GAGE performed a benchtop test to record a high-resolution time history of power consumed by a Trimble NetRS GPS system with Iridium communications. The test system consisted of a Trimble NetRS receiver with Trimble Choke Ring antenna, NAL Research A3LA-I modem with SAF5350C antenna, Flexcharge NC30L12 solar regulator, and an ABB RS1A44 timer switch. This system represents the GAGE best-practices polar GPS station as of June 2006.
The test was performed at room temperature. A variable DC power supply was used to deliver 12.0 VDC to the battery input terminals on the power board, with current and voltage recorded at 10 Hz by a data acquisition computer running LabView. The data acquisition routine clipped the current burst signals above 1 amp (12 W) during Iridium data download, however this threshold was usually close to the true peak height of the ~0.1 second pulses. For longer duration, stronger bursts, a conservative visual estimation of the true peak height was made and used in calculating the power consumption during data download.
Test Sequence:The measured power draw time series is presented in the figure below.
Last modified: 2024-07-08 14:50:58 America/Denver