AVW1 and AVW4 Vibrating

Wire Interfaces
Key Features
Can be used with
several different
models of sensor

Provides signal
conditioning to
improve
measurements

Low power
consumption

Optional temperature
compensation

For monitoring of vibrating wire strain gauges with Compatible with

Campbell Scientific dataloggers CR510, CR10X ,
CR23X
Background an optional temperature measure-
ment that allows compensation of
and CR5000
Vibrating wire (or vibrating strip)
transducers are commonly used to the frequency measurement.
measure strain, load, pressure and
Description
water level. These sensors output
The AVW1 and AVW4 are used to
a frequency signal generated by a
interface vibrating wire strain
vibrating filament that can be read
on any CR510, CR10(X), CR23X
gauge sensors to compatible Typical
Campbell Scientific dataloggers.
Applications
▼▼ ▼
or CR5000 analogue channel.
The AVW1 interfaces one sensor
Because frequencies rather than
(temperature and pressure) to two
voltage levels are measured, these Vibrating wire strain
single-ended datalogger channels.
transducers are often better suited gauges are used in
The AVW4 interfaces four sensors
than 4- or 6-wire resistive bridge structural monitoring
to eight single-ended channels
transducers for applications in and other applications
(not available on the CR510).
electrically noisy environments or requiring the
those requiring long lead lengths. Power Consumption measurement of strain,
Vibrating wire transducers also For Geokon sensors, the current load, pressure and
have a reputation for long-term drain during the very short (2.4ms) water depth.
stability. temperature measurement is
▼

0.4mA or less. The current drain

Two measurements are usually
during the vibrating wire measure-
made; the first is the frequency of
ment (170ms to 500ms) is 32mA.
the vibrating wire and the second is
There is no quiescent current
drain.
Campbell Scientific Ltd., Campbell Park, 80 Hathern Road, Shepshed, Loughborough. LE12 9GX, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1509 601141 Fax: +44 (0) 1509 601091 Email: [email protected]
www.campbellsci.co.uk
 Sensor Models Signal Conditioning
Although originally designed specifically Some vibrating wire sensors with short excitation. The result is a larger magni-
for the Geokon 4500 series, the AVW1 and leads can be monitored without the AVW1 tude signal for a longer time.
AVW4 have also been used very success- or AVW4. However, the AVW1 and AVW4
fully with other strain gauge models made provide important signal conditioning that NOTE: Sensors which need 5V
by Gauge Technique, Roctest, Slope Indi- has the following functions: excitation rather then 12V can also
cator (VWP series) and Geokon. These be used with the AVW1 and AVW4.
1. Complete the thermistor bridge for the
manufacturers can provide coefficients for
measurement of the sensor’s tempera- 3. Provide transformer isolation to strip off
monitoring the output of their sensors with
ture. any DC noise on the signal. This
Campbell Scientific systems.
2. Convert the swept frequency excitation improves the ability to detect cycles.
from 2.5V (peak-to-peak) to 5V/12V 4. Provide additional transient protection
(peak-to-peak), thus ‘plucking’ the wire for both the temperature and vibrating
harder than the maximum 2.5V switched wire circuits.

Operation (Example with Geokon Transducer)

An increase in pressure on the diaphragm de- ‘plucking’ and ‘pickup’ coils inducing the same
Operation (Example with Geokon
frequency on Transducer)
creases the tension on the wire attached to the
the leads to the datalogger. Vibrating Wire
diaphragm. A decrease in the wire tension de-
creases the resonant frequency in the same way After waiting for the non-resonant frequencies to Stainless Steel Housing
that loosening a string on a guitar decreases die out (20ms) the datalogger accurately meas-
its frequency. Therefore, the resonant frequency ures how much time it takes to receive a 4-Conductor Cable
of the vibrating wire sensor decreases with user-specified number of cycles. Knowing the
increasing pressure. time and the number of cycles, the datalogger
then computes the square of the frequency
The Vibrating Wire Measurement Instruction 28 (= 1/T2 where T is the period in milliseconds).
or 131* (see below) in the datalogger excites the
‘plucking’ and ‘pickup’ coils shown in the dia- * In more recent models of the CR10X and
gram with a ‘swept’ frequency. The datalogger CR23X a new instruction (Instruction 33) has
been added to the operating system. This in- Internal
takes 150ms to sweep through all the frequen- Plucking
struction allows programming of gain adjustment, Diaphragm Bulkhead Seal
cies. This swept frequency causes the wire to and
vibrate at each of the individual frequencies. total time to sweep frequency through specified Pickup Coils
Ideally, all the frequencies except the one match- range and the number of steps in the swept Filter
ing the resonant frequency of the wire die out in frequency.
a very short time. The wire vibrates with the
Typical Vibrating Wire Sensor
resonant frequency for a relatively long time,
and as it does so it cuts the lines of flux in the

Specifications
Frequency Measurement No. of Cycles to Average Time Constant of
Sweep Frequency Range: 100 – 9900Hz Resonance: Software programmable from 1 to
(Optimum performance range >1000Hz) 9999 Need help configuring
Other specifications depend on datalogger model Reference Accuracy: ±(0.01% of reading
– see specifications (Period Averaging
Measurement) in the datalogger brochure or
+ Resolution) your system? Call our
manual. Resolution: 60ns divided by the number of cycles
measured. Resolution is reduced by signal noise
Although the design of the interface coupling and for signals with a slow transition through the engineers for
transformer means that optimum performance zero voltage threshold.
is achieved at frequencies of 1000Hz or more,
sensors which operate at frequencies Input Sensitivity for Period Measurement: assistance.
significantly below this can be used successfully Depends on datalogger model; see separate
with the AVW1 and AVW4. The actual datalogger brochures.
performance of a given sensor will depend on Temperature Measurement
the response of that sensor to the changing drive Thermistor Bridge: Optimised for YSI44005/
waveforms and also on the signal level it returns. Fenwall 192-302 thermistors. Other temperature
See Technical Note 23, available on request, sensors can be accommodated by direct
which gives more information on the performance connection to datalogger.
of sensors which operate at frequencies below Multiplexing (not CR510)
1000Hz. When used with AM16/32 Analogue Multiplexers April 2002
one AVW1 can monitor 16 strain gauges plus
Measurement Time: The time required to make
thermistors, or 32 gauges without thermistors. Campbell Scientific products are
one repetition of the vibrating wire measurement available from:
Several multiplexers can be connected to one
is given below:
AVW1.
150ms to sweep the frequency
+20ms delay Physical
+(1.5 cycles + no. of cycles measured) * period Operating Temperature Range: -25°C to +50°C
of signal in ms
Size/Weight: AVW1 65 x 65 x 30mm, 0.14kg
e.g. 671.5ms for a sensor generating a 1000Hz
AVW4 170 x 75 x 30mm, 0.41kg
signal measured for 500 cycles.

We reserve the right to alter specifications without notice