User's Manual

Using the A73x RTU
Note: New A73x RTUs are delivered with their internal batteries unformatted, meaning
they are completely discharged, and you should install them only on sunny days.
The battery will be fully charged after two consecutive sunny days, but you should
get an LED light-up after several minutes of charging in the sunlight.
2.6 Configuring an A73x RTU in the addVANTAGE
software
To configure the A73x RTU with an A730 base station system, follow the steps
described in the addVANTAGE A730 User Guide Version 3.40. To configure the
A73x RTU with an A840 Telemetry Gateway and the addVANTAGE 4 Pro
software, check the Base Station, Telemetry Gateway A840 and Wireless Mode
A440 User Guide.
Note: The addWAVE A733GSM RTU is not supported by the A730SD base station and
addVANTAGE 3.x.; partial support to addVANTAGE 3.x is offered only if used in
conjunction with the A840 Telemetry Gateway. For more details on this issue
please consult your dealer. In addition, the SDI-12 adapter and sensors are not
supported on the A730SD Base Station and the addVANTAGE 3.x software.
2.7 Maintaining and servicing the RTU
The A733 unit needs virtually no maintenance. It is waterproof and designed to
withstand harsh environmental conditions (-30 to +70 °C, or -22 to 158 °F), high
RH values, water, and other non-corrosive liquids. It conforms to the European
protection class IP65. This applies also to the connectors, as long as they are
mated or capped. Don’t let unmated/uncapped connectors on either the A73x RTU
or the sensors be exposed to the environment for extended periods of time. When
used in coastal areas with high salt content in the air the use of an extra protective
case is recommended to avoid corrosion. Avoid spraying agrochemicals on your
RTU, as they might form very aggressive compounds.
2.7.1 The RTU battery
The internal battery supplies 6.2 volts and consists of a NiCd pack. The internal
electronics manage the battery charging/discharging process, ensuring it a long
life. This approach, coupled with a remarkably low average consumption (some
mere 6 mW for the standard RTU and 15 mW for the GSM RTU), allows an A73x
RTU to operate at least two weeks on a fully charged battery, with the following
conditions:
• The channel has moderate radio activity, with requests every 15 minutes.
• Total consumption of attached sensors is 100 mA.
• The sensors are sampled once every minute and an averaged slot is
stored in the internal memory every 15 minutes.
The following table shows the A73x devices’ expected operation time on a fully
charged battery under various conditions. The sensor consumption totals 100 mA.
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