Universal Data Logging and Alarm System:

The BioSentinel™ is a flexible yet powerful instrument capable of temperature, process signal and digital status data logging designed with state of the art electronics and latest Windows Software in order to provide accurate and reliable monitoring, recording and alarm.

The BioSentinel™ can be used to monitor/alarm any input (pH, carbon dioxide levels, temperature etc.) for which a 4-20mA or 1-5V sensor is available. A mix of inputs can be handled on the unit as each channel is individually configurable. The system is based on an 8 channel unit with a maximum of 4 units in a ‘daisy chain’ providing a total of 32 channel over a single RS232 serial port.

The BioSentinel™ incorporates two alarm relays which may be configured as ‘high’ alarm and ‘low’ alarm or as ‘high’ alarm and ‘high high’ alarm. Digital status input may be configured as de-frost interlock, event input or digital alarm which activate the BioSentinel™ alarm relay immediately.

The BioSentinel™ may be connected to a host computer, modem or a printer over standard RS232 serial port. Up to 63 BioSentinel™ units may be connected to a single PC over RS485 multi-drop serial link. Connection is also possible over a modem to provide remote data logging, monitoring and alarm. In addition, the BioSentinel™ Real Time Temperature Display may be viewed by any PC connected to the network and running the optional BioSentinel™ Network software.

Specifications:

The BioSentinel™ is a self-contained standalone data logger, which will accept the following inputs:

Analog Input

• 8 inputs of PT100 2, 3 or 4 wire configuration
• Maximum distance between PT100 probe and the BioSentinel™: 200 meters
• 8 x 4-20mA input either differential or single ended
• Maximum distance between BioSentinel™ and any transmitter: 500 metres
• 15V DC supply to power up to 8x 4-20mA

The analog inputs are connected to terminal screws on the PCB and the connecting cables are fed via panel mounted waterproof glands.
The analog inputs should be connected using screen cable in order to minimize any interference. It is also recommended to use 4 wire PT100 configuration, since this will simplify the calibration of the probes, in this case the probe could be calibrated near the BioSentinel™. Normally two fixed resistors are used for calibration. When a 4 wire PT100 system is used, only one channel needs to be calibrated and this calibration is copied across to the other channels. When calibrating, the user should obtain high tolerance resistors with 0.1% accuracy or better. It is possible to purchase a set of calibration resistors directly from BioGene.

Status Input
There are 8 status digital inputs per block, these are designed to monitor door open/door close signal or to inhibit the alarm if a freezer enters the defrost cycle. In addition each Status Digital Input may be configured as an Alarm Input, the user could select ‘high’ alarm or ‘low’ alarm. These types of alarms may be used to detect mains power failure, pressure drop etc.

Alarm Relays
The BioSentinel™ supports two independent changeover alarm relays, these may be used as ‘high / low’ alarms or as ‘high / high’ alarms. This alarm relay contact may be used to operate an autodialler or may be integrated in the local security system.

Internal Buzzer
There is an internal buzzer, which is used to alert the operator should one or more channels go into alarm.

Alarm LED
In addition to the alarm buzzer there is a red LED, which flashes if an alarm condition arises. This is a useful visual aid should the audio alarm is disabled or if the system is in a ‘noisy’ area.

Computer Connection
The BioSentinel™ supports two serial ports for communication with the host computer or other devices such as a modem or a serial printer.
The second serial communication is over RS485. With up to 63 units connected over this network, the software will support up to 2016 temperature probes and 2016 status digital inputs.

Basic Operation
The BioSentinel™ is fully configurable from the host computer using the Windows 95/98/NT4.0/2000/XP/2000/XP software, which is optionally supplied as part of the BioSentinel™ package with 3 metres RS232 cable.

Memory Configuration
The BioSentinel™ employs 125Kb non-volatile memory for storing the instrument configuration, logged data, which includes event inputs and alarms status. The memory size for the data logging is 120,000 readings. This memory is ‘circular’ in design, this means that the data logging does not stop when the memory is full, instead the oldest recorded data will be over written and this process will be repeated when the memory is refilled.
The recorded data remains secure even when the power supply is removed.

Download the BioSentinel™ Datasheet (PDF - 267Kb)

There is also a BioSentinel-RF™ Radio Temperature System available.