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Technical Information and Maintenance Tips:
The below information relates to the use of the monitoring system in the field and general maintenance. This information is based around the Adcon telemetry system, but can also apply to other telemetry providers and sensor manufacturers. |
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Bird Spikes & Rain Gauges:
Replace any existing damaged plastic bird spikes with stainless steel rods for long lasting protection and improved sensor reliability. Keeps the sensor (tipping spoon) from clogging up when used as a bird perch. Basic maintenance = Data when you need it, not after the rain event! |
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Rain Gauge Maintenance
If the rain gauge is not recording correctly, the first thing to check is for a blockage. The rain gauges all have either a single or double tipping spoon mechanism & a Reed Switch. Water should be able to flow freely through the funnel. Run water through the funnel and make sure you can hear the tipping spoon click, count the number and this will be recorded in the software. 1 x Spoon Tip = 0.2mm (10x Tips = 2mm in Software) Basic maintenance = Data when you need it, not after the rain event! |
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Telemetry Equipment disconnection & storage:
If your telemetry equipment has to be removed from a monitoring site, an important thing to Turning off the logger! This sounds simple enough but you would be surprised the number of people that forget at the time...... The main reason is that the logger still reads the sensors and then communicates to the 4G or Radio network, as a result the battery runs flat (with no solar charge) and next time the unit is reinstalled....there's a problem. |
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Silica Gel Bags:
It's important to maintain the sensors and or other electronics located a telemetry unit. One useful way of doing this is by putting Silica Gel bags with the electronics and making this part of of a regular maintenance program. Silica gel are found in all sorts of products because silica gel is a desiccant -- it adsorbs and holds water vapor. Silica gel can adsorb about 40 percent of its weight in moisture and can take the relative humidity in a closed container down to about 40 percent. Once saturated with water, the gel can be regenerated by heating it to 120 °C (250 °F) for two hours. |
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Battery Replacement:
If you need to replace a battery from your logger:
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Sensor Cable - Protection:
Unfortunately cables can be damaged by either vermin or sometime accidents just happen. A cost effective way of reducing the possibility of this occurring is by using some type of cover or sheath over the cable and or sensor itself. Flexible conduit is an easy way to protect cables, simple to use and also easy to source. This will improve the reliability of the data coming from the monitoring site as well as reducing maintenance costs. |
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Equipment Visibility:
Sound basic enough but it can often be overlooked and be the cause of hardware damage and costly repairs. If the telemetry equipment is located in field with the potential for it to be damaged by other equipment, then we strongly suggest that in addition to the standard installation, some type of extra site identification be used:
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