McLean Automation Logo 

PRODUCTS
SMS Controller

The SMS controller allows remote monitoring & control via two way SMS text messages using the cellular phone network. The target site requires GSM/3G service coverage but the phone handset used to run the system can be either GSM or NextG.

SMS controllers fill the gap between our local 5km range licence exempt radio links & Camvnet the internet based asset management system. SMS based systems are ideal for real time control & monitoring of a couple of geographically dispersed assets by mobile phone for people on the move. M2M (machine-to-machine) control is possible with a pair of SMS controllers. In tank fill applications a float switch operated controller at the tank links to another controller at the pump. In a fire fighting situation the user can over ride the tank controller with a simple text message & then take control of the pump with his or her mobile phone.

Some extra features built into the SMS controllers include powering up lighting for a preset period (by sending an SMS command with a runtime) or running a pump for a predetermined water delivery (by sending an SMS with a flow meter pulse total).

Bubbler

The Bubbler is a radio licence exempt wireless water level monitoring system for up to 4 remote dams/bores/rivers/creeks/tanks at separate locations within a 5km range. Levels are gauged by monitoring pressure in a 6mm pneumatic tube pulsed from a miniature air source & telemetering the value to a central receiver where depth is displayed in cm.

The tank transmitter can be solar powered at sites without electrical supply and the 6mm air line means all electronics are in the box, no wires down the bore hole or in the tank. A dry cell powered version of the transmitter is available for temporary deployments where the monitoring requirement moves amongst tanks.

The Bubbler receiver has user adjustable independent Hi/Lo level alarms for each tank. These 8 separate setpoints are linked to a common internal piezo alarm and are individually mutable via 4 isolation switches, one for each bore/dam. A relay output is provided for a 'phone dialer if alarms to mobile 'phone are required.

A SCADA version of the receiver has 4 separate relay outputs, one for each tank. In this format the receiver is capable of supervisory control, with the independent relay outputs capable of maintaining tank level within the Hi/Lo setpoints for each remote site.

Valve Sequencer

The valve sequencer enclosure can cycle from 1-16 irrigation solenoids on command from a box mounted switch or sensor, or via radio signal from a remote switch or sensor. Each enclosure has a unique customer specific sequence of valve duty cycles tailored for applications such as dust suppression or irrigation.

The system has application for partial automation situations, for example where a petrol pump has to be started manually for frost atement but the sequencer manages the valve timings thereafter. Sensor triggered versions are available where the watering sequence is controlled automatically by an inbuilt or remote temperature sensor or soil moisture probe.

The concept is also useful for extending the scope of low channel count irrigation controllers by bundling remote valves into groups each with its own individual solenoid sequence controlled by a single output on the irrigation controller. The box can be solar powered for use with 2 wire DC latching valves or run from a 24v~ supply for conventional AC solenoids.

BayWatch

The BayWatch transmitter signals when water reaches the end of a flood irrigation bay. The receiver has an internal piezo alarm plus a relay output for a 'phone dialler if alarms to mobile 'phone are required.

The transmitter is available as a battery powered portable that can me moved from one bay to the next or as a solar powered fixed installation for permanent deployment in a bay.

BayWatch eliminates the chore of waiting for irrigation by signalling when the bay is done which minimises water wastage & gives you more time for the beach

Frost Alarms

A range of radio linked frost alarms, from simple single point 'alarm only' links intended for temporary deployment through to permanently installed solar powered multipoint ambient air temperature senders accurate to half a degree Celsius.

This product range covers the full spectrum of growers requirements with regard to frost warning. Starting with cost effective audio alarm modules for small family farms and finsihing with real time remote temperature display / controllers capable of fully automatic frost abatement across multiple zones in corporate produce applications. All systems have user adjustable temperature trip points with relay outputs for auto diallers or other alarm systems.

Long Range Handsets

McLean Automation has developed a range of rugged pedestrian portable remote control handsets for industrial applications with extended range for up to 8 on/off functions. The HF systems will reach to 500m with a 40cm whip aerial or 3km with a 1m long antenna. The UHF version (shown) has a 300m range with no external antenna.

Demand Irrigation for Nurseries

At last an affordable soil moisture controlled, demand irrigation system for plants in pots! WirelessWater consists of a transmitter with 8 soil moisture probe inputs linking to a 24v~ receiver with 8 relay outputs which switches the irrigation solenoids. This UHF link has no external antennas and the battery powered radio licence exempt transmitter has a range of up to 300m.

This system monitors the soil moisture level in one sample pot of each tray, allowing automatic wateriing of up to 8 trays with each link. The receiver will also shut down all irrigation if the transmitter battery is low, making the link fail safe.

Motor Control Boxes

Single and three phase electric motor control station receivers with your choice of radio control integrated into the box with the contactors. These turnkey solutions can be customised with your company logo and unique switching requirements.

Choose from UHF or HF handsets & fixed mount transmitters in cigarette pack to house brick sized enclosures with one to thirty two press buttons and radio ranges to 5km.

These cost effective radio enabled motor control solutions are ideal for most real time remote control tasks including pump & winch applications. Radio class licence (licence exempt)approvals on handset transmitters for Australia & NZ, Europe, UK, Canada & USA.

Variants can include the integration of novel systems with the motor control function, including lone worker safety alarms and interlocks between the radio control and manual press buttons.

Dew/spray drift Alarm

The standard Dew Alarm consists of a battery powered transmitter/antenna/surface mositure sensor combo (intended for temporary deployment in a crop) that radio links to a plugpack powered receiver when dew forms.

The system was developed to provide a wake up alarm when dew forms during the baling season so that harvesting of lucerne (alfalfa) or other moisture sensitive crops can begin.

The receiver in turn can be linked to an auto dialler so that contract harvester operators can be notified by phone when cropping conditions are correct at a target property.

The link is quick to deploy, simple in concept and also has application as a spray drift sensor for cotton growers and an alarm back up in traditional data logged situations such as leaf wetness monitoring for disease control.

Hand held radio pendants

REAL TIME REMOTE CONTROL: We manufacture an extensive range of hand held transmitters for real time control applications over ranges from 10m to 4km. Included are small 50m range transmitters built into industrial grade pendant housings (pictured), & 1km range handsets with up to 32 press buttons. Applications include cableless hoist control, product delivery at feedlots & collierys by the driver from the cab of his truck, remote lighting management, etc.

Compatible receivers include the usual relay output versions & StepWise, a unique solution for the RC of variable speed drives. The stepwise transmitter has 'faster' & 'slower' buttons which cause the 4-20 mA output of the StepWise receiver to change in 1 mA steps each time the button is pressed, perfect for 'washdown' applications.

Custom solutions are available on all McLean Automation real time links. Solutions to date include an automatic ramp up facility for StepWise, a 32 x 16 function handset for manual over ride of all 32 outputs on 16 different irrigation controllers on local government parks watering systems or golf courses & an intelligent receiver that 'learns' sequences from the handest over the airwaves for automatic charge delivery in a remote controlled mining explosives application

Nurse Call Systems

Nursing home patients are supplied with a small pendant transmitter usually worn on a necklace. These 50m range handset transmitters link to a roof mounted repeater on each aged care unit or building.

The repeaters in turn link to a central nurse station that displays the page on either an annunciator panel or PC depending on the network size. For security applications handset coding can be used to distinguish between staff & patients to differentiate between medical & safety calls.

System variations include basic patient tracking where approximate geographical location is designated by which repeater sent he call. The variation has also found application as a staff safety network where the location of a personal duress alarm can be narrowed to the nearest repeater in large complexes such as prisons or hospitals.

GateGard

Is a wireless driveway minder consisting of a solar powered gate transmitter triggered by a pneumatic hose on vehicle passage. In outdoor applications the hose gives better reliability & lower incidence of false alarms than infrared schemes.

The receiver(s) can be fixed wall mounts (range to 4km) or portable belt worn (range to 1km) and have an audible signal strength indicator. GateGard is ideal for cellar door sales (customer arrival announcement) & security at premises with long driveways. The system can be expanded for vehicle counting applications.

AMR

PULSE TRANSFER: McLean Automation has 2 topologies for the wireless relay of pulses from gas, electricity & water meters. Both systems were developed for local on site use to provide supply authority customers with real time consumption updates for trending. Billing rates are commonly tied to daily usage and local user monitoring assists customers to predict & limit peak demand.

The 'point-to-point' link consists of a single transmitter/receiver pair. The Tx sends pulses, as they occur, to the receiver relay. The transmitter has a pulse stretcher for use with very short duty cycle outputs while the receiver has anti chatter circuitry optimised for pulse count applications. Up to 3 point-to-point links can operate in the same local area.

The 'network' consists of a 12 channel base transceiver polling up to 12 remote transceivers for pulse totals. The remotes can totalise up to 1024 counts on each of 2 inputs between polls. The base clocks out the totals at 10 Hz after each poll on individually isolated reed relays, one for each remote meter.

Both systems were developed as stand alone, ready-to-run concepts for use with existing energy management systems originally intended for hard wired use. There is also a PC compatible transceiver available for OEMs wishing to integrate radio based energy management into PC based software.

WireLess 4-20 mA current loop

LoopLink accepts 4-20 mA at the transmitter(s) and reconstitutes the current loop, with 12 bit accuracy, at the receiver. Auxiliary inputs for up to 4 contact closures are also provided and one of the 4 receiver relays can be user re programmed to act as a link loss output. The link updates on change in any of the 4 digital inputs or every minute otherwise.

LoopLink is a cost effective alternative to braking pavement & running cable in industrial applications over distances as short as 10m. In rural situations the 5km range of the radio licence exempt (Australia, New Zealand & USA) 0.5w transmitter is an affordable alternative to long cable runs and the notoriously short life expectancy of burried wires in agricultural environments.

Like all Mclean Automation product LoopLink is customisable for repeat order applications. Variations to date include, integral LCD display in the Tx/Rx or both, dual current loop versions & twin Tx to single Rx formats.

Integrated Solar Power

Mclean Automation has expanded its range of solar powered radio systems to include receivers & transceivers, as well as transmitters.

These class licence (no radio licence required) modules are low power devices making small scale solar driven systems available at sites where mains power is available but awkward to access.

Typically using a 1W to 2W panel combined with 4 AHr of battery capacity and an efficient regulator, these integrated designs have found application in such places as coal mines, metering points, vineyards, tanks farms & car parks, virtually any place where it is difficult to run cables.

Available within the framework of a standardised enclosure, panel frame, battery pack and regulator is an extensive optioning service which includes the design of custom one off systems, the development of units with integrated sensing technology and the volume production of re-badged systems for resale.

This concept provides a practical wireless alternative to cabling across a broad range of applications from simple point-to-point on/off control to multi point SCADA networks. Best sellers to date are FrostLink (a solar powered frost alarm transmitter) & WaterWorks (solar powered receiver for irrigation valve solenoid switching.)

USA SALES: Most systems are FCC approved.

Downlink valve control with Uplink water flow totals

MATRIX NETWORK: The Matrix is a short haul wirless network where a single base transceiver links to a maximum of 16 solar powered remotes. The standard base accepts up to 32 contact closures which control relay outputs at the various remotes. The remotes have a counter input for pulse output meter totalisation which the base clocks out on one of 8 counter outputs.

The system is intended as a wireless alternative to cabling bewteen a PLC or irrigation controller and field devices. It has found application to date in areas as diverse as automated irrigation & industrial on site energy management.

The Matrix can be optioned for applications specific tasks & supplied as an OEM card only module. The basic network topology is base background polling with event driven transmissions on input change of state.

Automatic Soil Moisture Management

PUPPET: The stand alone Puppet4 remote soil moisture gauging network consists of four radio licence exempt solar powered field transmitters (each monitoring 2 probes) linked to a single 4 relay receiver. The receiver has an LCD display and piezo alarm with separate user programmable set points for each relay. Each set point can be mapped to either the surface or deep probe at each site & the system can be compensated for changes in soil temperature.

The transmitters each monitor a pair of third generation, Irrometer non dissolving, Watermark gypsum probes that provide 2 readings (one shallow, one deep) of usable soil moisture in kPa of soil suction from each site every 5 minutes.

This wireless system can be used simply as a cost effective alternative to wired or hand data collection, while the relay outputs offer the added facility of fully automated, soil moisture controlled watering.

Irrigation Solenoid Scada

STII: Is a solar powered receiver/transceiver with upto 8 outputs for 2 or 3 wire latching valves, and 8 digital inputs for monitoring contact closures.

The card is supplied in a weatherproof enclosure with solar panel, battery and charge regulator. The valve terminations are plugable.

This concept is variable in both hardware and software. At its most basic it can be setup to act a simple quad valve receiver switching valves from a transmitter connected to a 24v~ irrigation controller. At its most complex 2 cards in a single enclosure can actuate up to 16 valves on command form a PC driven transceiver and link back to the PC the status of 16 switch type soil moisture probes.

Irrigation Controller Over-ride

BRIDGIT: 'Bridgit' consists of a single 32 button radio transmitter handset & 30 relay receiver for use at council parks & golf courses. The Rx is simply bridged across conventional hard wired irrigation controller outputs with a single pre wired plug allowing groundsmen to over ride schedules with the handset Tx during maintenance. Each site is equipped with a receive antenna and receiver plug so that setting up wireless control at each location is as simple as plugging the receiver in at that site.

Bridgit is Australian made & has a radio licence exempt range of 1km. The battery powered handset is supplied in a gasketed 80 x 160 x 55 mm polycarbonate case while the 24v~ receiver comes in a 200 x 220 x 80 mm enclosure & is powered from the irrigation controller.

Bridgit is easy to manage, allowing one man to complete a task (in less time) that would normally occupy two personnel. The plugable interface eliminates wiring hassels, you just 'bridge it'!

Wireless Irrigation Controllers

WaterWorks: kits are starter packs for trying radio controlled irrigation from scratch. The kits typically include a brand name 24v~ irrigation controller prewired to a radio transmitter, some solar powered remote receivers & latching solenoid valves to suit.

The concept is cheaper than the parts purchased separately & avoids the hassle of interfacing to on site controllers whose outputs could be compromised by previous experiences with lightning or control wiring shorts.

Frost Alarms

FrostLink Analog: Is a real time temperature link with a central receiver displaying temperatures, solar battery voltage & radio signal strength for up to 4 remote sites.

The receiver has separate user adjustable high & low setpoints & relay output for each remote site, allowing fully automatic control of frost abatement systems or connection to a telephone dialler or alarm system.

Evacuation Alarm System

PinPoint: Is a distributed multi-point radio based alarm system intended for evacuation applications. Every transceiver in the PinPoint network displays the status (alarm, safe or failed) of every other node in the system, allowing evacuation away from the alarm source.

Pinpoint has been used at explosives reservations, construction sites, mines & quarantine stations & is useable in any application where alarm status needs to be displayed at more than one location.

Click here if no menu side bar
McLean Automation
518 Terrace Rd, Freemans Reach, NSW, 2756 Australia
phone 0245796365 (+612 45796365), fax 0245796942 (+612 45796942)

This page was last updated October 2009