ML-x17, 2G/3G/4G(LTE-M) Data Logger

The ML-x17 data logger is a small, ultra low power, cost effective data logger with built-in 2G, 3G or 4G cellular modem. This small data logger, is further provided with an internal temperature sensor, 8GB micro SD card and a 2FF SIM card slot. The data logger is available with several power provisions e.g. a 3.6 Volt Lithium battery, 8..28V DC input or integrated solar panel with 3 x AA NiMH charger.

The data logger can acquire physical signals by 2 current loop inputs, 2 voltage inputs, 1 potentiometer input and 3 digital inputs. More or special inputs can be added by means of internal stackable option boards. The data logger is provided with one serial port to capture measurements from ASCII, MODBUS, NMEA or SDI-12 compatible sensors. External sensors can be powered by the data logger itself, to prevent them to consume power while the data logger is a sleep. Up to 8 mathematical channels are available to calculate meaningful engineering values derived from sensor input values (e.g. to calculate dissolved oxygen in saline water). Supports up to 8 aggregation channels (e.g. to record 2 or 10 minute wind speed averages sampled at 1Hz).

Logged data can be pushed to a central host by HTTP(S), FTP(S), e-mail, secure TCP or MQTT(S) at configurable intervals and optionally by satellite as well (Iridium SBD).

The ML-x17 is available in several editions and with 5 different cellular modems:

• ML-217: 2G Global
• ML-317: 3G Global with 2G fall-back
• ML-417: 4G Global (LTE Cat M1 aka LTE-M)
• ML-E417: 4G Europe (LTE Cat 1) with 2G fall-back
• ML-N417: 4G North-America (LTE Cat 1) with 3G fall-back

When equipped with the integrated solar panel a complete self providing remote monitoring station can be arranged, all you need is a logger and applicable sensor(s). This self providing cellular logger is costs saving, because you don't need: a) solar panels, b) big batteries, c) cellular modem and d) encapsulating cabinet.

Features

• Data logging
  › 1 second to 1 day intervals
  › regular, alarm and independent intervals
  › daily operation time bracket (e.g. 07:00AM to 20:00PM or 21:00PM - 06:00AM)
  
  
• 5x analog inputs
  › 2x current loop inputs (0/4..20mA, 12bit resolution)
  › 2x voltage inputs (0..10V, 12bit resolution)
  › 1x voltage/potentiometer input (0..3300mV, 12bit, max. 10M) a/o to connect a wind direction sensor
  
  
• 3x digital inputs (status, pulse counter or On-time meter) a/o to connect a flow meter, rain gauge or reed relay based wind speed sensor
  
  
• Internal sensors (a/o battery, processor temperature, signal strength)
  
  
• 8x calculation channels, to derive engineering values from sensed values using mathematical operators and functions (a/o cos, sin, atan2, ln, sqrt)
  
  
• 8x aggregation channels, min/max, average, gust, std dev and up to 3 different percentiles sampled at 1Hz max.
  
  
• 1x Serial port for connecting external sensors (RS-232, RS-485 or SDI-12)
• Serial port drivers
  › ASCII: Sensors autonomously outputting readable lines of numeric values
  › MODBUS: Read-out value registers from MODBUS (RTU/ASCII) slave devices
  › NMEA-0183: Sensors outputting standard and custom sentences
  › SDI-12: Read-out of up to 16 devices with up to 20 parameters per device using aC!, aM!, aCx! or aMx! commands
  
  
• 1x digital open collector alarm output to switch on a relay in case a parameter value is outside its limits (e.g. a high water level)
  
  
• Accessories
  › Several stackable option boards
  › JPEG camera CAM-2.0M
  › GPS receiver GPS-E3329
  
  
• Built-in cellular data modem
  › ML-217: 2G Global (Quad-band GPRS)
  › ML-317: 3G Global (Penta-band)& 2G fall-back (Quad-band GPRS)
  › ML-417: 4G Global (LTE-M)& 2G fall-back (Quad-band GPRS)
  › ML-E417: 4G Europe (LTE Cat 1)& 2G fall-back (900/1800MHz)
  › ML-N417: 4G North-America (LTE Cat 1)& 3G fall-back (850/1900Mhz)
  
  
• 2FF (Class B) SIM-CARD slot
• 8GB µSD-Card (file storage), 512kB FLASH (program storage), 64kB SRAM (runtime memory)
• 60mA@3.6V average operating¹⁾ current during a duty cycle of less than 1 sec²⁾ per log interval.
• 250mA@3.6V average operating current during 20..60 sec. 3G data transfer
• <80uA@3.6V sleep current
• 12V@200mA switchable power outlet to power external sensors
• Power supply
  › 3.6V DC input for internal D-size Lithium battery³⁾
  › Optional 3xAA NiMH³⁾ charger and 1Wp solar panel integrated in cover
  › Optional 8..28V DC-Adapter and 3x AA NiMH charger integrated in cover
  › Optional 12V battery charger for 21VOC external solar panel integrated in cover
• Data push
  › 1 minute to 1 day intervals
  › regular and alarm intervals (direct push on alarm raise or fall)
  › daily operation time bracket (e.g. 07:00AM to 20:00PM or 21:00PM - 06:00AM)
  › native, JSON or CSV log files by HTTP(S), FTP(S)⁴⁾, e-Mail(SMTP)⁵⁾, secure TCP(AES-128) or MQTT(S)
  › JPG pictures by HTTP(S), FTP(S)⁴⁾, e-Mail(SMTP)⁵⁾, secure TCP(AES-128) or MQTT(S)
  › SBD messages by Iridium satellite modems (960x)
• Alerts by SMS, e-Mail⁴⁾ or MQTT
• Configuration by USB (local), secure TCP tunnel (remote) or optional Bluetooth LE (wireless)
• Rugged and waterproof IP67 enclosure (130x120x75mm)
• Optional pole mounting bracket
• Integrated GSM antenna, external GSM antenna optional
• Wide temperature operating range –30°C +75°C

1) 60mA if no external sensors need to be powered.
2) <1 sec. if external sensors are responsive and don't require time to "warm up".
3) Lithium batteries not included.
4) FTPS (TLS Explicit), ML-417 (LTE-M) does not support FTPS.
5) ML-417 (LTE-M) has no eMail abilities.

Use our online Data logger power consumption calculator to estimate the battery life of your application or to determine settings fitting local solar power yield.

For more tips, please read the application notes.