CWS900E

868 MHz Configurable Wireless Sensor Interface for Europe
CWS900E

CWS900E

Retired

868 MHz Configurable Wireless Sensor Interface for Europe

No longer available to order

This product is retained for service, documentation, and compatibility information.

Model:
CWS900E
Item Number:
26181
Warranty:
1 year

Overview

With a CWS900E, you can use a variety of sensors in a wireless sensor network. (See the Compatibility information on the web page.) It contains an internal 868 MHz spread-spectrum radio that transmits data to the CWB100E Wireless Base Station or to another wireless sensor. The frequency of the CWS900E's internal radio is commonly used in Europe.

Key Advantages

Cable-Free Sensor
Adapts wide variety of sensors to wireless net

Technical Description

The CWS900E has a sealed connector for attaching one rain gage, wind sensor, temperature/RH probe, or another low power sensor. It measures analog voltages, low level AC, pulse counts, and can supply an excitation voltage for powering some sensors or making bridge measurements. The type of measurement that the sensor performs is configured using Wireless Sensor Planner, Network Planner, or DevConfig software. The CWS900E interfaces with the PC for configuration via the A205 CWS Sensor to PC Interface.

The CWS900E can route its transmissions through up to three other wireless sensors. A data logger is connected to the CWB100E base station for processing and storing the CWS900E's data.

The CWS900E is battery powered using either alkaline batteries or a rechargeable battery and a solar cell.

Why Wireless?

There are situations when it is desirable to make measurements in locations where the use of cabled sensors is problematic. Protecting cables by running them through conduit or burying them in trenches is time consuming, labor intensive, and sometimes not possible. Local fire codes may preclude the use of certain types of sensor cabling inside of buildings. In some applications measurements need to be made at distances where long cables decrease the quality of the measurement or are too expensive. There are also times when it is important to increase the number of measurements being made but the data logger does not have enough available channels left for attaching additional sensor cables.

Note: The internal radio is not designed to move a lot of data quickly. It takes 15 to 30 seconds per hop when moving data from a sensor, through a sensor used as a repeater, and ending up at the base radio. Going through three repeaters could take a data packet anywhere from 45 to 90 seconds to get to the base radio.

Benefits

  • Allows a wide variety of sensors to be used in a wireless network
  • Internal frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum radio provides longer range and less interference
  • Battery powered
  • A reliable, low-maintenance, low-power method for making measurements in applications where cabled sensors are impractical or otherwise undesirable
  • Transmissions can be routed through up to three other wireless sensors

Specifications

Weather Resistance
IP67 rating for sensor and battery pack

(Battery pack must be properly installed. Each sensor is leak tested.)

Operating Temperature Range
-25° to +50°C
Operating Relative Humidity Range
0 to 100%

(non-condensing)

Power Source
2 AA batteries with a battery life of 1 year assuming sensor samples taken every 10 minutes.

(Optional solar charging available.)

Average Current Drain
300 μA

(with 15-minute polling and depending on attached sensor)

Analog Channels
SE1, SE2, SE3

(single-ended)

DF

(differential)

Analog Input Range
-1 to +2.5 Vdc
Resolution
0.3 μV
Excitation Voltage
2.5 V, 3.3 V, 5.0 V

(20 mA maximum)

Excitation Voltage Accuracy
±2%

(-35° to +70°C)

Low-Level AC Input
20 mV minimum

(10 kHz maximum frequency)

Temperature Accuracy
±0.2ºC
Analog Measurement Accuracy
±(0.02% of reading + 2 µV)

(0° to 50°C)

±(0.05% of reading + 2 µV)

(-35° to +70°C)

Bridge Measurement Accuracy (+2.5 V excitation only)
±(0.03% of reading + 3 µV)

(0° to 50°C)

±(0.07% of reading + 3 µV)

(-35° to +70°C) Not including sensor and measurement noise, and external bridge resistor errors.

Dimensions
15 x 6 x 4.5 cm

(5.9 x 2.4 x 1.77 in.)

Weight
184 g

(6.5 oz)

Switch Closure

Maximum Count Rate
100 Hz
Minimum Open Time
5 ms
Minimum Closed Time
5 ms
Maximum Bounce Time
4 ms
Maximum Number of Counts
Records 1,000,000 counts before it rolls over.

Internal 25 mW FHSS Radio

Frequency
868 MHz
Where Used
Europe
FHSS Channel
16
Transmitter Power Output
25 mW

(+14 dBm)

Receiver Sensitivity
-110 dBm

(0.1% frame error rate)

Standby Typical Current Drain
3 μA
Receive Typical Current Drain
18 mA

(full run)

Transmit Typical Current Drain
45 mA
Average Operating Current
15 μA

(with 1-second access time)

Quality of Service Management
RSSI
Additional Features
GFSK modulation, data interleaving, forward error correction, data scrambling, RSSI reporting

Compatibility

Data Logger Considerations

Compatible Data Logger Operating Systems
  • CR800-Series: CR800.Std.21 and higher
  • CR1000: CR1000.Std.21 and higher
  • CR3000: CR3000.Std.21 and higher
  • CR6: Version 4.0 and higher

Sensors

One sensor can be connected to the CWS900E. Sensors with the -CWS option will include a connector that mates with the CWS900E. Alternatively, a sensor can connect with the CWS900E via the A150 Desiccant Case.

A150 Desiccated Case

The A150 Desiccated Case has a -CWS cable termination option. It allows our CS450 and CS455 pressure transducers or other sensors that have a vented cable to be connected to the CWS900E. Sensors that measure analog voltages, frequency, and pulse can also use the A150 to connect with the CWS900E.

Compatible Products

(13)

Incompatible Products

(11)

Related Resources

Case Studies

Documents

Downloads

Videos and Tutorials

Services Available

Repair
No
Calibration
No
Free Support
Yes