AquaFox Meteo Environmental Data Loggers

Low-power environmental data logging systems for meteorological, agricultural and remote monitoring applications.

AquaFox Environmental Data Logger AquaFox Electronic Circuit Boards

Introduction

The AquaFox data logger is designed for monitoring analogue and digital sensors and transmitting measurement data through Sigfox, LoRa or GSM/4G communication systems. Measurements can also be stored locally on an SD card.
Developed for battery-operated monitoring applications, the AquaFox incorporates several power-management modes to minimise energy consumption between measurements and data transmissions.
The logger can operate from a supply as low as 3.3 V, with typical installations using 4.2 V or 7.2 V battery supplies.

AquaFox Mini Data Logger

Specifications and Features

  • STM32L151 low-power microcontroller.
  • Firmware updates using a three-wire SWD interface with J-Link.
  • Multiple I/O connections including GPIO and four 16-bit ADC channels.
  • Event input for rainfall tipping-bucket gauges or other event monitoring.
  • High-speed counter input for applications such as wind-speed measurement.
  • COM0 serial interface for terminal monitoring and configuration.
  • Optional adapter board providing SDI-12 or RS422 communications.
  • I²C interface for sensors and optional relay or GPIO expansion boards.
  • 3 V to 12 V DC supply with integrated power management.
  • Approximately 5 µA standby current in sleep mode.
  • Switched probe power supply providing battery voltage or regulated 5 V, limited to 500 mA.
  • Switched 3.3 V supply output, limited to 500 mA.
  • Configuration through a terminal emulator connected to COM0.
  • Onboard SD card for data storage.
  • Battery-voltage monitoring selectable on internal ADC channel 0.

Low-Power Operation

Following startup, the logger provides a 20-second window for terminal commands and configuration changes before entering standby sleep mode.
In sleep mode, the logger typically draws approximately 5 µA, allowing extended operation from battery-powered supplies.

Ultra-Low-Power Event Counting

The AquaFox uses interrupt-driven wake-up to record external events such as rainfall tipping-bucket pulses.
When an event occurs, the microcontroller briefly wakes, increments the appropriate event counter and immediately returns to sleep.
This event-processing operation typically takes less than 100 microseconds, with current consumption below 1 mA.
This approach minimises energy consumption while maintaining accurate event counts in remote battery-operated installations.

RTC Wake-Up and Data Transmission

The onboard real-time clock supports periodic wake-up intervals in increments of one second.
A typical application wakes the logger every five minutes to collect measurements, process stored events and transmit data.
The wake-up interval and associated actions are configurable.

Power consumption during wake-up depends on the operations performed.
For example, Sigfox data transmission typically draws approximately 20 mA for six seconds.

Extended Battery Operation

Battery life of up to two years is achievable with an appropriate lithium battery pack and low-power operating configuration. Actual battery life depends on battery capacity, sensor power requirements, measurement intervals, communications activity and environmental conditions.

Installation and Environmental Protection

The AquaFox logger PCB is not waterproof and does not have a protective conformal coating.

The unit must be installed inside a clean, weatherproof IP67 or IP68 rated enclosure. Suitable precautions must be taken to prevent exposure to moisture, condensation and environmental contamination.

For further information about the AquaFox data logger range, please contact ESD International .

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