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NOTICE
This document supplements the Vega manual
and should always be used along with the Vega
manual. Be sure to read all appropriate warnings
and precautions in the Vega manual before
doing any work on Vega sensors. The following
statement appears in the Vega manual and should
be followed:
Authorized personnel
All operations described in this operating
instructions manual must be carried out
only by trained and authorized specialist
personnel. For safety and warranty reasons,
any internal work on the instruments must
be carried out only by VEGA personnel.
PRELIMINARY SETUP
The preliminary setup can be made either before
the sensor is installed on the tank or after it is
installed. Use the buttons on the PLICSCOM
module (Figure 3) to make the settings. Set the
sensor according to the settings shown in Figure
4. Do not change any settings other than the ones
shown in Figure 4. These are the settings we use
for preliminary setup of the sensors at the Heatec
factory. They are the only settings we change from
the original Vega factory settings.
HINT: Before trying to set the PLICSCOM
module, be sure to get familiar with its four
keys (refer to applicable instructions in the Vega
manual). When navigating the menu on the module
of the sensor, make sure the menu numbers
(which appear in the upper right-hand corner of
the display) match the menu numbers shown in
Figure 4. The menu terminology shown in Figure
4 should match the menu terminology that appears
on the PLICSCOM module.
NOTE: Please disregard any minor differences
in terminology shown in Vega manuals and the
terminology that appears in the display of the
PLICSCOM module. These differences should not
affect your setup procedure.
FINAL SETUP
Final setup of the sensor can only be done after the
sensor is installed in the tank. During final setup
the sensor creates an electronic profile of the inside
of the tank. It senses obstructions, such as ladders,
mixing blades, etc. It stores the profile in memory
and uses it to eliminate false echoes from those
components. This procedure is known as False
echo memory.
We normally run the false echo memory procedure
on empty tanks equipped with sensors at the
Heatec factory. At that time the tanks are new and
have never been filled with asphalt. The profile
we create should enable the sensor to provide
fairly stable and accurate indications of level.
However, the sensor will provide greater stability
and accuracy if the procedure is repeated after
the inside of the tank is coated with asphalt. The
sensor can be set to update the profile that was
originally made at Heatec.
We recommend that you update the profile after
the tank has been used for a while. Do this when
the asphalt level is barely above the heating coils
or at the lowest level before you would normally
refill the tank. If the tank has a mixer, make sure it
is running while performing this procedure.
Basic instructions for creating false echo profiles
are in the Vega manual.
Here’s how to build an accurate profile: Set the
sensor module to menu 4.1 False echo memory. You
will see the word: Change? Press the OK button
and you will be presented with three choices:
Delete, Update, Create new. Be sure to choose update.
Otherwise, you will delete the profile that was
created at Heatec.
NOTE: While you are running the false echo
memory procedure you will be prompted to
enter the distance from the sensor to the surface
of the asphalt. So, be prepared to make actual
measurements through the manway in the top
of the tank. You will need to measure from the
surface of the asphalt to the mounting flange of the
sensor.
TROUBLESHOOTING
The sensor may show erroneous readings if its
antenna becomes contaminated with asphalt
residues. If this happens you must remove the
sensor unit and clean the antenna using a solvent
Publication No. 5-04-116
