DALI · Interface guide
Sensors
The Sensor Inventory. A record of every sensor fitted to the station, which input it is connected to, and when its calibration is due.
The Sensor Inventory (Sensor Inventory in the sidebar) is the station's record of its physical sensors: serial number, make and model, which input each one is wired to, when it was installed and calibrated, and when the next calibration is due. It is a register for audits and maintenance. It does not change how readings are taken, with one exception described below for pyranometers.
Who can open it: Admin and Factory.
Sensor table
| Column | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Serial | The sensor's serial number. |
| Make, Model | Manufacturer and model. |
| Source | The input the sensor is connected to, for example "Modbus RS485 / Slave 3", "SDI-12 / Addr 0", "Analog Ch 2" or "Digital Ch 1". |
| Sensitivity | Shown only when a sensor has one: the pyranometer sensitivity in microvolts per W/m². |
| Cal date, Cal due, Install | Calibration date, calibration due date and install date. |
| Cal Status | OK, Due soon (due within 30 days) or Overdue (the due date has passed), judged against the station's date. |
Each row has Edit and Delete. Delete asks you to confirm.
| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| Add Sensor | Opens an empty form under the table. |
| Download Report | Makes a PDF of the inventory in your browser. |
Add or edit a sensor
Fields marked with a red star are required.
| Field | Allowed values | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Modbus, SDI-12, Analog, Digital | The kind of input. Changing it reloads the Source list. |
| Source * | One of the station's inputs of that type that is not already linked to another sensor | Which input the sensor is wired to. |
| Sensitivity * | A number greater than 0. Shown only for a differential (millivolt) analog channel. | The pyranometer's sensitivity from its calibration certificate, in microvolts per W/m². |
| Serial No. * | Up to 64 characters | The sensor's serial number. |
| Make * | Pick from the list, or Add new... (up to 48 characters) | Manufacturer. A new make is added to the list for next time. |
| Model * | Pick from the list, or Add new... (up to 48 characters) | Model. The list follows the make you picked. |
| Calibration date * | A date within 100 years of today | When the sensor was last calibrated. |
| Calibration due date | A date within 100 years of today, not before the calibration date | When the next calibration is due. Setting the install date fills this in as install date plus 2 years; you can change it. |
| Install date * | A date within 100 years of today | When the sensor was fitted. |
Save stores the sensor. Cancel closes the form.
Sensitivity changes the channel
Saving a sensitivity also sets that analog channel's Scaling to match (1,000,000 divided by the sensitivity), so readings follow the new certificate straight away. Check the channel on Analog and digital after you save.
Messages you may see
| Message | What it means |
|---|---|
| Select a source. | Pick the input the sensor is on. |
| That source is already mapped to another sensor | Each input can belong to one sensor. Edit or delete the other sensor first. |
| Sensitivity is required for differential (mVolt) channels and must be greater than 0. | Enter the certificate value. |
| Serial number is required. / Make is required. / Model is required. | Fill in the field. |
| Calibration date is required. / Install date is required. | Fill in the date. |
| Calibration due date cannot be before calibration date. | Correct one of the dates. |
| No sensors to export. | The inventory is empty, so there is no report to make. |