Mining engineers commonly use a multitude of monitoring instruments to generate the data that helps them keep the mine safe and productive. Data can be acquired from the electronic readout heads on these instruments one at a time using a datalogger, or simultaneously via a comprehensive monitoring system.

Comprehensive, centralized instrument monitoring systems consist of two basic types: cabled and wireless. Wireless monitoring systems offer mines a number of advantages, one of the most important being the lack of necessity for a network of cables running all over the mine to collect data and move it to a central point.  However, it doesn’t really help much if data cables are not required for the wireless nodes that gather data from monitoring instruments, but cabling is still required to provide power to each and every instrument.

Battery powered wireless monitoring nodes, like the MDT-RTU or VW-RTU, are the ideal solution to this problem. Depending on usage, the internal battery in one of these units can last up to 10 years, and they typically only need changing after 3 years or more.

The MDT-RTU and VW-RTU are both wireless nodes that are easy to install and use. These units can simultaneously read data from up to four instruments (any common type from various manufacturers) and wirelessly send this data to a central data collection point, making them ideal for use in battery powered wireless monitoring systems.

Click here to find out more about the MDT-RTU.

Click here to find out more about the VW-RTU.