June 2025 features include: Brewery monitoring, Dust suppression for mining, Animal welfare monitoring, Middy’s electrical
Author: datranadmin
Monitoring the mains electricity supply, ventilation status and temperature are crucial in all large scale poultry facilities.
This Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry publication
defines requirements and changes that need to be implemented by July 2025. This update to our 2023 article is a reminder that time is running out.
The SMS Lite is the ideal option for sending alarms via text message if the power, ventilation or temperature monitoring sensors are activated.
The Australian Government standard includes animal welfare monitoring requirements such as:
- Automatic alarm systems to warn immediately of ventilation failure
- Back-up power supplies
- The ability to detect if the shed temperature is too high or too low and if there is a
power failure in any power supply phase - Appropriate settings so that alarms are easily heard
- All-hours response availability…
The 4G SMS Lite is the solution for animal welfare monitoring by text message
All our cellular systems are 4G so they are not affected by the recent closure of the 3G cellular networks in Australia.
Effective monitoring of power, ventilation and temperature helps prevent tragic damage to the animals, the associated financial losses and the potential fines that would be incurred.
The incoming mains voltage can be monitored by a phase failure relay with an auxiliary alarm contact. This normally open alarm contact is wired into an SMS Lite input.
The temperature sensor is typically an electronic meter with an alarm contact which is mounted in the electrical cabinet. However, even a mechanical thermostat that closes a dry contract at the configured temperature level, could also be used.
By using a small UPS, such as the PowerShield PSDCMin12/18,
the SMS Lite will remain operational for several hours during a power outage. This allows the fault situation to be monitored while corrective actions are taken to ensure animal welfare is maintained.
The SMS Lite has a supply voltage monitoring feature which automatically sends a text message when it is low. The voltage can also be checked at any time with a simple “STATUS” text message to the SMS Lite.
Please get in touch now to discuss this or any other SMS based monitoring applications.
Every brewer is looking for quality and consistency of their final product. This applies to small scale home brewers, microbreweries and the big players.
The 4G SMS Lite has been used by a local brewery to monitor process instrumentation and send SMS alarms should things go wrong.
The SMS Lite monitors these key parameters allowing engineers and production personnel to respond quickly to incidents and helps prevent wastage or problems.
The project used the SMS Lite for the crucial Glyco alarm and high temperature alarm.
The SMS Lite inputs are wired to your instrumentation or controller via a relay or switch closure.
There are four inputs on the SMS Lite allowing you to monitor four process signals or parameters.
The SMS Lite’s two relay outputs are controllable by text messages and could be used to activate warning signs or even a reset signal.
Getting beer production wrong leads to wastage, poor taste, financial losses and customer loyalty damage. Using our SMS based systems helps you stay informed and provides remote control options by sending a text message to many people.
Other popular signals for a brewery monitoring system can include:
Security
Monitor the control room door and the security alarm system. Help prevent unauthorised access and allows you to get alerts after hours.
Power
Monitor the mains power, phase fail, backup generator control, low water pressure signal etc.
Fermentation tanks
Monitor the temperature and pH alarm signal during the fermentation and filtration processes
Boiling
Temperature and volume monitoring ensures the desired level of flavour and bitterness
Fermentation
Temperature and pressure monitoring ensures the correct alcohol level
Carbonation
Monitor temperature and carbonation levels helps guarantee the flavour of the recipe
Please get in touch for more info on how we can help with your brewery monitoring system.
Our alternative 4G system, the SMS Controller, also has 4-20mA analogue inputs and outputs. This gives you even more monitoring and control options. It is programmable to perform logical control and time based activities via “SMS Workbench”, a dedicated downloadable configuration tool.
Or visit the YouTube video playlist for the SMS Controller which shows the SMS Workbench app.
Our solar powered solid set irrigation controllers have been used for an industrial dust suppression project.
The project needed a system to manage and control the dust suppression at a mine site and was designed and completed by Van Diemen’s Land Irrigation in Tasmania.
Irrigation systems have long been used for dust suppression. IPCs were selected for this project as it needed remote control, had a limited site water supply and the geographic constraints needed radio communications.
The DC latching solenoid controlled by each IPC operates several small end guns to provide dust suppression over a large, wetted area. Being solar powered, the IPCs do not require the installation of power or control cables. The smart irrigation scheduling of the IPCs allow each bank of sprinklers to operate individually and keep the instantaneous water use within the sites acceptable limit.
DATRAN Australia is also involved in providing monitoring and control solutions to the mining industry.
This recent post outlines some of the low power radio and 4G cellular systems available.
An alternate irrigation suppression system is also available from RX Plastics.
This kit uses custom K-Line irrigation pods with adjustable sprinklers and quick release couplings.
Please get in touch to discuss these options for your dust suppression for mining projects.
The robust, reliable and solar powered IPCs and the sophisticated IMS web app can provide individual sprinkler control and irrigation scheduling for both agricultural and industrial applications.
The IMS app can also show water tank levels from our IoT TLM – tank level monitor.
The TLM does not use the cellular network and can be installed in remote areas without cellular coverage. The low power LoRa radio in the TLM communicates to an IoT gateway which plugs into your internet modem/router. Advanced options include alarms for tank level, rate of change for early leak detection, and automatic pump control.
The SMS Controller P2P (Point to Point) mode is an innovative feature that automatically sends the digital and analogue (4-20mA) signals to and from its partner SMS Controller using text messages.
The text messages are initiated based on a configurable polling period ranging from every minute to once a week. This allows you to maintain I/O visibility whilst minimising the number of texts sent.
Our SMS Controllers are 4G so are not affected by the recent 3G network closures.
The P2P mode can be used in many applications where running a cable between sites is too hard, too expensive and where radio systems are impractical. In many ways the P2P mode operates like our Wireless Point to Point WP2P systems but uses texts over the 4G network instead of radio.
For applications using just digital I/O, text messages between SMS Controllers will be initiated each time a digital input changes state. We still recommend the polling period is used for these digital systems to keep the I/O synchronised frequently.
The P2P mode is ideal for applications with slow changing I/O. There is always a delay in sending text messages across the cellular networks so the P2P mode will not suit real time control loops or PID control etc.
The P2P mode is configured in SMS Messenger the dedicated SMS Controller app. Both partner SMS Controllers must be set as “SMSC-P2P” device types in the address book settings.
The polling mode must be enabled as this is used to periodically send texts between the controllers. Practically we also suggest that the SIM cards and accounts are with the same telco as this will help reduce the potential for network message delivery delays.
Comms fail between the partner SMS Controllers is also monitored. A digital output is configured which will activate and turn on after a configurable time.
The steps required to configure the SMS Controller are outlined in the user guide.
Regular text alerts to operators in the address book can also be used in P2P mode to maximise application use.
Update your SMS Messenger app to the latest version here.
The minimum requirements to use the P2P mode are SMS Controller firmware v2.06 and SMS Messenger app v1.5.7 or later.
And remember, SMS Controllers can also send text messages to other SMS Controllers to turn their digital outputs turn on. This is subtly different to the P2P mode. SMSC to SMSC texting is configured in SMS Messenger app using “SMSC” Device type in the address book.
Please contact us now for further information or a quotation.
To help you make the most of the SMS Lite a YouTube troubleshooting video is now available.
We are always looking for ways to make using our products easier and these videos and the online help are full of useful tips.
Our 4G cellular products have an added extra level of complexity as cellular signal coverage, international telco providers and SIM cards are involved.
There is now a dedicated SMS Lite YouTube playlist.
This will help you with initial set up, operation, firmware upgrades and now troubleshooting.
This SMS Lite troubleshooting video covers the fault code displays and shares our expertise having supplied hundreds of SMS Lites to customers throughout Australia and New Zealand.
There is also an extensive set of help and FAQs available on our website support page.
These cover everything from selecting power supplies and antennas to SIM card requirements.
The user manual now features a QR code than will take you directly to this location: https://qtech.co.nz/troubleshooting-sms-lite/
Our powerful SMS Controller also has a YouTube playlist.
A recent SMS Controller video is the use of SMS Messenger, the software app used to configure and program the powerful features of the SMS Controller.
Mining is a complex operation that often needs remote control and alarm solutions.
DATRAN Australia’s 4G cellular and low power radio systems are widely used in the Australian mining sector. These systems can also be solar powered using our custom RSS solutions.
Typical uses and applications include the following:
Genset Monitoring
A very popular use of the 4G SMS Lite.
Your genet may even have the ability to signal low fuel warnings and faults.
High Temperature Alarms
Get a text message from a temperature sensor on a room, fridge, plant or even machinery.
Water Flow Meter Signals
Use the analogue I/O version of the WP2P.
Transmit the water flow (4-20mA signal) to the control room without needing control cables.
Dust Suppression
Remotely start and stop the irrigation dust suppression controller from a remote position. Check it is running or get text alarms if the pump stops. Our IPC solid set controllers can also be used for dust suppression applications.
For more info on the IPC solid set irrigation controller head to water-insight.co.nz.
Stop Go Traffic Signals
Remotely operate warning signs remotely. View the status from several kms away and remotely change stop to go.
Pump Faults or Mains Power Fail
Get advance warning alarms if a critical pump faults, the mains power goes out or the UPS kicks in etc.
Traffic Light Override
Projects have included integration with a traffic light controller to enable emergency services to force traffic lights to red.
Site Security Alerts
Get a text message every time the server room door is opened, or the storage room is accessed.
Whilst mines are in very remote regions of Australia many now have their own cell towers installed. All our cellular products are 4G so they are not affected by the recent closure of the 3G network.
We also have a range of high gain antennas, power supplies and DIN rail mounts for your solution.
Please contact us to discuss your control solutions for mining requirements.
This link contains many other projects and applications that use our cellular and radio solutions.
DATRAN Australia has a new phone number 0477 065 898 or +61 (0) 477 065 898.
Please update all of your records and address book contacts.
The previous phone number (0419 639 226) is currently still in use.
Our apologies for the inconvenience but the change is necessary due to our business growth requirements.
All of our other contact details remain the same, including the email: sales@datran.com.au
DATRAN Australia Pty Ltd
ABN 84 615 223 919
Phone: + 61 (0) 477 065 898
Address: 129B Main Street Lithgow NSW 2790, Australia
Email: sales@datran.com.au
Thank you all for you understanding and we look forward to speaking to you soon.
Best wishes,
Ross Gregory and the DATRAN Australia team.
This SMS Lite was purchased in early 2014 and is the first generation of the product.
Our customer has been using it consistently since then and it has proven to be reliable and worked well. We are truly delighted that our engineering design and robustness of the product has delivered a life span of 10 years.
Deployed in a harsh real-world installation, it managed to outlive the 3G cellular network it was connected to.
The SMS Lite was used to monitor four signals in the electrical switchboard and it sends text message alerts when faults occur.
However, with the 3G networks closing (or already closed), our customer needs to upgrade to the 4G SMS Lite.
The SMS Lite continues to be developed and enhanced by our partner QTech in New Zealand.
The current generation 4G SMS Lite has many more features than the original version.
In August 2024 firmware version 4.10 was released which includes:
- Field Upgradable firmware via USB
- Support for more phone numbers
- Configurable escalation times
- Notification only mode – no need to reply or acknowledge
- Broadcast mode – send alerts to multiple phones
- Uses QTech Workbench software for advanced configuration options
- On-line troubleshooting guide via QR code
- Automatic power supply monitoring with return to normal messages etc
Please click here for a summary of many of the projects and applications the SMS Lite is used in.
If you are looking to replace your old 3G alert or auto dialler system,
Please contact us now for help with your 4G text alarm systems.
The 3G networks have closed.
Please review all your cellular devices as this does not just affect cell phones.
Automatic transfer switches (ATS) are part of a backup power system. They provide a smooth changeover to generator power when a mains power outage occurs.
A local generator supply company contacted us wanting to use our SMS Lite as a notification and remote control override for their existing Genset ATS systems. Many of these systems are installed in remote properties used for Airbnb type accommodation.
The electrical changeover system runs a 2 Wire Start from the ATS to the generator (close to start & open to stop). Within the ATS module there is often a wiring terminal for an Aux shut down option.
The customer requirement for the SMS Genset ATS project included:
When the mains power fails, the ATS starts the generator as usual.
The generator will now run until mains power is restored as usual.
We then want an SMS text message to be sent to the designated owner notifying them the generator is running.
The designated owner can then decide to stop the generator running if it is not required. Good examples are if it is late at night, the rental property is not occupied, or heating/refrigeration are not currently required. Minimising the time the generator runs will help reduce fuel usage.
When mains power returns the ATS will return to standard operation.
The team established a practical solution that sends the owner a text message “GENSET has turned ON”.
The owner can then turn off the generator if needed, by sending the text message “ON GENSTOP” to the SMS Lite.
The SMS Lite can also turn the generator off for a fixed time.
Sending the text “PULSE GENSTOP 2 HR” stops the generator for 2 hours and then turns it back on. This would be useful to conserve generator fuel whilst preventing appliances like heaters being off for too long and allowing the temperature to drop significantly.
The initial project was using the Kohler VERSO 100 4P ATSS IP31 with 4 poles and a 63A rating.
The Kohler VERSO ATS are a compact solution and are a popular choice in Australia and New Zealand. The SMS Lite interface and solution could also be applied to other ATS.
The SMS Lite provides N/O dry relay contacts rated up for 30V 2A loads. For this application these would drive a similar relay but with an N/C contact. Turning on RLY1 output on the SMS Lite would then open the connection on the slave relay and turn off the unit. This needs to be powered from a stable 12-24V DC (250mA) power source available at all times.
Our engineers were able to sketch this initial wiring design during the discussion with our customer.
