User's Manual

More about the LED tool
4. Using a hammer, drive the 80cm aluminum rod into the ground. Prior to that
put an Adcon plastic cap into the top of the pole and secure it with a pie clamp
in order to protect the top of the pole from damage.
5. Using the pipe clamp supplied fasten the solar panel onto the pole. Make sure
that the panel is facing south (north if you are located in the southern
hemisphere) and out of the way of the A73x RTU.
Note: The solar panel can be mounted under or behind the A73x RTU, but make sure
that the RTU does not shadow the panel.
6. Fasten the A73x RTU to the top of the pole with a pipe clamp. Adcon
recommends that you perform another connectivity test (not for the A733GSM),
if you can, to check the positioning of the device.
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WARNING: If you turn the fastening screws too tightly, you could damage the connectors:
7. Attach the sensors to the I/O connectors and the solar panel to the POWER
connector by turning the plugs’ fastening screws clockwise until secure.
8. If you have SDI-12 sensors, attach the SDI-12 adapter and the respective
sensors. For more details on how to install the SDI-12 adapter, consult the
leaflet that came with the adapter.
9. Secure the extra length of the sensor cables to the pole with cable ties.
This completes the installation of your A73x RTU. If one of the I/O connectors is
left unused, use the cap specially provided to protect it against moisture and dust.
Be sure to make a note of the following information because you’ll need it when
you configure the device in the software:
• Serial number for each RTU (for the A733GSM RTUs also the data
telephone number)
• Type of sensors connected to each RTU and to which I/O port.
2.5 More about the LED tool
The LED tool allows you to rapidly check the status of an A73x RTU. After you
insert the LED tool into the POWER connector, the unit waits up to two seconds
and then sends a broadcast frame (does not apply to the A733GSM RTU). If a
nearby listening station or receiver decodes the frame, it will answer back—this
may take up to 10 seconds. When an answer is received, the LED tool lights up for
about 4 seconds. After another few seconds, the LED lights up one or more times,
depending on the number of stations/receivers that answered to its broadcast
frame.
In addition, the LED always blinks briefly at 0.5 second intervals to indicate that the
unit is alive and the internal battery has enough energy to operate. If the blinking
interval lengthens to 2 seconds, the battery has become undercharged (that is,
under 5.6 volts but over 5.2 volts)—this is called the misery state. In this state, an
A73x RTU reduces its activities to a minimum. The radio unit is switched off, the
sensor sampling ceases, and no data is stored in the internal memory. Only the
internal real-time clock is maintained and the power management functions are
performed.
If the battery level drops below 5.2 volts, the system switches completely off,
effectively decoupling itself from the battery in order to protect it. In this case the
LED tool stays permanently off. An A73x RTU in such a situation will restart only
after connecting it to an external power supply (even a solar panel under low light
conditions).
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