Onset H21-USB Operating Manual

HOBO® Micro Station (H21-USB) Manual

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The HOBO Micro Station is a weatherproof data logger designed for applications requiring
multi-channel monitoring of microclimates in one or more locations. With its rugged, compact
design, this battery-powered logger supports five plug-and-play smart sensors. You can quickly
mount the logger on a stake, flat surface, or mast using the logger’s built-in mounting tabs.
With HOBOware, you can easily configure the logger, check the status, and download data for
graphing and analysis (available at www.onsetcomp.com/hoboware-free-download).

Specifications

HOBO Micro Station

H21-USB

Included Items:

• Four AA 1.5 V alkaline
batteries

• Rubber plugs

• Grease packet

• Screws and washers

• Cable ties

Required Items:

• HOBOware

• USB cable

• Onset® smart sensors

Optional Items:

• Lithium batteries
(HWSB-LI)

• Ground wire (CABLE-
MICRO-G)

• 2-meter tripod (M-TPB)

• 3-meter tripod (M-TPA)

• 1.5-meter mounting

pole (M-MPB)

• 1-5/8 inch U-bolts
(U-BOLT-KIT2)

Smart sensors and
accessories are available at
www.onsetcomp.com.

Operating Range -20° to 50°C (-4° to 122°F) with alkaline batteries

Smart Sensor Connectors 5

mart Sensor Network
able Length

Logging Interval 1 second to 18 hours

Start Modes Immediate, at interval, push button, or delayed start

Memory Modes Stop when full or wrap when full

Memory 512 KB nonvolatile flash data storage

Time Accuracy 0 to 2 seconds for the first data point and ±5 seconds per week at 25°C

Battery Type Four AA 1.5 V alkaline batteries for operating conditions of -20° to 50°C

Battery Life 1 year, typical use (up to five sensors with 1 minute or greater logging

Communication Type USB 2.0 interface

Full Memory Download
Time

Enclosure Access Hinged door secured by one latch with eyelet for use with user-supplied

Materials Outer enclosure: Polycarbonate/PBT blend with stainless steel hinge pins;

Dimensions 17.04 x 11.94 x 4.47 cm (6.71 x 4.70 x 1.76 in.) see diagrams below

eight 414 g (14.6 oz)

Environmental Rating Weatherproof enclosure, NEMA 4X and IP66

-40 to 70°C (-40 to 158°F) with lithium batteries

100 m (328 ft) maximum

(77°F)

(-4° to 122°F); four AA 1.5 V lithium batteries for operating conditions of

-40 to 70°C (-40 to 158°F)

interval)

4 minutes

padlock

Gasket: Silicone foam; Cable channel: EPDM rubber

Padlock hole diameter: 0.58 cm (0.23 in.)

The CE Marking identifies this product as complying with all relevant
directives in the European Union (EU).

17.04 cm

6.71 in.

11.94 cm

20875-A

(4.70 in.)

4.47 cm

1.76 in.

HOBO Micro Station (H21-USB) Manual

Logger Components and Operation

Mounting Holes

Station Door

Smart Sensor Connectors

LEDs

Battery Holder

USB Port

Cable Channel

Mounting Holes

Station Door: This is the protective, hinged door covering the
batteries and electronics.

Smart Sensor Connectors: Use these input jacks to connect up
to five smart sensors as shown (see Setting up and Starting the
Micro Station). Note that some smart sensors have more than
one data channel (see sensor manual for details).

Mounting Holes: Use the inner or outer holes at the top and
bottom of the logger to mount it (see Deploying and Mounting
the Logger).

Cable Channel: Use this rubber cable channel for inserting
smart sensor cables or rubber plugs to create a weatherproof
seal (see Deploying and Mounting the Logger).

USB Port: Use this port to connect the station to the computer
via USB cable.

Padlock Latch: Use this latch to attach a 1-3/16 inch padlock to
the logger for security.

Start Button: Press this button for 3 seconds to start the logger
when it is configured to start “On button push” (see Setting up
and Starting the Micro Station). The button start LED will blink
when the logger is waiting for you to press the start button. All
the LEDs will blink once you press the button to start logging.

Battery Holder: The location where the AA batteries are
installed as shown (see Battery Information).

Ground Wire Port: Use this port on the back of the logger to
connect a ground wire (CABLE-MICRO-G). See Deploying and
Mounting the Logger.

LEDs: There are seven LEDS that indicate logger activity and
status. The following table describes all the LEDs.

LED Description

Battery Low

This LED blinks when the battery power is less
than 25% capacity. See Battery Information for
details on replacing the batteries.

LEDs

Start Button

Padlock Latch

LED Description

Memory Low

Error

Delay Start

Button Start

Sensor Activity

OK

Ground Wire Port

This LED blinks when less than 25% of memory is
available (if the logger was configured to stop
logging when the memory fills).

This LED indicates a sensor communication failure
has occurred. If this LED is blinking in conjunction
with the OK LED, there was a communication
failure. The system has recovered, but there may
be an intermittent problem. If this is the only LED
blinking, at least one sensor is currently not
communicating. Read out the logger and
investigate the problem as soon as possible. See
Troubleshooting for more details.

This LED blinks when the logger has been
configured to start at a specific date/time or the
next interval.

This LED blinks when the logger has been
configured with a push button start. Press and
hold the start button for 3 seconds for logging to
begin.

This LED blinks during normal communication
between the logger and the sensors.

This LED blinks every 2 seconds during logging.

Setting up and Starting the Micro Station

Follow these steps to set up the station.

1. Install the batteries. Open the logger door and insert four

AA batteries observing polarity. See Battery Information for
details.

2. Plug in smart sensors and install the rubber cable channel.

Important: Proper installation of the rubber cable

channel is required for outdoor and weatherproof
deployments and in harsh indoor environments.

1-800-LOGGERS 2 www.onsetcomp.com

HOBO Micro Station (H21-USB) Manual

a. Remove the rubber cable channel making note of how it

is oriented.

Rubber cable
channel

Notch where the key on the
bottom of the cable channel
is installed

b. Plug the smart sensors into the connectors. When using

multiple smart sensors, it is easiest to start by plugging
one into the leftmost or rightmost connector and then
working your way across the connectors in order.

c. Lightly coat each smart sensor cable with a small amount

of silicone grease (about the size of a pea). Only the
portion of the cable that will be in the channel needs to
be greased. Also lightly coat the bottom and two sides of
the cable channel.

d. Install the cables in the cable channel. There is a break in

the rubber above each hole to guide the cable into the
hole. Make sure the cable channel is oriented with the
breaks pointed up and the key pointed down and closer
to the sensor connectors to ensure proper reinstallation
in the next step. Slightly bend the ends of the channel to
reveal the breaks and push the cable into the hole that
lines up with the corresponding sensor connector. Repeat
for any additional sensors.

e. Reinstall the cable channel making sure the key on the

bottom is inserted in the notch in the logger enclosure
pointed out in the diagram above. Once the cable
channel is properly seated, the top will be flush with the
edge of the logger enclosure. Adjust the cable slack as
necessary so a minimum amount of cable is inside the
case as shown below.

f. If you will be using less than five smart sensors, use the

rubber plugs to fill any empty holes in the cable channel.
Lightly coat the rubber plugs with a small amount of
grease. Insert the thin part of the plug into the hole.
While pulling the thin end of the plug from the inside of
the case, push the other end of the plug from the outside
until the thick part of the plug fills the hole.

Insert thin end of plug into any
empty holes in cable channel

3. Set up HOBOware. Even though this logger uses a USB

cable to communicate with HOBOware, the software and
computer must be configured for a serial COM port for each
H21-USB station (even if your computer does not have a
serial port). HOBOware 3.7.10 or later is recommended.

Important: USB 2.0 specifications do not guarantee operation
outside the range of 0°C (32°F) to 50°C (122°F).

If you need to install or upgrade HOBOware:

a. Connect the logger to the computer with the USB cable.

Device hardware drivers will be installed automatically
the first time an H21-USB logger is connected. This may
take a few minutes to complete.

Important: The computer must be connected to the
Internet while the device hardware drivers are being
installed. Device drivers only need to be installed once
per computer. If you need to use another computer
with an H21-USB Micro Station, you will need to repeat
this installation. Contact Onset Technical Support at
www.onsetcomp.com/support/contact if you
encounter any problems with device hardware driver
installation.

b. Download HOBOware at

www.onsetcomp.com/hoboware-free-download and
install the software.

c. When the HOBOware Setup Assistant appears, select

“USB and serial devices” for the device types. A COM port
should be listed. Complete the remaining Setup Assistant
steps and click OK.

If HOBOware is already installed:

a. Connect the logger to the computer with the USB cable.

Device hardware drivers will be installed automatically
the first time an H21-USB logger is connected. This may
take a few minutes to complete.

Important: The computer must be connected to the
Internet while the device hardware drivers are being
installed. Device drivers only need to be installed once
per computer. If you need to use another computer

When properly installed, the
cable channel will be flush with
the edges of the logger enclosure

with an H21-USB Micro Station, you will need to repeat
this installation. Contact Onset Technical Support at
www.onsetcomp.com/support/contact if you
encounter any problems with device hardware driver
installation.

b. Open HOBOware. From the File menu (Windows) or the

HOBOware menu (Macintosh), select Preferences.

1-800-LOGGERS 3 www.onsetcomp.com