Pulsar dBi Series User manual

dBi Series ( )
Intelligent Transducer
Instruction Manual
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PULSAR MEASUREMENT
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dBi SERIES (HART) (THIRD EDITION REV 1)
February 2021
Part Number M-560-0-004-1P
COPYRIGHT
© Pulsar Measurement, 2012-21. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any
language in any form without the written permission of Pulsar Process Measurement Limited.
WARRANTY AND LIABILITY
Pulsar Process Measurement Limited guarantee for a period of 2 years from the date of delivery
that it will either exchange or repair any part of this product returned to Pulsar Process
Measurement Limited if it is found to be defective in material or workmanship, subject to the
defect not being due to unfair wear and tear, misuse, modification or alteration, accident,
misapplication, or negligence.
DISCLAIMER
Pulsar Measurement neither gives nor implies any process guarantee for this product and shall
have no liability in respect of any loss, injury or damage whatsoever arising out of the
application or use of any product or circuit described herein.
Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of this documentation, but Pulsar Measurement
cannot be held liable for any errors.
Pulsar Measurement operates a policy of constant development and improvement and reserves
the right to amend technical details, as necessary.
The dBi shown on the cover of this manual is used for illustrative purposes only and may not be
representative of the actual dBi supplied.
CONTACT
For technical support, please contact:
Europe: [e-mail]
Outside Europe: [e-mail]
If you have any comments or suggestions about this product, please contact:
Europe: [e-mail]
Outside Europe: [e-mail]
Pulsar Measurement website: www.pulsarmeasurement.com
United States
11451 Belcher Road South
Largo,
FL 33773
888-473-9546
Canada
16456 Sixsmith Drive
Long Sault, Ont.
K0C 1P0
855-300-9151
United Kingdom
Cardinal Building, Enigma
Commercial Centre
Sandy’s Road, Malvern
WR14 1JJ
00 44 (0)1684 891371

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CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Start Here… ...........................................................................................................6
About this Manual ...............................................................................................................6
About the dBi Series (HART) Intelligent Transducer ..............................................7
Functional Description .......................................................................................................7
Product Specification..........................................................................................................9
EU Declaration of Conformity ......................................................................................11
Chapter 2 Installation...........................................................................................................12
Unpacking............................................................................................................................ 12
Power Supply Requirements......................................................................................... 12
Dimensions .......................................................................................................................... 13
Outdoor and Open Vessel Installation ..................................................................... 15
Closed Vessel Installation .............................................................................................. 16
Cable ...................................................................................................................................... 17
Typical wiring for a Non-Hazardous location........................................................18
Preparation for Operation ............................................................................................. 19
Maintenance ....................................................................................................................... 20
Hazardous Area Installation.......................................................................................... 20
Chapter 3 How To Use Your dBi Sensor .......................................................................25
4-20 mA Device .................................................................................................................25
Accessing Parameters......................................................................................................26
Hart Commands................................................................................................................. 26
dBi Hart PC Lite..................................................................................................................26
Parameter Defaults...........................................................................................................31
Chapter 4 Getting Results From Your dBi Sensor.....................................................32
Setting up Your Application.......................................................................................... 32
Setting Security Passcodes............................................................................................ 33
Resetting Factory Defaults............................................................................................. 33
Checking the Information Specific to your dBi Intelligent Transducer........34
Chapter 5 Parameter Listing and Description ............................................................ 35

PULSAR MEASUREMENT
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Application...........................................................................................................................35
Operation ............................................................................................................................. 35
Distances .............................................................................................................................. 35
Data Logs ............................................................................................................................. 37
Volume .................................................................................................................................. 39
Conversion........................................................................................................................... 39
Conversion........................................................................................................................... 39
Breakpoints.......................................................................................................................... 44
Tables..................................................................................................................................... 45
mA Output........................................................................................................................... 46
Stability.................................................................................................................................. 49
System ................................................................................................................................... 49
DATEM...................................................................................................................................51
Chapter 6 Troubleshooting................................................................................................ 53
Chapter 7 Disposal ................................................................................................................ 54
Transducers ......................................................................................................................... 54
Controllers............................................................................................................................ 54

DBI (HART) INSTRUCTION MANUAL
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CHAPTER 1: START HERE…
Congratulations on your purchase of a Pulsar dBi Series Intelligent
Transducer Level Monitoring System. This quality system has been
developed over many years and represents the latest in high technology
ultrasonic level measurement and control. It has been designed to give you
years of trouble-free performance, and a few minutes spent reading this
operating manual will ensure that your installation is as simple as possible.
About this Manual
It is important that this manual is referred to for correct installation and
operation. There are various parts of the manual that offer additional help
or information as shown.
Tips
TIP: Look for this icon throughout your Pulsar Measurement manual to
find helpful information and answers to frequently asked questions .
Additional Information
Additional Information
At various parts of the manual, you will find sections
like this that explain specific things in more detail.

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About the dBi Series (HART) Intelligent Transducer
Functional Description
The dBi Series Intelligent Transducer is a highly developed ultrasonic level
measurement system which provides non-contacting level measurement for
a wide variety of applications in both liquids and solids. Its unique design
gives unrivalled performance in echo discrimination and accuracy in a loop
powered device.
Easy calibration and maintenance free “fit and forget” performance mean
that you can install the dBi Series Intelligent Transducer Level Monitoring
System rapidly and with confidence, with calibration being achieved either
using a HART programmer/calibrator, or via a PC utilising the Pulsar
interface and software.

DBI (HART) INSTRUCTION MANUAL
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The dBi Series Intelligent Transducer operates on the principle of timing the
echo received from a measured pulse of sound transmitted in air and utilises
“state of the art” echo extraction technology.
dBi Series Intelligent Transducer comes in four models:
1. dBi 3 with a range from 0.125m (0.41 feet) to 3.00m (9.84 feet).
2. dBi 6 with a range of 0.3m (0.98 feet) to 6.00m (19.69 feet).
3. dBi 10 with a range of 0.3m (0.98 feet) to 10.00m (32.81 feet).
4. dBi 15 with a range of 0.5m (1.64 feet) to 15.00m (49.213 feet).
All models can be mounted via a rear, 1” BSP/NPT, thread (Standard) with a
model with alternative front thread mounting being available, in addition to
this flange mount and PVDF options are also available. See Chapter 2
Installation for further details.
All model types are available for use in hazardous area installations with
either Ex mb or Ex ia ATEX certification.
The dBi Series Intelligent Transducer has a 4 to 20mA output which can be
programmed to give an output proportional to level, space, distance or
volume, dependant on the measurement mode selected and provides a
‘fault condition’ alarm of either 3.8mA or 22mA.
Boot time for the dBi Series intelligent Transducer from power up to stable
reading: cold boot = 9 seconds, warm boot = 4 seconds (if within 12hrs from
last start up). For 4 to 20ma set proportional to measured level/distance.

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Product Specification
PHYSICAL
Dimensions & Mounting
dBi3: 77mm dia x 134mm high (3 x 5.31 inch) Rear
thread 1” BSP/NPT
dBi6 & dBi10: 86mm dia x 121 high (3.38 x 4.75 inch).
Rear thread 1” BSP/NPT
dBi15: 86mm dia x 134 mm high (3.38 x 5.32 inch). Rear
1” BSP/NPT
Weight
dBi3: 1kg (2.2lbs), dBi6: 1.2kg (2.7lbs)
dBi10: 1.3kg (2.9lbs), dBi15: 1.4kg (3.1lbs)
Enclosure material/description
Valox 357
Transducer cable requirements
2 core screened. Integral cable length 5, 10, 20 or 30m
ENVIRONMENTAL
Enclosure protection (all models)
IP68
Temperature Compensation
Internal temperature sensor, ± 0.5oC
Max. & min. temperature
(electronics)
-40 ºC to +80 ºC (-40ºF to 176ºF)
CE Approval
See EU Declaration of Conformity
ATEX
II 1 G Ex ia IIC T4 Ga, II 1 D Ex ia IIIC T130OC
Da Tamb -40oC to +80oC
II 2 E Ex mb IIC T4 Gb, II 2 D Exmb IIIC
T130oC Db Tamb -40oC to +80oC
PERFORMANCE
Measurement Range
dBi3: 0.125m (0.41 ft.) to 3.00m (9.84 ft.)
dBi6: 0.3m (0.98 ft.) to 6.00m (19.69 ft.)
dBi10: 0.3m (0.98 ft.) to 10.00m (32.81ft.)
dBi15: 0.5m (1.64 ft.) to 15.00m (49.213 ft.)
Accuracy/Repeatability
dBi3: 2mm (0.08 inch)
dBi6: 4mm (0.16 inch)
dBi10: 3mm (0.12 inch) up to 6m (20ft.) range
6mm (0.24 inch) over 6m range
dBi15: 5mm (0.2 inch) up to 10m (33ft.) range
10mm (0.39 inch) over 10m range
Frequency
dBi3: 125kHz
dBi6: 75kHz
dBi10: 50kHz
dBi15: 41kHz
Beam Angle
dBi3, dBi6 & dBi10: <10o

DBI (HART) INSTRUCTION MANUAL
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dBi15: <8o(all beam angles are inclusive, but give an
effective beam angle of <3o)
OUTPUTS
Digital Communications
FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) modulation of 1200-
2400Hz
Communication Protocol
HART 7, 4-20mA loop powered, output resolution 1µA
PROGRAMMING
PC programming (via HART
modem and 250 Ohm resistor)
HART PC Lite (setup only), Pulsar PC Suite-
and 250 Ohm resistor). HART PC (setup, installation,
echo profiles, cloning and troubleshooting).
Program security
Via passcode
Programmed data integrity
Via non-volatile RAM
PC Setup and monitoring
Compatible with Win 7, Win 8 and Win 10
SUPPLY
Power supply
10 - 28V DC
Power Consumption
Current consumption at start-up = 12mA, unit
powered every 15 minutes for 4 seconds the average
current = 53µA
Pulsar Measurement operates a policy of constant development and
improvement and reserve the right to amend technical details, as necessary.