The TCM-5 is a current meter that is designed to operate in the Abyssopelagic and Hadalpelagic Zones to a maximum depth of 10,000 meters. The TCM-5 is constructed from toughened syntactic foam with a titanium pressure housing and is intended to be deployed on benthic landers or by an ROV.
Similar to the other Lowell Instrument's TCMs. The core of the TCM-5 is the MAT-1 Data Logger. The MAT-1 data logger was designed for NOAA and is ideally suited as the "brains" of a tilt current meter. The built-in data logger includes a USB communication interface, a microSD flash memory card, and a long-life lithium battery.
Features:
- 10,000 meter depth rating
- Water velocity for a fraction of the cost of an acoustic meter
- Tilt compensated compass for bearing measurements
- Simple & rugged design is easy to deploy from a ROV
- Internal temperature sensor is accurate to +/-0.1C
- 8 GB memory card eliminates memory concerns
- Lithium battery allows continuous 4Hz sampling for more than 1 year
- USB 2.0 with standard cable and drag and drop data file offload
- Easy meter configuration and data conversion with Windows software (free download).
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: 10,000 m, housing tested to 13700m
- Flotation Diameter: 5.08 cm
- Pressure Housing Diameter: 2.54 cm
- Overall Length: 77.6 cm
- Floatation Length: 60.9 cm (24.0)
- Weight 1.29 Kg (2.84 lb)
- Construction Floatation: Toughened Syntactic Foam with Titanium pressure housing and Buna 90
- Durometer: O-ring