Nortek AWAC User manual

© 2022 Nortek AS
This Quick Guide provides you with the basic information you need to get the instrument up and running as
quickly as possible. If you are familiar with the Nortek instruments, this guide may be all you need. If you are
new to our instruments and software, you should check out the Nortek Comprehensive Manual, which includes
principles of operation, mounting guidelines, troubleshooting, service manual and simple system integration.
You will also find a lot of useful information on the Nortek Support site.
Preparation
· Connect the battery/power cable.
· Install the software located on the USB memorystick. Once the installation is
complete, launch the application related to your instrument.
· Run a Functional Test, described in the Service Manual chapter in the
Comprehensive Manual.
· Set the Pressure Offset: On-line > Set Pressure Offset.
· If there are magnetic materials in proximityto the instrument when mounted, a
calibration of the compass is necessary: On-line > Compass Calibration.
· Erase the recorder in advance of everydeployment.
Deployment Planning
· Select Deployment Planning.
· The activated dialog contains all parameters required to specifythe operation of the
instrument. The Deployment Planning frame on the right-hand side of the dialog
displays performance parameters that are automaticallyupdated as you change
the settings. Use the Standard configuration to plan your deployment unless you
have a very good reason to move to Advanced. The latter increases the flexibilitybut
also the risk of making mistakes. Note that the Use Advanced Settings box (in the
Standard tab) must be checked for the advanced settings to be effective. A
description of each parameter can be found in the application help, accessible
from the dialog box.
· When finished, press Update to accept the changes. By using the Open/Save
commands in the File menu (or the corresponding toolbar buttons) the deployment
parameters can be saved to file at any given time and re-loaded when it is time to
deploythe instrument.
Start Recorder Deployment
· Establish communication with the instrument.
· Select Start Recorder Deployment, either from the pull-down menu or from the
toolbar.
· Specifythe date and time to start the data recording.
· In the Name field, enter up to sixcharacters of text to identifythe data file stored in
the recorder.
· In the File Comment box, enter up to 180 characters of text that will be included in
the data file for documenting the data set.
· After pressing OK, the Set Clock dialog box is displayed. We recommend setting
the clock to PC time. The time reference is especially important to ensure proper
synchronization between the instrument and other datasets collected
independently. Time spent on setting the time properlybefore a deployment can
save a lot of time in post processing and analysis.
· Press Yes to continue. A confirmation dialog will display the deployment
parameters and allow you to verifythat the set-up is what you intended.
· Press Confirm to send the configuration to the instrument. The instrument will verify
that the deployment has started. The configuration information from the deployment
sequence is saved in a log file that has the same name as the deployment..
Please check that all
expected items are included
in the shipment:
· The instrument
· External pow er/signal cable
· NORTEK equipment storage
box/toolkit
· USB to serial converter
· AC/DC voltage transformer
· Pow er cable (European or
American)
· Softw are on USB memory
stick
· Final test check list
· Packing list
Install the Nortek software
The instrument’s softw are is
located on the attached memory
stick.
Please check the web regularly
for updates on both softw are
and firmw are.

Stop Recorder Deployment
· Select Stop Recorder Deployment. When data acquisition has stopped a dialog
will display the current instrument and PC clock time.
Data Retrieval
· Select Recorder Data Retrieval.
· The recorder overview dialog will show a list of all files currently stored in the
recorder, including the time of the first measurement and the size for each file.
· Select a file in the list byclicking on the filename. Press Retrieve to specifythe
name and disk location of the file.
Tip! Check the retrieved data before deploying the instrument for the second time. If
something is wrong with the instrument, the configuration or the deployment, this will
be detected and the possibilityof making the same mistake twice is avoided.
Data Conversion
· To convert binary data files retrieved from the recorder to a readable ASCII format,
select Data Conversion.
· Add files to the Files to convert list byusing the Add file... file selection dialog.
Select the file to convert in the list and press the blue arrow. Specifythe location for
the converted files in the Save in folder field. An optional prefixor suffix that will be
added to the recorder filename may be specified. Select from the View files drop-
down list to open the converted (ASCII) files in e.g. Notepad.
On-line Data Collection
· Select Start Data Collection from the On-line menu (or press the toolbar button) to
start data acquisition. The real time displayshows velocitydata and sensor data as
it is collected.
· To capture the data that comes in over the serial port to disk select Disk
Recording… from the On-line menu and define the name of a file (without
extension). Once this disk file is defined, the Start Disk Recording and Stop Disk
Recording menu items and toolbar buttons will be enabled.
· The output can either be in ASCII, in fixed NMEA format, or binary format. Note: To
output NMEA, use the Activate Serial Output option in the Deployment planning
(needs a ProLog installed).
ProLog
The Nortek Processor and Logger (ProLog) is a micro-computer with a 4GB recorder
located on a separate circuit board inside the AWAC. Its primaryfunction is to reduce
raw wave data to standard wave estimates for online applications. Reduction of wave
data is valuable when considering low bandwidth communications (e.g. acoustic
modems, satellite). To learn more about the ProLog option visit the website.
Mounting
Proper mounting of the instrument is crucial for successful collection of data. Please
mount the instrument in accordance with the Mounting Guidelines in the
Comprehensive Manual.
Basic principles
The AWAC measures current
speed and direction by
transmitting sound waves that
are reflected by particles drifting
w ith the currents in the w ater.
The Doppler shift of the return
signal is proportional to the
velocity component along the
beams. By combining the
Doppler shifts fromthe three
beams, the 3D velocity is
calculated.
AST – Acoustic Surface
Tracking
The vertically oriented
transducer in the center of the
AWAC is used to measure the
distance to the sea surface
directly by using the simple echo
sounder principle. The center
beamis used to transmit a very
short pulse (relative to the
Doppler measurements). The
travel time fromthe AWAC to the
surface and back allow s us to
estimate the distance to the
surface for each ping.
Data analysis
The softw are supplied has been
designed to provide you w ith the
ability to set the instrument up
for deployment, upgrade the
firmw are, dow nload acquired
data and do a quality assurance
of them. The data can be
converted to ASCIIformat that
may be imported into various
post processing programs. In
addition, Nortek has developed a
series of real time and post
processing softw are packages
that simplify your analysis w ork.
These can be dow nloaded from
our w ebsite; contact Nortek for
a valid license key.

© 2022 Nortek AS
Cables
Our instruments are mostlyshipped with RS232
communication. RS422 is used for cables longer than 50
m. The wiring is shown in the tables to the right.
Communication baud rate: 300-115200 (user setting).
Recorder download baud rate: 600/1200 kBaud.
Ensure that the connectors and dummyplugs are
lubricated with dielectric silicone. We recommend 3M
silicone spray. Note that the silicone grease included in
the shipment should be used on the O-rings only.
Analog Input (default for most instruments)
The instrument can read two analog inputs at the same
time. The input range is 0-5V, corresponding to 0-65535
counts in the data file.
Power
· DC Input: 9-18 VDC
· Battery DC-input, nominal voltage: 13.5-18 V
· Absolute maximum DC input voltage: 18.6 V
On-line Interface Box
For cables longer than 50 m the online cable can be
connected to shore to an Interface Boxwhich supplies 48
VDC power and RS422 communication. In the
instrument, a DC-DC converter is used to reduce the
supply voltage to 15 V. Online cable systems are
conceptuallyquite simple, but in real life, theyare both a
technical and practical challenge. We have taken many
years of experience and designed what we believe to be
a very good solution. More information about the Interface
Box can be found on our website.
System Integrator Manual
For more information on how to control a Nortek product
with a non-PC controller, please take a look at the
System Integrator Manual.
Troubleshooting
As most problems are caused by simple mistakes,
please initially check if
· you have forgotten to power the system
· the connector has fallen out of the computer
· you are using the wrong serial port
Nortek online
At our website you will find technical support, user
manuals, and the latest software and firmware. General
information, technical notes, and user experience can
also be found here.
Email: [e-mail] for general inquiries or
[e-mail] for technical support.
Underwater Connector
Termination
Pin #
Wire Color
Purpose
Pins
3
Black
RS232 Tx
Twisted
Pair
2
4
White
RS232 Rx
3
5
Black
RS232 Gnd
Twisted
Pair
5
6
White/purple
Power Output
7
Black
Analogue Ch. 2
Twisted
Pair
8
White/orange
Analogue Ch. 1
1
Black
Power Gnd
Twisted
Pair
2
White
Power +
Screen terminated at pin 1 in underwater connector, unterminated at PC
side.
Ref: N2100-002A
Underwater Connector
Termination
Pin #
Wire Color
Purpose
Pins
3
Black
RS422 Tx +
Twisted
Pair
7
4
White
RS422 Tx -
2
7
Black
RS422 Rx -
Twisted
Pair
8
8
White/orange
RS422 Rx +
3
5
Black
Sync. Out
Twisted
Pair
6
White/purple
Sync. In.
1
Black
Power Gnd
Twisted
Pair
2
White
Power +
Screen terminated at pin 1 in underwater connector, unterminated at PC
side.
Ref: N2100-108
Wiring of RS232 (upper) and RS422 (lower) cables.