during device testing.
Custom sensor data entry.
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d. Note that some instrument types have a number of different configurations which
may affect power performance. The predefined sensors in the drop-down list are
set up based on a typical configuration and information provided by the
manufacturer or NexSens bench testing where applicable. These therefore
represent a best approximation based on available information. However, these
may also be edited manually in the Sensor Details section of the Power Budget
Calculation tab if more precise information is available.
4. Once all sensor information is entered, select a deployment location from the drop-
down list. The predefined list contains locations throughout the world, and it is normally
sufficient to select the closest possible location provided that the latitude and general
climate conditions are similar. However, if an appropriate location does not appear to
be available, it is recommended to contact NexSens as new locations can normally be
added quickly upon request.
5. Select which months of the year the system is expected to be deployed. In many cases,
all months will be selected, and December will be the limiting month for sites in the
northern hemisphere. However, this option is given because, particularly for data buoy
systems, some applications require only seasonal or short-term deployment.
6. Having entered all equipment information and deployment site conditions, the Results
section will now display the calculated results.
Select deployment location.
Select months of active
deployment.
Calculated results display.
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a. Reserve Days refers to how long the system could operate if starting with near
100% battery charge during an extended period without solar charging, or how
long a system without any solar charging can be expected to operate. For solar-
charged systems, a rule of thumb is to target at least two weeks (14 days) of
reserve power.
b. Panels Available refers to how many individual panels are available in a solar array.
CB-Series buoys normally have three panels on the solar tower. Since these are
oriented such that all three cannot receive sunlight simultaneously, this is
accounted for in the power budget by efficiency factors built into the calculation. It
is therefore not necessary to change this value.
c. Panels Required refers to the calculated result for solar charge capacity needed to
support the given configuration. It must be less than the Panels Available in order
for the system to support the application as defined.
d. Sufficient Power provides a yes/no answer for whether the selected hardware,
logging and transmit configuration is supportable. If it is not, it displays how many
additional panels would theoretically be required. Adjustments can be made to the
system design until a viable result is achieved.
Advanced Custom User Entry
Because flexibility for use with user-supplied loggers, batteries, sensors and other
electronics is a basic design principle of NexSens CB-Series data buoys, the power budget
calculator also facilitates user entry of data for all components.
Besides just the Custom sensor data entry noted in step 3 above, the Custom User Entry
tab supports input of user-supplied data loggers, solar panels, telemetry systems and
battery packs, as well as solar insolation for the exact deployment location.
These fields can be activated by selecting the Custom entry option for equipment type,
telemetry type, extra battery, sensors, and/or deployment location as illustrated below.
Custom user entry options.
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Disclaimer
The NexSens power budget calculator is intended as a helping tool for correct system
design. It integrates efficiency factors and other conservative estimates of power
consumption in order to provide a best possible approximation of system power
performance and viability. However, real-world conditions may vary, and field testing is the
only way to ensure that a system will perform adequately. NexSens does not assume
liability for any system that does not perform in accordance with power budget estimates.
Additional Resources
CB-Series Buoy Battery Capacities
NexSens Solar Panel Photovoltaic Specifications
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2. Establish Communication
X2 Data Flow
The X2 is designed to provide real-time data to users, most commonly via the WQData LIVE
web datacenter. The diagrams below outline how the data travels from sensor to user.
Wi-Fi
Figure 1: X2 to WQData LIVE.
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Cellular
Figure 2: X2-C to WQData LIVE.
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