We are using a Campbell weather station with a CR1000 logger and CFM100 card reader module. We own two batteries and one compact flash card. What would be the correct routine to change batteries and read out data?
Right now our routine looks like this:
1) Press Control button on CFM100 and release CF card.
2) Read out CF card on laptop.
3) Format CF card on laptop.
4) Disconnect low battery / Reconnect fresh battery
5) Insert formatted card (& wait ~5min until red light on CFM100 goes out)
6) Control if program is running & collecting data via RS-232.
I have the feeling this workflow might go faster. I don't know if it is really necessary to reformat the CF card everytime I read it out. But if I try to plug it in again after read out on laptop, I get an orange LED from CFM100 and assume data cannot be written on the card.
Thanks for any help,
Philipp
Formatting the card after copying your data off is best practice.
Since you are at the site with a laptop connected to your datalogger with a CF card installed you can just use your data collection software without removing the card. Your data collection software (LoggerNet, PC400 or PC200W) will get data first from the datalogger. If there is additional data on the CF card it will then retrieve that. It should be a seamless process.
Thank you for the answers. Then I will probably stick to my routine, since the data collection over RS232 takes much longer than reading from flash card, formatting, and inserting (& generate data tables) again.