eLink controllers are used to transfer measurement data from the sensor and transmitters located in the warehouse to the server computer in the data center. The physical installation of these devices is very straightforward.

REMOTE DEVICE INSTALLATION

The diagram below shows an eLink controller connected to three remote sensors/data acquisition units.

1. Install the eLink in a protected location close to a LAN Jack
2. Install a 24V 2A power supply anywhere on the network. In most cases it will be close to the eLink.
3. Attach the service tool cable connector to the communications port on the eLink.
4. Connect the eLink to the first device on the network using dual twisted pair cable (inexpensive CAT-3 cable is satisfactory). Then daisy-chain all the rest of the devices using the same cable as shown in the diagram. The network can be up to 4,000 feet long. Repeaters are available to expand this if necessary.
5. Connect the analog sensors or transmitters to the I/O Pods. As shown in the diagram below.
6. Connect the CI sensors to any CS-05s that are used. The CI sensors are bussed on a 4-wire CAT-3 cable as shown in the diagram. (Most of the time only 3 of the 4 wires are used.) Each CS-05 can handle up to 8 sensors. The total length of the SensorBus cable is 100 feet.
7. The CI-10 Temperature/Humidity transmitter is available with an external sensor (as shown) or one that is mounted inside the enclosure. The external sensor has a 10 foot cable with a telephone (RJ-11) connector at the terminating end.
8. The last device on the network should have a 120 ohm line terminating resistor installed.

CONNECTING ANALOG SENSORS

While intelligent sensors like the CS-10 and SensorBus sensors are less expensive and easier to install, traditional analog sensors and transmitters may already be installed. These devices can be easily used with a new CIMScan system by connecting them through our I/O Pods. Typical pod wiring for different types of sensors is shown below.

DO-IT-YOURSELF OR TURNKEY

CIMTechniques can provide you with a completely turnkey installation, or you can purchase the components and install them yourself and we’ll handle the system configuration remotely. Of course, the least expensive approach is for you to take care of the on-site physical labor and let us help you via telephone and email.

SOFTWARE INSTALLATION & CONFIGURATION

We can remotely install the CIMScan server software on your computer.

CIMScan system configuration begins by creating one or more groups that will receive the sensor data. This is typically done by department.

Sensor measurements are received from the monitoring stations along with the unique serial number of the sensor and the time the measurement was taken. The server uses the serial number to determine which group is to receive the measurement data. If no group is associated with the serial number, the sensor is placed in the unassigned list.

A Group Administrator can assign one or more sensors to his or her group by simply logging onto the system, opening the unassigned list, and selecting the desired sensor(s) by its serial number. Once selected, the administrator can enter a name and a location for the sensor and select the sensor’s type. This will establish the alarm limits, units of measure, and other important information.

Group Administrators are also responsible for initially creating user accounts. Once they have been created, the users are responsible for changing their passwords and updating their contact information (email address, telephone number, etc.) and how they are to be contacted based on the day and time.

TO DELIVER ALERTS VIA VOICE TELEPHONE

CIMScan delivers email alerts using the same LAN port used to communicate with the remote devices. (Email messages are also used to send text messages to cell phones and to pagers.)

Messages can be optionally delivered by voice telephone. To do this, you must install our “Notify” appliance somewhere on your network. Notify contains a high quality text-to-speech converter and utilizes VIOP (Voice Over IP) technology to complete the call. If you’re not using VOIP, we can supply a simple VIOP to analog telephone adapter (ATA) which must be installed on the network. In both cases, the installation is pretty much plug and play.

AVAILABLE SERVICE TOOLS

Two service tools are available for configuring calibrating the remote devices in a warehouse monitoring system. One is for the DA-06 and the other is for the DA-76 Gateway. The Service Tool software runs on a standard Windows XP/7 based notebook PC and is provided with a USB to SensorBus interface cable. The software can also be supplied installed and ready to run on a low cost netbook PC. A screen capture of the device configuration page for the DA-06 service tool is shown below.