Lowell TCM-4 Shallow Water Tilt Current Meter

The TCM-4 is a new current meter that is ideal for measuring water velocity in shallow coastal ponds, bays, rivers and tidal flats and other locations where the depth is too shallow for the TCM-1 current meter. The TCM-4 is only 10 inches (25 cm) long and is able to operate in less than one foot of water. The TCM-4 Shallow Water Tilt Current Meter measures current using the drag-tilt principle. The logger is buoyant and is anchored to the bottom via a short flexible tether. Moving water tilts the logger in the direction of flow. The TCM-4 contains a 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis magnetometer for measuring tilt and bearing. The resulting orientation data is converted to current by applying calibration coefficients. Windows software is used to configure the TCM-4 for deployment and to convert binary data to text files. The built-in MAT-1 data logger includes a USB communication interface, a microSD flash memory card, and a long-life lithium battery. Features: – Measures water velocity for a fraction of the cost of an acoustic meter – Operates in as little as 28 cm (11 inches) of water – Tilt compensated compass for bearing measurements – Simple, rugged, low maintenance design – User replaceable lithium battery allows continuous 1-minute current measurements for more than a year – 8 GB memory card virtually eliminates memory concerns – Temperature sensor accurate to +/-0.1C – USB 2.0 with standard cable and drag and drop data file offload

Specifications

Speed (Recommended Range): – Range: 0 to 50 cm/s – Accuracy: 3 cm/s + 3% of reading – Resolution: 0.1 cm/s Speed (Maximum Range): – Range: 0 to 75 cm/s – Accuracy: Not Specified – Resolution: 0.1 cm/s Temperature: – Range: -5 to 30 C / -20 to -5, 30 to 5 C – Accuracy: 0.1 C / 0.2 C – Resolution: less than 0.005 C / less than 0.01 C Electronics: – Memory: 8 GB microSDHC flash card (standard) – Communications: Full speed USB micro-B port – Battery Type: 3.6 V, size A, user replaceable lithium (from Lowell Instruments) – Battery Life: Months to years depending on recording rates – Internal Clock: less than 1 minute per month Operating Modes: – Start and Stop: Start and Stop at user defined times – Burst Mode: Variable rate logging at user defined interval – Recording Rate Current: 64 Hz to 1 sample per hour – Temperature: 1 Hz to 1 sample per hour Mechanical: – Depth Rating: 30 m (100 ft) – Diameter: 2.54 cm – Length: 25.4 cm – Weight 98 g – Construction Housing: Carbon Fiber and Epoxy Laminate with PVC & PETG fittings, 316 Stainless Steel Screw and Buna and EPDM O-rings. Software: – User Interface: Windows Compatible Software Download – USB: USB 2.0 compliant MSC and CDC Classes – Firmware: Field upgradable via USB cable