Activity Status No. 14 Date: Mon, 23 Oct 1995 14:21:40 -0500 From: "Dorothy E Greenwood, Secretary (Steno), Bay St. Louis, MS" Memorandum To: All WRD Employees From: Chief, Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility Subject: OPM--Priority Instrumentation and Test Project Update: Activity Status No. 14 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) -- An effort is underway to manufacture 5 prototypes of an aluminum version of the brake assembly. We expect to have the prototypes for testing by the end of October, 1995. Testing will include a short field evaluation. Simultaneously, we are working on a contract to produce an initial quantity of units, which we hope to have available for sale by April, 1996. WEIGHTED-BOTTLE SAMPLER (ICOM) -- Work on this project is essentially complete. A prototype stainless-steel weighted-bottle sampler, together with final drawings and a technical-information sheet, have been turned over to the Federal Interagency Sediment Program (FISP) which has been assigned by the Instrument Committee (ICOM) as the point of supply for this item. MERCURY THERMOMETER REPLACEMENTS (ICOM) -- This project has been completed. A final report of the results of laboratory tests of six selected models of digital thermometers (12 units total) will be included in the September issue of the WRD Instrument News. SOUNDING/TAGLINE SAFETY DEVICES (ICOM) -- Design revisions have been made and a second preliminary model of the A-reel drag brake assembly is being fabricated. We expect to have the second model available for field evaluation in December, 1995. CABLECAR LOADING (ICOM) -- A modification has been performed to the design of the standup cablecar to strengthen it against extreme loads applied through the sounding cable. We are looking for a district with a standup cablecar and the capability to test the modification. We hope to find a district and complete the tests in time to produce and stock retrofit kits during the second quarter of FY96. REPLACEMENTS FOR LEAD WELL-TAPE WEIGHTS (ICOM) -- A draft report on the use of well-tape weights within the USGS is still undergoing review. We had hoped to complete the review and publish the report in the January issue of the WRD Instrument News, but that does not now seem likely. ELECTRONIC PROCESSING FOR DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS (EPDM) -- A draft document of functional requirements for an EPDM instrument was completed and distributed to members of the Surface Water Instrumentation Advisory Group (SWIAG) for review and comment. The document and direction of this project will be discussed at the upcoming meeting of the SWIAG in December. IMPROVED CONOFLOW SYSTEMS (ICOM) -- We received delivery on five units of one candidate conoflow replacement product. We are still waiting for delivery of a second candidate product. We plan to begin testing the products when both are received. Those that survive laboratory testing 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 -- The Accubar test report was distributed by electronic mail and will be published in the September issue of the WRD Instrument News. Laboratory tests of 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 H350 pressure sensors is underway. Five H350 Lite pressure sensors have been received and laboratory testing of these sensors is underway. SETRA 470HPS PRESSURE SENSOR -- A laboratory test report was completed and distributed by electronic mail. The test report will also be published in the September issue of the WRD Instrument News. These units will be 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) -- Ten newly- constructed units of the HIF conductivity probe configured for use with the CR10 data logger have been tested. Results show that the system is not suitable for measuring conductivity below 100 micro-Siemens per centimeter. A report will be prepared. Field evaluations by the Ohio District of the Hydrolab Reporter (DO- temperature and conductivity-temperature models), the YSI 6000, and the YSI 600 monitors will be extended 2 months, to December, 1995. The District found that the YSI 600 performed well, after the manufacturer performed a series of modifications. Work will begin on an evaluation report. SUBMERSIBLE PRESSURE SENSORS (ICOM) -- Standpipe testing of five H310 pressure sensors has been completed. The results were reviewed and a report has been prepared. Standpipe testing of Sensotec and T-Hydronics pressure sensors has been completed. Data have been reviewed and a report is being prepared. Standpipe testing of the Rittmeyer and Geoguard submersible sensors and the Campbell Scientific Double-Bubbler system is under way. These tests will be completed by the end of October, 1995. REGULATOR-CHARGER ALTERNATIVES (ICOM) -- Work began on the design of a new regulator-charger that will operate in the field environment and support the range of batteries currently in use. Several alternatives were investigated from the perspective of functionality and cost. We estimate that prototypes will be available by April, 1996. J&H POWER UNIT REPLACEMENT (ICOM) -- Critical parts were received and tests of a candidate motor resumed. If the motor passes the tests we will purchase a small quantity of power units with it and place them in the field for evaluation. The project will continue at a low level of effort through FY 1996. GROUND-FAULT INTERRUPTER (ICOM) -- Parts to assemble a small quantity of additional prototype surge-protected GFI units were received. When assembled, these will be placed in the field for further evaluation. The project will continue at a low level of effort through FY 1996. LARC INTERFACE DEVICE (LID) -- The LID manufacturing contract continued. Delivery of the units is scheduled for early November. A period of about 3 months will be required after delivery to test and debug the units. We estimate they will be available for use by February, 1996. SUTRON 8400 DATA LOGGER -- Laboratory tests of the Sutron 8400 data logger were completed. One test unit had a defective part and another showed fluctuations in readings during temperature cycling. Fluctuation problems were not observed, however, when additional tests (in a water column and temperature chamber with the shaft fixed) were performed. A test report is being prepared. /s/ Vito J. Latkovich