Case Study: Vibration Instruments and Solar

Vibration instruments are used for measuring, displaying and analyzing vibration. Typically these instruments comprise a transducer, data acquisition and either a local display or some sort of output to a computer or another instrument. Vibration instruments can have many features, including incorporating features such as totalizing, local or remote display and data recording. They may be stationary or else portable field-type instruments.
Some of these instruments can even accept wireless data transmissions.

Normally, these field instruments run on lead-acid rechargeable batteries which require frequent field trips for power replacements once the batteries run out of power. Solar panels were used to eliminate the need for such troublesome trips.

A solar power system consisting of a solar panel, a deep cycle rechargeable solar battery and a charge controller is able to allow the instruments to run on power generated from sunlight. A sufficient battery backup capacity will give a few days of of power in case of bad weather where sunlight is not present.

Often, these instruments record data for a few hours only and not for the whole day. A timer can be added to switch on/off the instruments at preset intervals, saving precious battery power.

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