Onset RSS Feed

NEW LIGHT SENSOR BRACKET FROM ONSET SIMPLIFIES CLIMATE CHANGE STUDIES, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

brock — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:03:21 -0400

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NEW LIGHT SENSOR BRACKET FROM ONSET SIMPLIFIES CLIMATE CHANGE STUDIES, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

BOURNE, MA, June 29, 2009 — Onset (http://www.onsetcomp.com), the world’s leading supplier of data loggers, today introduced a new bracket that makes it fast and convenient to mount the company’s light sensors in order to calculate Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values. NDVI is the standard measure of the density of green vegetation in an area.

Ideal for a range of monitoring applications – from climate change studies to agricultural research – the NDVI Light Sensor Bracket ensures accurate sensor positioning to provide ground-truth verification of satellite NDVI measurements, and ground-based data when satellites are not available. It also provides NDVI values at a finer resolution than is possible with satellite NDVI, which is useful for monitoring vegetation in test plots or sites.

The NDVI Light Sensor Bracket can be configured with Onset’s line of research-grade weather stations, including the company’s web-based HOBO® U30 Remote Monitoring Systems, 4-channel HOBO Micro Stations, and 15-channel HOBO Weather Stations. The systems offer plug-and-play operation, and can be equipped with a range of sensors for measuring air temperature, relative humidity, Photosynthetic Light (PAR), solar radiation, and more.

The NDVI Light Sensor Bracket is priced at $18 and will be available from Onset on July 15, 2009.

ONSET LINKS FLAGSHIP ENERGY MONITORING SYSTEMS TO REAL-TIME ENERGY DISPLAY SOFTWARE

brock — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:31:22 -0400

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ONSET LINKS FLAGSHIP ENERGY MONITORING SYSTEMS TO REAL-TIME ENERGY DISPLAY SOFTWARE

Building energy data from HOBO® U30 systems now viewable via NorthWrite’s Energy Expert software

BOURNE, MA, June 2, 2009 — Onset Computer Corporation (http://www.onsetcomp.com), the world’s leading supplier of data loggers, today announced that the company’s web-based HOBO U30 Remote Monitoring Systems are now compatible with NorthWrite, Inc.’s industry-leading Energy Expert software platform.

The Energy Expert software converts raw building energy and environmental data collected with HOBO U30 Systems into sophisticated, graphical “smart models” that predict building energy consumption. The information, delivered over the web, provides building managers, energy service consultants and others with easy-to-understand, real-time feedback on building energy use.

“While we are able to provide our customers with instant access to energy and environmental data via Onset’s HOBOlink® website, there is a segment of the market that requires data to be displayed in a very specific way,” said Mark Hruska, chief technical officer for Onset. “For this reason, we developed a set of web services which NorthWrite has used to incorporate real-time data from HOBO U30 systems into their own software. This, in turn, enables Onset and Northwrite customers to combine best-in-class energy monitoring hardware with a more customized dashboard software solution.”

“We have been impressed for a long time with the quality, flexibility and value of the monitoring devices Onset provides,” said Paul Bursch, chief technical officer for NorthWrite. “We’re excited to be able to offer Onset’s customers our sophisticated modeling technology, which was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy and commercialized by NorthWrite. The bottom line for Onset’s customers is that this new service will help them save money!”

Onset HOBO U30 Remote Monitoring Systems measure and record up to 15 channels of high-accuracy energy and environmental data. The systems feature a NEMA 6-rated enclosure designed for harsh environments, and can transmit data via GSM-cellular, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet communications. Sensors are available for a wide range of measurements, including kilowatt hours, voltage, current, air temperature, relative humidity, and more.

SCIENTISTS STUDY CORAL HEALTH IN SEYCHELLES ISLANDS

brock — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:51:45 -0400

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SCIENTISTS STUDY CORAL HEALTH IN SEYCHELLES ISLANDS

BOURNE, MA, June 10, 2009 - Onset Computer Corporation (http://www.onsetcomp.com), the world’s leading supplier of data loggers, today announced that researchers have selected the company’s HOBO water temperature loggers for environmental studies conducted in the Seychelles Island, Indian Ocean.

For several years, loss of live coral habitat due to coral bleaching has become a global concern prompting researchers and scientists to study the health of coral reefs around the world. One location affected by this phenomenon is the southern Seychelles Islands, in the central-western Indian Ocean, north of Madagascar.

Coral bleaching has been linked to rising ocean temperatures causing 40 to 50 percent of the coral in this region to become colorless and vulnerable to a variety of environmental stresses. To better understand the effects of rising water temperature on the coral's ecosystem, researchers are using HOBO® water temperature data loggers as part of a long term monitoring program.

"Coral reefs are one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet - equal in many respects to tropical rainforests and they are a very important component of the ocean's ecosystem,” explains Ray Buckley, a Principal Investigator with the Aldabra Marine Programme (AMP). “So when you have a coral bleaching impact, it has a major effect on local and regional ecosystems."

"The main focus of our research is Aldabra Atoll because it's a large remote coral reef ecosystem which has received little impact from human habitation. It is one of the last natural laboratories on the planet. What happens there is how nature really responds to an environmental impact."

To monitor water temperature, Buckley and the AMP team have strategically placed HOBO Water Temp Pro data loggers in several locations at Aldabra Atoll, and Assomption, Astove and St Pierre Islands to the east. Each data logger is deployed using cable ties and stakes, and water temperature measurements were taken every 30 minutes to an hour.

"The data loggers have become encrusted with bioaccumulation of coralline algae after two years on the reef and are still able to collect accurate temperature data," says Buckley.

The data logger provides ±0.2°C accuracy over a wide temperature range and offers a 42,000 measurement storage capacity, making it suitable for long-term deployments.

Data from the loggers can be quickly offloaded directly to a laptop via a USB-based optical interface, which provides high-speed, reliable data offload in wet environments. Its optical design eliminates the need for failure-prone mechanical connectors found in many traditional underwater data logger products.

The data was analyzed using HOBOware® Pro graphing and analysis software, which easily converts the collected data into easy-to-read graphs that reveal spikes and drops in water temperature over a 12-month period.

"Most coral bleaching studies take place in locations where there are major impacts to the corals due to human development," explains Buckley. "While those studies are critical in better understanding coral reef health, they are unable to provide a good baseline for how an ecosystem responds when there is no human impact. Aldabra Atoll is as close to pristine as we have and allows us to see how the coral and fish respond to the rising temperatures without outside interference."

Researchers have found that, in coral reef ecosystems impacted by human development, there is usually a shift in the dominant component of the ecosystem from live coral to algae.

"The fish populations then switch to mainly herbivorous species and the algae covering the dead coral makes it harder for the coral to recover. This causes a major shift in reef ecosystem," says Buckley.

According to Buckley, for the past 10 years, there were no substantial changes to the fish populations at Aldabra Atoll where there was essentially no human habitat.

"The coral bleaching event did not result in an algae dominated ecosystem and it wasn't catastrophic for the fish in this area. Fish were able to adapt to the rapid major loss of live coral habitat and development of a new coral habitat. We found that if there were no other variables affecting the ecosystem, fish can respond positively to these habitat changes, even though the matrix of the system changed."

WHITE PAPER FROM ONSET OUTLINES STIMULUS FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENERGY PERFORMANCE MONITORING

brock — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:29:40 -0400

BOURNE, MA, June 17, 2009 — The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) offers $20 billion for energy efficiency programs, creating unprecedented opportunity for energy services companies (ESCOs). State and federal programs are expanding to improve residential, institutional, government, commercial and industrial facilities nationwide. This expansion opens broad new markets for ESCOs to weatherize, upgrade lighting, replace underperforming fans and motors, and install efficient heating and cooling systems. As the market grows for energy efficiency, so does demand to measure and verify building energy savings.

A new white paper from Onset, Measurement & Verification: Tapping into ARRA Stimulus Funds, provides guidance on identifying potential sources of ARRA stimulus funding for energy performance monitoring projects. It details new programs from the ARRA, explains the growing importance of Measurement and Verification (M&V) services, and discusses specific ways ESCOs can apply portable data logging technology to document building energy savings.

The white paper is available as a free download from Onset’s website at http://www.onsetcomp.com/ARRA.

Data loggers preserve the catch of the day

brock — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:09:36 -0400

ONSET INTRODUCES NEW WEATHER STATION STARTER KIT

brock — Fri, 15 May 2009 08:56:26 -0400

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ONSET INTRODUCES NEW WEATHER STATION STARTER KIT

New HOBO® U30 weather station kit combines research-grade data logging with out-of-the-box convenience

BOURNE, MA, May 14, 2009 — Onset Computer Corporation (http://www.onsetcomp.com), the world’s leading supplier of data loggers, today introduced the HOBO Weather Station Starter Kit, a new weather monitoring kit that combines the company’s most rugged, research-grade data logging weather station with a suite of plug-and-play weather sensors.

Ideal for agricultural research, ecology studies, wind monitoring, and other applications, the new weather station kit provides a number of key advantages, including:

Plug-and-play performance - The U30/NRC accepts up to 10 plug-and-play weather smart sensors that can be simply plugged in to the logger and automatically recognized without complicated wiring, programming, or calibration.
Weatherproof design - All system electronics are tightly integrated within a NEMA 6-rated, double weatherproof enclosure ensuring years of dependable operation in harsh environmental conditions.
Easy data retrieval - With the optional HOBO U30 Shuttle, data from U30/NRC systems can quickly and safely be offloaded in the field and downloaded to a PC or Mac for analysis with HOBOware® Pro software.

The HOBO Weather Station Starter Kit includes a HOBO U30/NRC data logger, a solar panel for recharging the battery, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed and direction sensors, and a solar radiation shield. It is available immediately from Onset and is priced at $1,400.

Wireless frost alarms prevent berry damage

brock — Thu, 14 May 2009 13:37:40 -0400

ONSET ANNOUNCES CURRENT SENSORS

brock — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:45:00 -0400

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ONSET ANNOUNCES CURRENT SENSORS

Suite of split-core AC current transducers enable low-cost power logging with HOBO® U12 data loggers

BOURNE, MA, May 12, 2009 — Onset Computer Corporation (http://www.onsetcomp.com), the world’s leading supplier of data loggers, today announced a range of plug-in AC current sensors for use with HOBO U12-006 data loggers.

The sensor suite – manufactured by Veris Industries and sold directly through Onset – includes five compact, self-powered transducers that can easily be attached to pumps, motors, and other equipment from which AC load trending data is required. The sensors plug directly into the external input jacks of HOBO U12-006 data loggers, which are able to log current and amperage measurements unattended for days, weeks or months at a time.

“The HOBO U12/Veris current sensor combination gives energy performance contractors, HVAC/R technicians and others a simple and reliable way to get basic power trending information for less than $300,” said Frank Deshaies, product marketing manager for Onset. “Additionally, the flexibility of the HOBO U12-006 data logger enables users to log temperature and other parameters beyond AC current in situations where it is required.”

For plotting and analyzing current data, Onset offers HOBOware® software, an intuitive graphing and analysis software package for PC and Mac computers. HOBOware provides a user-friendly graphical user interface that enables users to quickly and easily graph, analyze and print data files, as well as export the data to Microsoft Excel and other spreadsheet programs.

The current sensors, which range in price from $90 - $115, are available directly from Onset. The HOBO U12-006 data logger is $105, and HOBOware software is priced from $45.

ONSET ANNOUNCES TRANSITION TO ECO-FRIENDLY PACKAGING

brock — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:32:03 -0400

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ONSET ANNOUNCES TRANSITION TO ECO-FRIENDLY PACKAGING

BOURNE, MA, April 28, 2009 — Onset Computer Corporation (http://www.onsetcomp.com), the world’s leading supplier of data loggers, today announced that the company has transitioned to environmentally-friendly packaging materials for its line of award-winning HOBO® data logger products.

The new packaging, constructed from chip-board boxes made from recycled paper, replaces plastic (PETE) clam-shell packaging.

“The new packaging is visually attractive,” said Jack Sample, president of Onset, “but more importantly, is biodegradable and eliminates electrostatic discharge and out-gassing. This is better for the environment, and a safer form of packaging for our products.”

The company has also moved to biodegradable, static free packing peanuts as part of its corporate sustainability initiative. To learn more about Onset, please visit http://www.onsetcomp.com.

Energy performance monitoring in the Big Apple

brock — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:35:20 -0400

Exploring the Wind Resource for a Feasibility Study on Future Turbine Construction at Colgate University

brock — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:25:00 -0400

ONSET WEATHER STATIONS TRACK GREEN ROOF PERFORMANCE AT FORD TRUCK PLANT

brock — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:22:50 -0400

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ONSET WEATHER STATIONS TRACK GREEN ROOF PERFORMANCE AT FORD TRUCK PLANT

BOURNE, MA, April 8, 2009 — Onset Computer Corporation (http://www.onsetcomp.com), the world’s leading supplier of data loggers, today announced that Ford Motor Company has installed the company’s web-based weather stations on the green rooftop of its environmentally-friendly Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Michigan.

Two Onset HOBO® U30 weather stations monitor soil moisture levels on the green roof, as well as general rooftop weather conditions, and transmit the data to the Internet for access by Ford engineers.

The data is being used on an ongoing basis to verify that the 10.4-acre vegetated roof is helping to reduce the amount of stormwater released after periods of rainfall. The data also helps plant personnel maintain the health of the rooftop’s sedum groundcover, and contributes to the energy savings at the plant by reducing heating and cooling costs.

Ford Motor Company’s actions to reduce the amount of energy used to manufacture vehicles and support its U.S. operations have earned it the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s coveted 2009 ENERGY STAR Award for the fourth consecutive year.

ONSET HIRES BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

brock — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:17:12 -0400

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ONSET HIRES BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

BOURNE, MA, April 2, 2009 — Onset Computer Corporation (http://www.onsetcomp.com), the world’s leading supplier of data loggers, today announced that Camala Lindner has joined the company as business development manager.

Ms. Lindner brings more than 20 years of award-winning sales experience to Onset, having most recently sold enterprise solutions for AT&T. At Onset, she will be responsible for developing large-scale business opportunities for the company’s data logging and monitoring technologies in the energy performance, HVAC/R, and renewable energy markets.

A graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Ms. Lindner has a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. She is currently pursuing a J.D. at Southern New England School of Law.

ECOTOPE SELECTS ONSET MONITORING SYSTEMS FOR REGIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY STUDY

brock — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:24:10 -0400

Web-based monitoring systems to determine energy-savings potential of new home heating systems

BOURNE, MA, March 26, 2009 — Onset Computer Corporation (http://www.onsetcomp.com), the world’s leading supplier of data loggers, today announced that it has received a large order from Ecotope, a Seattle, WA-based energy consulting firm, for its web-based HOBO® U30 Remote Monitoring Systems.

The systems, which will be used as part of an energy efficiency pilot program sponsored by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and other organizations, will measure the energy performance of ductless “mini-split” heat pumps in 120 homes throughout the Pacific Northwest. The goal of the project is to better understand the energy-savings potential of ductless heaters.

“There’s a big focus on getting ductless mini-split units in homes throughout our region and displacing electric resistance heat that’s still being used,” said Bob Davis, a research engineer with Ecotope. “We will be monitoring the ductless units for one year to understand how much of a home’s electric heat can be offset by ductless heat pumps.”

According to the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, nearly one million homes in the Northwest still rely on electric resistance heating as a primary heat source. With consumer electricity bills on the rise, the use of ductless heaters, which are rated to use 50% - 60% less energy than electric heaters, has become an attractive option for many in the region.

Each HOBO U30 monitoring system will measure and record whole house power, the amount of energy used for hot water heating, indoor and outdoor air temperatures, and the power consumption of both the electric resistance heater and ductless heat pump in each house. The data will be continuously transmitted from the monitoring devices to the Internet where project engineers can access it on a 24/7 basis. The monitoring period will last for one year.

“If the results look promising, there could be some utility-based conversation measures and incentives for homeowners to install ductless systems,” said Davis.

ABOUT ONSET
Onset Computer Corporation has been producing small, inexpensive, battery-powered “HOBO®”data loggers since 1981, and has sold over 1,000,000 loggers that are used throughout the world by over 50,000 customers. The company manufactures a broad range of data logger and weather station products that are used to measure temperature, humidity, light intensity, voltage, and a broad range of other parameters. Onset data loggers are used in a wide range of research, commercial, industrial, and renewable energy applications. Visit the company’s website at http://www.onsetcomp.com.

ONSET ANNOUNCES WIND SENSOR ADAPTERS

brock — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:23:34 -0400

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New adapters link Onset weather stations to RM Young wind sensors

BOURNE, MA, March 18, 2009 — Onset Computer Corporation (http://www.onsetcomp.com), the world’s leading supplier of data loggers, today announced a line of new Wind Sensor Adapters for connecting the company’s research-grade weather stations to RM Young, Inc.’s wind speed and direction sensors. The new adapters extend the range of wind monitoring applications that are possible with Onset weather stations, while broadening the company’s weather sensor product offerings.

“While we already offer a number of research-grade wind sensors, linking up with RM Young sensors opens up many new harsh-environment applications such as wind site evaluation, wind turbine performance monitoring, coastal weather monitoring, and air quality monitoring,” said Paul Gannett, product marketing manager for Onset. “Customers can now combine best-in-class data logging weather stations with some of the industry’s most robust wind speed and direction sensors.”

Onset’s line of research-grade weather stations, which start at $215, include HOBO® U30 Remote Monitoring Systems, 4-channel HOBO Micro Stations, and 15-channel HOBO Weather Stations. The systems offer plug-and-play operation, and can be equipped with a range of sensors for measuring air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, barometric pressure, and more. A range of data communications options are available, including GSM cellular, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and direct USB.

The new Wind Sensor Adapters are priced from $150 and will be available from Onset on March 31, 2009.