Outline

Q: What is DAN Sentry?
A:  DAN Sentry is a unique remote monitoring system to alarm, monitor and protect your process or installation.

The DM01 was the initial product that changed the way people think about the functionality of remote monitoring equipment. DM01 has subsequently been followed by new products each of which has specific application to differing customer needs. At DAN, we are able to recommend the DAN product that best suits your particular requirements.

DAN products consist of the following elements:
1. Multiple Probes and sensors.  Different models have different numbers of sensors available. See About Sensors
2. A Box containing the electronics to measure the outputs from the sensors and probes and send that data via the internet to a secure, reliable fully backed server See Remote Units
3. A secure web-server receives, time stamps, tabulates and graphs the data. The web-server can be accessed from anywhere in the world using a web-enabled PC via the internet. See Secure Web- server
4 An email server that communicates with the main web-server and sends out emails to any or all of the 5 email addresses you specify.
5 A Worldwide S.M.S. distribution service which communicates with the main web-server and sends out .sms messages to designated numbers you specify

Q: What can be monitored?
A: Any measurements that are of value to you can be monitored. Some examples are:

• Effluent flow rate and daily total from your site:
• The temperature and humidity in a warehouse or incubator,
• The salinity of water in an estuary;
• The level in a bulk storage tank.

Q: What form is the data in and how is it accessed?
A:  The information from the site is available in tabulated form and can be accessed from anywhere in the world through the internet. With just the click of a button t information  can be graphed instantaneously.

Q: What about events such as alarms? How do I know what’s going on?
A:  The Data Control Centre (DCC) monitors all inputs for alarm conditions (an alarm condition exists if the measurement increases above or falls below values you have preset). Alarm messages are sent instantly from the Data Control Centre to the web-server where they are immediately disseminated to up to 5 mobile phones and 5 email addresses. When you set up your system you script your own alarm messages and therefore you have complete control of what information those messages contain

Q: If I get an alarm condition sent to my mobile phone  how can I get more information if I’m not near a computer
A:  Instantaneous data from the site can be requested by an authorised mobile phone. Simply ring a designated number and after 2, 3 or 4 rings hang up. Within less than a minute the latest snap shot of the measurements on site appear on your mobile phone. The instantaneous data is retained on the web-server and can be displayed using the “Search” function

Q: Can the Data Control Centre take any action automatically in the event of an alarm condition?
A:  Yes. The Data Control Centre has 3 relay outputs that can be used to perform local control based upon the alarm conditions

Q:  Does the DAN Sentry system comply with 21 CFR Part 11.
A:   Yes.
1. The data transferred from the remote unit to the web-server is in hexadecimal format and only the designated web-server can access it.
2. The data is routinely backed-up
3. Every record is date and time stamped.
4. All users of the system have to have a user ID, a password and must belong to a group to gain access.
5. An administrator is appointed by the group and this individual controls all access rights and issues user ID’s and passwords to the users of the information. Users can de deleted by the appointed administrator
6. Each user is allocated rights consistent with their job responsibilities as they relate to the particular information being accessed.
7. All information from the remote unit is read only (even at administrator level) and therefore cannot be altered.
8. The scaling of the information into engineering units is done by the web-server. Each time a record is accessed the details of the user ID are recorded. Changes are also recorded in full detail and the user ID is logged against that change, thus ensuring any changes are recorded against an individual.
9. Changes to the set-up of a remote unit are recorded against a user ID and date and time stamped.
10. The date and time at which those changes were automatically downloaded to the remote unit and took effect are also recorded.

Q:  Are there any circumstances in which DAN Sentry cannot be used?
A:   All DAN systems use GPRS on the GSM network or CDMA. As a prerequisite for satisfactory performance it is necessary that the remote monitoring devices are located within an area serviced by those networks. Prior to any order being accepted by DAN, a network availability check must be undertaken to confirm coverage. Should a DAN unit supplied against a previous order be moved without a further coverage check for the new location, DAN is unable to accept responsibility for any failure or degradation in service.  DAN equipment can also be used with satellite communication.

Sensors

Q:  What do we mean by Probes and Sensors connected to the DAN unit
A:   Probes and sensors are devices that transform a physical property into an electrically measurable signal. Most probes and sensors can easily be connected to a DAN unit which receives data for transmission to the website.

Q:  What can be measured by the sensors?
A:   Analogue measurements cover parameters such as (but not limited to) temperature, pressure, density, conductivity, pressure drop, flow, pH, ORP, speed, vibration, humidity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen etc while digital input data can cover on/off conditions and event counting such as rainfall etc. If a sensor is available to measure a parameter, the DAN system can utilise that input.

Q:  How do I select the sensors to make my measurements?
A:   Your DAN Distributor will assist you in selecting and purchasing the correct sensors to make your required measurements to the accuracy you require.

Q:  Does DAN have a range of sensors and transducers?
A:   Yes, DAN has a range of sensors and transducers suitable for connection to our DM01 modules but not all sensors and transducers are available from DAN. Ask us about your needs and we will quickly respond.

Q:  If I have sensors already measuring the parameters of interest can I connect them to the DAN DM01 module?
A:  Yes, providing the signal sent to the DM01 is isolated from the source signal. If it is not isolated then a signal isolator should be installed between the source and the DM01. DAN can provide these isolation modules

About the DM01 Remote Units

Q:  How many inputs does a DM01 module handle
A:   There are currently two models of the DM01 remote units. Both versions of the DM01 have 6 analogue inputs and 1 Pulse counting input
DM01-101 has conductivity, temperature, battery voltage and three general purpose inputs suitable for a wide range of sensors and transmitters C
DM01-201 has 6 general purpose inputs that accept Pt100 RTD’s plus a wide range of sensors and transmitters.
The Pulse counting input can be configured to count seconds or external pulses.
There is also a totasliser implemented on input 1 which will accumulate the scaled Analog to Digital converter value on input 1 each second. This accumulator is 4 bytes in length and as such is able to accumulate at full input for 47 days

Q:  Does the DM01 have any outputs?
A:   Yes the DM01 modules both have 3 relays that can be programmed to act on any alarm condition. Configuration is done via the user friendly web-site.

Q:  How many alarm points can a DM01 module monitor?
A:   The DM01 module has two alarm points per input. These can be set to high or low alarms in any combination for the analogue inputs. There are two total alarms for the pulse/seconds counting input and two total alarms on the analogue totalisor input

Q:  How do I power the DM01 module?
A:   You can power the DM01 by solar power using two 5W solar cells or a standard plug pack with an output anywhere from 9 – 40Vdc
Q:  What happens at night if I’m using solar power or if mains power fails if I’m using a plug pack?
A:   The DM01 has internal lead acid batteries with a capacity of 1300mAh at 24Vdc. These provide the power to the unit at all times and the external source is there to keep the batteries fully charged. Depending upon the frequency of reporting, the DM01 will operate for between 24 and 72 hours without recharge if the batteries are fully charged.

Q:  How do I set up my DM01 for my application?
A:   Everything is set up via the DAN website. When a page is configured and submitted to the website, all the changes are recorded and a response message is sent back to you to acknowledge these changes. Those changes that are to be downloaded to the DCC will be sent next time there is communication between the DCC and the website. Our staff can talk you through the setup if required.

Q:  Can I force the DCC to update immediately?
A:   Yes you can. If you have the authorised mobile or landline number you can ring the DCC and it will identify you and respond by contacting the website and sending instantaneous data. During the communications the DCC will check for any updates in settings and download these at the same time.

About the Website

Q:  Do I have to buy any new software in the future?
A:   There is no need to buy new software. DAN has ongoing research and development activities which include the development and enhancement of the DAN Sentry application software that you access via your web browser. DAN adds new features to this application software from time to time. When you access the DAN web-server you are accessing the latest release of our DAN Sentry Software

Q:  What is a group in the DAN Sentry system
A:   A group is a collection of remote units and users can access the information from those units through one simple log on to the DAN website.

Q:  What is a user ID?
A:   A user ID is the unique identity give to an individual to identify them when they access information.

Q:  What is a password
A:   Each user must have a password which only they and the group administrator know. If the password is not entered correctly then access to the web-server is denied. Three consecutive password entry errors will bar that user from the group for a period of 15 minutes. A further 3 consecutive password entry errors will suspend that user until cleared by the administrator

Q:  What is the Interval time?
A:   The DAN Sentry is set up to report on events such as alarms and instantaneous data requests on a regular basis. The interval time means the precise time that elapses between the time based recording of data blocks on the unit. This time interval can be as short as 5 minutes or as long as you want.

Q:  How do I use the time shift
A:   When you search for data you will see it is recorded at regular intervals set by you, for example every half hour . The time that the information is recorded into the DM01 is calculated by the website based upon its accurate real time clock and the time stamp indicating when the information was sent.
The time shift function is used to advance or retard the recording time by a number of minutes. If a negative number is entered, the values will be recorded earlier by that number of minutes and if the time shift is entered as a positive number the recordings will be delayed by that number of minutes. This time shift box will be cleared after the recordings have all been resynchronized to the new time.

Q:  What is power conservation all about
A:   When the DM01 is used on a buoy or other locations where solar power is needed, it’s desirable to save battery power by letting the unit sleep in low power mode for a significant part of the time.

If data is being sent back to the website every hour, the cycle time could be set to 15 minutes which means that 4 readings will be made each hour.. For 13 minutes of each cycle the unit will be in low power mode but capable of receiving a call from the authorized number. On the fourteenth minute the unit will return to normal power mode and will stabilize its measurement circuits. Then in the fifteenth minute the unit will make its measurements and these will be averaged and the maximum and minimum compared to the previous values recorded that interval.  After the four cycles have been completed, the values are averaged from each cycle and the maximum and minimum are recorded. This information is then sent to the web-server following which the DM01 returns to low power mode. These capabilities of the DM01 significantly reduce power consumption in situations where it is critical to do so.