RETIRED ›
This product is no longer available and has been replaced by: SNOWVUE10. Some accessories, replacement parts, or services may still be available.
SR50A-L Sonic Ranging Sensor
Services Available
Repair Yes
Free Support Yes

The next generation of the SR50A snow-depth sensor is now available.

Check out the SnowVUE™10.


Overview

El SR50A, fabricado por Campbell Scientific Canada, es un sensor de fabricacion fuerte, acustico, que provee un metodo sin contacto para determinar la altura de nieve o el nivel  de agua. Emite un pulso ultrasonico y luego mide el tiempo transcurrido hasta el rebote de la señal. La medicion de la temperatura del aire es requerida para la compensacion debido a la velocidad del sonido en el aire.

El SR50A mide la distancia entre el sensor al objectivo. Las aplicaciones mas comunes son. altura de nieve y el nivel de agua.

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Benefits and Features

  • Wide operating temperature range
  • User-selectable options for output
  • Rugged enough for harsh environments
  • Uses a multiple echo processing algorithm to help ensure measurement reliability
  • Compatible with most Campbell Scientific data loggers

Images

Detailed Description

The SR50A was designed to meet the stringent requirements of measuring snow depth, and it uses a multiple echo processing algorithm to help ensure measurement reliability.

SDI-12, RS-232, and RS-485 output options are available for measuring the SR50A. Campbell Scientific’s MD485 interface can be used to connect one or more SR50A sensors in RS-485 mode to an RS-232 device. This can be useful for sensors that require lead lengths that exceed the limits of either RS-232 or SDI-12 communications.

The SR50A replaced the SR50 in March 2007. The newer SR50A is smaller and has different output options than its predecessor. The SR50AH is available with a heater option for locations where rime ice is a problem.

Specifications

Measurement Description Snow depth
Measurement Time < 1.0 s
Measurement Range 0.5 to 10 m (1.6 to 32.8 ft)
Output Options SDI-12 version 1.3, RS-232, RS-485 (output options selected by configuring internal jumpers)
Baud Rates 1200 to 38400 bps (RS-232, RS-485 modes)
Power Requirements 9 to 18 Vdc (typically powered by data logger’s 12 Vdc power supply)
Beam Acceptance ~30°
Resolution 0.25 mm (0.01 in.)
Accuracy ±1 cm (0.4 in.) or 0.4% of distance to target (whichever is greatest). Requires external temperature compensation.
Operating Temperature Range -45° to +50°C
Temperature Accuracy
  • ±0.2° (at 0° to 50°C)
  • ±0.75° (at -45° to 0°C)
Compliance CE Compliant
Length 10.1 cm (4.0 in.)
Diameter 7.5 cm (3 in.)
Cable Weight 250 g (8.2 oz) for a 4.57-m (15-ft) cable
Weight
  • 375 g (13.2 oz) without cable
  • 1.0 kg (2.2 lb)

Maximum Cable Length

-NOTE- Cable lengths greater than 60 m require a heavier gage wire if the power supply drops below 11 Vdc.
SDI-12 60 m (200 ft)
RS-232 60 m (200 ft)
Baud rates ≤ 9600 bps
RS-485 300 m (984 ft)

Power Consumption

Active 250 mA (typical)
Quiescent SDI-12 Mode < 1.0 mA
Quiescent RS-232/RS-485 Modes
  • < 1.25 mA (≤ 9600 bps)
  • < 2.0 mA (> 9600 bps)

Compatibility

Please note: The following shows notable compatibility information. It is not a comprehensive list of all compatible products.

Dataloggers

Product Compatible Note
21X (retired) SDI-12 and RS-232. For RS-485, requires an MD485 interface or similar RS-485 to RS-232 interface.
CR10 (retired) SDI-12 and RS-232. For RS-485, requires an MD485 interface or similar RS-485 to RS-232 interface.
CR1000 (retired) SDI-12 and RS-232. For RS-485, requires an MD485 interface or similar RS-485 to RS-232 interface.
CR1000X SDI-12 and RS-232. For RS-485, requires an MD485 interface or similar RS-485 to RS-232 interface.
CR10X (retired) SDI-12 and RS-232. For RS-485, requires an MD485 interface or similar RS-485 to RS-232 interface.
CR200X (retired) SDI-12
CR206X (retired) SDI-12
CR211X (retired) SDI-12
CR216X (retired) SDI-12
CR23X (retired) SDI-12 and RS-232. For RS-485, requires an MD485 interface or similar RS-485 to RS-232 interface.
CR295X (retired) SDI-12
CR300 SDI-12 and RS-232. For RS-485, requires an MD485 interface or similar RS-485 to RS-232 interface.
CR3000 (retired) SDI-12 and RS-232. For RS-485, requires an MD485 interface or similar RS-485 to RS-232 interface.
CR310 SDI-12 and RS-232. For RS-485, requires an MD485 interface or similar RS-485 to RS-232 interface.
CR350 SDI-12 and RS-232. For RS-485, requires an MD485 interface or similar RS-485 to RS-232 interface.
CR500 (retired) SDI-12
CR5000 (retired) SDI-12 and RS-232. For RS-485, requires an MD485 interface or similar RS-485 to RS-232 interface.
CR510 (retired) SDI-12 and RS-232. For RS-485, requires an MD485 interface or similar RS-485 to RS-232 interface.
CR6 SDI-12, RS-232, and RS-485
CR800 (retired) SDI-12 and RS-232. For RS-485, requires an MD485 interface or similar RS-485 to RS-232 interface.
CR850 (retired) SDI-12 and RS-232. For RS-485, requires an MD485 interface or similar RS-485 to RS-232 interface.
CR9000 (retired)
CR9000X (retired) SDI-12 and RS-232. For RS-485, requires an MD485 interface or similar RS-485 to RS-232 interface.

Distributed Data Acquisition

Product Compatible Note
Granite 6 SDI-12 and RS-232. For RS-485, requires an MD485 interface or similar RS-485 to RS-232 interface.

Downloads

SR50A/AT OS v.1.3 (52 KB) 22-08-2007

Current SR50A / AT firmware.
View Update History

SR50A example programs v.1 (11 kB) 22-01-2020

CR6 and CR1000X programs that directly read each type of SR50A output (SDI-12, RS-232, RS-485), and a CR1000 program that reads the RS-485 output using an MD485 Multidrop interface. A 107 sensor provides the temperature measurement needed for temperature compensation. The programs use the data filtering method described in the manual.

Articles and Press Releases