Monitoring and Alarming Water Leaks in a Library Basement
T&D Wireless Base Station Helps Preserve Archived Collections
CHESTERLAND OH - CAS DataLoggers recently provided the monitoring and alarming solution for a library housing a number of rare books and documents in their basement record storage area. The library's director needed a wireless device to detect when water entered the basement during the seasonal rains, and also needed alarming capabilities to give her instant email notification and text messages so her staff could take action at the earliest opportunity. The director called CAS DataLoggers to find a low-cost degradation prevention device with this advanced functionality which could also operate without PC support.
The library director installed a T&D RTR-500NW Wireless Data Logger Network Base Station on the wall at the bottom of the stairs and connected it to an Antx MS-2800 moisture sensor which CAS DataLoggers also provided. The base station featured built-in wireless communication and LAN capabilities, using a 10/100BaseT Ethernet interface.
The wireless data logger continually monitored for leaks using its external input terminal for connection with the moisture sensor, which was placed flat on the basement floor. The sensor had an open contact switch and 2 contact points on its underside. The switch closed whenever water created a bridge/connection between the 2 points, which then triggered the base station's alarm. In this way, the sensor could detect water getting into the basement at levels as shallow as 1/16th of an inch. Connecting the open/close sensor enabled the data logger to detect ON/OFF electric signals from outside to create an effective warning system. Whenever an ON signal was detected, the base station automatically downloaded the sensor's readings and immediately sent a warning report email via the network to the director's email address and a text message alarm to her smartphone.
The RTR-500NW could also send all its current readings to T&D's free web-based storage service so staff could view and share the data via a web browser. The data logger also included free RTR-500 series software which made it easy for staff to adjust the wireless and network communication settings.
The library's wireless base station formed an effective yet low-cost early monitoring and warning system. A single device performed all the monitoring, and the base station's email and text message alarms let staff keep on top of leaks as soon as they happened. If more leaks were found over time, it would be easy to add a few more water sensors for larger floor coverage. Additionally, the network base station was ideal for use in the basement which lacked a PC.
For more information on our wide range of T&D dataloggers monitoring temperature, humidity, voltage/current and more, or to find the ideal solution for your application-specific needs, contact a CAS Data Logger Applications Specialist at (800) 956-4437 or visit the website at www.DataLoggerInc.com.
Contact Information:
CAS DataLoggers, Inc.
12628 Chillicothe Road
Chesterland, Ohio 44026
(440) 729-2570
(800) 956-4437
sales@dataloggerinc.com
www.dataloggerinc.com
