Check out our White Paper Series!
A complete library of helpful advice and survival guides for every aspect of system monitoring and control.
1-800-693-0351
Have a specific question? Ask our team of expert engineers and get a specific answer!
Sign up for the next DPS Factory Training!
Whether you're new to our equipment or you've used it for years, DPS factory training is the best way to get more from your monitoring.
Reserve Your Seat TodayThe 16 Channel Analog Monitor is a plug-in expansion card that fits in the KDA 864 Remote Unit. The 16 Channel Analog Monitor card gives the KDA the ability to monitor variable DC voltages and produce alarms based on pre-set threshold levels. Each of the 16 Channels can be programmed to have its own voltage scale and offset, 4 alarm threshold levels, and alarm threshold qualification times. Each input may also be configured to accept the output from a 4-20mA transducer to monitor such items as pressure, temperature and flow. Each channel is sampled hundreds of times a second, so even short duration events can be alarmed. Once one of the four trigger thresholds has been crossed, an alarm is generated. If the analog card is in a dial-up KDA host, the KDA will automatically initiate a phone call to report the threshold violation.
Downloadable Configuration
Configuration data for the 16 analog channels is entered via the same downloading software used to program the host KDA. Downloading can be done locally at the KDA's front panel connector or remotely via a dial-up modem. Configuration data is held in non-volatile memory to survive loss-of-power.
Differential Inputs
The differential inputs can monitor a wide variety of voltage devices, including individual battery cell voltages. Differential inputs give the analog card the ability to monitor voltages relative to any supplied reference point (not necessarily ground). Measured values may range from -79.9 to +79.9 volts DC.
Auto Ranging
Four positive and four negative input voltage ranges are used by the analog card. The smallest range gives the greatest resolution. To assure highest resolution, the analog card processor assigns the lowest range for each measurement.
Alarm Thresholds
Two over and two under voltage thresholds can be defined. The thresholds may be arranged as major and minor, with the minor thresholds "surrounded" by the major threshold. This structure can produce a warning alarm for the inner set of thresholds, and generate a more severe alarm for the outer thresholds. A threshold qualification time can also be specified for each channel, allowing an alarm be declared if, and only if, the analog value has crossed the threshold for a specified period of time. An example of this is declaring an alarm if signal strength is low for more than 10 seconds.
Inheritance
Since the analog card is an expansion card for the KDA remote, it "inherits" all of the features of the host KDA. For example, if the KDA uses alternate path reporting, the analog card has the same feature. NOTE: The analog card uses the same protocol as the host KDA. Only DCPF and TRIP (dial-up) protocols support the transmission of analog values.
Voltage Source
Plant battery and AGC voltage fluctuations are two examples of voltage sources that may be monitored by the analog card. In addition to the threshold alarms generated, the analog card provides real-time absolute voltage measurements, both to the alarm master and at the front panel display.
Current Source
Many temperature, pressure and other transducers use a current loop principle. Current flow in the loop changes as the measured value changes. The analog card reads these current changes as a voltage across a 250 ohm shunt resistor on the input. The front panel display shows voltage, but the T/Mon NOC master or the T/KDAW screen can show values in native units.
Analog Scaling and Offset
The Analog Card can make a measured input voltage smaller or larger (called scaling), shift its value range (called offset) and assign a units suffix (volts, degrees, PSI, etc.).
T/Mon NOC Compatibility
The analog card is compatible with T/Mon NOC alarm master. The software in these high level master stations allows you to: