2.4 Setting Up a 6-Series Sonde for System Checkout2-6
2.5 Configuring the System 6200 with EcoWatch DCP2-11
2.6 Testing the 6200 DCP2-16
2.7 Testing Sensor Function2-19
2.8 Displaying Data in EcoWatch DCP2-21
Section 3Setting Up and Calibrating 6-Series Sondes
3.1 Introduction3-1
3.2 Communicating with a Sonde3-1
3.3 Connecting a Sonde to a Computer with EcoWatch DCP3-3
3.4 Preparing the Sonde to Communicat e with the 6200 DCP3-4
3.5 Installing and Calibrating Sonde Sensors3-5
Section 4Powering the Field Station
4.1 Introduction4-1
4.2 General Wiring Information4-1
4.3 Installing the Battery4-4
4.4 Installing AC Power to the Field Station4-5
4.5 Installing Solar Power to the Field Stat ion4-7
Section 5Connecting Sensors to the Field Station
5.1 Introduction5-1
5.2 Connecting the MET Suite5-2
5.3 Connecting the Rain Gauge5-2
5.4 Connecting the Pyranometer5-3
5.5 Connecting One Sonde5-3
5.6 Connecting More Than One Sonde to a Field Station5-4
Section 6Communicating with the Field Station
6.1 Introduction6-1
6.2 Installing RS232 Direct Communication Link6-6
6.3 Installing RF Radio Communication Link6-7
6.4 Installing Phone modem Communicat ion Link6-9
6.5 Installing Cellular modem Comm unication Link6-10
6.6 Setting Up Communication Paramet er s with EcoWatch DCP6-11
3
Section 7Collecting Data with EcoWatch DCP
7.1 Introduction7-1
7.2 Completing Field and Base System Setup7-1
7.3 Verifying Field/Base Communication from the Field7-3
7.4 Collecting Data with EcoWatch DCP7-3
7.5 Reconfiguring Sensors and System with EcoWatch7-11
7.6 Backing Up and Restoring DCP Configuration Files7-14
Section 8Reporting and Plotting Data with EcoWatch DCP
8.1 Introduction8-1
8.2 Opening a Data File8-1
8.3 Viewing Data8-3
8.4 Changing Display Formats Using Setup8-7
8.5 Changing Display Formats Using ‘Gr aph’ Funct ion8-8
8.6 Save, Import, Export and Print Comm ands8-9
8.7 Example of Customizing a Subset of SAMPLE.DAT8-10
Section 9Maintaining and Troubleshooting the System
9.1 Introduction9-1
9.2 Routine Care and Maintenance9-1
9.3 Troubleshooting9-5
Appendix A Component Descriptions and Sensor Specifications
Appendix B Required Notice
Appendix C Warranty and Service Information
Appendix D Accessories
Appendix E Field Installation Examples
4
Assistance
Help with this product can be obtained by contacting a YSI Factory Service Center.
United States
YSI Massachusetts
Repair Center
13 Atlantis Drive
Marion, MA 02738
Phone: 508 748-0366
Fax: 508 748-2543
Compliance
The 6200 Data Acquisition System meets the EN61326 Electronic Equipment for Measurement
and Control specification when connected 6-series sonde cabling is protected from RF induction
and industrial noise. The 6-series sondes may malfunction over the frequency range of 4.2 MHz
to 8.5 MHz at a level of 3 volts RF on the cable (see Appendix E).
The 6-series sonde must be fitted with the CE bead kit for the 6200 system to meet the Class B
emissions requirements.
The 6200 complies with EN61010 as manufactured.
1
Safety Notes
The following type of safety notes are used throughout this manual. Familiarize yourself with
each of the notes and their meaning before using this product.
NOTEThe NOTE is used to indicate a statement of company recommendation or
policy. A NOTE is not associated directly with a hazard or hazardous
situation, and it is not used in place of CAUTION or WARNING.
CAUTION!Used to indicate a hazard. It calls attention to a procedure that, if not
correctly performed, could result in damage or injury. Do not proceed
beyond a caution sign until the indicated conditions are fully understood
and met.
WARNING! Used to indicate a hazard. It calls attention to a procedure that, if not
correctly performed, could result in injury or loss of life. Do not proceed
beyond a caution sign until the indicated conditions are fully understood
and met.
General Safety Considerations
WARNING!
No operator serviceable parts inside. Refer ser vicing t o a YSI factory service center.
To prevent electrical shock, do not remove covers.
This is the instruction documentation symbol. The product is marked with this
symbol when it is necessary for the user to refer to instructions in this manual.
2
YSI 6200 DAS USER Manual
Section 1
Introduction
1.1 Description
The 6200 Data Acquisition System (6200 DAS) with EcoWatch DCPä is an integrated hardware
and software package specifically designed to be a powerful, yet easy to configure, multiparameter
water quality and meteorological data collection platform with a graphical user interface.
Information can be collected real-time or periodically from solid state memory. Combined with
YSI 6-series sondes and/or a variety of meteorological sensors, this system is intended for use in
research, assessment and regulatory compliance applications.
Wind Speed/Direction
Relative Humidity
Air Temperature
Radio
Antenna
Solar
Radiation
Radio Transceiver
Battery
(charged Solar or AC)
Computer with
EcoWatch DCP
Rain accumulation
Rain rate
Radio
Base Station
6200
Data Collection Platform
6-Series Sonde
Barometer
Water Temperature
Conductivity
Dissolved Oxygen
pH
ORP
Depth/Level
and more...
Figure 1.1 6200 DAS, Example Config uration
The system can be configured many ways, using a variety of sensors, communication modes and
power options. The sensors provide signals for both water quality and meteorological
measurement parameters. The meteorological sensors include wind speed and direction, relative
humidity, barometric pressure, rainfall rate and accumulation, air temperature and solar radiation.
The water quality sensors include water temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, ORP,
depth/level, turbidity, nitrate, ammonia and chloride.
The system includes a field station (6200 DCP), which houses a powerful data logger and connects
to any of the water quality or meteorological sensors you choose. The data logger uses a 32-bit
â
microprocessor with up to 1 megabyte of data storage memory. Windows
-based EcoWatch DCP
software functions to interrogate the data logger and display real-time results in time stamped table
format. Alternatively, you may request data stored in the field station less frequently to conserve
power. The software also provides autoconfiguration capability during setup and calibration and
includes a powerful plotting package for further analysis of the recorded data.
There are four options for communication between the field station and the base station computer.
They are (1) direct link via RS-232 serial communication, (2) phone modem communication, (3)
cellular phone communication, and (4) UHF radio communication.
There are three options for powering the field station. They are (1) rechargeable lead acid battery
(12 volt, 12 Ah) mounted inside the NEMA 4X field station enclosure, (2) solar panel that charges
the battery described in 1 above, and (3) 100/120//220/230-240 V~, 50/60 Hz power. The battery
is installed in all versions. It is required in the solar setup and serves as a backup in the AC power
setup.
The 6200 DAS comes to you configured to your order, including all interface cables. You may
need to provide additional wiring and junction boxes if you are powering the field station with AC
power. You may need to provide mounting supports for the main enclosure and various
accessories, such as sensors, antennas and the like. Most of the mounting hardware you need
comes with the 6200 system, but some may not be appropriate for your particular mounting
configuration.
The 6200 DAS specifications are described below. You may refer to Appendix A for
specifications of specific sensors and accessories. In addition, the accessory manuals provided
with this manual package should be helpful.
1.2 General Specifications
Environmental
Operating Temperature -40 to 60oC (-40 to 140 oF)
Enclosure33 x 38 x 15.2 cm (13 x 15 x 6 in), fiberglass
Enclosure RatingNEMA 4X
Pollution DegreeII (per UL3101)
Installation CategoryIII (per EN61010-1)
real-time data displays, powerful reporting and plotting options
Compatibility: Windows
â
3.1, 95, 98 and NT.
Computer HardwareMinimum: PC 386 (4 MB RAM, 4 MB hard disk space)
Recommended: PC 486DX or higher, (8 MB RAM, 4 MB hard
disk space)
Power Information
Battery TypeLead-acid, gel type, sealed (Power Sonic PS-12120 L)
Battery Rating12 VDC, 5 A max current, 12 Ah capacity
Battery Fuse Type/RatingType 3AG (fast blow), 5 amps, 32 volts
I/O Interface Fuse Type/Rating Type 3AG (slow blow), 5 amps, 32 volts
When applicable…
Line Power (nominal)100/120//220/230-240 V~, 50/60 Hz, 0.8A//0.4A
Maximum Current1.0 A @ 120 V~, 0.5 A @ 240 V~
AC Fuse Type/Rating for 100/120 V~ operation: Type 3AG (slow blow), 1.0 A @ 120 V
AC Fuse Type/Rating for 220/240 V~ operation: 5 x 20mm IEC127 (time delay), 0.5 A(T), 250 V
Fuses may be purchased from any YSI Factory Service Center.
Solar Panel10 watt, 20 VDC (no load), 0.6 A max current
Electrical SafetyCE (pending)
Communication Options
Direct cable3 m (10 ft) RS-232 cable
Radio 2 watt, 2-way (no license required), 467.8 MHz
Telephone modemHayes-compatible
Cellular modemWireless phone modem, uses PSTN through cellular network
Connectors/Access
Power (AC or solar)1/2” non-metallic, water tight conduit or feed through gland
AC, 3-prong male; Solar, 2-wire interface cable
Phone or direct1/2” non-metallic, water tight conduit or feed through gland
Phone, standard 3-wire cable; Direct RS-232, DB-9 male
RF (radio or cellular)N-type
Sonde MS-8 pin with tethered cap
Meteorological SuiteMS-17 pin with tethered cap
Rain GaugeMS-4 pin with tethered cap
Solar Radiation SensorMS-5 pin with tethered cap
GroundStandard Ground Lug
Sensor Compatibility
Sonde Compatibility YSI 600, 600R, 600XL, 600XLM, 6820, 6920.
Met Suite (WS, WD, RH, AT) YSI MAZ6213, w/ 4.6 m (15 ft) cable
Met Suite (WS, WD, RH, AT) YSI MAZ6219, w/ 13.7 m (45 ft) cable
Pyranometer (solar radiation)YSI MAZ6214, w/ 3 m (10 ft) cable, leveling base
Pyranometer (solar radiation)YSI MAZ6212, w/ 3 m (10 ft) cable, leveling base, CE approved
Rain Gauge (tipping bucket)ISCO 674, w/ 4.6 m (15 ft) cable
Rain Gauge, with heaterYSI MAZ6216, w/ 4.6 m (15 ft) cable (also requires AC power)
BarometerYSI MAZ6217, (located inside NEMA enclosure)
The 6200 DAS is a complex product that requires your understanding before y ou can successfully use
it; therefore, we strongly suggest that you perform the following steps to get y our sy stem set up
quickly and correctly in the field.
Part IManual Sections to Read
Familiarize yourself with the 6200 DAS2, Browse through manual
Unpack and setup sonde3, Sonde Manual
Check out Communication Method2, 6, 7
Plan out and prepare remote site4, 5, See Appendix E for samples
Part II
Fully Calibrate Sonde3, Sonde Manual
Prepare 6200 DCP for the field7
Go to the field site and setup4, 5, 6, 7
Verify that the system work s7, 8
Section 2 Getting Started
After this section you should be familiar with the 6200 DCP, the EcoWatch DC P userinterface software, and the sensors. This “in lab” setup should give you a basic
understanding of the system. The mo re detailed inform ation found in the other sections
is necessary for the installation and day-to- day operation of the system.
Section 3 Setting Up a 6-Series Sonde
If you are using a 6-Series sonde with your system this section provides basic
information related using a Sonde with this package.
Section 4 Powering the Field Station
Section 5 Connecting Sensors to the Field Station
Section 6 Communicating with the Field Station
Section 7 Collecting Data with EcoWatch DCP
This section needs to be read to properly configure the data collection platform. It
includes power management strategies, and how to upload reading s from the data
collection platform.
Section 8 Reporting and Plotting Data with EcoWatch DCP
Section 9 Maintaining and Troubleshooting the System
Throughout this manual the phrase 6200 DAS (Data Acquisition System) refers to the entire 6200
package you have purchased, including the field station, communications methods, and EcoWatch
DCP software. The phrase 6200 DCP (Data Collection Platform) and field s t a t i o n are used
interchangeably and refer to the remote site setup. The phrase base station refers to the office/lab
setup which includes your PC and communication m ethod.
Inspect the outside of the shipping carton(s) for damage. If damage is detected, contact the
carrier immediately. Remove the instrument from the shipping container. Be careful not to
discard any parts or supplies. Confirm that all items on the packing list are present. Inspect all
assemblies and components for damage. The basic 6200 DAS is shipped with the following
major components. Some differences may occur based on the configuration you ordered.
❑ Data Collection Platform with barometer, communication and power accessories installed
❑ Battery for powering remote station (packed separately)
❑ Meteorological Suite (WS, WD, RH, AT) with 4.6 m cable, or 13.7 m cable
❑ Pyranometer (3 m cable) or Pyranometer with CE approval (3 m cable)
❑ Rain Gauge, ISCO 674 (4.6 m cable) or Rain Gauge with heating element (4.6 m cable)
❑ Sonde with appropriate sensors, cables, adapters and reagents
❑ Antennas (if applicable)
❑ Radio Base Station (if applicable)
If you ordered a sonde with reagents, the reagents may be shipped separately. See Appendix D
for a complete list of accessories.
If any parts are damaged or missing, contact your factory representative immediately. If you do
not know from which dealer your 6200 DAS was purchased, contact YSI/Massachusetts. See
phone/fax information below in the footer.
Save the original packing cartons and packing materials. Carriers typically require proof of
damage due to mishandling. Also, if it is necessary to return any parts, you should pack the
equipment in the same manner it was received. Maintaining original cartons and packing
material is less critical once the system is installed and working
If the 6200 DAS components match the packing list and the components appear to be in
satisfactory condition, proceed to the sections below.
WARNING!
To avoid severe personal injury or damage to the equipment...installation,
operation and service should be performed by qualified personnel who
are thoroughly familiar with the entir e cont ents of this manual.
The 6200 Data Acquisition System with EcoWatch DCPä is an integrated hardware and
software package. Most of the hardware will be installed in the field. We will refer to this as the
“field” location. The “base” location will refer to the site where the radio base station or modem
connects to the computer loaded with EcoWatch DCP. We strongly recommend that you
assemble the system “in-house” and functionally test it prior to beginning the field
installation of the system. The next few pages of the manual describe the checkout installation.
You need not use the final mounting hardware to perform this test, however, this is a good time
to review your installation plan for your field site.
2.2 Installing EcoWatch DCP
Choose a computer with these minimum requirements: 386 processor with 4 MB of RAM, at
least one COM port and Windows
you will need at least 4 MB of available hard disk space. Although these minimum requirements
work, we recommend a 486DX processor with 8 MB of RAM and 2 COM ports. The EcoWatch
DCP software is also fully compatible with the Pentium
Windows NT
Windows 98
To install on Windows 3.1:
â
. The system has also been designed and tested with current beta versions of
â
.
Insert Disk 1 into your 3.5” drive. From Program Manager, click on File, then
choose Run. In the box labeled Command Line type in “a:\setup.exe” then click on
OK. If the disk is in drive B, change the command to “b:\setup.exe”. Follow the
instructions and prompts on the screen to complete software installation. Once complete,
store your disks in a safe place in the event you need to reload the software at a later
date.
To install on a Windows 95 or NT machine:
Insert Disk 1 into the proper drive, then click on Start at the bottom left of the screen,
then Run from the submenu. In the box type in “a:\setup.exe” then click on OK. If the
disk is in drive B, change the command to “b:\setup.exe”. Follow the instructions and
prompts on the screen to complete software installation. Once complete, store your disks
in a safe place in the event you need to reload the software at a later date.
When you double click on the EcoWatch DCP icon, the main screen will display a window with
menu bar and icons similar to the one shown below. Below is a Windows 95 illustration.
Windows 3.1 will look slightly different, but not be functionally different.
â
3.1. A 3.5” disk drive is needed to load EcoWatch DCP, and
â
processor and Windows 95â and
There are limits to what you can do with EcoWatch DCP at this time, so you should now turn
your attention to making hardware connections. If part of your 6200 DAS includes a sonde, your
first use of EcoWatch DCP software will be to communicate with the sonde to set sensors and
report parameters and to calibrate the sonde. This is described below in Section 2.4.
In this section you will find instructions for checkout installation of your entire system in the
laboratory or other temporary location of your choice. Field station and base station components
will be in the same room for this initial setup and checkout procedure. Your setup may differ
from the one described below since the 6200 DAS was ordered to your specification. Many
steps are common to all setups, therefore simply skip sensor, communication and power setup
instructions that are not relevant to your system. Section 5 will go into more details about setting
up each sensor in the field.
The example 6200 DAS described below contains all of the standard meteorological sensors and
one sonde with the most common water quality sensors. Initially we will use a “Direct Link”
(RS-232) communication option and battery power to set up and check out the system in the
laboratory. If a radio transmitter has been installed in the 6200 DCP enclosure, then it is very
important to install the radio antenna. For this reason the radio and antenna have been shown in
the diagram below. Begin by studying this diagram, then follow the step-by-step assembly and
connection instructions. If your system includes a 6-series sonde, you may want to refer ahead to
Section 2.4 for initial setup information.
MET Suite
Wind Speed/Direction
Relative Humidity
Air Temperature
6200 DAS Components
(Phone Mo de m)
Radio Tra ns ceiver
(or Cel lu l a r Mo dem)
Data Collection
Platform
Barometer
makeshift
support
6-Series Sonde
Water Tempe rat ure
Conductivity
Dissolved Oxyg en
pH
Rain Ga uge
Rain accumulation
Rain rate
Figure 2.1 Lab Setup for Checking Out the 6200 DAS
Assuming that all shipping cartons have been opened and the equipment has been initially
checked for damage, proceed by doing the following.
1. Place the 6200 Data Collection Platform enclosure on a work surface, leaving space for
accessories to be laid out and connected. Position the enclosure so that the bottom (connector
ports) faces toward you. Next open the hinged cover, by releasing the two latches on the right
side. Refer to the diagram below, and remember that the diagram may differ slightly from your
unit based on the components you ordered.
Barometer
Analog Inputs
6-Series Sonde
Met Suite
Phone Modem
Radio or
Cell Modem
Digital I/O
bottom view of enclosure
Phone Solar Power In
AC Power In
Battery
COM Port
Desiccant Pack
Fuse
Front Cover
Conduit Fittings for AC,
solar, and phone lines
Barometer Vent
Rain Gauge
Pyranometer
Grounding Terminal
Antenna or RF cable port
Figure 2.2 6200 Data Collection Platf or m, Component and Connector Layout
2. If a radio is installed in the 6200 DCP enclosure, you should locate the field antenna that you
ordered and connect it to the antenna connector on the bottom of the enclosure.
CAUTION!
To avoid permanent damag e to the radio transceiver, connect the antenna befor e
3. Unpack the battery and insert it into the battery slot (see Section 4.3 for details). The battery
connectors are different sizes. Connect the leads, red to positive and blue to negative. After the
battery is connected, the 6200 DCP should beep for a few seconds as it boots up. The battery
was charged at the factory and should function without problem for this test. Later we will check
the battery voltage with EcoWatch DCP software.
4. For proper testing of the Meteorological Suite sensors, you should construct a makeshift
support or stand for this accessory. A 2” (5 cm) diameter rigid pipe secured to a base works
well. (refer to Figure 2.1) Remove the Meteorological Suite main assembly from its packing
carton. The propeller has been packed separately in the same carton. Remove the propeller, and
use the finger-nut attached to the main shaft to secure the propeller to the main assembly. The
molded lettering on the propeller should face out or away from the main assembly. Hold the
front cone and slightly rotate the propeller to insure that it drops into the “cross” shaped channel
on the cone. Finally tighten the knob on the main assembly with your fingers. Do not use
excessive force. Connect this sensor to the 6200 DCP.
5. Remove the Rain Gauge from the packing carton. There is no assembly required. You may
want to remove the lid, which is an assembly containing a screen or grid and funnel. In order to
functionally test the rain gauge in the lab, the tipping buckets need to be accessible. In the ISCO
model, unlatch the base and gently remove the cylinder/funnel assembly. In the model
containing a heating element, remove the lid/funnel by lifting it off. Connect this sensor to the
6200 DCP.
6. Remove the pyranometer from its packing carton and place it on a flat surface near the 6200
DCP. Locate the certificate and save this document. It contains a calibration constant that must
be entered during the sensor setup routine in EcoWatch DCP. To perform the functional test you
will need to remove the plastic cap that protects the light sensing surface. Also note that a small
bubble level is permanently installed in the base of this unit. During field installation, this
bubble should be used for proper installation. Absolute “level” is not critical during this initial
setup. Connect this sensor to the 6200 DCP.
7. Remove the 6-series sonde from its packing carton. There are several models of sondes that
can be used with the 6200 DAS. Refer to Section 2.4 in this manual for a basic checkout setup.
Note that this is not the complete setup and calibration procedure you would use for deployment
of the sonde at a field station. EcoWatch DCP contains a menu related to sonde communication.
More information for setup of the sonde is located in Section 3. Wait until section 2.4 to connect
this sensor.
8. There are several options that you may use to initially establish a communication link
between the data collection platform and the PC-based EcoWatch DCP software. The simplest
link at this point is the “Direct Link” using the RS-232 cable provided. Plug one end of this
cable into the DB-9 COM port of the 6200 DCP and the other end to a COM port of the PC
loaded with EcoWatch DCP.
Naturally, you will want to functionally check the 2-way radio link, the cellular modem link,
and/or the phone modem link. Refer to Sections 6 and 7 for more information.For now,
however, use the direct link to functionally check your sensors, power source, and DCP in this
laboratory setup.
Your setup as described above should now appear similar to the diagram below. Note that the
Radio Base Station is not connected to the system at this point, as it will be checked later.
Direct Link Initial Checkout
MET Suite
Wind Speed/Direction
Relative Humidity
Air Temper ature
makeshift
support
Radio Transceiver
(or Cellular Modem)
(Phone Mode m)
Dat a Col le c tion
Platform
Barometer
AC
Power In
Battery
Computer with
EcoWatch DCP
RS-232
Cable
Radio
Antenna
Rain Gauge
Rain accumulation
Rain rate
Radio
Base Statio n
6-Se r ie s Sond e
Water Temperature
Conductivity
Dissol ved Ox ygen
pH
* Sonde co nnects to MS-8 once calibrated.
*Remove cover to activate tipping buckets.
Pyranometer
Solar Radiation
Figure 2.3 Setup and Checkout Configuration with Direct Link RS-232 (no radio)
2.4 Setting Up a 6-Series Sonde for Checkout
If a 6-series sonde is not part of the system you ordered, proceed to Section 2.5.
Below is the procedure to unpack and set up a 6-Series sonde for 6200 DCP checkout. The
procedure does not include calibration of the sonde sensors. Other than temperature, the
readings may seem unrealistic at this time. The objective is to familiarize you with specific
sensor setup protocols, not to obtain accurate data.
For many sonde models you must physically install some of the sensors into the sonde bulkhead.
You should refer to the sonde manual for details so not to damage the sensors.
CAUTION!
To avoid permanent damag e to the sonde, do not submerse the sonde in water during
When you remove the sonde from the shipping container, you
will see that a probe guard protects the sensors. Unscrew the
guard to determine the sensors installed. After checking
and/or installing sensors, place the probe guard back in place
to protect the sensors.
Sensors shown in this example are temperature, conductivity,
dissolved oxygen and pH. It is important to know what
sensors are installed for the purpose of correctly assigning
sensors during setup.
Figure 2.4 600 Sonde, Probe Guard Removed
In order to setup your sonde, you must connect the sonde to your PC and communicate through
EcoWatch DCP. The diagram below helps describe this connection.
In addition to the sonde, you need a
cable. The cable may be a field
cable permanently attached to the
sonde or you may need to connect a
separate field or cal cable to the
bulkhead connector of the sonde.
Regardless of the type, the cable
Power Supply
6037: 220 VAC
6038: 110 VAC
MS-8
DB-9
6095B
Adapter
Computer with
EcoWatch DCP
terminates in an MS-8 connector.
Cable
Many sondes also require power in
order to communicate with the PCbased software. A 6095B Adapter
and a 6038 (or 6037) Power Supply
600
600 Sonde
may be needed to make the
connection. The PC-end of the
adapter is a DB-9 which is a typical
COM port connector. If your PC
has a DB-25 connector, you will
need another adapter (25 to 9 pin).
Figure 2.5 Sonde to PC Connection
Identify your COM port, for example, COM 1, COM 2, etc. You need this information to
establish communication between the sonde and EcoWatch DCP. If your COM port is not
clearly marked, assume that it is COM1 for now. You can reconfigure for COM2 (or other COM
port) if communication is not established during setup.
You should now open the EcoWatch DCP program. If you have not installed it yet refer to
Section 2.2, Installing EcoWatch DCP. Click on the Comm top line menu, then Settings…
Verify that the settings match the table.
Once complete with this window click on OK.
Now return to top line menu and click on Comm, then choose Sonde from the submenu. Select
your COM port and press OK. You will now see a window labeled Sonde – COM1.
The # sign should appear (see below). Type in “menu”. When you press Enter, you will enter
the main sonde menu. It will appear similar to the screen below. Any difference is related to the
model of sonde you are using.
If you are unable to establish interaction with the sonde, make sure that the cable is properly
connected, power is applied (e.g., 6038 Power Supply or other 12 VDC source), and that the
COM port settings are set correctly. If you were unsure of your COM port number, reassign
another port number and repeat the steps above.
The sonde software is menu-driven. Select a function by typing its corresponding number or
character. It is not necessary to press Enter after a number/character selection. Use the 0 or Esc
key to return to a previous menu. The mouse does not interact with the sonde menus.
NOTE
If a single keystroke yields no response on the screen, press the key again. You should
now see a reaction. This occurs when a key is not pressed for a period of time sending
the sonde into a “sleep mode”. The f ir s t pr ess of any key “wakes” up the sonde and the
second press activates the command.
In order to properly assign sensors and parameters for the sonde, follow the step-by-step
instructions below. You need not fully understand each submenu at this time, but you should
configure your sonde menu to appear very similar to the screens shown below. The illustrations
below may differ some from your screens, since sonde menus vary somewhat from model to
model.
1. From Main menu press 3-System, then 1-Commsetup. This allows you to confirm baud
rate at 9600, which is the default value. Refer to the screens below. Note also that the SDI-12
address of the sonde is 0 by default. You may assign any character between 0 and F to provide a
specific address for your sonde. This will be of particular importance in multi-sonde applications
involving the 6200 DAS. For now, maintain the “0” address designation. Press 0 to return to
previous menus until you return to Main.
2. From Main menu press 5-Sensor, to enter the menu that allows you to assign installed
sensors. In the example we are selecting four sensors which were shown earlier in Figure 2.4.
To change an assignment press the number of the sensor. The * indicates that the sensor is
activated. After assigning sensors press 0 to return to Main.
3. From Main menu press 4-Report, to enter the menu that allows you to assign the parameters
and the units of your choice. In the example we select five parameters...one temperature, one
conductivity, one pH and two for DO. After assigning parameters press 0 to return to Main.
4. From Main menu press 6-Advanced, then 2-Setup. Verify that the screen below matches
what you see. It is very important that the Auto sleep options are activated, especially when the
sonde is being set up for deployment. For more details see Section 3 and your sonde manual.
-------------Advanced setup-----------1-(*)VT emulation
2-( )Power up to Menu
3-( )Power up to Run
4-( )Comma Radix
5-(*)Auto sleep RS232
6-(*)Auto sleep SDI12
7-( )Multi SDI12
Select Option (0 for previous menu):
Press 0’s to return to the statement that asks you to press Y or N to exit the sonde menu. Press Y
to exit the sonde menu. Close the Sonde-COM1 window and disconnect the adapters and cables.
Now you should connect the 6-series sonde to the 6200 DCP.
All sensors connect to the 6200 DCP (Data Collection Platform). The DCP electronics
physically reside inside the NEMA 4X enclosure. You should now have all of your sensors
connected and a “direct link” RS-232 cable running from the 6200 DCP a COM port on your PC
(COM1 in our example). You should have an antenna or RF cable connected to the antenna
connector on the 6200 enclosure and you should have installed the battery and connected the
power leads to positive and negative terminals. You are now ready to create a file, configure the
data collection platform, and begin collecting data using EcoWatch DCP. Follow the step-bystep instructions below to proceed.
Start by opening EcoWatch DCP, if it is not already running.
From the main screen click on the top line menu labeled 6200, then click on New... to bring up
the screen titled “Save 6200 DCP Configuration File As” Type in a filename of your choice (8
character maximum).
In the figure below the filename “checkout.s62” has been entered. Actually three
configuration files (.s62, .zcf, .ini) will be opened and saved in the location shown
(c:\ecowwin\sys6200). You have the option to direct the .s62 file to a location of your choice,
but we recommend that you accept the default path. Click on OK to proceed.
Once you click on OK several status screens will appear indicating that EcoWatch DCP is
attempting to detect the 6200 DCP and its sensors. The screens are part of an autoconfiguration
routine that searches for SDI-12 sensors (sondes) and MET sensors (meteorological sensors).
The screens are titled “6200 DCP ConfigWizard”. An example below shows that a sonde with
SDI-12 Address 0 has been detected after scanning addresses 0 to 8. EcoWatch DCP searches
from Addresses 0 to 9, by default. The sonde with the address of 0 will be the only address
detected in your checkout procedure.
After completing the scan of SDI-12 sensors, the software switches to a ConfigWizard screen
that shows the status of the scan of meteorological sensors. If a MET sensor requires entry of a
calibration constant, a screen appears. Only the solar radiation sensor and barometer sensor
require a calibration constant, which is provided in the sensor literature or included in the back of
the manual. Each time you make a New 6200 file you will need to enter these calibration
constants. A good place to save these calibration constants is with the manual. Below you see
the MET status window and the screen for entering the calibration constants for the solar
radiation sensor (pyranometer) and the barometer.
Enter the numbers from the certificates, then click on Next and proceed to the next screen in
ConfigWizard.
The next choice relates to the communication option that you will be using for this particular file.
For example, if you ordered a system with a 2-way radio, click on the appropriate circle.
Remember that even though you may be “directly” communicating with the 6200 DCP field
station during configuration, you must choose the mode of communication you will use for field
installation.
In our laboratory setup and checkout procedure we will be initially communicating directly via
RS-232 cable. Therefore the default choice shown below is correct. Click on Next to proceed.
EcoWatch DCP now completes its configuration of the 6200 DCP. See the example screens
below.
The last step EcoWatch DCP will do is to reboot the 6200 DCP, and you should hear a long
beep. After you click on Finish, a report form similar to the one shown below appears on the
screen.
At this point you have connected the 6200 DCP components, installed EcoWatch DCP and run
the ConfigWizard. You are ready to begin collecting data and display it on EcoWatch DCP. In
order to perform a test that provides data in a timely manner for testing, click on 6200, then
6200 DCP Setup. The following screen should appear.
Click on System… to open the window related to system settings. A message will appear to
alert you that any data remaining in memory in the 6200 DCP will be erased if system settings
are changed. This does not mean that data already uploaded to EcoWatch DCP will be lost. See
Section 7 for more details on the consequences of changing system or sensor settings.
Click on Yes to continue and notice that there are two “folders”, Site/Timing andCommunication/Power. Site/Timing will appear first and the Description box will be
highlighted. By default, it reads <noname100>. The number 100 is the number EcoWatch
DCP has assigned this field station, and may be any number between 100 and 999 since this
value increments each time a new field station is setup. You may type in a description of your
choice or you may tab to the next box, thereby accepting the default description. The next box is
Sample Interval, that is the time that elapses between samples being logged to the data
collection platform (DCP). The default value is 15 (minutes). Do not confuse this with
EcoWatch DCP interrogation timing. Even when EcoWatch DCP is not running, the DCP
continues to log data to its memory once it has been configured.
The next selection gives you the choice of interrogating the DCP at the same rate as the sample
interval or, alternatively, choosing some number of minutes independent of the DCP sample
interval. For the 6200 Test, set the interrogation schedule to “Same as Sample Interval” by
clicking on the box just to the left of this choice. Also change the Sample Interval to 2 or 3
minutes during the checkout routine in order to collect readings more quickly.
1
Now click on the Communication/Power folder and verify that communication is Direct
Connect to PC and the COM port agrees with the serial port to which you are connected
(COM1 in our example screen). The power option should be Battery. The information related
to MODEM communications is not relevant at this point.
Click on OK to exit the menu and return to the main EcoWatch DCP menu screen. A window
appears momentarily, displaying the message Programming 6200...Please Wait. When
EcoWatch DCP is done downloading the new configuration it will reboot the 6200 DCP. You
should hear a long beep from the 6200 DCP as it starts up again.
Once the main menu appears, click on 6200 to pull down the menu and click on InterrogateNow. Any data that has been collected by the DCP will appear. If readings do not appear
initially, you will need to wait as much time as the sample interval you chose above. A
countdown timer in the lower right corner of the window will give you the time to next
interrogation.
Below you see readings that have been uploaded to EcoWatch DCP from the 6200 DCP. Up to
seven lines of data may be displayed at one time, the bottom line being the most current. Note
that there are three separate display “sheets”. Simply click on the sheet label near the bottom of
each window to view readings from YSI SDI-12 Sonde 0, MET Sensors, or Internal Sensors.
You can not display all sensor readings in one window simultaneously.
If you have difficulty viewing the readings on a sheet, you have two options. One...click and
hold on a vertical line that separates description headers. While holding the mouse button down
you can resize the column width. Two...Click on 6200, Data Table Setup, Font/Color...
The default font/size is Arial/11. Change this to suit your needs. For example, changing the size
from 11 to 9 will fit more information on one screen without the need to scroll.
2.7 Testing Sensor Function
Now that you are able to view readings, you may wish to perform some preliminary tests of
sensor function. As you have seen some readings display 0.000 in the checkout testing. For
example, rain fall and accumulation, wind speed and direction and solar radiation probably have
zero readings. Here are some quick tests you can perform.
For wind speed/direction locate the plastic arrow protruding from the MET Suite head assembly.
Rotate the MET head assembly on the support so that the arrow points north (0 degrees). East
would be 90, south 180 and west 270 degrees. Direction will not be displayed unless there is
measurable wind speed. To check wind speed set up a small fan to provide continuous air
motion in front of the propeller. During interrogation of the 6200 DCP, EcoWatch DCP will
upload readings showing wind speed and direction. In the example below the wind speed is
about 5.4 mph and the direction is 0
For rain rate/accumulation testing, remove the top assembly of the rain gauge to locate the
tipping buckets. Carefully tip the buckets from one position to the other 5 to 10 times in
succession. During the next sampling period, a rain fall between 0.05 and 0.10 inch should
appear after interrogation. A rain rate, calculated based on accumulation per unit time also
appears. For example, an accumulation of 0.06 inches in 15 minutes translates to a rate of 0.24
in/hour (4 15-minute intervals per hour, or 4 x 0.06).
For solar radiation remove the cap/dust cover and expose the sensor to natural light during the
test period.
Other sensors should be producing values that indicate functionality. For example, the sonde
temperature value should approximate room temperature. Relative humidity should be realistic
for your room conditions. Barometric pressure should approximate a reading uncorrected for sea
level. That means if you are not at sea level, altitude will cause a discrepancy between your
reading and the local weather bureau’s reading. If possible, use a calibrated laboratory barometer
to check for accuracy.
After you have uploaded several sets of readings into EcoWatch DCP, close the 6200 file by
choosing 6200, then Close.
Data files in EcoWatch DCP have a “.DAT” extension, unlike the 6200 DCP files which have
“.S62” extension. There is one data file generated for each set of sensors (SDI-12 Sonde, MET
and Internal). Each data file contains encrypted information related to time and identity of the
file. Using the data file below as an example (1077BM00.DAT), note the following...
107The field station number, assigned by EcoWatch, and incremented with each new field
station.
7The last number of the year, for example, 1997
BThe month of the year where 1=January, 2=February and so on to 9=September
A=October, B=November and C=December
MType of sensor where S=SDI-12 sonde, M=MET, I=Internal (eg, battery voltage)
0SDI-12 Sonde Address, for example, Sonde Address 0 as shown above
0Number indicating the set of data opened for a given record, 0=initial set.
If you change a report parameter or measurement unit for a file, the number increments
to 1, 2, 3… a, b, c… and so on.
Use the File command on the top level menu of EcoWatch DCP, then Open. Select the drive
and subdirectory where the data files are located, usually c:\ecowwin\data. Highlight or click on
the data file of the field station number and sensor type you wish to observe, then click OK.
Below you see meteorological data for record 107 collected on November 18, 1997. Readings
were collected every 2 minutes as part of a checkout procedure. Note the wind and rain events
on the graph. By default, EcoWatch DCP opens the data file in graphical format with one
parameter per graph. Autoscaling defines the upper and lower limits.
There are many options for displaying, reporting, and generally customizing the data in
EcoWatch DCP. This is discussed in detail in Section 7. The objective of this section is for you
to become generally familiar with this plotting/reporting software.
If you hold down the right mouse button you can scan through the data and show the actual
readings correlating events with times. See the example below, which shows wind
speed/direction events on the left side of the graph. We created these events in the 6200 DCP
checkout procedure by spinning the propeller during the sensor reading period. Note that the
wind speed/direction is zero for all other times.
To observe actual data records, click View, Data Table from the pull-down menus. After a
while you will learn to use the icons and variety of other techniques for viewing, plotting and
reporting data.