RD Instruments WorkHorse Sentinel User manual

WorkHorse
Sentinel ADCP
User’s Guide
P/N 957-6163-00 (January 2001)
RD Instruments
Acoustic Doppler Solutions
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Table of Contents
1Introduction....................................................................................................................................... 1
2WorkHorse Sentinel ADCP Applications........................................................................................ 2
3System Overview .............................................................................................................................. 4
3.1 Sentinel ADCP Overview ....................................................................................................................4
3.2 I/O Cable Overview.............................................................................................................................6
3.3 Battery Pack Overview........................................................................................................................7
3.4 Flash Memory Card Overview.............................................................................................................8
3.5 Spare Parts.........................................................................................................................................8
4WorkHorse Care................................................................................................................................ 9
4.1 General Handling Guidelines ..............................................................................................................9
4.2 Assembly Guidelines ..........................................................................................................................9
4.3 Deployment Guidelines.....................................................................................................................10
5Setup the WorkHorse Sentinel ADCP........................................................................................... 11
5.1 Serial Communication.......................................................................................................................11
5.2 What if the WorkHorse Does Not Respond.......................................................................................12
6Software........................................................................................................................................... 12
6.1 System Requirements.......................................................................................................................13
6.2 Software Installation..........................................................................................................................13
6.3 Utility Software ..................................................................................................................................13
6.4 WorkHorse Software Philosophy ......................................................................................................15
6.5 File Naming Conventions..................................................................................................................15
7Batteries and Power ....................................................................................................................... 16
7.1 AC Adapter .......................................................................................................................................16
7.2 Alkaline Battery Pack Capacity .........................................................................................................16
7.3 External Battery Pack .......................................................................................................................16
7.4 Reusing Alkaline Batteries ................................................................................................................17
7.5 Bench-Top Battery Power Requirements..........................................................................................18
7.6 Operation Modes ..............................................................................................................................18
8Testing Your WorkHorse................................................................................................................ 18
9Compass Calibration...................................................................................................................... 20
9.1 Preparing for Calibration ...................................................................................................................20
9.2 Compass Calibration Verification......................................................................................................20
9.3 Compass Calibration Procedure .......................................................................................................21
10 Internal Pressure Sensor ............................................................................................................... 23
10.1 Pressure Sensor Maintenance..........................................................................................................23
11 Deployment Guide .......................................................................................................................... 24
11.1 Deployment Checklist .......................................................................................................................24
11.2 Prepare the ADCP for Deployment ...................................................................................................26
11.3 Use the Deployment Wizard .............................................................................................................27
11.3.1 Plan the Deployment.........................................................................................................................28
11.3.2 Set the ADCP’s Clock .......................................................................................................................29
11.3.3 Verify the Compass...........................................................................................................................30
11.3.4 Run the Pre-Deployment Tests.........................................................................................................31
11.3.5 Send the Commands ........................................................................................................................32
11.4 Deploy and Recover the ADCP.........................................................................................................33
11.5 Recover the Data..............................................................................................................................34
11.6 Verify and View the Data ..................................................................................................................35
11.7 Erase the Recorder...........................................................................................................................36
12 Backing Up Data ............................................................................................................................. 36

13 Reviewing the Data......................................................................................................................... 37
13.1 'Where' was the Data? ......................................................................................................................37
13.2 'When' was the Data? .......................................................................................................................37
13.3 'What' is the Data? ............................................................................................................................37
14 A Few Principles of Operation ...................................................................................................... 38
15 Technical Support .......................................................................................................................... 39
List of Figures
Figure 1. Sentinel ADCP Overview ................................................................................................ 5
Figure 2. Connecting and Disconnecting the I/O Cable.................................................................. 6
Figure 3. I/O Cable Overview ......................................................................................................... 6
Figure 4. Battery Pack Overview .................................................................................................... 7
Figure 5. Memory Card Overview................................................................................................... 8
Figure 6. WorkHorse Sentinel Connections.................................................................................. 11
Figure 7. External Battery Pack Connection................................................................................. 17
Figure 8. Compass Alignment ...................................................................................................... 22
Figure 9. Visual Inspection before Deployment ............................................................................ 25
Figure 10. Prepare the ADCP ........................................................................................................ 26
Figure 11. Using the Deployment Wizard....................................................................................... 27
Figure 12. Plan the Deployment..................................................................................................... 28
Figure 13. Deployment Wizard – Setting the Clock ........................................................................ 29
Figure 14. Deployment Wizard – Compass Verification.................................................................. 30
Figure 15. Deployment Wizard – Test the ADCP............................................................................ 31
Figure 16. Deployment Wizard – Send the Commands.................................................................. 32
Figure 17. Deploy and Recover the ADCP ..................................................................................... 33
Figure 18. Recover the Data .......................................................................................................... 34
Figure 19. Verify and View the Data ............................................................................................... 35
Figure 20. Erase the Recorder ....................................................................................................... 36
List of Tables
Table 1: WorkHorse Self-Contained Application Guide ................................................................. 2
Table 2: WorkHorse Real-Time Application Guide ........................................................................ 3
Table 3: WorkHorse Special Applications ..................................................................................... 3
Table 4: Spare Parts .....................................................................................................................8
Table 5: WorkHorse Software ..................................................................................................... 12
Table 6: WorkHorse DOS Utility Software................................................................................... 14
Table 7: WorkHorse ADCP Tests ................................................................................................ 19

WorkHorse Sentinel User's Guide
P/N 957-6163-00 (January 2001) page 1
Acoustic Doppler Solutions
WorkHorse Sentinel User's Guide
1 Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the RD Instruments (RDI) WorkHorse. This
guide is designed to help first time WorkHorse users to set up, test, and de-
ploy their ADCP.
This guide is designed for use with the other WorkHorse Technical Manual
books. Where needed, there are references to detailed information and fig-
ures contained in the WorkHorse Technical Manual.
WorkHorse Sentinel deployments are most often Self-Contained but can be
Real-Time. Typically, deployments are considered to be Self-Contained
when the ADCP is remotely deployed and powered using internal batteries.
In this configuration, no external connections to the ADCP are made during
the deployment. However, the ADCP can be connected to external power.
This power can be provide either by an external battery case or from shore.
This type of deployment is still considered Self-Contained, but this quick
reference guide may not consider all of the possibilities of this application.
Real-Time use refers to the fact you are viewing the data as the ADCP col-
lects it via a personal computer. This data is also stored on the computer to
allow for data playback and processing at a later time.
NOTE. When you receive your WorkHorse, look for a set up card that
shows all of the pieces you should have in your box. If anything is missing
or damaged, contact RDI immediately.

WorkHorse Sentinel User's Guide
page 2 RD Instruments
2 WorkHorse Sentinel ADCP Applications
The WorkHorse Sentinel ADCP is designed so that it can be used as a fully
self-contained system. This means that it contains its own battery for power
and internal recorder for the storage of all data that you have set it up to col-
lect. Using the internal battery and recorder, the WorkHorse Sentinel can
be used for several-month autonomous current profile deployments from
temporary or permanent mountings in the ocean, near-shore, harbors, and
lakes.
WinSC is the software package for self-contained ADCP setup, data collec-
tion, and data review. For detailed information on how to use WinSC, see
the WinSC User's Guide. Plan (part of WinSC) lets you enter known or
“best-guess” values for the various ADCP profiling parameters and shows
predictions of expected results. For detailed information on how to use
Plan, see the WinSC User's Guide.
Table 1: WorkHorse Self-Contained Application Guide
Application Blue Water Costal and Continental Shelf
Sentinel using WinSC Sentinel using WinSC
• Oceanography • Environmental monitoring
• Energy transport • Costal engineering
• Environmental monitoring • Enabling safe movement
• Engineering stress determination • Measuring Power plant discharge
• Circulation/model studies • Protecting coastal land forms
• Boundary layer studies • Detecting sewer outfall
• Monitoring sensitive environments
Autonomous
deployment
• Planning new ports
Sentinel using WinSCLowered
• Deep water oceanography

WorkHorse Sentinel User's Guide
P/N 957-6163-00 (January 2001) page 3
The WorkHorse Sentinel ADCP is also able to be used in real time applica-
tions that either take advantage of the internal battery power, or external
battery power, and can be used to collect data internally as well as exter-
nally. When considering real time applications, RDI offers you choices in
software packages that are intended to directly meet your needs. VmDas is
the most often used software package for ADCP setup, real-time data col-
lection, and data review. For detailed information on how to use VmDas,
see the VmDas User’s Guide.
Table 2: WorkHorse Real-Time Application Guide
Application Blue Water Costal and Continental Shelf
Sentinel using VmDas Sentinel using VmDas
• Oil production platforms • Port and harbor monitoring
Real-Time
deployment
• Current mapping • Water quality studies
Sentinel using VmDas Sentinel using VmDas
• Oceanography • Plume tracking
• Boundary layer studies • Environmental surveys
• Fisheries • Planning new ports
Boat Mount
(portable)
• Plankton biomass • Current mapping
Sentinel using VmDas Sentinel using VmDas
• Towed fish positioning • Towed fish positioning
• Boundary layer studies • Water quality studies
Towed
• Circulation/model studies
Sentinel using VmDas
• Seismic prospecting
• Exploration drilling
• Field development
Offshore oil
and gas
• Production
Table 3: WorkHorse Special Applications
Sentinel using WinRiver Sentinel using Waves
• River, stream and channel discharge • Coastal protection and engineering
• Suspended sediment load estimation • Port design and operation
• Plume tracking • Environmental monitoring
• Bridge scouring • Shipping safety
• Simultaneous bathymetry discharge, flow structure
NOTE. For information on how to use a Sentinel in river discharge
measurements, see the WinRiver User's Guide. For information on how to
use a Sentinel to monitor waves, see the Waves User's Guide.

WorkHorse Sentinel User's Guide
page 4 RD Instruments
3 System Overview
The Sentinel ADCP system consists of an ADCP, cables, battery pack, flash
memory card, and software. Both battery capacity and memory can be in-
creased with upgrades for longer deployments. The Sentinel can also be
used for direct-reading current profile operation. They only require the ad-
dition of a Windows® compatible computer to configure the ADCP and re-
play collected data.
3.1 Sentinel ADCP Overview
The transducer assembly contains the transducer ceramics and electronics.
Standard acoustic frequencies are 300, 600, and 1200kHz. See the outline
drawings in the WorkHorse Installation Guide for dimensions and weights.
I/O Cable Connector – Input/Output (I/O) cable connects the WorkHorse
ADCP to the computer.
Beam-3 Mark – The Beam-3 mark shows the location of Beam-3 (Forward).
Urethane Face – The urethane face covers the transducer ceramics. Never
set the transducer on a hard surface. The urethane face may be damaged.
Housing – The standard WorkHorse housing allows deployment depths to
200 meters.
Thermistor – The Thermistor measures the water temperature.
Pressure Sensor – The Optional pressure sensor measures water pressure
(depth).
Transducer Head – The WorkHorse electronics and transducer ceramics are
mounted to the transducer head. The numbers embossed on the edge of the
transducer indicates the beam number. When assembling the unit, match
the transducer beam number with the Beam 3 mark on the end-cap.
End-Cap – The end-cap holds the I/O cable connector. When assembling
the unit, match the Beam 3 mark on the end-cap with beam 3 number on the
transducer.
Internal Battery Pack – The internal battery pack has 400 watt-hours (Wh)
of usable energy at 0 C. When fresh, the voltage is +42 VDC. When de-
pleted, the voltage drops to 30 VDC or less.
Flash Memory Card – Flash memory cards are available in 16, 20, 40, 85
and 220-MB cards. The standard configuration is one 16MB card.

WorkHorse Sentinel User's Guide
P/N 957-6163-00 (January 2001) page 5
URETHANE FACE
BEAM 3 MARK
THERMISTOR
PRESSURE SENSOR
(OPTIONAL)
TRANSDUCER
HEAD
HOUSING
MEMORY CARD
INTERNAL BATTERY
PACK
END-CAP
I/O CABLE
CONNECTOR
Figure 1. Sentinel ADCP Overview

WorkHorse Sentinel User's Guide
page 6 RD Instruments
3.2 I/O Cable Overview
Always remove the retaining strap on the end-cap underwater-connect cable
and dummy plug when disconnecting them. Failure to do so will break
the retainer strap.
Do not apply any upward force on the end-cap connector as the I/O cable is
being disconnected. Stressing the end-cap connector may cause the
ADCP to flood. Read the Maintenance guide for details on disconnecting
the I/O cable.
Figure 2. Connecting and Disconnecting the I/O Cable
PIN 1
PIN 9
3
2
9
8
5
P2
1
2
5
6
4
3
7
POWER +
POWER -
COMMUNICATION RETURN
RS-232 IN / RS-422 OUT A
RS-232 OUT / RS-422 OUT B
RS-422 IN A
RS-422 IN B
J1
P1
BLK
WHT
BLU
BRN
GRN
RED
YEL
P1 J1 P2
7
6
5
4
123
Figure 3. I/O Cable Overview