NexSens Technology CB-450, User Manual

Page 1: ...CB 450 Data Buoy User Guide Last Revision 20 October 2022 Date Generated 7 December 2022 Copyright 2022 NexSens Technology Inc ...

Page 2: ...ring UW6 BULK Pinout Wiring Options M550 Beacon for CB Series Data Buoys Installation Operation CB Series Data Buoy Instrument Cage Installation CB CCA Anti Rotation Collar Use of Sacrificial Anodes on CB Series Data Buoys CB Series Data Buoy Instrument Mounts Topside Mounts Subsurface Mounts 3 Deployment CB Series Data Buoy Ballast Weight Stability Top Side Weight Ballast Weight Buoy Ballast Weig...

Page 3: ...ast Weight System Maintenance Mooring Hardware Materials Deployment 4 Troubleshooting and Maintenance General Data Buoy Maintenance Verify Battery Voltage of a CB Series Buoy Replace a Battery in a CB Series Data Buoy Battery Removal New Battery Installation Test a CB Series Buoy Solar Tower Data Buoy Storage Requirements 5 Warranty 6 Service Request NexSens Return Authorization 33 34 35 36 37 37 ...

Page 4: ...ed stainless steel frame providing a net buoyancy of 450 lb 204 kg Three 4 passthrough holes with female NPT bottom threads allow for quick connection of instrument deployment pipes and custom sensor mounts Data Well The waterproof compartment located in the center of the buoy hull for placement of system electronics such as batteries and data loggers On the CB 450 model the data well has a 10 3 2...

Page 5: ...es and install connectors into Solar Tower Three 15W solar panels on the solar tower capture sunlight from any direction and charge batteries located inside the data well The tower also supports the mounting of an M550 solar marine light for nighttime visibility Aside from regular cleaning to ensure solar panels are unobstructed from receiving maximum sunlight there is little to no maintenance req...

Page 6: ...he key specifications of the CB 450 buoy are given below Hull Outer Diameter 34 0 86 4cm Hull Height 20 0 50 8cm Data Well Inner Diameter 10 3 26 2cm Data Well Height 19 5 49 5cm Pass Through Hole Diameter 4 0 10 2cm Tower Height 20 0 50 80cm Solar Panels 3x 15 watts Weight 130 lb 59kg Net Buoyancy 450 lb 204kg Hull Material Cross linked polyethylene foam with polyurea coating stainless steel deck...

Page 7: ... NexSens does not endorse any particular mooring strategy and systems should be designed and executed based on careful consideration and local knowledge of the deployment site Electrical connections Many NexSens buoy systems utilize UW connectors for connection of power and sensor cables Data loggers such as the X2 CB have UW receptacle ports to receive sensor cables fitted with UW plug connectors...

Page 8: ... e life jackets gloves steel toed boots etc Proper lifting and mooring techniques Awareness of on site and surrounding weather conditions and advisories Despite careful planning unforeseen situations are always still a possibility Buoy deployments are an at risk operation and the user assumes liability for any injury or damages that may occur 8 ...

Page 9: ...h topside wet mate sensor connectors for standalone operation or installed in the CB 25 platform 3 X2 CB Buoy Mounted Data Logger waterproof lid mounted package for integration on CB Series data buoys with data well and solar charging model CB 150 and larger 4 X2 CBMC Buoy Mounted Data Logger lid mounted package with wet mate connectors for use on CB Series data buoys in challenging environments s...

Page 10: ...150 only 2 CB A05 x contains one to four 28 A Hr batteries depending on buoy capacity see table below The following table shows what battery harness models each CB Series data buoy model has capacity for in the data well However what model is selected should be based on a complete power budget analysis that includes system power demand solar charge capacity panel size and available sunlight based ...

Page 11: ... solar regulator systems in the data well The bottom of the data well has two welded standoffs for connection of battery mount posts and hardware for securing user supplied batteries including mounting posts brackets and foam inserts Consult a NexSens Applications Engineer for available parts Data well plates Buoys may be delivered with various data well top plate options CB PTL pass through lid w...

Page 12: ...tion of user supplied sensors Instructions for installation and use of these bulkhead connector cables is available here Securing Data Well Plate Any time the data well plate will be resealed first verify that the large O ring is in good condition clear of debris and lightly greased Align the plate with the bolt holes on the buoy and place the provided bolts with lock washer Tighten incrementally ...

Page 13: ...uoy data wells capped with CB PTL pass through lids or blank lids with user drilled holes It consists of an N style female connector integrated on the bulkhead for external antenna connection and 1m pigtail cable with SMA male connector for connection to a modem placed inside the watertight data well Installation instructions for an RF BULK cable assembly can be found here UW sensor bulkhead conne...

Page 14: ... a UW 6 power bulkhead connector UW6 BULK port Information regarding the port pinout and different options for wiring power to user supplied electronics is supplied below For installation instructions follow the guide here UW6 BULK Pinout The diagram and table below show the pinout of the UW BULK cable assembly NexSens UW6 BULK power cable assembly UW6 BULK pinout 14 ...

Page 15: ...locally Molex Wire Solar Regulator Connection Battery Terminal Connection Yellow Solar Black Common GND Negative GND Orange Battery Red Positive V The internal jumper inside the solar panel connector disconnects battery power from on board electronics when the solar panel plug is removed from the UW6 BULK port This simplifies system storage as the data well does not need to be opened to manually d...

Page 16: ...low color and default 15 flash minute pattern Model M550 F Y Installation While it typically comes pre installed the M550 can easily be removed and or installed by the user Reference the M550 Installation Instructions for guidance with the standard flange mount version The pole mount option can be similarly fixed to the buoy top plate using the provided hardware and one of the pre drilled holes on...

Page 17: ...rammer that is normally provided with the beacon The IR programmer can be used to perform the following functions Turn beacon on and off Check the battery pack charge status Change the flash pattern Change the flash intensity IR programming remote 17 ...

Page 18: ...es standard with the others Model number CAGE L is 44 112 cm in length and has a wider profile It comes standard with CB 650 CB 950 and CB 1250 buoys The cage is a critical component of the ballast weight of a data buoy and provides a mounting location for additional ballast weight to be added as needed Attachment to the internal frame of a data buoy is simple using the provided hardware 1 Use the...

Page 19: ...e single bolt connection is sufficient for small buoys in calm waters However a CB CCA Buoy Cage Anti Rotation Collar may be used for added security in rough waters or when suspending sensor strings from the cage It is included standard and should always be used with buoy models CB 650 and larger that come with the CAGE L For installation instructions see the CB CCA installation guide Secured cage...

Page 20: ...ews connecting the two anode halves Zinc is chosen for the anode material because it is a readily available metal with a lower reduction potential 0 76V than the steel of the buoy frame This offers the steel what is known as cathodic protection where oxidation reactions are transferred away from the steel to the zinc when placed in highly ionic environments such as saltwater in the case of a buoy ...

Page 21: ... on buoys Airmar WX Series Weather Sensors Gill MaxiMet Weather Sensors LI COR Terrestrial Light Sensors Lufft WS Series Weather Sensors METER ATMOS Weather Sensors Vaisala WXT Series Weather Sensors Miscellaneous Mounts Other mounting brackets CB 150 CB 250 CB 450 Instrument Offset Mount Subsurface Mounts Data Logger Mounts For mounting of NexSens X2 SDL data logger or SBP500 extra reserve batter...

Page 22: ...lamp Underwater PAR Sensor Mounting Arm YSI EXO Sonde Mooring Clamps Profiling Instrument Mounts Mounting brackets for commonly used current meters and profiler ADCP instruments Nortek Aquadopp Buoy Instrument Hole Mount variants for mounting on CB 950 and CB 1250 buoys Nortek Aquadopp Mooring Cages variants for Aquadopp current meters and current profilers Nortek Signature1000 ADCP Instrument Cag...

Page 23: ...ies buoys is near the water surface without instruments connected Therefore any top side weight added above the water s surface e g sensors sensor mounts must be appropriately counterbalanced by ballast weight below the surface e g instrument cage chain anchors etc Before deploying a buoy system some experimentation may be required to balance the system properly Figure 1 NexSens CB 450 buoyancy di...

Page 24: ... example suppose a weather sensor is mounted 36 above the water surface Figure 2 In that instance the sensor mount will cause more buoy instability than mounted 24 above the surface Figure 3 As a result the buoy would require more subsurface ballast weight to counterbalance Figure 2 Top side weight mounted higher causes greater buoy instability Figure 3 Top side weight mounted closer to the water ...

Page 25: ...oint configurations the mooring hardware does not contribute to the ballast weight If needed add inch galvanized chain 2 3lb ft to the bottom of the cage or utilize NexSens 25lb ballast weight that can be added to the cage in specific applications NexSens CB series buoy data wells are not rated for submersion so proper ballast weight is critical to ensure that the buoy does not overturn including ...

Page 26: ... standard with either 1 2 galvanized chain CB 25 CB 25 SVS or an installed steel instrument pipe CB 40 for ballast Model Buoyancy lbs Minimum Recommended Ballast Weight lbs 1 CB 25 SVS 25 CB 25 25 CB 40 40 CB 50 50 CB 150 150 CB 250 250 CB 450 450 CB 650 650 50 CB 950 950 100 CB 1250 1250 150 1Minimum recommended ballast weight incorporates the weight of the included or optionally purchased instru...

Page 27: ...st handled by adding weight to the bottom of the buoy and not relying on the mooring weight to act as ballast Additionally the weight associated with biofouling growth can impact the buoy buoyancy and mooring performance Minimum recommended ballast weights for NexSens Technology data buoys can be reviewed at the link below NexSens Technology Buoy Ballast Weights More information on buoy ballast ca...

Page 28: ...w deployments can be designed with all chain or a combination of heavy bottom chain and light water column chain Deeper water moorings may need to use a combination of chain and rope Example catenary mooring deployment with single chain for shallow waters Example catenary mooring with combination of rope and chain for deeper waters 28 ...

Page 29: ...ions where the floatation may not be adequate to support the mooring weight Extra floatation can also free motion for wave measurement applications or offer additional resistance to horizontal loading Example small buoy catenary mooring with subsurface flotation Example small buoy catenary mooring with surface flotation 29 ...

Page 30: ...esulting in the buoy listing to one side Damage can result with topside equipment and solar panels becoming submerged Additional surface or subsurface floatation may be required Depiction of horizontal loading resulting in buoy listing to one side Force diagram representing external forces acting on buoys in natural environments 30 ...

Page 31: ...hese moorings are useful for suspending sensor lines by pulling the mooring lines free and clear Rough water shifting bottom or horizontal loads can tangle two point moorings and lead to chafing and cable failure Use this mooring type only in controlled and calm applications CB 450 data buoy with semi taut two point mooring setup 31 ...

Page 32: ...oats and weights on the mooring lines create an S shape which provides spring action in the water column Waves and water level changes are easily managed This mooring type is most common on deep water deployments but has utility in shallow rough water applications Inverse catenary S shaped mooring diagram 32 ...

Page 33: ...he bottom of the buoy frame or instrument cage Refer to the articles below to learn more about CB Series buoy characteristics before deployment Buoy Ballast Weight Stability NexSens CB Series Buoy Ballast Weights Mooring Data Buoys Connecting Mooring Hardware For NexSens supplied mooring systems stainless steel bow shackles connect the various mooring components i e mooring lines marker buoys chai...

Page 34: ...le tie into the hole on the shackle pin and run it through the shackle loop right image below Pull tightly to secure and trim the excess Deployment Personnel safety is the number one priority when deploying a data buoy Using proper equipment e g workboat lifting rig for heavier systems gloves safety footwear etc is essential to deploy any buoy Shackle connections between the buoy tether line and m...

Page 35: ... the boat begin by connecting all mooring hardware including the mooring line s connection to the bottom eye of the CB series buoy 2 Lift the anchor over the side of the boat and release it in to the water at the chosen deployment location Be sure that the mooring line and bottom chain assembly are long enough that dropping the anchor does not pull the buoy over the side of the boat Pay out the mo...

Page 36: ...rsonnel and equipment Place the connected marker buoy in the water 4 Move to the desired location of the data buoy Pay out the mooring line from the first marker buoy to the data buoy as the boat is moved 5 Finalize sensor connections and apply power then lift the buoy over the side of the boat and set it in the water 6 Move onward to the location of the second anchor as the mooring line connectin...

Page 37: ...y recommended for lifting and controlled release of equipment to avoid injury to personnel or damage to equipment Whereas two point moorings with suspended sensor lines are often a viable option for shallower applications medium deep water moorings will typically be single point due to the required mooring line length This means that suspended sensors will be mounted along the primary mooring line...

Page 38: ...g line length also see Mooring Hardware Materials Too large of a drift radius may result in the buoy coming into conflict with the shore infrastructure such as docks or ship traffic However a mooring line that is too short can put the buoy at risk of submersion from horizontal loading during high wave and current conditions The diagrams below illustrate this effect Determination of mooring line le...

Page 39: ...Depiction of horizontal loading resulting in buoy listing to one side Force diagram representing external forces acting on buoys in natural environments 39 ...

Page 40: ... allowed to move somewhat freely with waves and currents rather than attempting to firmly hold it in place at an exact point How much drift radius can be tolerated must first be determined and then the total mooring line length can be calculated 40 ...

Page 41: ...istance to dampen this effect However the total buoyancy of the buoy must be carefully considered at this stage as the chain cannot be too heavy such that it contributes to submersion of the buoy if it becomes fully drawn up from the seafloor A method for slightly reducing the chain weight while simultaneously preventing it from becoming caught on objects on the seafloor is to install trawl floats...

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Page 43: ... be mounted onto NexSens issued stainless steel mooring lines Sensors can be securely mounted using MC 600 mooring clamps specifically designed for use with these mooring lines Due to the weight of such wirelines it is often preferable to use a neutral buoyancy or even net positive buoyancy mooring rope with sufficient strength to perform well in the site conditions for example Superdan 8 strand o...

Page 44: ...e mooring line and NOT the data cable Twisting in the wireline should be reduced as much as possible This can in some cases be achieved by using a stainless steel swivel at the point where the wireline connects to the primarily buoy mooring line A swivel should NOT be used directly at the connection to the buoy frame as this will allow the buoy to rotate around the mooring line connection An excep...

Page 45: ...device Commonly used with lifeboats these hooks have an automatic self open function that causes the hook to release when the load is released Using the winch to support the rope connected to the chain lower the anchor into the water deep enough that the anchor load begins to be carried by the chain connected to the winch supported rope rather than the crane and the anchor will be released in a ve...

Page 46: ...d that the buoy and LED beacon are powered up Then carefully place the buoy in the water This can either be done by lifting it and placing it with the crane and off load hook as with the anchor or by placing it into the water through a bow gate if the vessel is equipped with one Once deployed observe the buoy s movement to ensure it appears to be stable If the buoy is equipped with a GPS device tr...

Page 47: ...recharging 30W for CB A01 2 packs 60W for CB A05 X packs ii Battery replacement instructions are available here c Batteries repeatedly falling below 10V should be replaced 2 Carefully clean the buoy and connected devices as needed a Clean off the solar panels with a soft towel using caution not to scratch the surface Water is normally sufficient for this but a mild cleaning agent may be used if ne...

Page 48: ...the plug with a cap and the port with a port plug to avoid water intrusion while disconnected b Carefully disconnect and inspect any UW or MCIL connectors i Follow the article below for proper connector operation and maintenance MCBH MCIL Connector Operation Maintenance 5 Be sure to reconnect the UW 6 plug in the SOLAR port when finished a For systems with a NexSens data logger an audible beep ind...

Page 49: ...n pins 3 V and 4 GND on the SOLAR port Healthy SLA battery voltage is 12 0 14 9V SLA batteries which have fallen below 10V should be replaced while batteries between 10 12V should be charged with a float charger or by connecting the buoy solar top and placing the buoy in the sun Note that the system will be powered on when a cable is connected to the SOLAR port and if batteries are charged during ...

Page 50: ...all obstructions as a clogged vent can cause high pressure combustible gas build up in the well due to outgassing from the batteries DO NOT use power tools to remove the plate Tools Required Electrical tape 9 16 socket wrench with extension 10mm socket wrench with extension Fully charged replacement battery Digital voltmeter multimeter New desiccant recommended Battery Removal 1 Disconnect the 6 p...

Page 51: ... buoy plate off of the data well Disconnect the 6 pin UW plug running between the solar regulator and the X2 CB and protect the connectors This will expose the data well where the battery and solar regulator are installed Remove lid to access the buoy data well Top view showing UW 6 power cable 51 ...

Page 52: ... a 10mm socket wrench Immediately cover the loose cable end with electrical tape to prevent it from contacting the data well and short circuiting a Repeat this step for the other battery terminal and cable removing the old batteries one by one as they are freed 2 Remove the used battery from the data well It may be necessary to remove some of the wedged foam surrounding it in the event it does not...

Page 53: ...he second then third and fourth batteries if applicable attaching the previous battery s ring terminal cable to the corresponding battery terminal above it each time 3 For all Systems a Once the final battery is installed in the data well orient the solar regulator bracket so that the ring terminal connections to the top most battery are on the same side b Slide the solar regulator bracket back on...

Page 54: ... of the X2 CB 2 Align the X2 CB or pass through plate with the mounting holes on the buoy and verify that the large O ring is in good condition clear of debris and lightly greased 3 Reattach the plate using a 9 16 socket wrench and the original set of bolts and lock washers tightening in a cross pattern as shown below 4 Re attach the buoy solar panel 5 Using a voltmeter measure the voltage between...

Page 55: ...6 Connect the 6 pin solar panel plug to the buoy s SOLAR port to reapply power to the data logger UW 6 SOLAR port receptacle pinout for X2 CB data loggers and CB PTL pass through lids 55 ...

Page 56: ...ar of debris 2 Use cardboard or cloth to shade two of the three solar panels on the buoy and move the tower into sunlight 3 Record the DC voltage observed between Pins 2 V and 3 GND of the solar tower s UW 6 plug cable Typical panel output in direct sunlight for all buoys is 18 22VDC Solar tower with a single panel exposed to the sun Measure between Pin 2 V and Pin 3 GND of the UW 6 plug Measuring...

Page 57: ...un and in a horizontal orientation is listed below Note that the observed output will normally be somewhat lower due to the angle at which each panel is mounted to the tower and atmospheric conditions a CB 150 10W between 0 37 0 46A b CB 250 15W between 0 59 0 72A c CB 450 15W between 0 59 0 72A d CB 650 32W between 1 36 1 67A e CB 950 46W between 2 2 4A f CB 1250 71W between 2 59 3 17A 7 If one o...

Page 58: ...oy s SOLAR port as soon as the buoy is removed from service a The solar panel cable plug has an internal jumper that acts as a switch to supply on board electronics with power If the solar panel cable is left connected during storage the batteries inside the data well will die and require replacement 4 Power OFF any LED beacons that are affixed to the buoy solar tower a The included IR beacon remo...

Page 59: ...nd port connections a Inspect all sensor ports and cable connections ensuring all O rings are present and there are no signs of moisture or damage b Cover all logger or cable receptacle ports with a UW plug to keep moisture out c Keep all system cable O rings and connectors clean by covering them with the included red 8 pin or yellow 6 pin polymer caps If these caps are no longer accessible any me...

Page 60: ...echnology Inc product damage or failure caused by failure to install operate or use the product in accordance with NexSens Technology Inc written instructions abuse or misuse of the product failure to maintain the product in accordance with NexSens Technology Inc written instructions any improper customer repairs to the product use by the customer of defective or improper components or parts in se...

Page 61: ...clude with your shipment NexSens Return Authorization Date Shipped 2022 12 07 Customer Name Organization Equipment Return Address Return Shipping Option Prepaid Add Phone Number Email Product Type s Serial Number s Description of Issue s Included Accessories Data Recovery Device data can be erased Data recovery requested Comment Requests 61 ...

Page 62: ...ty period will be fixed at no charge Initial evaluations are performed at no cost and a quote will be provided if charges apply Privacy Policy Your contact information will never be misused or shared with third parties SUBMIT 62 ...