AUTOIMET System Checkout and Preparation for Deployment

The AUTOIMET main CPU board (VMLOGR53) normally operates in RS232 mode.
See the AUTOIMET Functional Description for info on changing to RS485 operation as well as the following RS485 note.

Refer to AUTOIMET Commands for full command descriptions.

System Checkout

Startup and power consumption check

• Setup per the AUTOIMET Operations document.

• Power up the AUTOIMET system and verify the sign-on message.

• Check that current consumption is approximately 10 MA at 13.5 VDC with NO ASIMET modules, about 30 MA (with occasional higher peaks) with full suite of ASIMET modules.

Status check

The AUTOIMET logger should be running (GO mode) for this check.

• At least one minute after power-up (with the AUTOIMET logger running), send a STAT command.

• Does the returned status look normal?

• Check the clock setting.

• Is the logging interval correct? (Usually 60 seconds)

• Is the FLASH memory card recognized correctly?

• Does the main battery voltage look OK? (With default cal constants, it will read about 0.5 V below the actual external supply voltage - there's a protection diode in-line with external power).

• NOTE that the Current Tick value is the number of seconds elapsed in the current logging interval; with the usual 60 second interval, this number will rollover at 60 seconds, indicating that the interval data has just been updated.

Data messages

The AUTOIMET logger should be running (GO mode) for these checks.

• At least one minute after power-up (with the AUTOIMET logger running), send a D command.

• Does the output of the various MET sensors look reasonable?

• Move the wind vane and spin the prop on the WND module, shine a flashlight on the SWR sensor, blow warm air over the HRH sensor, etc., and wait for another update.

• Send another D (or E) command and see if the various values have changed.

• Again, does the output look reasonable?

• If a local GPS is attached, send an LGPS and see if there is new GPS data coming in (make sure the GPS antenna is outdoors with a clear view of the sky). Wait a couple of minutes and try again to see that the message updates correctly.

Configuration commands

The AUTOIMET logger must be stopped (STOP mode) for these checks.

Only one parameter on the AUTOIMET logger is configurable, the record interval. Additionally, the configuration/setup date which appears in the STAT command output may be set. All configuration commands, as well as the command to erase the FLASH memory card, are sub-commands under the UOK command. All configuration parameters are stored in EEPROM on the main CPU board. FLASH erasure will be discussed later in this document under Preparation for Deployment.

Always check the following (and set if necessary):

• Confirm that the record interval (RI) is correct - typically 60 seconds.

• If you make changes to record interval or configuration date, you must save those changes with WRTOK. If you don't want to save the changes, or are confused about what to change, use ABORT to quit without saving any changes and keep the original values.

Test mode commands

The AUTOIMET logger must be stopped (STOP mode) for these checks.

There are currently only 2 functional test commands.

1. Test the MET modules (TM command); see the SST & MET Module Command Sets for details of individual MET modules.
   • Start the MET module test command.
   • Over the next several seconds, the MET modules are polled and their responses are returned.
   • Look for reasonable output.
   • Hit ESC to terminate the command.

2. Test the A/D module if installed (TA command); refer to the LOGRADIF commands document.
   • Start the A/D test command.
   • Look for reasonable output readings based on what you have connected to the module inputs; channels 5 thru 8 are typically used to monitor system battery voltages, for example.
   • Hit ESC to terminate the command.

FLASH card commands

The AUTOIMET logger must be stopped (STOP mode) for these checks. See FB and FR commands for reference.

• To look at a record in FLASH memory, send the FR command.
• Enter the start record number (default is record #1) and hit ENTER. The record is displayed; any key other than X displays the next record.
• Hit X to quit reading records.
• To determine what record number you might want to enter, use the STAT to determine the last record number.

• To look at any block of memory as just raw (HEX-ASCII) data, send the FB command.
• Enter the start block number (default is block #1) and hit ENTER. The block is displayed; any key other than X displays the next block.
• Hit X to quit reading blocks.
• Note that when looking at raw records (block 257 and above), an A5 A5 hex tag appears near the end of each record. See AUTOIMET Record Format for reference.

      Erasing the FLASH memory card

• Don't do this unless you are sure you mean it! Once the FLASH card is erased, everything on it is gone forever....
• To erase a FLASH card, you must first enter the UOK command. The FLASH card is erased by a UOK sub-command to make it harder to do by accident!.
• Enter the FEOK command, and if you're sure, respond with a capital Y to erase. Any other response will abort the erase.
• On completion, a STAT command should indicate 0 records used. A check with the FR command should show a characteristic pattern resulting from all memory locations in FLASH being set to FF hex. The FB command will show all FF hex everywhere.

Preparation for Deployment

The following procedures are the minimum necessary tests and final prep for the AUTOIMET system. ALWAYS do at least these tests before deploying the AUTOIMET system with its MET modules!

These tests should be performed with a bench power supply set to 13.5 volts.

If you perform these test on the deployment battery system just before disconnecting from the AUTOIMET console and deploying th system, you MUST SEND A GO COMMAND at the end of the tests to resume data acquisition and data logging. Or CYCLE BATTERY POWER by momentarily disconnecting the main system battery; this will cause the AUTOIMET logger to resume - REMEMBER, on power up, the AUTOIMET logger always comes up running.

1. Make sure the MET modules are all attached, cables connected and tied down, as much as possible ready for deployment before starting this final check. If possible, use a test cable to provide power from an external supply.

2. Setup per the AUTOIMET Operations document.

3. Power up the AUTOIMET system and verify the sign-on message.

4. Check that current consumption is approximately 30 MA at 13.5 VDC with a full suite of ASIMET modules; you'll probably see various peaks during the minute as individual MET modules do their thing, plus a burst of current at the start of each minute on the AUTOIMET logger clock as the MET modules are polled for new data.

5. At least one minute after power-up (with the AUTOIMET logger running), send a STAT command.

6. Look for reasonable response.

7. Now send a STOP command to the AUTOIMET logger to allow access to the full command set; remember that you MUST send a GO command (or cycle power) at the end of the tests to resume acquisition and logging.

8. Set your watch or clock to accurate UTC. Use the STAT command and type in a time a few seconds in advance of the actual time; i.e. at 14:25:00, type #CLOCK2002/01/15 14:25:15 where the 2002 is the year, 01 is the month, 15 is the day, 14 is the (UTC)hour, 25 is the minutes, and 15 is the seconds. DO NOT hit ENTER yet. The time is entered when you hit the ENTER key. Wait until the correct time and then hit ENTER.

9. Send a STAT command and check the clock setting.

10. Also in the STAT command response, confirm the averaging interval is correct (usually 60 seconds) and the FLASH card is recognized correctly.

11. Erase the FLASH card! Even if the STAT command showed the card as empty, erase the FLASH card! Don't assume you know where the FLASH card has been. 20MB and 40MB cards are usually removed from the logger for reading data, and other systems with different record sizes will tag used records differently!!! A card used in another system may appear empty when it is NOT - bad data storage WILL result. See Erasing the FLASH memory card earlier in this document.

12. Briefly test the MET modules (and A/D module if installed) per the Test mode commands earlier in this document.

13. Power down and remove the bench supply and power/comms test cable. If already running on the system batteries, be ABSOLUTLEY SURE TO SEND A GO COMMAND to re-start data acquisition and logging!!!

14. The AUTOIMET logger is ready to deploy - reconnect the main battery cables to start logging MET data.