Global Water
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Global Water
Instrumentation, Inc.
151 Graham Road
P.O. Box 9010
College Station, TX 77842-9010
T: 800-876-1172
Int’l: (979) 690-5560, Fax: (979) 690-0440
E-mail : globalw@globalw.com
Radar Level Transmitters
01-665 Revision: A
Publication Number 39340712
WL900
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Global Water
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Congratulations on your purchase of the Radar Level Transmitter. This
instrument has been quality tested and approved for providing accurate
and reliable measurements. We are confident that you will find the Radar
Level Transmitter
to be a valuable asset for your application. Should you
require assistance, our technical staff will be happy to help.
Table of Contents
I. Checklist • • • • • • • Page 3
II. Inspection • • • • • • 3
III. FCC Information • • • • • • 3
IV. Features • • • • • • 4
V. Specifications • • • • • 5
VI. Operation • • • • • • 7
VII. Software Operation • • • • • 8
VIII. Installation • • • • • • 13
IX. Wiring Information • • • • • 15
X. Calibration • • • • • • 17
XI. Maintenance • • • • • • 19
XII. Troubleshooting • • • • • • 19
XIII. Warranty • • • • • • • 20
* Copyright Global Water Instrumentation, Inc. 2012
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I. Radar Level Transmitter Checklist
a. Radar Level Transmitter
b. Manual
II. Inspection
a. Your Radar Level Transmitter unit was carefully inspec ted and certified by
our Quality Assurance Team before shipping. If any damage has occurred
during shipping, please notify Global Water Instrumentation, I nc . and f ile a
claim with the carrier involved.
b. Use the checklist to ensure that you have received everything needed t o
operate the Radar Level Transmit ter.
III. FCC Information for Users
a. Radar Level Transmitter Sensors have been tested and found to comply
with the limits for Class A digital device, pur s uant to Part 15 of the FCC
rules. These limits are designed to provide r easonable protection agains t
harmful interference when the equipment is operating in a commercial
environment. These sensors generate, us e, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not inst alled and us ed in ac c or danc e with the
instructions, may cause interference with radio communications. Operation
of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause interference that
the user will be required to correct.
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•
Temperature
•
Vacuums
•
Pressure
•
Methane
•
Vapors
•
CO2
•
Steam
•
Condensation
•
Wind
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IV. Features
a. The Radar Level Transmitter uses improved microwave pulse technology
to track any target material from t he tip of its antenna to the bottom of the
tank. Its power, pulse widths and sensit iv ity depend on the distance of the
target from the antenna and the dielectric cons tant of the reflecting
material.
b. The Radar Level Transmitter sensor features “echo mark er ” signal
processing, making it among the mos t technologically advanced pulse
radar system on the market. This technology will provide a r eli able
continuous pulse shape unaffect ed by env ir onmental c onditions such as:
c. Simple mounting and push-button calibration make for a very easy
installation. Calibration can be com pleted on the bench or in the field by
following simple instructions. The s ens or c an be threaded directly into a 2"
NPT metal or plastic flange. (See Installation section, page 14.)
d. The Radar Level Transmitter offers features such as:
1. Accurate, non-contact measurement
2. Works in conditions where ultrasonic is not acceptable
3. Pulse radar measurement range 10” to 50’
4. Simple push-button calibration
5. Standard 4-20mA signal output
6. Optional RS485 digital output
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V. Specifications
Power: AC: 115 VAC, 60 Hz or 230 VAC, 50 Hz (± 20%), 1.7 VA DC: 12 to 30 VDC, 0.07 Amps max. @ 24 VDC
Outputs: Signal: 4-20 mA, 6.1 uA resolution; 750 ohms Communication: Optional RS232 or RS 485
Accuracy: ±0.25% of maximum sensor range (in air) Frequency: 6.3 GHz (or 5.8GHz CE) Measurement Range: 10” to 50’ (0.254 meters to 15.2 meters) Resolution: 0.22in (5.7mm) Transmitter Power: 50 uW average Calibration: Push-button or optional programm able Antenna: Polypropylene over dielectric rod Beam Angle: 12 degrees Operating Temp: -40°C to 60°C (-40°F to 140°F) Operating Pressure: 150 psi max Installation Category: Class II Process connection: 2” NPT Conduit Entry: 1/2” NPT standard Housing: Aluminum or 316L stainles s s teel Ingress Protection: NEMA 4 (IP65)
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Figure 1
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Approvals: FCC Part 15 - low-power communication device
CE – 5.8GHz Models
Weight: 3.6Lbs (1.63Kg)
Dimensions: 4” (10cm) diameter x 18” (45.7cm) long
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Figure 2
VI. Operation
a. The microwave rod antenna is stimulated by an electromagnetic pulse
transmitter and sends very short puls es to a target. The pulses reflect from
the target and then they are received back by the same antenna. The
electrical signal from the antenna is amplified and processed. The distance
to an object is calculated and then converted to 4-20 mA. Optionally, level
information is also sent to a PC via RS232 or RS485 for diagnost i c data
logging and programmable set-up.
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b. Turning the low dielectric materials operation mode ON or OFF:
The ON mode is recommended to eliminate multiple reflections in tanks
and for materials with a dielectric constant lower than 4. To turn the low
dielectric materials mode ON, pus h the calibr ation button and hold until the
LED light flashes yellow, then red, and then t ur ns off. R eleas e the button.
The blinking green LED light indicates t hat the low dielectric materials
mode is ON. To turn the low dielectric materials mode OFF, push the
calibration button and hold until the LE D light flashes yellow, then red, then
turns off. Release the button. T he const ant green LED light indicates that
the low dielectric materials mode is OF F. The low dielectric materials
operation can also be turned ON or OFF with the Radar Level Transmitter
software during PC communications, whic h is recommended.
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VII. Software Operation
a. Click on “START” button, “PROGRAMS”, and select
“PROBE_GatewayPC”.
b. Select “Start Data Link”. In the program’s main window there will be two
bar graphs, displaying the last 8 echoes and the current output. When PC
is connected to Probe, the application header displays the Probe ID. When
PC is connected to the Radar, the application header dis play s Radar ID,
range, pipe on/off status, pipe diameter and low dielectric filter status. The
traffic icon at the screen bottom indic ates communication status to probe.
c. Pick “Tools" and select one of the following functions:
1. “Select Data Link Protocol” (RS-232/485 or Modbus RTU):
Default is RS-232/485. For probe with RS485 port us e a c onv er ter
RS485 to RS232 between your PC and the microwave probes . If
those converters do not have external power s upply and y ou us e
Windows 2000 or XP, go to the port setting (advanced), change the
Transmit Buffer to low, and then reboot your P C .
For MODBUS RTU use the Holding Register address as follows:
a) 108 to read the current from microwave probe
b) 100 to read 4 mA calibration
c) 96 to read 20 mA calibration
2. Use “Read Sensor ID (Not in Network)” for single probe communication
3. “Add new Sensor” (in network configuration): Choose new ID and “click OK, for network use 4 and higher
4. Rem ov e S ens or “(in network configuration): Choose sensor ID to be removed and click OK
5. “Fix S ens or ID”: Select new Id and t hen c lic k on “Fix Sensor ID” to remove old ID. Click “STOP” and “START” t o update t he c alibr ation data. Sensor ID is 2 for single probe and 4 and higher for net wor k , do not use ID 3
6. “Reset Max. Temperature” (Not applicable for microwave probe.)
7. “Empt y Tank Distance calibration”: Programmable with accuracy of
0.1"
8. “Full Tank Distance Calibration”: Programmable with accuracy of alarm relay.
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9. “Temperature Scale”: (Not applicable for microwav e pr obe.)
10. “Low Dielectric Material”: (choose for low dielec tric constant materials, for microwave probes only)
11. “Pipe Mode” On/Off (for microwave probe only )
12. “Select Pipe Diameter” (for micr owav e pr obe only )
13. “Damping OFF”: Fas t res pons e m ode of the probe
14. “Damping ON”: Select damping t ime
d. “ShowCalibData” (Show Calibration Data): Screen displays all calibration
parameters.
e. The fix point Calibration buttons ( the same as using the probe calibration
Push Button) are in the top left corner of t he screen. “F. T Calib.” is for Full
Tank Calibration and “E.T. Calib.” is for E mpty Tank Calibration. In this
calibration a target has to be used to simulat e full or empty tank fix point
calibration.
f. “Diagnostic” button: Displays all inf or m ation on probe “errors”. Sensor error
is indicated by an unhappy face icon at the bottom of the screen.
g. “Echo Chart” button: Displays information on s tabilit y of the echoes.
Calculated echo peak count basis on peak widt h v oltage is used as an
echo correction offset.
h. “Echo P r ofile” button: Displays profiles of your probe.
NOTE - when using this feature the probe is not in the measurement
mode. To return to measurement mode, ex it the echo profile (select x).
Wait until you get the Data Link OK (green light on the Pr obe S tatus LED).
1. On the “echo profile” you will see a marker where t he s oftware picked up an echo and the distance to the tar get.
2. To change target for different measurement, exit profile screen, wait
for updated data, and go to echo profile. The marker will pick up the
new target. Freeze screen and select any point on the graph by
clicking mouse to display the distance to selected target.
3. 'S av e to file' command saves the profile to PROBE_P R OF ILE file in C:\Program Files\um_probe\ folder.
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i. “AutoScan” button (only for networ k ): Collects data for all sensors
connected in the network. Scanning t im e for one sensor is 30 seconds.
Other functions are disabled in Auto Scan m ode.
j. “SensorStatusMonitoring” func tion displays status of select ed s ens or .
1. P us h the “Update_all” command button to dis play s tatus for all sensors in network.
2. Traffic icon green/red light indicates c om m unic ation status.
3. A ll other functions are disabled in this mode.
k. “Select COM Port”: Used to selec t Communication Port on PC. Selected
port can be saved to be used as a default when application is r un again.
l. Other “Tool” menu options:
1. “Low Dielectric Material On”: For low dielec tric constant materials such as oils.
2. “Select PIPE”: For microwave propagation in met al pipes , after that click on “Select Pipe Diameter” in “Tools” menu to choose proper diameter of metal pipe.
3. “Window Out”: In case of unwanted reflections this procedur e c an
be used.
Make sure that the probe is in fast response m ode ( “Damping
OFF”).
Before using the Window Out procedur e pr ogr ammable c alibr ation
on full and empty tank is recommended. F or the firs t time users of
this procedure, contact with tec hnic al s uppor t group is
recommended. To use the procedure follow this:
a) Click on “Echo Profile” button
b) Click on “Clear Window Out”,
c) Click on “Freez e/Update/Window Out”,
d) Using mouse, click on a point before unwanted echo and
then on “WindowOutMin”,
e) Using mouse, click on a point after the unwanted echo and
then on “WindowOutMax”,
f) Close the Echo Profile and wait in the Main program for a
message “WindowOut” calibration don e,
g) To activate the “Window Out” procedure, go to the “Tools”
menu, click on “Window Out”, and wait for the conformation.
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4. “Full T ank B lank ing”: Using full tank programmable calibration, select distance to the probes that covers any unwanted echoes close to the probes. To activate this, go to “Tools” and click on “Full Tank Blanking” and wait for the conformation.
5. “Set Los s of Echo Time”: (Not applicable for microwave pr obe.)
6. “Damping ON” / “Damping OFF”: In case of waves or tur bulenc e on liquids increase the damping time. This will slow down the probe response. Do not use it for small tanks wit h fast r ate of liquid change.
7. “Soli d M aterial/Liquid Materials”: (Not applicable for microwav e probe.)
8. “Vaporized Liquid High Power”: ( Not applicable for microwave probe.)
9. “Select B ur s t Power”: Used to change the transmit pulse width (in microseconds). The selected pulse is used in the dusty and noisy tanks (for solids applications) in case of noise error.
10. “Select Filter”: Used to change the filter width. The filter width defines the range of allowed noise. The echo timer is ignor ed if it is out of defined filter range.
m. “File” menu options:
1. “DataLogging (in Excel format)”: Def ault is set to ON. Select
“DataLogging (in Excel format)” fr om “F ILE” menu to collect history
data for current and temperature in MS Ex c el form at. Path for data
collection: C:\Program Files\um_probe\GATEWAYPC\DATA\yyyy
mm dd\sensorID\
Data is collected for each sensor ID. The c ur r ent is c ollec ted in 1
hour data files and temperature is collected in 24 hour s data files.
Use chart wizard in MS Excel to create the graph and view cur r ent
and temperature data. The current data is collected every 0.5
second and temperature is collected ever y 1 minute.
2. “Prof ile Logging”: Stores profile every 1 minute. Pr ofile Viewer is used to view stored history profiles. P r ofiles are stored in MS Excel format in C:\Program Files\um_probe\GATEWAYPC\LOG\year_month_day\sensorID\ directory.
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3. “Send Profile by EMAIL”: Select to send probe profile by Email. One or thirty minute frequencies of sending c an be s elec ted. This option works with Microsoft Outlook Expr es s s oft war e. The following Email settings are required:
a) “Connect Automatically” option s hall be s elec ted for
connection to Internet.
b) In Outlook Express under the “Tools” menu, select “Options”
and then click on “Security Tab”. Make s ur e that option " Warn
me when other application tries to send mail as me" is not
selected.
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VIII. Installation
Figure 3
a. Dir ec t mounting sensor: simply thread sensor into m etal or plastic nozzle.
b. Radar unit MUST be installed into a fitting with the antenna pointing
downward. (See Figure 3.)
c. For very low dielectric const ant materials (≈ 2), the radar sensor needs at
least 2' from the antenna tip to detect t he m aterial. A ny buildup on the rod
antennas does not deteriorate the performance of the radar sensors.
d. S oftware Installation (Communication for Single or Network level sensors.)
1. Load “Probe_Gateway PC Software” into y our PC. (Select SETUP.EXE from installat ion CD and follow instructions on the screen.)
2. Clic k on S TART and under PROGRAMS select “Probe_Gateway PC”.
3. Follow instructions in the online help file or see S oftware Operation section on page 9.
4. To connect RS232 or RS485 cables. (See Figures 4 and 5, page
14.)
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Figure 4
Figure 5
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IX. Wiring Information
a. Wiring Information
1. Ground shield at one end only.
2. A ll terminal block wiring must be rated for 250V.
3. P ower input wiring must be protected by a 15A double pole circuit breaker.
4. Terminal is for use only with equipment that has no live parts that are accessible. (See Figure 6, page 16.)
5. Terminal is for use with equipment, which maint ains bas ic ins ulation from hazardous voltage under normal and single fault conditions. (See Figure 6, page 16.)
6. Connec tion used at the remote end of exter nal circuit. (See Figure 6, page 16.)
b. Rec om mended Wiring: For AC Sensor: Power: 3 Wire unshielded 22 AWG, 300 V Current Output: 1 Pair shielded 24 AWG, 300 V Communication: 1 Pair shielded 24 AWG, 300 V
For DC Sensor:
Power: 3 Wire shielded 24 AWG, 300 V
Current Output: 1 Pair shielded 24 AWG, 300 V
Communication: 1 Pair shielded 24 AWG, 300
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Figure 6
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X. Calibration
a. FULL: Calibrate 20 mA or 4mA. Set near target. (See Figure 7, page 18.)
1. Calibration mode LED color is Green. (For Radar, Low D ielec tric
2. P us h button and hold until LED turns Yellow (20 mA) or push butt on
3. Releas e button, observe LED flashes to ac k nowledge the
b. E M P TY: Calibrate 4 mA or 20 mA. Set Far Target. (See Figure 7, page
18.)
1. Calibr ation mode LED color is Green. (For Radar, Low Dielectric
2. P us h button and hold until LED turns Red (4 mA) or push button
3. Releas e button, observe LED flashes to ac k nowledge the
c. Turn the Low Dielectric Materials oper ation mode ON and OFF:
(This mode is recommended for materials with dielectric constant lower
than 4, and to eliminate multiple reflect ions in the tank.)
1. To turn the Low Dielectric Materials ON , push the calibration button
2. To turn the Low Dielectric Materials OFF, pus h the calibr ation
3. The low dielectric materials operation can also be turned ON or
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Materials has to be off. See step C.)
and hold until LED turns Red (4 mA)
calibration.
Materials has to be off. See step C.)
and hold until LED turns Yellow (20 mA)
calibration.
and hold until the LED light flashes yellow, then red, and then turns
off. Release the button. The blinking green LED light indicates that
the Low Dielectric Materials mode is ON
button and hold until the LED light f las hes y ellow, then red, and
then turns off. Release the button. The constant green LED light
indicates that the Low Dielectric Mat er ials m ode is OF F.
OFF with the Radar Level Transmitter software during PC
communications, which is recommended.
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Figure 7
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XI. Maintenance
a. The unit must be checked periodically. The suggested m aintenance rate
depends on the installation area. Check batteries for correct voltage
periodically.
XII. Trouble Shooting
Issue: Radar Level Transmitter not operating correctly
Internal piping, deposits on t he antenna, multiple reflections or reflections from
the wall can all interfere with the proper oper ation of the radar sensor.
a. V er ify power source is supplying correct voltage.
b. V er ify antenna is clean.
Other issues
c. Call us for tech support: 800-876-1172 or 979-690-5560 (many problems
can be solved over the phone). Fax: 979-690-0440 or E-mail:
globalw@globalw.com.
Be prepared to describe the problem you are experiencing including
specific details of the application and installation and any additional
pertinent information.
d. In the event that the equipment needs to be returned to the factory for any
reason, please call to obtain an RMA# (Ret ur n Material authorization). Do
not return items without an RMA# displayed on the outside of the package.
Clean and decontaminate the Radar Lev el Transmitter, if necessary.
Include a written statement describing the problems.
Send the package with shipping prepaid to our factory address. Insure
your shipment, as the warranty does not c ov er damage incur r ed dur ing
transit.
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e. When calling for tech support, please have the following information ready:
1. Model #.
2. Unit serial number.
3. P.O. # the equipment was purchased on.
4. Our sales order number or the invoice number.
5. Repair ins tructions and/or specific problems relating to the product.
XIII. Warranty
a. Global Water Instrumentation, I nc . warr ants that its products are free from
defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service for a
period of one year from date of shipment from factory. Global Water’s
obligations under this warranty ar e lim ited to, at Global Water’s option: (I)
replacing or (II) repairing; any produc ts determined to be defective. In no
case shall Global Water’s liability exceed t he pr oduc ts original purchase
price. This warranty does not apply to any equipment that has been
repaired or altered, except by Global Water Instrumentation, Inc., or which
has been subject to misuse, negligence or acci dent. It is expressly agreed
that this warranty will be in lieu of all warrant ies of fitness and in lieu of the
warranty of merchantability.
b. The warranty begins on the date of your invoice.
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