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• Technical Note 1: Rechargeable Battery Maintenance
  
  
• Speeding up the log data download
  
  
• Automatically determine the baud rate used by a data logger
  
  
• Application Note 1: Motions Sensors
  

The data logger is operated by 2 NiMH rechargeable batteries of the AA (Mignon) size. The operating span is influenced by the quality and in particular by the state of charge of the batteries used. When fully functional and freshly charged batteries with an indicated capacity of 2000mAh are applied, the operating span of the MOUSE-E-MOTION Universal Data Logger is up to 150 days (depending on the configuration of the logger). Note that the effective capacity of the utilized batteries is critical for that. The effective capacity of rechargeable batteries decreases inevitably over time, even with constantly thourough handling. Rechargeable batteries with an indicated capacity of 2000mAH, for example, will have an effective capacity of only about 1500mAH after permanent usage for two years. So, regardless of the quality of maintenance, the effective capacity is just about 75% of the original value. With insufficient care the effective capacity can even go far below 50% of the indicated capacity. Correspondingly, the operating span of the MOUSE-E-MOTION Universal Data Logger is significantly reduced when such batteries are used.
The best way to preserve the reliable functioning of rechargeable batteries is to use a separate, so-called "intelligent" battery charger, such as the ALC 2000 charger from Conrad Electronic (www.conrad.de). This charging device charges up to 8 batteries of type AA simultaneously and safely. The charging time is 3 to 4 hours. The charger also allows for testing your batteries after a longer period of permanent usage or when a reduced battery capacity is suspected. To reliably achieve optimal performance of your rechargeable batteries, please follow the subsequently listed instructions and recommendations:

• Always power off a data logger after running, otherwise the batteries might become deeply discharged.
  
• Avoid running a data logger until the batteries are completely discharged. Exchange the batteries in time before starting a new logging task.
  
• Have a second set of charged batteries for each operating data logger at hand so you will be able to run the devices without unnecessary interruption.
  
• Handle the rechargeable batteries thoroughly and check their effective capacity regularly.
  
• Only use rechargeable batteries of the same type as the ones originally provided with the data logger.
  
• Never use rechargeable batteries of diverse manufacturers, different age or mismatching capacity in the same data logger.
  
• Always charge your rechargeable batteries in a separate charger, regardless of their actual state of charge.
  
• Do not use incompatible rechargeable batteries with the integrated charging system of the MOUSE-E-MOTION Universal Data Logger as this may result in a radically reduced operating span (such rechargeable batteries are not charged correctly).
  

Batteries that have been completely discharged during data logger operation and then remain within the device might become deeply discharged. Such batteries might not be charged without special treatment, neither with the data logger's charging system nor in a separate charger. This is caused by the circumstance that the batteries have been discharged down to a cell voltage of nearly 0V. In this case, the charging system cannot recognize the batteries. Moreover, even if deeply discharged batteries have been succesfully regenerated, they might not regain their full original capacity.
Using the ALC 2000 charger deeply discharged or defective batteries can easily be identified. For this purpose, insert the battery into a charging compartment. The battery should be recognized and, after a short period, charging should be initiated. This is indicated by the respective green LED indicator. If the LED indicator of a charging compartment is not illuminated after a period of 1 minute, the respective battery is not recognized by the charging system, presumably because of it is deeply discharged. Such batteries have to be regenerated prior to being able to charge them (see 2.1). When batteries are being charged, always check if the green LED indicator is illuminated 2 minutes after the batteries have been placed into the charger.

The ALC 2000 charger allows for the easy regeneration of deeply discharged batteries. Insert a battery that is discharged (but not deeply discharged!) into one of the charging compartments. After a few seconds, charging should commence, signalled by the respective green LED indicator. Now attach the deeply discharged battery in correct polarity to the upper contacts of that compartment where the previously inserted battery is charged. The deeply discharged battery is now supplied with power in parallel to the other battery. Afterwards, this battery can be placed into another empty compartment of the charger. It should be recognized by the charger now and properly being charged.

A reduced operating span of the MOUSE-E-MOTION Universal Data Logger can have one of the following causes:

• the batteries are defective
  
• the batteries are not charged properly by the integrated charging system
  
• the data logger has a malfunction
  

• It is not necessary to completely discharge partly discharged batteries. It even might reduce their life span. (The so-called "memory effect" is practically not detectable with NiMH rechargeable batteries.)
  
• Using the ALC 2000 charger to charge rechargeable batteries will limit the loss of capacity caused by the normal ageing process to less than 35% over a period of 2 years.
  
• Frequent deep discharge of rechargeable batteries will result in an acute and enduring loss of capacity.
  
• Self-discharge of NiMH rechargeable batteries is about 2% to 5% per month. If an overall loss of capacity of 10% is acceptable, charged batteries may be stored up to 3 months before they are used.

Type NiMH 2000 or NiMH 2100 from Panasonic.
These rechargeable batteries function very reliable, even when they are regenerated after having been deeply discharged.

5.2 Battery Charger ALC 2000 Expert from Conrad Electronic (www.conrad.de) Item-No. 25 03 85-50, ~ 149,00 € (w/o VAT)

Download 'Technical Note 1: Rechargeable Battery Maintenance' as PDF document

1. Selecting the Appropriate Motion Sensor

The motion sensors differ in their detection range and the geometry of the area they are covering:
The motion sensor of the Spot type has a rectangular detection base whereas the motion sensor of the Slight Motion type has a circular detection base and a wide-angle detection range, potentially covering a larger area (see figures below).

1.1 Spot Type Motion Sensor (yellow mark)

Built-in:		External:

Detection range:

FRONT VIEW		SIDE VIEW	COVERED BASE AREA
Motion sensor (Infrared sensor)

Orientation of the sensor and the yellow colour mark on the back:

1.2 Slight Motion Type Motion Sensor (green mark)

Built-in:		External:

Detection range:

SIDE VIEW		COVERED BASE AREA
Motion sensor (Infrared sensor)

More information about the infrared-based motion sensors can be found on the website of the manufacturer NAiS:
www.nais-e.com/bltn_reference/built/top.html?accept=yes

Note:

Polycarbonate, acrylic or similar material usually is not permeable to infrared radiation. Thus, it is not possible to detect motion through walls of such material. The motion sensors should always have direct access to the object being monitored.

2. Connecting an External Motion Sensor to the Data Logger

Keep in mind that it is necessary to move it back to the ON position and to disconnect the external motion sensor, if you want to exclusively use the internal motion sensor again! If an external motion sensor is connected and the internal motion sensor is not switched off, the signals of both sensors are mixed and it is not possible to differentiate which sensor contributed to what extent to the resulting value of a recording interval.

3. Ensuring Consistent Motion Detection During Activity Monitoring

To ensure reliable detection of the entire motion within the experiment area, verify that motion is detected throughout the whole space of the experiment box and that motion of persons or other animals or objects outside of it is not detected.
When the Slight Motion type motion sensor is used, it is very unlikely that any region within the experiment area is uncovered, however, we suggest to test it despite of that. When the Spot type motion sensor is used, depending of its position above the ground of the chamber, it is possible that not the whole area might be covered.

A method to test the proper detection inside an experiment box might be the following:		View from above:
Draw the shape of the bottom of the experiment box on paper. Fix the motion sensor/data logger exactly in that height and position above the paper that it would have if it were placed on the cover of the box. Now slowly move the tip of a finger pointing from the outside of the rectangle to its inside in a height of 2 to 3 cm above the line. On the front of the data logger, you should see a permanent flashing of the triangle-LED with the tip to the top. If no signal is visible, motion cannot be detected in the respective region the finger moves. Accordingly, the motion of an animal moving in that part of the experiment box would not be detected with certainty.

To ensure that no motion outside an experiment box is detected, position the motion sensor/data logger over the empty box (no animal inside) as you would do it during the real experiment. Now, move your hand around the box and watch the LED-indication on the front of the data logger. No signal should occur. If the triangle-LED with the tip to the top flashes, additional shielding of the box is necessary to prevent false detections.

Download 'Application Note 1: Motion Sensors' as PDF document