SUPPORT

Articles in this section

Supported Meter/Sensor Channel Types

 

A Wildeye has 1 or 2 physical cables containing one or more channels for attaching meters/sensors.

Expander modules allow additional channels and non-native channel types to be added to a Wildeye. An expander module has between 1 and 4 physical cables each containing one or more channels. 

For both Wildeyes and Expander modules, the type of the cable and the channels contained inside it are defined by the cable codes. 

 

mceclip1.png

 

Cables can be of 4 different types:

  • Cable with M12 waterproof plug end, 5-pin (code = N)
  • Cable with bare-wire leads (code = L)
  • Cable with stainless steel NTC thermistor (code = T)
  • Cable with M12 waterproof plug end, 4-pin legacy type (code = M)

Each cable can contain one or more channels of the following types:

Each channel type can be have different channel options defined by a number appearing after the channel code. If there is no number, it means the default options are chosen. 

A second number after a channel code letter indicates the number of instances of that channel type in the Cable. If there is no second number, it indicates a single channel of that type in the cable. 

The diagram below details how a cable code defines the cable type and channels, plus channel options are described in the Cable Code. 

Examples:

-NACS  =  Cable Type N (M12 Plug, 5-pin), containing A (4-20mA), C (Counter) and S (SDI12) channels.  No special option numbers follow any of the channels codes.

-3LW = Cable Type L (Bare-wire leads) containing channel type W (Watermark). There are 3 of these cables

-NV03 = Cable Type N (M12 Plug, 5-pin), containing 3 x V (0-5V) channels.  The option number "0" after the V indicates no special options for the V channels, but the "3" indicates there are 3 x V channels present on this cable. 

 

mceclip0.png

Number n of Cable type Z

 Description Cable length option e
N M12 Plug, 5-pin

if not specified: 

default = 1m (3ft)

 
L Bare-wire leads
T Stainless NTC Thermistor
M M12 Plug, 4-pin
Channel X Description Channel Option a Max Channels b per Cable Z

S

SDI12

N/A

Max 1
A

4-20mA / 0-20mA

0 =12V Switch Power (default)
1 = 15V SPO

Max 3
V

Voltage Input

0 = 0-5V with 12V SPO (default)
2 = 0-5V with 5V SPO
3 = 0-5V with 3V SPO
4 = 0-10V with 12V SPO
5 = +-10V with 12V SPO

Max 3
C

Counter

0 = Default, Debounced Input
1 = RPM Input
2 = High Frequency

Max 2
R 

Serial Communication Channel

2= RS232
3 = TTL3V
4 = RS485
5 = TTL5V

Max 1
O

Resistance / Ohms

0 = Default, 10K range

Max 4
W

Watermark

N/A

Max 1
D

Digital / Dry Contact

N/A

Max 4

 

Wildeye Channel Interface Details

Channel Type Channel Code Channel Availability Channel Description

Counter

C

Wildeye Native Only

The Counter Input is designed to accept pulse count inputs from flow meters, power meters and other sensor types that output dry contact or transistor style counts.

For further details see Pulse Counter Channel Details
4-20mA

A

Wildeye Native or Expander

4-20mA Analogue Channel is a single-ended input designed to accept analog signals from level, pressure, temperature, and other sensors that use the 4-20mA or 0-20mA standard. An onboard 12v "Switched Power Output" can be used to power sensors - or choose an alternative voltage option. Wildeye supports 2, 3 and 4-wire 4-20mA wiring.

For further details see 4-20mA Analogue Channel Details
0-5V

V

Expander Only

Wildeye supports up to 4 x 0-5V output sensors through the use of an expander module.  An onboard 12v "Switched Power Output" can be used to power sensors, or choose an alternative voltage option.

For further details see Voltage Channel Details
SDI12

S

Wildeye Native Only

SDI12 is a standard digital interface protocol for environmental monitoring sensors. Wildeye powers sensors with onboard 12v "Switched Power Output". Wildeye software supports the attachment of up to 12 x SDI12 (the exact number may be limited by power consumption of the attached sensors). 

For further details see SDI-12 Channel Details
Serial 

R

Wildeye Native Only

Wildeye supports RS232, RS485 and TTL hardware interface options. Note that the data protocol used on top of these hardware interfaces is specified separately. Wildeye supports MODBUS data protocol out of the box. For other supported protocols please inquire with Wildeye. 

RS232 and TTL interfaces can only attach to a single meter/sensor. RS485 can attach to multiple meters/sensors. 

For further details see Serial Communications Channel
Resistance

O

Expander Only

Wildeye supports up to 4 x 0-10K resistance inputs through the use of an expander module.  Multiple expander modules can be attached to a Wildeye.
Watermark

W

Expander Only

Wildeye supports up to 3 x "Watermark" standard soil tension sensors through the use of an expander module. Multiple expander modules can be attached to a Wildeye.