OPM--Priority Instrumentation and Test Project Update: Activity Status No. <15> To: "E - All WRD Employees" Subject: Instrumentation Update No. 15 From: V.J.Latkovich@qmsbs1.er.usgs.GOV, Chief@qmsbs1.er.usgs.GOV, HIF@qmsbs1.er.usgs.GOV Date: Wed, 22 Nov 1995 14:51:04 -0600 Sender: "Dorothy E Greenwood, Secretary (Steno), Bay St. Louis, MS" November 22, 1995 Memorandum To: All WRD Employees From: Chief, Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility Subject: OPM--Priority Instrumentation and Test Project Update: Activity Status No. <15> Following is a summary of instrumentation projects assigned for responsibility and execution to the Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF) by the Instrumentation Committee (ICOM). Project sequence corresponds to the priorities recommended by the Instrumentation Technical Advisory Committee (ITAS) and approved by the ICOM. Additional priority projects have been assigned to other Water Resources Division (WRD) offices and will be reported at a later date. We welcome your comments, suggestions, questions, or interest in participation. Any questions concerning the listed projects should be directed to Sammy Wilbourn, HIF Field Coordinator (WILBOURN) at 601-688-1555, Rick Billings (BILLINGS) at 601-688-1554, or Doreen Tai (DYTAI) at 601-688- 1518. SANDPOINT CABLECAR BRAKE (ICOM) -- Five prototypes of the final version of the brake assembly have been manufactured and work is underway to establish a contract to manufacture 25 production units. We plan to conduct a short field evaluation of the prototypes while we work on the production contract. We hope to have production units available for sale by April, 1996. SOUNDING/TAGLINE SAFETY DEVICES (ICOM) -- A second preliminary model of the A-reel drag brake assembly has been fabricated and is undergoing engineering testing. We expect to have the second model available for field evaluation in December, 1995. CABLECAR LOADING (ICOM) -- The North Carolina District has volunteered to test design modifications that are intended to strengthen the standup cablecar against extreme loads applied through the sounding cable. We hope to complete the tests in time to produce and stock retrofit kits during the second quarter of FY96. REPLACEMENTS FOR LEAD WELL-TAPE WEIGHTS (ICOM) -- This project was reviewed at the November meeting of the Instrument Committee and a decision was made to transfer responsibility for further work to the Office of Ground Water. ELECTRONIC PROCESSING FOR DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS (EPDM) -- The draft document of functional requirements for an EPDM instrument was furnished for review and comment to four companies who have expressed an interest in developing such an instrument. Final review of the document will be conducted by the Surface Water Instrumentation Advisory Group (SWIAG) at its planned meeting in December. This project was reviewed at the November meeting of the Instrument Committee and a decision was made to transfer responsibility for further work to the Office of Surface Water. IMPROVED CONOFLOW SYSTEMS (ICOM) -- Units of two candidate conoflow replacement products have been received and a third candidate product has been identified and ordered. We expect all three candidates to be available for laboratory testing in December. Those that pass will be placed in the field for long-term evaluation. This work is estimated for completion no sooner than the end of FY 96. MANOMETER REPLACEMENTS (ICOM) -- A number of projects are underway to provide suitable replacements for mercury manometers. These projects are part of a continuing test-and-evaluation program. SUTRON ACCUBAR PRESSURE SENSOR -- Laboratory tests of five Accubar model 5600-0125-3 pressure sensors were completed and a test report is being prepared. These units, which have been returned after a short field evaluation, will be checked for drift. DESIGN ANALYSIS ASSOCIATES (DAA) H-350 PRESSURE SENSOR -- Field evaluation of five H350 pressure sensors is underway. Laboratory testing of five H350 Lite pressure sensors is underway. SETRA 470HPS PRESSURE SENSOR -- Five Setra 470HPS pressure sensors are being placed in the field for evaluation. RITTMEYER PRESSURE SENSOR -- The manufacturer has modified his pressure sensor and re-submitted it for testing. CONTINUOUS WATER-QUALITY MONITOR ALTERNATIVES (ICOM) -- More tests of the HIF conductivity probe configured for use with the CR10 data logger are under way to determine the lowest level of conductivity which can be measured accurately by this system. A report will be prepared. SUBMERSIBLE PRESSURE SENSORS (ICOM) -- Standpipe testing of five H310 pressure sensors has been completed. A report has been prepared and will be published in the next issue of the WRD Instrument News. Standpipe testing of Sensotec, T-Hydronics, Rittmeyer, and Geoguard submersible pressure sensors has been completed. Data have been reviewed and a report is being prepared. Standpipe testing of the Campbell Scientific DB1 double-bubbler pressure sensing system is underway. REGULATOR-CHARGER ALTERNATIVES (ICOM) -- A preliminary design for a new regulator-charger that will operate in the field environment and support the range of batteries currently in use has been completed. Parts have been ordered to prepare a bread-board model of the design. We estimate that prototypes will be available by April, 1996. J&H POWER UNIT REPLACEMENT (ICOM) -- No significant progress was made on this project during the month. The project will continue at a low level of effort through FY 1996. GROUND-FAULT INTERRUPTER (ICOM) -- No significant progress was made on this project during the month. The project will continue at a low level of effort through FY 1996. LARC INTERFACE DEVICE (LID) -- LID's were scheduled for delivery in early November; however, the manufacturer asked for an extension. A period of about 3 months will be required after delivery to test and debug the units. We now estimate they will be available for use by April, 1996. SUTRON 8400 DATA LOGGER -- Laboratory tests of the Sutron 8400 data logger were completed and a test report is being prepared. Based on the test results, HIF has made a decision to add the 8400 to its instrument rental program. Orders are now in place for a total of 200 units, 50 of which are scheduled for delivery in early December. We expect to begin filling rental orders in January. /s/ Vito J. Latkovich