Onset HOBO U30 NRC User manual

H
HO OB BO O®
®
U
U3 30 0 N NR RC C
(
(N No o R Re em mo ot te e
C
Co om mm mu un ni ic ca at ti io on n) )
User’sGuide
onset®
©2008 Onset Computer Corporation. All rights reserved.
Onset, HOBO, and HOBOware are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Onset Computer Corporation for its data logger products and
configuration/interface software.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
Onset Computer Corporation
470 MacArthur Blvd.
Bourne, MA 02532
Part #: MAN-U30-NRC
Doc #: D-11866-A

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide i
Warnings
ii HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide
Contact Information
For support, please contact the company that you bought the products from:
Onset Computer Corporation or an Onset Authorized Dealer.
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 3450
Pocasset, MA 02559-3450
Phone: 1-800-LOGGERS (1-800-564-4377) or 508-759-9500
Fax: [phone]
Hours of Operation: 8 AM to 5 PM ET, Monday through Friday
E-mail: [e-mail]
Main Onset Web site: www.onsetcomp.com
If you purchased the products through an Onset Authorized Dealer, you can
also refer to www.hobohelp.com for support information.

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide iii
Contents
Warnings....................................................................................... i
Contact Information ......................................................................ii
Chapter One:Overview............................................................1
Introduction..................................................................................1
Key Features ...............................................................................2
HOBO U30 NRC Station Components........................................3
Smart Sensors.............................................................................6
The Analog Sensor Port (Optional) .............................................7
Chapter Two:Initial Setup and Test........................................9
Procedure ....................................................................................9
Installing the Mounting Plates....................................................10
Connecting Smart Sensors........................................................11
Connecting Analog Sensors......................................................13
Connecting the Battery..............................................................14
Connecting the U30 to a Computer...........................................15
Connecting the U30 to HOBOware Pro.....................................16
Configuring the Analog Sensor Port..........................................18
Launching the U30 NRC............................................................21
Checking the U30 Status...........................................................23
Reading Out the U30 NRC........................................................25
Chapter Three:Installing the U30 in the Field........................27
Procedure ..................................................................................28
Installing Grounding Wire ..........................................................30
Installing Weatherproof Cable Channel(s).................................31
Connect Solar Panel or AC Power............................................35
Launching the U30 NRC in the Field.........................................36
Chapter Four:The Battery ...................................................... 37
iv HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide
Maximizing Battery Life..............................................................38
Battery Voltage ..........................................................................39
Estimating Battery Life without External Power.........................40
Maintaining the Battery..............................................................41
Charging a Dead Battery...........................................................42
Replacing the Battery ................................................................43
Chapter Five:Maintenance ....................................................45
General Maintenance ................................................................45
Inspecting the HOBO U30 Station.............................................46
Adding a New Sensor................................................................47
Removing or Replacing Sensors...............................................48
Testing Smart Sensors..............................................................49
Chapter Six:Troubleshooting..............................................51
LED Descriptions.......................................................................51
Problems and Solutions.............................................................53
Chapter Seven:Reference.........................................................57
Specifications.............................................................................58
Time Accuracy...........................................................................61
Memory......................................................................................62
Power.........................................................................................63
Accessories................................................................................64
Appendix C: The Smart Sensor Expander Board.........................65
Accessing the Secondary Cable Slot ........................................65
Installing the Expander Board ...................................................68

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide v
Supplementary Information............................................................ 71
Warranty ....................................................................................72
Returns ......................................................................................74
Repair Policy..............................................................................75
Contacting Technical Support....................................................76

vi HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide 1
Chapter One: Overview
Introduction
The HOBO U30 Station is a data logging system that can be easily
reconfigured and adapted to a wide variety of applications. Up to 15
channels of data can be recorded and monitored with HOBOware®Pro
software.
Contents
The HOBO U30 Station package includes:
•HOBO U30 Station
•Mounting Kit
•Grounding Wire
•Cable Entry and Sealing Kit
•Optional Analog Sensor Port, if ordered
•Optional Sensor Expander Board, if ordered
2 HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide
Key Features
Automatic Detection of Smart Sensors
The HOBO U30 Station automatically recognizes Smart Sensors; simply
plug them in before logging begins. No programming, wiring or calibration
is required to set them up. The connections between the Smart Sensors and
the logger are digital, ensuring accurate, reliable data collection and storage.
Optional Analog Sensor Port
The HOBO U30 Station can be optionally configured with an Analog Sensor
Port, which includes two user-configurable inputs that can accept and
provide excitation power to a wide range of Onset and third-party sensors
with 0-20 V or 0-20 mA output. The Analog Sensor Port is factory-installed.
See The Analog Sensor Port (Optional) on page 7.
Rechargeable Battery
The HOBO U30 Station uses a sealed lead-acid battery that can be recharged
via a solar panel or AC adapter. This provides continuous power to keep the
HOBO U30 Station recording data for years.
See The Battery on page 37.

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide 3
HOBO U30 NRC Station Components
U30 NRC Components
4 HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide
Component Descriptions
Item Description
1. LED There are three Light Emitting Diode (LED)
status indicators.
Logging indicates whether the system is
currently logging.
Alarm indicates if an alarm has been tripped.
Sensor active indicates that Smart Sensor
network communications are occurring.
For more information see LED Descriptions
on page 51.
2. Logger The U30 sits inside the outer case.
3. Analog Sensor Port This connector is where the optional Analog
Sensor Port is factory-installed.
4. USB port Plug in a USB cable here to connect directly
to a computer.
5. Smart Sensor Expansion
Board
6. Vent This vent allows pressure to equalize inside
the enclosure, but does not allow liquid to
pass through.
NOTE: The pressure inside the case does not
match the outside air pressure exactly so a
barometric pressure sensor deployed within
this case cannot measure the true
atmospheric pressure unless it has its own
unrestricted vent to the outside.
7. Cable access openings All cables and wires are routed through a
protective rubber cable channel placed in this
opening. If you are using the optional
expander board for additional Smart Sensors,
you will need to use both cable access
openings. See Accessing the Secondary
Cable on page 65.
8. Smart Sensor ports Connect up to five Smart Sensors in these
RJ-12 jacks. Use one port to connect the
optional expander board for additional Smart

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide 5
Sensors.
9. Battery A 4-volt sealed lead-acid (SLA) battery is
located behind the internal enclosure.
10. Battery connector Plug in the 4-volt sealed lead-acid battery
here.
11. Ground connector Plug in grounding wire here to ground the
system. Systems that are installed on roofs or
other exposed locations should be grounded.
12. External power supply Plug in the compatible solar panel or AC
adapter here. Important: Always connect or
disconnect external power before the battery.
Damage may occur if the battery is
unplugged before the external power is
disconnected.
13. Internal enclosure This provides a second weatherproof housing
for the electronics in the HOBO U30 Station.
There is no need to ever open this, and
opening it will void the warranty.
6 HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide
Smart Sensors
Smart Sensor Cable Length
The HOBO U30 Station can work with a maximum total of Smart Sensor
cable lengths up to 100 meters (328 feet), as measured from the logger
connection point to the electronics embedded in the individual cables.
Optional Smart Sensor extension cable lengths must also be included in the
total. This limitation applies to Smart Sensor cables only. The lengths of
other cables, such as those connected to the Analog Sensor Port or the analog
portion of smart sensor cables do not need to be included in this total.
Data Channel Limitations
The HOBO U30 Station can log up to 15 data channels (not including the
internal battery channel). This includes the two channels in the Analog
Sensor Port plus each of the Smart Sensor channels (note that some Smart
Sensors may have more than one channel). If you have more than 15
channels connected, some of the sensors will be ignored. You should remove
any Smart Sensors that will not be used in the deployment, and disable the
second channel in the Analog Sensor Port if it is not needed (the first channel
cannot be disabled).
If you connect a Smart Sensor that has multiple channels (such as
temperature and relative humidity), all of its channels will be logged. There
is no way to disable them.

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide 7
The Analog Sensor Port (Optional)
The Analog Sensor Port is an easy-to-configure, flexible DC signal-
conditioning option that can be factory-installed in the HOBO U30 Station.
This two-channel port can accept, and provide excitation power to a wide
range of Onset and third-party sensors with 0–20 V or 0–20 mA output,
including devices with 4–20 mA current loop interface, and sensors with 0–
2.5, 0–5, and 0–10 V DC output.
The Analog Sensor Port features input protection and signal filtering, as well
as delta-sigma A/D conversion and factory calibration. This port features
extremely low power operation, resulting in long battery life for unattended
data logging applications. Precision electronics provide ±0.25% accuracy
from 50 mV to full scale (FS).
Sensors connected to this Analog Sensor Port can be configured in
HOBOware Pro software. Configuration options include channel names,
scaling parameters, and excitation power.
If your HOBO U30 Station does not have an Analog Sensor Port and you
wish to upgrade to one, contact Onset Computer Corporation for information
Functional block diagram
Analog Sensor Port Functional Block Diagram
8 HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide 9
Chapter Two: Initial Setup and Test
Procedure
Before you take the U30 Station into the field for deployment you should
perform some preliminary hardware assembly, configuration, and testing.
1. Access Secondary Cable Slot (page 65) (if applicable)
If you ordered a Smart Sensor Expander Board and you will be
using those ports now, you must remove the covering on the
Secondary Cable Slot.
2. Install Mounting Plates (page 10)
3. Connect Smart Sensors (page 11) and Analog Sensors (page 13).
Onset recommends that you test all sensors you plan to deploy with
the logger.
If you are using the Solar Radiation Shield, set up the Temperature
and Temperature/RH sensors. There are several small pieces
required to connect these sensors to the shield that could easily get
lost in the field. It is strongly recommended you install these
sensors in the solar radiation shield before going to the field.
4. Connect Battery (page 14).
5. Connect U30 to a computer (page 15 ).
6. Run HOBOware and select the U30 (page 16).
7. Configure the Analog Sensor Port (page 18).
8. Launch the U30 (page 21).
9. Check the U30 Status (page 23)
10. Readout the U30 (page 25)
11. Repack the logger and sensors for transit.
Onset strongly recommends that you use the original packaging
when possible because it is custom-designed to protect the weather
station and its components.
10 HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide
Installing the Mounting Plates
Screw the mounting plates onto the back of the HOBO U30 Station case
using a Phillips-head screwdriver. Be careful to orient the plates as shown
below so that the screw heads are sunk into the screw holes.
Installing the mounting plates

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide 11
Connecting Smart Sensors
NOTE: Connect Smart Sensors before you begin logging with the U30.
Smart Sensors plugged in after logging has already begun will be ignored.
Secondary Cable Slots
Before You Begin
This procedure assumes that the Smart Sensor Expander Board and
connector are already installed. See page 65.
If you are using the Smart Sensor Expander Board, connect sensors to those
ports first.
1. Run cables for secondary Smart Sensors through the Secondary Cable
Opening.
2. Plug the cables into the Smart Sensor Expander Board.
12 HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide
Primary Cable Slots
1. Run cables for Smart Sensors through the Primary Cable Opening.
2. Plug the cables into the primary Smart Sensor ports.

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide 13
Connecting Analog Sensors
Refer to the sensor documentation for sensor connection details and use the
pin out diagram below to connect a two- or three-wire sensor or transducer
to the module’s terminals.
To make the connection:
1. Loosen the screw for each pin on the connector.
2. Insert the appropriate wire. See Pin Out below.
3. Tighten the screw.
Analog Port Pin Out
Pin #
Left Function Pin #
Right Function
1 Shield 1 Shield
2 Channel 1 Signal 2 Channel 2 Signal
3 Channel 1 Return 3 Channel 2 Return
4 Excitation Voltage 4 Excitation Return
Cables
Make sure all wires attached to the Analog Sensor Port are routed through
the cable access opening.
To fit into the holes in the rubber cable channel, the ideal cable diameter is
0.157 in (4.0 mm). If the cable is too small, build up the diameter using heat
shrink. If it is too big and you are using the secondary cable access opening,
then place the cable through the left-most hole in the rubber cable channel
where the diameter can be up to 0.25 in (6.4 mm).
If you are not using the secondary opening or the cable is still too big, then
splice on another cable with a smaller diameter to fit through the hole. See
the steps later in this section for working with the rubber cable channel.
14 HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide
Connecting the Battery
Connect the built-in battery cable to the battery.
NOTE: As long as your battery has adequate charge, you do not need to
connect the solar panel or AC adapter for this initial setup/test launch.
Connecting the Battery

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide 15
Connecting the U30 to a Computer
To connect to a computer running HOBOware Pro, plug the “mini-B” end of
the USB cable provided into the USB port on the HOBO U30 Station and
connect the “A” end to the USB port in your computer.
If the device has never been connected to this computer before, it may take
some time for the computer to detect the new hardware and report that it has
connected successfully.
One or more messages will appear, indicating that new hardware has been
found. You may also hear a chime.
NOTE: Your computer may tell you to reboot before you can use the device.
It is not necessary to reboot.
16 HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide
Connecting the U30 to HOBOware Pro
To connect the U30 to HOBOware Pro:
1. Launch HOBOware Pro.
2. From the Device menu select Select Device ….

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide 17
3. In the Select Device pane, click in the circle next to the desired
device name and then click OK.
When the device is recognized by HOBOware Pro, the status bar at the
bottom of the HOBOware Pro window will show the connected device and
indicate Ready.
You can now begin configuring or monitoring the device.
18 HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide
Configuring the Analog Sensor Port
This topic provides the basic steps for configuring the analog sensor port.
See the HOBOware User Guide for complete details.
Steps
To configure an Analog Sensor Port, perform the following steps:
1. From the Device menu, choose Configure Modules/Ports.
The Select Channel to Configure dialog will appear showing all configurable
Analog Sensors attached to the U30 Station.
2. Click on the + sign to expand the entry and show the channels.

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide 19
3. Select a channel and then click the Configure button.
NOTE: The default channel names are just place holders. Either
channel can be configured to measure voltage or current. For
example, both channels can be used to monitor sensors with 4-20
mA output. You can change the name and measurement type of the
channel in the Configure Channel pane.
20 HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide
The Configure Channel window appears.
4. Change any configurable parameters as required:
Channel Name: You can select Current or Voltage or enter a
custom label to represent the type of measurement the sensor is
taking. For example if you are connecting a level sensor, you could
make the Channel Name Level.
Excitation Power: See the HOBOware User Manual for details.
Measurement Type: Select desired type corresponding to the
sensor output. If you change the default Channel Name make sure
you the Measurement Type to match.
Scaling Parameters: Select the unit to be scaled and then map
values to new units as required. See the HOBOware User Manual
for details.
5. Click Configure to send the configuration to the port.
The Analog Sensor Port is now configured and you can launch the U30.

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide 21
Launching the U30 NRC
1. Click the Launch icon on the toolbar to display the Launch
window.
The Launch Logger window appears.
22 HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide
2. Complete fields as required.
Description: Enter a description if desired.
Channels to Log: Make sure all of the sensors connected to the logger
are visible in the Channels to Log pane.
Logging Interval: Choose a logging interval of 10 seconds so that your
test will yield enough data to analyze. When you re-launch the logger in
the field, you will change this to your desired value for deployment.
Launch Options: Select Now.
3. Click Launch.
The “logging ok” light on the logger should blink every two seconds during
logging.

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide 23
Checking the U30 Status
1. From the main menu go to Device > Status to open the Status
window.
The Status window appears, showing the status of the logger and the
attached sensors.
24 HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide
2. Verify Sensor Readings
Change the sensor readings by changing the conditions.
For example, if you are measuring temperature, hold the
temperature sensor in your hands for a minute or two and verify that
the temperature shown in the Current Readings increases.
3. Close the Status window by clicking OK.

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide 25
Reading Out the U30 NRC
1. Click the Readout icon on the toolbar to open the Readout window
(or from the main menu go to Device > Readout).
2. When HOBOware Pro asks if you want to stop the logger before
reading out, click Stop.
3. When HOBOware Pro prompts you to save the data file, click Save.
4. Review the data and verify that it is accurate. The graph should
reflect the change in conditions that you caused previously.
26 HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide
5. Stop Logging
Once you are satisfied everything is working properly, stop the
logger by clicking the Stop icon on the toolbar (or from the main
menu go to Device > Stop).
After the logger has been stopped, the data remains in the logger
until the next launch.
6. Prepare Logger for deployment.
You are now ready to deploy the U30 in the field. If you are not
deploying the system immediately, disconnect the battery to save
battery power. You can also disconnect the sensors for transporting
the system to the field.

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide 27
Chapter Three:
Installing the U30 in the Field
Tools Required
•A notebook computer with HOBOware Pro installed is
recommended for launching the U30 after setup.
•Bladed screwdriver or chisel
•Phillips-head screw driver
•Small flat-head screw driver for Analog Sensor Port screw
terminals (if applicable)
•Wrench or socket driver
•File
•Silicone grease
•Plugs for unused cable channel holes
•Grounding wire
28 HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide
Procedure
Before You Begin
Before you head into the field for installing the U30, use the checklist in
Appendix C to make sure you have the necessary tools to set up the logger
and tripod in the field.
Steps
This procedure assumes that you have performed the preliminary hardware
setup and configuration and have performed a pre-deployment test (see
Chapter 2, page 9).
1. Setup the Tripod.
2. Mount the U30.
3. Install grounding wire (optional) (page 30).
4. Plug all Smart Sensors into the HOBO U30 Station (if not already
plugged in) making sure all cables are routed through the cable
access opening(s) (page 11).
5. Connect Analog Sensors to the Analog Sensor Port, if applicable
(page 13).
NOTE: It may be necessary to build-up the diameter third-party
sensors with heat-shrink or electrical tape to match the diameter of
the holes in the rubber cable channels and ensure a weather-tight
seal.
6. Run the cable for a solar panel or AC adapter through the Primary
Cable Slot, but do not connect it yet.
7. Install the weatherproof cable channel (page 31).
8. Connect the battery (page 14).
9. Connect the solar panel or AC adapter (page 35).
10. Verify that the HOBO U30 Station powers up properly.
11. Connect the U30 to a notebook computer (page 15).
12. Connect the U30 to HOBOware Pro (page 16).

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide 29
13. Configure Launch Settings.
14. Disconnect the computer from the U30 (make sure you remove the
USB cable from the U30).
15. Close the door and snap the hinges shut on the HOBO U30 Station
case. Consider using padlocks to secure the case.
The system should begin operating as configured.
30 HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide
Installing Grounding Wire
You should install the grounding wire if you are using the Wind Speed and
Direction Smart Sensor (S-WCA-MXXX) or if you are installing the HOBO
U30 Station on a roof or in a location with exposure to lightning.
The grounding wire may also be helpful in reducing sensor errors when
installing the HOBO U30 Station near other radio or electrical equipment or
antennas.
Insert the grounding wire through the opening and plug it into the ground
connector.
Connect Grounding Wire

HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide 31
Installing Weatherproof Cable
Channel(s)
All cables and wires should be routed through the cable access opening at
this point. If you are using the Smart Sensor expander board, make sure
those cables are routed through the secondary cable access opening.
1. Grease the Cable Channel
Apply a small amount of silicone grease (about the size of a pea) onto
your fingertip and then work a light coating into the top, bottom, and
two ends (the sides with no holes) of the rubber cable channel. Also put
a light coating on the inside of the two halves of the cable channel.
Greasing the cable channel
32 HOBO U30 Station (NRC) User’s Guide
2. Place Cables in Channel
Hold the channel just below the HOBO U30 Station case (with the
channel’s hinged side on the left and the taper facing in).
Open the channel and lay the cables and wires into the grooves.
NOTE: The solar panel or AC adapter cable must be in the leftmost
(larger diameter) groove.
NOTE: Use the small rubber plugs to fill any unused grooves.
Center the thick part of the plugs in the groove. Plug ‘tails’ can face
in or out. It may be easier to install these after the rubber cable
channel has been pushed into the case. Insert the thin part of the
plug into the hole and pull to center the thick part of the plug in the
channel.
Installing Cable Channel