ShockLog 248 298 - User Manual
ShockLog 248 298 - User Manual
ShockLog 248 298 - User Manual
Operator
User Manual
USER MANUAL
Contents
Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 6
Product Overview ............................................................................................................................................................. 6
ShockLog 298 ................................................................................................................................................................... 7
ShockLog 248 ................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Getting Started..........................................................................................................................11
Identifying Software Versions .......................................................................................................................................... 11
Identifying HARDware Versions ....................................................................................................................................... 11
ShockLog Software Installation........................................................................................................................................ 12
Automatic Check for Updates ...........................................................................................................................................16
Language Support .............................................................................................................................................................16
Batteries ............................................................................................................................................................................16
Installing the Batteries ......................................................................................................................................................17
ShockLog Mounting Recommendations .......................................................................................................................... 18
Menu Options............................................................................................................................ 74
File Menu ...........................................................................................................................................................................74
New .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 74
Open ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 74
Import ..............................................................................................................................................................................................74
Export .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 75
Delete .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 76
Print ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 76
Tools Menu ....................................................................................................................................................................... 77
Graph / Unit Options .......................................................................................................................................................................77
Data Paths........................................................................................................................................................................................77
Communication Port .......................................................................................................................................................................77
Compact and Repair Database ....................................................................................................................................................... 77
Export Current Record as a Database ............................................................................................................................................78
Restore Default Settings ................................................................................................................................................................. 78
Save Current Settings ..................................................................................................................................................................... 78
Restore Saved Settings....................................................................................................................................................................78
Unit Radio Setup ............................................................................................................................................................................. 78
Read Last GPS Data ......................................................................................................................................................................... 78
Create Edit User Setup List ............................................................................................................................................................. 78
View Menu ....................................................................................................................................................................... 79
Windows Menu ................................................................................................................................................................ 79
Help Menu ........................................................................................................................................................................ 79
Introduction
Welcome to the ShockLog® product family. The manual has been designed to provide
useful information to all levels of users from new users to those expert users of the legacy
ShockLog products.
The ShockLog User Manual has been written to address the full range of ShockLog
products. While many of the pictures will include references to the ShockLog 298, they
are equally applicable to the ShockLog 248. Please note that some features are only
available on the ShockLog 298.
Product Overview
ShockLog recorders are small battery-powered data loggers with three built-in piezoelectric accelerometers and an internal
temperature sensor. The design is optimized for the measurement of shock and vibration for investigative and protective
purposes of goods in transit and storage throughout the supply chain.
The ShockLog is suitable for applications where the cost of exposure to out of tolerance impact/environmental conditions
is high. It is suitable for monitoring fixed or mobile installations and investigating conditions during transport, storage or
operation.
ShockLog 298
The ShockLog 298 combines advanced tri-axial piezoelectric accelerometer technology, the latest electronic technology,
software and optional connectivity modules into a world class shock and vibration recorder.
The ShockLog 298 monitors shock and vibration based on acceleration or velocity measurements.
The wake up, warning and alarm levels, frequency of data collection, setting of the acceleration or velocity range and cut-
off frequency of the filter are programmed by the user. When a user defined impact level is exceeded, a visual alarm will
alert the user and store the data for future analysis.
Features
• Complete journey profiling • Date & time stamping of events / alarms
• Acceleration or velocity measurements • Data stored in non-volatile memory
• Programmable warning and alarm thresholds • Up to 18 month battery life
• Detailed record of up to 870 impact events • AA size lithium or alkaline battery power*
• Built-in internal temperature sensor • Completely self-contained (battery operated)
• Programmable frequency cut-off filters • Tamper-proof factory and user passwords
• Operation, warning and alarm LED indicators • USB & iButton interfaces
Options
• External temperature / humidity sensor • External temperature/humidity/pressure sensor
• Cellular communication module • Tilt & roll sensor
• Satellite communication module
• GPS recording module
*Battery Tips
- Always use lithium batteries for journeys where the temperature may be
outside the -5°C to +50°C range.
- The capacity of alkaline batteries drops dramatically when exposed to
temperatures below 10°C.
- If using a lithium battery and the ShockLog will be traveling by air, make sure
the battery is approved for air cargo.
- If the batteries are accidentally installed with the wrong polarity, the ShockLog
will not be damaged; however, the life of the battery may be severely affected.
ShockLog 248
The ShockLog 248 combines advanced tri-axial piezoelectric accelerometer technology, the latest electronic technology
and software into an advanced shock and vibration recorder.
The ShockLog 248 monitors shock based on acceleration measurements. The software allows the wake up, alarm levels
and frequency of data collection to be programmed by the user. When a user defined impact level is exceeded, a visual
alarm (LED) will alert the user and store the data for future analysis.
Features
• Complete journey profiling • Completely self-contained (battery operated)
• Acceleration measurements • Up to 12-month battery life
• Built-in internal temperature sensor • AA size lithium or alkaline battery power*
• Programmable alarm thresholds • Tamper-proof factory and user passwords
• Date & time stamping of events / alarms • USB & iButton interfaces
• Detailed record 1st & 14 most significant events • Operation and alarm LED indicators
• 100G / 250Hz, 30G / 90 Hz or 10G / 40 Hz models
Options
• External temperature / humidity sensor
*Battery Tips
-Always use lithium batteries for journeys where the temperature may be outside
the -5°C to +50°C range.
-The capacity of alkaline batteries drops dramatically when exposed to
temperatures below 10°C.
-If using a lithium battery and the ShockLog will be traveling by air, make sure the
battery is approved for air cargo.
-If the batteries are accidentally installed with the wrong polarity, the ShockLog will
not be damaged; however, the life of the battery may be severely affected.
Overview of Accessories/Options
A benefit of the ShockLog product line is the availability of accessories that enable
additional information to be gathered.
Each ShockLog unit is shipped with batteries, mounting kit and a companion label.
In the unlikely event that any of the above items are missing when the kit is received, please immediately inform your
SpotSee Regional Manager or local distributor to arrange for a replacement.
Data files with GPS information will be displayed with additional columns in both the summary table and the events table.
The additional columns include:
Getting Started
The ShockLog manual applies to ShockLog software version 10.2.4.1 or greater and is to
be used in conjunction with all ShockLog units (298 and 248 products). It also applies to
most legacy ShockLog ranges including the RD298 ShockLog (embedded code version 103
or higher) and RD317 Micro ShockLog units (embedded code version 103 or higher). While
other combinations of the software and embedded code versions of a lower number should
function in a similar manner, there may be some exceptions.
Insert the CD into the CD/DVD player on your PC. The set-up process should run automatically. If for any reason the set-up
program does not automatically run, go to the Start menu and in Run, enter V:\shocklogsetup.exe (where v:\ is the CD/DVD
driver on the PC) and open the program from there.
Enter your name, company name and the unique serial code
supplied with the ShockLog CD. The code can be found inside
the CD software case. The code will begin with “SW.” Once
the appropriate information and a valid code have been
entered, click “OK.”
If Microsoft.NET Framework and Microsoft Access are not installed, the following steps will be executed. A new window
will appear displaying the Microsoft.net end user license agreement, click “Accept”.
The installation will continue and the system will install components from the CD for the Access Database Engine. Click
“Install” to continue.
The Microsoft Access database engine installation wizard will run next. Click “Next” to continue.
After Microsoft.net Framework and Access have been installed, the installation of the ShockLog software will begin
automatically. A ShockLog Setup Wizard will install the ShockLog software on your computer. Click “Next” to start
the installation.
A new window detailing the end user license agreement required to utilize the software will appear. The user must
accept the terms of the software by selecting “I accept the terms in the License Agreement”. Click “Next” to continue.
Next, another ShockLog Setup window will prompt the user for the product options to install. Verify that both “Create a
shortcut for this program on the desktop” and “Install Software Update Utility” are checked. Click “Next” to continue.
Users can select the location of the software installation. However, it is recommended that the default settings
be accepted.
To change the directory address, either type over the information in the box or browse for the desired directory by
selecting the “Change” button. Once you have selected the desired directory, click on the ‘Next’ button.
A window stating “Ready to install the ShockLog” software will appear. Click “Install” to continue.
The system will begin the installation of the ShockLog software. At this stage a number of progress bar windows will
appear. A Microsoft software installation warning stating that the software has not been verified for compatibility to
Windows XP will appear. Click on the “Continue anyway” button. The same window will appear a second time. Click on
the ‘Continue anyway’ button. When asked to install Maxim and The IMC Group drivers, click “Install”.
Once the system has fully installed, a “Completed the ShockLog Setup Wizard” window will appear. Click “Finish” to
complete the installation.
The ShockLog software is now loaded and the computer should be back at the Desktop view. In order to create a short
cut on the Desktop, right click on the Start menu and select the “Explore” option.
The ShockLog programs will have been copied into the following directory: c:\ProgramData\ShockLogSoftware\ShockLog
or it will be installed in the destination directory specified earlier in the setup process.
Right click on the ShockLog program icon and select “Create Shortcut”. Once the short cut has been created, it can be
dragged onto the Desktop.
To open the ShockLog software, double click on the shortcut icon from the Desktop.
When first attaching the ShockLog unit to the PC, it will be necessary to install new USB drivers for the PC to
communicate with the ShockLog. After connecting the ShockLog to the PC via the USB cable, a “Found New Hardware
Wizard” window will appear. To the question, “Can Windows connect to Windows Update to search for software?” it is
essential that the user select “No, not this time” to prevent the system from going to the Microsoft website to find the
drivers.
Click “Next” and a second “Found New Hardware Wizard” window will appear.
A window with a Microsoft software installation warning stating that the software has not been verified for compatibility
to Windows XP will appear. Click “Continue anyway”.
The appropriate drivers now will be loaded on the PC and will allow the ShockLog device to communicate with the
ShockLog Software.
If the drivers do not load correctly, it may be necessary to return to this window and select “Install from a list or specific
location (Advanced).” Browse the PC to find the appropriate drivers within the ShockLog directory.
If the ShockLog does not connect after successfully loading the drivers, please check the communication ports are
correct. The port settings are found in the “Tools” menu under Communication Properties. These settings are only
relevant to legacy ShockLog products.
Language Support
The ShockLog software is multilingual. Upon installation, the software will detect the country settings within the Windows
files and select the appropriate language. Where no translation is available, the system will default to English.
If after installation a user wishes to revert back to English settings, it is possible to change the software back to English
by checking the “English” tick box in the graph and unit options under the Tools menu.
Batteries
All ShockLog units operate with AA size batteries. Either 1.5V Alkaline or 3.6V Lithium cells are acceptable. (Do not attempt
to operate the ShockLog with a mixture of Alkaline and Lithium batteries). The ShockLog 298 unit requires two batteries
and the ShockLog 248 unit requires one battery.
Two (2) AA size lithium batteries are supplied with a ShockLog kit. It is highly recommended that lithium batteries be used
whenever possible as they will provide a greater service life across a wider temperature range. The use of alkaline batteries
is recommended only on very short journeys or for experiments where the ambient temperature is fairly constant and
above 10°C/50°F.
Battery Tips
• Always use lithium batteries for journeys where the temperature may be outside the 10°C to +50°C range.
• The capacity of alkaline batteries drops dramatically when exposed to temperatures below 10°C.
• If using lithium batteries and the ShockLog will be travelling by air, make sure the batteries are approved
for air cargo.
• If the batteries are accidentally installed with the wrong polarity, the ShockLog will not be damaged;
however, the life of the battery may be severely affected.
Remove the four screws and lift the battery cover clear.
Ensure the orientation of the batteries is correct and insert them into the ShockLog unit.
Both batteries are oriented in the same direction; the positive terminal for both batteries
is at the same end of the ShockLog unit.
Ensure the rubber seal is correctly positioned, replace the battery cover and insert the 4
screws. Care should be taken when securing the lid. Ensure the screws are tightened evenly in
a diagonal rotation and tightened to 25cNm torque (hand tight).
Note: All ShockLog units are rated to IP67. The battery compartment is isolated from the main body of the ShockLog
unit and a poor fitting of the battery cover will not dramatically affect the IP rating of the main unit. However, if there
is water ingress into the battery compartment, the batteries are likely to short and cause corrosion of the battery
terminals. If this corrosion occurs, the ShockLog will not function correctly, and the unit will need to be returned to
SpotSee for repair.
FIGURE B
FIGURE A
When mounting, avoid metal-to-metal contact, and use the rubber bushings provided in the mounting kit to decrease
excess vibration.
Avoid building special brackets to mount the ShockLog. If a cover is required, place the cover over the ShockLog but do
not attach it to the ShockLog.
When mounting inside packaging or crates, make sure the product is secured by foam or mounting screws to ensure
the unit records accurate impacts during shipment. If the ShockLog is not attached securely to a shipment, the journey
data could be compromised as the measurement may be of the ShockLog moving independently of the product being
monitored
When monitoring a large shipment, always use the anti-vibration bushes. The isolation bushes must fit as shown in the
Figure A below. For the bushes to work correctly, the ShockLog must not make metal-to-metal contact.
FIGURE A
When the dockable windows are in the desired locations, adjust the size of each window by dragging the border of each
window. Adjust the window size in order to maximize the available screen area for the File Viewer.
The position of the docked windows can be saved so they are in the same location
when exiting and entering the ShockLog system. From the Tools menu, select “Save
Current Settings”. Once this has been done, a confirmation window will appear.
For demonstration purposes, a number of files are included in the database installed
with the ShockLog software. These files are shown in the Explorer and Record view.
Click on one of the available files and the Summary Report will be displayed in the File
Viewer. The demonstration files may be deleted at any time.
With a file open, it is possible to explore the information available from the File Viewer screen. Notice the six tabs along
the top of the viewer. These tabs link to more detailed information relating to the open file record. The information
includes:
• Report
• Setup
• Slots
• Slot Alarms
• Summaries
• Events
The user will select a ShockLog model and create a setup file or open and modify an existing file
that has been created in the past.
The ShockLog model selected will affect the options available in the setup screens. Certain
features are only available on certain models.
To open an existing file, select the ShockLog model of interest and click the “Load File” button.
A list of available setup files related to the selected model will be shown. Highlight the desired file and click on “Open.”
The “Current File” button allows you to interrogate a connected ShockLog to determine what setup has been loaded into
the unit.
Setup Window
When the appropriate ShockLog model has been selected or the desired setup file has been opened, a new window will
appear. In this example, “Setup – 298” indicates that a ShockLog 298 setup will be created.
The setup window has a series of tabs that guide the user through the available options for the selected ShockLog
model. The software requires that the user complete the appropriate areas. For a new setup, the system will adopt
a default setting and complete some sections. The user must step through every window and modify the settings or
select “Continue.” Guiding the user to step through every window for a new setup ensures that all the options have been
considered and reduces the chance for a setup error.
Firmware Options
The first tab in the Setup screen is
“Firmware Options.” This section defines what
factory or peripheral accessories are being
used with the selected ShockLog. If the options
are grayed out and selected, they are default
options and cannot be changed. If they are
grayed out without being selected, the options
are not available for the selected ShockLog.
Standard Options
gRMS (Vibration) – Users have the option to record the gRMS values within the time slot graphs, allowing users to see
the vibration levels throughout a given time slot period. When measuring gRMS, it is required that the 250Hz filter be
selected. This selection is done automatically by the software. More details on filter settings will follow.
Factory Options
External RH/T – Relates to the ShockLog 298 and 248 with the factory optional Temperature and Humidity
sensor added.
External RH (RD317 only) – Relates to the Legacy RD317 Micro ShockLog with the factory optional Temperature and
Humidity sensor added.
Internal Tilt/Roll – Relates to the ShockLog 298 with the factory optional sensor added to detect tilt & roll.
GPS Module – refers to ShockLog 298 with optional GPS module to record GPS coordinates of an impact and
coordinates when a time slot summary is made.
Peripherals
Optional accessories may be added to the ShockLog setup.
• RD299 HPT – Humidity, Pressure, Temperature Sensor
• RD400 Remote Accelerometer – Legacy product supported by ShockLog RD298 – recorded single access
acceleration in a location remote from the ShockLog.
• RD401 Remote Indicator – Legacy product supported by ShockLog RD298 – brought alarm warning lights to
a location away from the ShockLog.
• RD404 Tilt & Roll – Legacy product – external tilt and roll accelerometer
• Satellite / Cellular – Accessories available to provide near-real time impact notification and location
information. Communication modules transmit information to SpotSee Cloud. For additional information
regarding connected devices, please refer to Appendix A - ShockLog Satellite or Appendix B - ShockLog Cellular
and Appendix C - SpotSee Cloud Platform.
• External – custom connection; discuss additional input requirements with your SpotSee representative.
Click the box for any options that will be utilized with the ShockLog, then click “Continue.”
RD401
These settings are available for a customized legacy solution from SpotSee. They are not supported by the ShockLog 298
or 248.
iButton Password
Users are able to create password protection in the iButton system. These passwords prevent unauthorized users from
interfering with the ShockLog through the iButton interface. To create password protection on the iButton interface,
users program the ShockLog with their own password (up to 8 characters in length and case sensitive). Any iButton used
to communicate with the ShockLog must be programmed with the same password. Otherwise, the ShockLog ignores
the iButton.
The Password is created by clicking in the Password box and typing in the password. The password is confirmed by
typing in the confirm box. The confirmation passwords must be exactly the same as the original password.
Settings
The Settings window allows the user to select the protocol, create setup name, enter mission comment and set start date.
Setup Name
Users are able to name their setup and save it as a unique file for future use. With a new setup the word “Default” will be
in the setup name field. The user must change this name before they are able to save the setup, send it to a ShockLog unit
or move onto the next stage of the setup process.
Tip: If you have a setup you want to use as the preferred setup, make this the user default by going to the options
screen, double clicking on the user default setup box and selecting your setup file name.
Mission Comment
Users can add notes to the setup file and these notes will be recorded by the ShockLog. These comments will be displayed
on the Report screen when the file is downloaded.
Start Date
If the user would like the ShockLog unit to begin monitoring at a future date/time, click on the right-hand arrow to bring
up a calendar selector and select the desired date. If the unit should start recording at a specific time, it is possible to
set the start time as required. The start time will be +/- 10 minutes of the specified start time.
Tip: It is possible to start the ShockLog sooner than the Start Date by connecting the ShockLog via USB to the PC,
opening the software and clicking “Start” in the Communications Window. This action will override the delayed start,
and the ShockLog will begin recording immediately. The “Start” iButton being applied to the reader port will also
override the delayed start and begin the recording.
Slots
Slots are user defined periods of time in which various criteria will be recorded.
Slot Contents
Slot contents define the criteria to be recorded in the Slots graphs. Select the parameters of interest by clicking the
appropriate boxes. The four default settings are max peak x, y, z and internal temperature. Depending on the configuration
of the ShockLog, the available slots include max / min peak for the three axes, temperature, humidity, dew point, pressure,
tilt and roll. Setting threshold limits for these values will be done in the Slot Alarms and T&R alarms sections.
Tip: Selecting additional parameters will decrease the amount of time in which data can be recorded. Only select
parameters that are of interest in order to maximize recording time available.
Slot Interval
The Slot Interval defines the how often a time slot will be recorded. The window below the Slot Interval setting will show
how long the maximum number of slots and run time based on the setting.
Tip: Battery life is not affected by time slot frequency. It is advisable to always select a time slot interval that will last
longer than the expected journey length.
Summary Interval
Summaries provide an overview of what was recorded by the ShockLog in a given period of time (the summary interval).
A summary records the number of warnings/alarms and the maximum recorded slot values in the summary interval. The
Summary Interval allows the user to set the time period between each summary period.
Tip: Battery life is not affected by summary interval setting. It is advisable to always select a summary interval that
will last longer than the expected journey length.
Note: It is important for users to allow for potential delays during the journey or through customs. The journey
duration should always be set slightly longer than the expected journey length to prevent the possibility of losing end
of journey information.
Events
Impacts above the user defined threshold are defined as events. The Events section allows the user to define the criteria to
be considered when recording a potentially damaging event.
Record
This section allows users to specify the resolution / memory to be allocated to each event. From the resolution and
memory setting, the number of recorded events is calculated by the software.
Length
The more memory allocated to an event, the more points the event graph will display, and the higher the event
resolution will be. The ShockLog always records 4096 samples per second. However, the ShockLog will compress saved
data according to how long the event is. The peak of an event will not be lost when data is compressed as the ShockLog
always keeps the max & min samples of each compressed data section.
Tip: Generally, it is desirable to log detailed events when damage may have occurred to the shipment. Settings that
allow for the maximum number of events is not always advisable. The user must determine if having fewer, more
detailed events or more events with less resolution is more desirable. Remember that a time slot graph capturing the
max peak in a time slot is produced for the entire journey.
Max Time
Max time is the length of any recorded event. All events are recorded for at least 1 second. The longer the event, the
more the data will be compressed. In certain situations, it may be desirable for the ShockLog to record the full length
of an event (potentially up to 128 seconds). If this is the case, the “Always Max” box must be selected. In general, this
setting is only used in a test environment, as most impact events are less than 1 second in duration.
Unless there is a specific reason to do so, do not use the Always Max setting. Let the ShockLog decide when the event
has finished by the dropout threshold. The dropout threshold is covered in the Understanding Threshold Levels section.
Ordered Data
Unless Always Max is selected, the ShockLog will record events in an uncompressed format displaying the full 4096
samples per second.
Thresholds
Range ‘g’ or ‘Velocity’: The range field sets the maximum g-level to be recorded by the ShockLog. To set the ‘g’ range, click
the drop-down menu and view all the possible ranges (1, 3, 10, 30, 100 & 200). The ShockLog 298 has the ability to record
in velocity; this will automatically occur if a range in cm/s is selected. However, most users are interested in g-range.
Tip: Selecting the range is a very important part of the ShockLog setup. Be aware of what impact levels are of
interest. Do not assume if the ShockLog is set to the 100g range everything will be recorded. In this scenario, the
resolution will be compromised, and low-level events may not be recorded at all. The wake-up threshold for a detailed
event must be at least 5% of range (and recommended to be no less than 10%). On a 100g range, events lower than
10g with a 10% wake up threshold will not be recorded.
It is impossible to make exact recommendations for the range on a particular shipment. However, as a rule of
thumb, the larger and heavier the object, the less acceleration (g) it takes to damage. Therefore, the 10g range is
generally used for large objects (e.g. something weighing tons). The 30g, 100g and 200g ranges are used for lighter
shipments.
Hardware Filter - After the range is selected, set the frequency cut off of the hardware filters to be applied to the event
data. These filters enable users to reduce the number of unwanted higher frequency events where it is known that this
type of event will not cause damage to the object being monitored.
The lower the filter frequency, the more severe it is in eliminating high-frequency events. The lower frequency filters are
generally used for large heavy objects with a high metallic content, especially where the object is prone to high levels of
resonance. These resonances will create a “bell-like” ring that a ShockLog can detect as a high g event if the appropriate
filters are not applied. Filters are recommended in environments where a high frequency vibration is probable such as
rail freight applications. The correct use of filters can eliminate any unwanted events being recorded. If gRMS is to be
recorded, the frequency filter must be set to 250Hz.
Options: The user selects one of four modes for the thresholds.
Basic – The default setting is “Basic.” The Warning level and the Alarm level can be adjusted by the user. The wakeup
and dropout levels are set automatically in the software based on the warning level selected.
Multiple – Allows the user to set all four thresholds (wake, warning, alarm, and dropout). The user is also able to adjust
the thresholds for each axis independently.
Link XYZ - All of the axes operate off of the same thresholds.
Timed Events - Allows users to record a detailed event at the end of every summary period. This setting is not
dependent on thresholds being breached. Timed Events is an option for the ShockLog 298 only.
Alarm threshold
Warning threshold
Wake up threshold
It is not desirable for the ShockLog to constantly be awake due to low level vibration caused by the mode of transport.
The ShockLog uses 100 times more battery power when it is recording at higher resolutions than when it is monitoring
peak time slot values for wakeup thresholds. The ShockLog can easily see 0.5 to 1g of activity when being transported in
a car on normal roads.
If any accelerometer activity exceeds the wake-up threshold, the ShockLog will start recording accelerometer data at a
faster rate. The ShockLog takes 0.25 msec to start recording higher resolution data once the wake-up threshold has been
exceeded. If the activity does not exceed the warning level and drops below the wake-up threshold, the ShockLog will go
back to monitoring time slot peaks. An event will not be recorded.
When the wake-up threshold and the warning levels have been breached, the ShockLog will record a detailed event and
flag it as a warning. The same logic is applied when the alarm threshold level is breached. The ShockLog will record a
detailed event and flag it as an alarm.
Once the event activity has dropped below the drop out threshold (or reached the maximum allowed event length), the
ShockLog will stop the dynamic event recording and go back to monitoring peak values during time slots.
“Wake”: The level at which the ShockLog will wake up and begin recording. The wake-up threshold should be set to
approximately 80% of the warning level.
Tip: It is not advisable to use wake up or drop out thresholds of less than 10%. However, it is possible to set levels
down to 5% if necessary.
“Warn and Alarm”: Warning and alarm events are recorded in exactly the same way. The thresholds distinguish how
the events are flagged in the ShockLog data file and how the LEDs on the ShockLog unit flash once a threshold has
been breached.
Tip: Warning and alarm thresholds become more important when the ShockLog LEDs are to be used as part
of a shipment’s receiving audit. Example: Set a warning level to indicate the shipment should be quarantined
pending further investigation. Set the alarm threshold to indicate the shipment must be inspected without delay.
“Drop out”: The acceleration level at which the ShockLog will stop recording an event provided it has been set to record
for longer than 1 second and the “Always Max” box has not been selected. The drop out level should be no lower than the
wake-up threshold and can be as high as the warning.
If you are unsure of how to set your thresholds, please contact SpotSee Technical Support for assistance.
Slot Alarms
The Slot Alarms window allows the user to specify alarm settings depending on the factory options and peripherals that
have been specified in the Firmware Options tab.
gRMS (Vibration)
gRMS alarms allow ShockLog 298 users to set slot alarms for gRMS data. In the setup window, users must select the
gRMS option (Firmware Options) for this measurement to be available.
Users should enable the axes for which a gRMS alarm is required and set the level as a percentage of the shock range.
Environment
When temperature, humidity, and pressure sensors are to be used, the environment section allows users to set low and
high thresholds for these parameters. This section is where settings are made for both factory installed temperature/
humidity sensors or the external temperature/humidity/pressure sensor.
T&R Alarms
The T&R Alarm window is used when either the Tilt & Roll option (internal) has been purchased as part of the ShockLog
298 or the legacy Tilt & Roll accelerometer (external) is being used. The alarms of interest should be enabled, and the
degree of tilt / roll should be entered by the user. Alarms can be set for both upper and lower levels for tilt and roll.
Finish
The Finish window provides a summary of the settings and provides an opportunity to save the setup file and send it to
the ShockLog.
The system will automatically save the file in the default setup directory and can be retrieved for editing or sending to a
ShockLog at any time.
Connect the ShockLog via the USB cable to the PC and click the “Play” icon.
The status bar at the bottom of the screen will change to “OK” once the file has been successfully sent.
Start Monitoring
Once the ShockLog has been programmed, the unit must be started to begin recording. It is recommended that the ShockLog
be mounted prior to starting the recording to prevent the capture of impacts resulting from the mounting process.
Depending on how the device was configured during the setup process, the device may have a preprogrammed start date. If
so, the ShockLog will begin recording with no additional user interaction.
However, it is possible to start the ShockLog by connecting the ShockLog via USB to the PC, opening the software and clicking
“Start” in the Communications Window. This action will override a preprogrammed start date, and the ShockLog will begin
recording immediately.
The “Start” iButton being applied to the reader port will also override the delayed start and begin the recording. Remove the
black center cap from the ShockLog iButton port and insert the START iButton into the port. When the iButton LED on the
ShockLog is red and the Slot Alarm LED is green, remove the iButton. The unit will start recording in one minute.
1. iButton
• Single color LED (red)
• Illuminated when a valid iButton is inserted
• Used in conjunction with the SLOT ALARM LED, which flashes green when the iButton command is accepted
2. Slot Alarm
• Tri-color LED (green, amber & red)
• Flashes every ten (10) seconds when in Waiting State, or every five (5) seconds when in Running State
• Condition
• No slot alarms - Flashes green
• One or more slot alarms - Flashes red
3. Event Alarm
• Tri-color LED (green, amber & red)
• Flashes every ten (10) seconds when in Waiting State, or every five (5) seconds when in Running State
• Condition
• No events - Flashes green
• Warning event(s) recorded (with no Alarm events) - Flashes amber
• Alarm event recorded - Flashes red
For ShockLog units with firmware v27 and above, All LED’s flash red every ten (10) seconds when the unit is in the Stopped state.
All three LEDs will flash red every ten (10) seconds when the unit has been stopped.
Model: Variant of the ShockLog attached i.e. ShockLog 298, 248, ShockLog RD298 or RD317.
Date / Time: Date and time set in the ShockLog unit; this field will update every 10 seconds while the unit is connected.
Setup Passwords and Security Log can be activated from the View menu at the top of the screen. Once activated the
buttons enable users to setup passwords and view the security log of the attached ShockLog. These capabilities are
described in more detail later in this manual.
Report
In the File Viewer, the Report View is the
first screen displayed. The report provides
an overview of the entire journey, storage
period, experiment, etc. Information is
provided in text and graphs. The Report
will be discussed in greater detail in the
Analyzing the ShockLog Data section.
Explorer Window
The Explorer window provides a list of all available data files in the main
database. Click on any of the files and the report data will appear in the File
Viewer. The file data in the Explorer window will break down into more detail
showing Events, Summaries and Slots.
Click on “Events” in the Explorer window, and the system will display the
individual events. By selecting any of the events, the “File Viewer” will display the
detailed curve for that event.
Record Table
The Record Table window provides an alternative view of the data files in the database. It provides the user with an
overview of the number of Events, Warnings, Alarms, Summaries and Slots. It is also possible to see the user comment
associated with the file. The user comment can make the date more meaningful to the person reviewing the data.
From this screen, users have the ability to sort the database by the columns of data. This feature will be discussed in
more detail in the Analyzing the ShockLog Data section of the manual.
Event Table
When a file with “Events” is selected, the “Event Table” will refresh to display details of all the events associated with the
highlighted data file. The “Event Table” displays the Event Number; Event Date; Duration (seconds); Range; Rate (samples
recorded per second); Temperature; Max X,Y,Z (highest G measurement in each axis during the event) and the Modulus
value of the event.
Click on the Event number and the File Viewer will change to display the detailed event curve for the selected event.
It is possible to move from the Event Table to the relevant slot graph by clicking “Show Slots” next to the desired event.
Communications Window
The Communications Window displays live data from a connected ShockLog. It allows a user to perform tasks
while connected to the ShockLog. Information displayed in the Communications Window includes: Model of the
ShockLog connected, Serial Number (not available on legacy products), Version of firmware, State (running or
stopped), Connection (USB or Serial), Date/Time, Range (impact scale), Status (alerts if memory is full), Alarms
(number recorded) and Protocol of the attached ShockLog.
Send Setup: Sends a new setup to a ShockLog and clears the ShockLog memory.
Set Clock: Sets the clock of the ShockLog to match the PC.
Read Setup: Allows the user to read the setup data and save as a separate setup file for future use.
In addition to the above buttons, two others are grayed out. “Setup Passwords” and “Security Log” are specialist
functions and will be explained in the iButton Communications section.
From the “Communications” window, select the ‘Read Setup’ button and the PC software will interrogate the attached
ShockLog displaying the installed set-up in the setup window. It is possible to save the set-up file to the local PC, and
users will be offered this option as they close the setup window.
Note: While unlikely, if the Communication Window is opened, a ShockLog is connected and the information does not
update, disconnect and reconnect the ShockLog device to reactivate the window.
To view the slot breaks on the time slot graphs, double click on any of the slot breaks in the table and the software will
link to the appropriate time slot period on the graph.
On the slot graphs, slot breaks are represented by a grey vertical line. Click one of the grey lines, and a text box will
appear on the right side of the graph. The text box will provide details regarding what caused the slot break and the slot
number of interest. It is possible for more than one slot break to occur in a single time slot period. If this is the case, the
text box will list all of the slot breaks in time order.
If the last slot break is selected, a red line will illustrate the end of the final slot.
The text data is broken down into two separate tables providing the following data:
Model: ShockLog model used for the data file 298 and 248 denote the latest ShockLog ranges, and RD298 & RD317 are
the legacy products.
Journey Start: Date the unit started to record the data file.
Journey End: Date the unit stopped recording the data file.
Report Start: Beginning date of the report. If the report has been adjusted to display only a section of the data file,
this field provides the starting point. Data viewed on the Report page will begin with the Report Start Date.
Report End: Date the data on the report ends. If the report has been adjusted to display only a section of the data
file, this field provides the end point. Data viewed on the Report page will end with the Report End Date.
Download Date: When the data file was extracted from the ShockLog unit.
Recorded Duration: Length of time the ShockLog recorder actually recorded data.
Serial No: Serial number of the ShockLog unit that recorded the data file.
Summary of Events
The summary of events
provides details of the Events
seen in the data file.
First Alarm: Provides details of the first alarm event that was recorded, it includes Event Number, Axis, Date/Time,
Modulus (g) and Temperature at time of event.
First Warning: Provides details of the first warning event that was recorded. It includes Event Number, Axis, Date/Time,
Modulus (g) and Temperature at time of event.
Note: First Warning is only applicable to the 298 and RD298 versions.
Most Severe: Provides details of the most severe event recorded. It includes Event Number, Axis, Date/ Time, Modulus (g)
and Temperature at time of event.
Event Summary: Provides the quantity of events (Warnings and Alarms) which occurred
Max XYZ: Lists the event that had the maximum acceleration / duration for all three axes. Event number, Acceleration, Duration
At the top right-hand corner of the File View window, just below the tabs, there are two drop down windows with dates.
When opening a new file these will represent the start and end dates / time of any given file.
The start and finish date / time of the report displayed can be amended by either changing the date & time in a calendar drop
down option or by using a slide bar, both of which are activated by checking the appropriate check box for either the report
start or report end boxes.
With the calendar system, when a user clicks on the drop-down menu, a calendar for selecting the required start or end date
will appear. Note: it is necessary to click on both the start and end check boxes and drop-down menus independently. The
dates cannot both be changed through a single calendar screen.
From the drop-down screen, a user can select a new start date for the report. Once the date is selected, it is possible to
amend the start time by typing over the time next to the selected date.
After making these amendments, the main report within the file viewer window changes to display only the information after
the selected start date, ignoring all earlier information. However, the “Recorded Period” shown in the information box will not
change.
To use the slide bar, place the cursor over the moving bar, press and hold the left mouse button and drag the bar to the
approximate time desired. The main report will update automatically. The date
and time being displayed will change in the window so the user is able to track
the position in the report.
The same process is used to change the end dates of a report. This function
makes it possible to create custom reports for different periods of the file.
Slot Graph
X, Y and Z axis impacts, as well as the internal temperature, are the default
graphs that appear in the Report. Users can select different data channels as
required. This process is described in the Creating a Setup File section.
The data is split into two different graphs: Event Summary and Detailed Event Curve.
When a data file is first opened, the most severe event is not only highlighted in red but also has a red cursor bar running
through it. The cursor bar is used to show which event is being displayed in the detailed event curve below and can be
moved by clicking on another event (bar).
It is possible to zoom in on smaller proportions of the summary chart and highlight the area of events that are of interest.
The events are listed in the order they occurred. Events may be within minutes or days of each other.
To zoom in on an area, click and hold the left mouse key on the first event of interest and drag the mouse to the last event
of interest. The events of interest will be the area of focus. Changing the date selection as described in the Report Time
Period Selector section will have a similar effect on the summary chart.
After zooming in on an area, it is possible to move through the events by using the slide bar at the bottom of the chart.
By clicking on any of the visible events, the detailed event curve below will change.
To return to the full screen, click the button at the left-hand end of the slide bar.
In order to zoom, place the cursor at the beginning of the area of interest, click and hold the left mouse button and drag
it to the end of the relevant area.
In this example, the area between 0 and 100 milliseconds is of interest. By zooming in, the first 10% of the event can be
displayed with more visual detail. This area is where most of the event activity occurred.
If desired, it is possible to zoom in further. The same method for zooming is used. It is possible to move backwards and
forwards along the event time line utilizing the slide bar at the bottom of the chart. To return to the previous graph/
zoom, click on the button to the left of the slide bar.
Settings
The settings tab provides a summary of the ShockLog setup associated with the data file. Information regarding the
accelerometer, event, slot and summary settings is detailed.
Setup Name: The name of the setup used for the data file.
Mission Comment: Displays the mission comment if one was entered during the creation of the setup file.
Accelerometers: Displays the following information:
Range Acceleration or velocity range selected (or factory set).
Wake (%) Accelerometer wakeup level of the processor; set as a percentage of the range and is point at which
the processor will wake up and start to record at full speed in preparation of an event.
Warn (%) Applies only to the ShockLog 298 and RD298; shows the g value (X, Y, Z) at which events will be recorded as
a warning. Each individual axis can be set to a different sensitivity based on the requirement of the product
being monitored.
Alarm (%) Shows the g value (X, Y, Z) at which events will be recorded as an alarm. Each individual axis can be
set to a different sensitivity based on the requirement of the product being monitored.
Drop Out (%) Applies only to the ShockLog 298 and RD298; shows the g value (X, Y, Z) at which events will stop
recording once they have passed 1 second and are not set to “Always Max.” Each individual axis can
be set to a different sensitivity based on the requirement of the product being monitored.
Standard Options, Factory Options, and Peripherals display the options selected in the setup.
Slots
In the File Viewer, selecting Slots tab will bring up a new screen displaying a number of time slot bar graphs in relation to
the data file currently being viewed. This tab provides the user a more detailed view of all the available slot data. On the
right side of the screen text data will be presented in relation to the graphs displayed. Just below the tabs, the options of
Select Slots, Show Events and Export are available. This section will detail how these functions operate. With the graphs
themselves, the Y axis will display the unit of measure for the given channel of data (i.e. g, temperature, etc.), and the X axis
displays the slot number.
The text information on the right side of the screen provides additional information
about the slot graph being viewed. More specifically, it provides information regarding
the highlighted area or where the cursor is positioned. When the slot tab is first
selected, the cursor will be at the far left zero position and is depicted by a red line.
The information is displayed in bar chart format and can include the following:
Acceleration (X, Y & Z): Peak acceleration max or min recorded in g or cm/s
Dew Point: Calculated based upon the temperature and humidity recorded.
Tilt & Roll: Maximum angle of movement, recorded as degrees of angle +/- 180 degrees.
g-RMS: Calculated RMS values based on the acceleration data captured within the time slots.
The information is displayed in bar chart format and can include the following:
Graph Type: Tells the user which channel of information is being displayed in the slot graph. In this example MaxPKX,
the maximum peak values seen on the X axis is being displayed.
Value at Cursor: Shows the channel value where the cursor has been positioned. In this example, it is at zero, because the
cursor has not been moved from its original starting position. This feature can be used to highlight spikes/peaks in the data
and quickly ascertain actual values at these points.
Time at Cursor: Allows the user to see the date and time at each slot point so that a peak value can quickly be associated to a
place and potentially a responsible person or organization.
Maximum in View: Considers all the values for this channel currently visible on the graph and will tell the user the highest
value seen. As the user zooms in on the data, this value potentially will change if the original peak in not in the zoomed area.
Minimum in View: Considers all the values for this channel currently visible on the graph and will tell the user the lowest value
seen. Generally, this feature is more useful for the environmental parameters such as temperature and humidity where it will
display the upper and lower limits for the displayed period. For the impact graphs this value will be displayed as zero.
Slot Breaks: Only appears when slot breaks are displayed at the same point as the cursor on the graph and are indicated by a
grey vertical line. The values will correspond with the Slot Break table.
To get a quick snapshot of the values associated with a bar on any of the graphs, hold the mouse cursor over any of the
individual bars and click the right mouse button. This action will display a small text box next to your cursor displaying the data
value at that point, i.e. the peak acceleration value, as well as the date and time of the data point. The text box will appear for
about 5 seconds before clearing.
Each parameter recorded requires a set amount of memory. Increasing the number of parameters recorded in the slots will
decrease the available recording time. Users must balance the measurement parameter requirements and memory to ensure
that appropriate data is captured for the entire recording period.
Select Slots
As a default, when viewing the slot graphs all recorded channels will be shown on the slot tab. By scrolling down
with the slide bar or the center wheel of the mouse, it is possible to view the various graphs. In order to simplify the
interpretation of the recorded data, it may not be appropriate to view all the available graphs. Using the Select Slots
drop-down menu, it is possible to select and unselect channels of data as appropriate. It is not possible to change the
order in which the graphs are displayed; the graphs can be viewed or not viewed in the given order.
When the appropriate graphs have been selected, click onto the graphs and the drop-down menu will clear. The graphs
being displayed can be changed at any time.
To assist in this area, the ShockLog software allows the user to zoom into specific areas of the graph and highlight the key,
potentially damaging areas of information. The process of zooming in is very simple. Placing the mouse cursor at the beginning
of the period of interest, click and hold the left mouse button, drag it to the end of the period of interest, and release.
The graph will zoom in to display the highlighted area as a full screen view. This zoom area will be reflected in all the graphs
displayed. It is not possible to zoom in on only one of the graphs.
It is possible to continue zooming in until each individual time slot is displayed as a separate bar within the graph, making
it easier to identify potential damage creating time slots. When positioning the cursor to create the text information, it is
necessary to position the cursor to the left side of the bar chart, as this is the point recognized by the system for each time slot
period.
Zoom All
Pressing this button allows the user to return to the original view of the graph, canceling all zoomed-in areas.
Show Events
The ShockLog software has been written with several hyperlinks enabling the user to move between relevant sections of data.
From the Slot graphs, it is possible to jump to the detailed event curves associated with the period of time being displayed by
the slot graphs. When first entering the slot tab, the user is presented with all the events recorded in the data file as the whole
time period will be in view. As the user zooms in, the number of events for the time period in view will reduce.
Export
From all the detailed graph tabs it is possible to export the raw
data from the data files to allow manipulation of the data in
alternative packages such as Excel and MATLAB.
To export the Slot data from the Slots tab, click the “Export”
button and the user will be given the opportunity to choose a
location for the saved file. After naming the file and selecting save,
the export window will appear.
In the Export window, the slot data has been checked with the
rest being left blank. In this example, the six channels of slot data
will be exported.
All these parameters are adjustable. If the user does not wish to export an available channel of data, uncheck the appropriate
box. Additionally, if only a proportion of the data file is of interest, the slide bars can be used to adjust the start and finish times
of the data to be exported.
The Separator drop down menu allows the user to select the character used to separate fields in the export data.
The auto option will use the separator commonly associated with the computer’s language setting. For example, a comma is
used in the USA or UK and a semicolon is used in France or Germany. Other languages will vary. Other options for a separator
can be manually set via the drop-down menu as a comma, semicolon or space.
To add any of the event or summary information in addition to the slot data, simply check the appropriate boxes. Click the
“Export” button, and when the system has finished, an export completed window will appear.
The exported data files are recorded in the Export directory under the ShockLog system. If the route to the directory is
unknown, view the Data Path option under the tools menu, and the export folder can be found in the directory that holds the
Data, Setup and XML files. The files can be imported into any appropriate software application as required.
Slot Alarms
In the File Viewer screen, the slot alarms tab will bring up a table of slot alarm levels and indicate if they are in an alarm
condition.
Summaries
In the File Viewer screen, the Summaries tab will bring up a table of data, summarizing what has happened in each of the
summary periods including the number of events, peak acceleration and any environmental conditions recorded.
The auto option will use the separator commonly associated with the computer’s language setting. For example, a comma is
used in the USA or UK and a semicolon is used in France or Germany. Other languages will vary. Other options for a separator
can be manually set via the drop-down menu as a comma, semicolon or space.
To add any of the event or summary information in addition to the slot data, simply check the appropriate boxes. Click the
“Export” button, and when the system has finished, an export completed window will appear.
The exported data files are recorded in the Export directory under the ShockLog system. If the route to the directory is
unknown, view the Data Path option under the tools menu, and the export folder can be found in the directory that holds the
Data, Setup and XML files. The files can be imported into any appropriate software application as required.
Slot Alarms
In the File Viewer screen, the slot alarms tab will bring up a table of slot alarm levels and indicate if they are in an alarm
condition.
Summaries
In the File Viewer screen, the Summaries tab will bring up a table of data, summarizing what has happened in each of the
summary periods including the number of events, peak acceleration and any environmental conditions recorded.
Click at the top of the date & time column, and the data will be sorted back into date/time order.
Show Events
From the Summary tab, it is possible to jump to the detailed event curves and slot graphs associated with the summary
period currently highlighted. The summary table will display whether warnings or alarms have occurred in any given
period, and where events have occurred. Click on the “Show Events” button, and the software will go to the first
relevant event curve.
Upon clicking the Show Events button, a drop-down window showing how many events are associated with the visible
slots will appear. Click OK and the software will go to the first of the associated events in the events tab.
Show Slots
In addition to the hyperlink to Events, the ShockLog software enables the user to link between summaries and relevant
slot data.
Each summary period has several time slot periods within it, and the slot graphs scales to show all the relevant slots for a
given summary period.
To view the Slot graphs, it is necessary to click “Show Slots” in the top left menu of the Summary tab. The software
will move to the Slots tab with the slot graphs zoomed into the summary period time frame. From here all the normal
functionality within the Slots tab can be accessed. To get back, click on the Summary tab.
Export
As well as being able to Export from the detailed graph tabs, it is
possible to export the raw data from the summary tab allowing
manipulation of the data in alternative packages such as Excel and
MATLAB.
To export the summary data from the Summary tab, click the
“Export” button and the user will be given the opportunity to
choose a location for the saved file. After naming the file and
selecting save, the export window will appear.
In the Export window, the summary data is checked with the rest
of the fields being unchecked.
All these parameters are adjustable. For example, if there are channels of data that are not of interest simply uncheck the
appropriate box. It is possible to use the slide bars to adjust the start and finish times of the data to be exported.
If any of the event or slot information is of interest, simply check the appropriate boxes of interest and click the “Export”
button. When the system has finished, an export completed window will appear.
The user can select the required folder to save the exported data files in via the Browse for Folder dialog. Click OK to save
the exported data.
For more detail on exporting data, please refer to the specific section later in this manual under Menu Options.
Events
The final tab in the file viewer is the “Events Tab”. This tab displays the detailed event curves for alarm and warning
events. Text data related to a graph is displayed. Above the text there are two arrow buttons that allow the user to
scroll through the events. The event under examination is labeled on the left side of the event. This section details the
different methods of interrogating the Event data to better understand the recorded data.
Text Data
The text information on the right side of the screen is intended to provide additional information about the event graph
being viewed and more specifically the area highlighted or where the cursor is positioned. When first entering the slot
tab, the cursor is at the far-left position of zero and the cursor text information is blank. By clicking on a different area of
the curve, the cursor bar will move, and the text field will be completed with the localized information. The cursor bar is
depicted by a red, vertical line.
The data is split into the different axes, X, Y & Z with an E for any potential external accelerometers that may be installed.
The information is as follows:
Date: Tells the user the date and time that the current event was recorded. The date and time are in relation to the ShockLog clock
and won’t necessarily match that of the computer.
Value at Cursor: Shows the value in relation to the event being viewed, the individual axis and where the cursor has been positioned.
In this display, there are four individual boxes, which represent X, Y, Z and E (E=external) and these individual fields will display the
value seen at this point of the event.
Time at Cursor: Displays the number of milliseconds from the start of the event to the cursor location.
Maximum in View: Considers the values for the event currently visible on the graph and tells the user the highest value seen. If the
user zooms in on the data, this action will potentially change if the original peak is not within the zoomed area.
Minimum in View: Considers the values for the event currently visible on the graph and tells the user the lowest value seen. If the
user zooms in on the data, this action will potentially change if the original peak is not within the zoomed area.
X, Y, Z, E: Determines what data will be represented on the graph. Four squares with ticks inside and a colored letter, X, Y, Z or E
next to them represent the different axis of accelerometers represented by the colored curves on the graph. By clicking inside any of
the boxes different axis or environmental data can be added or removed from the graph. If a specific axis of data is of interest, it is
possible to remove all the others and focus on a single axis.
To assist in this area the ShockLog software allows the user to zoom into specific areas of the graph and highlight the key areas of
information.
The process of zooming in is very simple. Place the cursor at the beginning of the period of interest, click and hold the left mouse button,
drag the cursor to the end of the period of interest and release. The graph will zoom in to display the highlighted area as a full screen view.
This zoom area will be reflected in all the graphs if you try to scroll through to other events. Once zoomed in only this range will be seen.
It is possible to continue zooming in until each individual millisecond is displayed as a separate point on the graph. This action would
provide a very detailed analysis of the main activity within the event.
While in a zoomed in view, it is possible to scroll along the event curve using the scroll bar at the bottom of the graph. Click and hold on
the main bar, then drag the bar left or right or click the arrows or the light grey area on either side of the slide bar.
To return the graph to its original position, click on the small button to the left of the scroll bar. Clicking this button will step the user back
one zoom level. If the graph has been zoomed in on several times, it will be necessary to press the button as many times to return to the
original graph setting.
Frequency Calculations
The ShockLog can calculate frequency and period (duration) of an event on a per axis basis. In the example below,
the axis of interest is the Z axis. The X and Y axes have been deselected on the right side of the screen. To calculate
the frequency between two points, right click on the first point and select the starting point per axis and then
move the cursor to the ending point of interest and right click on the point. The ShockLog software will display the
frequency and period between the two points. This feature can be used in when the data has been zoomed. To
clear the calculations, right click and select ”Clear Freq’ Points.”
Zoom All
Pressing this button allows the user to return to the original view of the graph, canceling all zoomed-in areas.
Show Slots
Like the Slot and Summary tabs, the Events tab contains hyperlinks that allow the user to move between relevant sources of
data. The ShockLog software enables the user to move between Event and relevant Slot data.
When moving back to the event graph, the time slot period that the event belongs to is being displayed.
To view the Slot graphs, it is necessary to click on the button “Show Slots” in the top left corner of the Events tab.
After clicking this button, the Slots tab with the slot graphs zoomed into the appropriate time frame that the event relates will
appear. From here all of the normal functionality within the Slots tab can be accessed. To return, click on the Summary tab.
Show Data
While viewing the detailed event curves, the ShockLog software provides an option for users to view the underlying data
behind each curve as it is being viewed. The data table is displayed in an Excel style spreadsheet showing the g values at
every sample point throughout and event period.
Time: The number of milliseconds from the start of the event that the sample relates to.
X, Y, Z: The g value seen by each of the axes at the given sample point.
To move up and down the list of data, use the scroll bar on the right-hand side of the screen. The data table works like a database
and can be sorted in order to find the specific information of interest. For example, if the highest g value seen on the Z axis is of
interest, click in the Z column header, and the data table will sort into g value order with the most significant at the top. If the user
then wanted to know the lowest impact value, clicking the header again will reverse the order into the least significant g value.
This data sorting process works on all column headings. The graph will not change its view with any of the sorting; it will remain as
the original event. To return to the original order and structure, just click on the Sample header and the data will sort into sample
order.
Export
As with the other tab screens, it is possible to Export the
raw data from the Events tab allowing manipulation of the
data in alternative packages such as Excel and MATLAB.
To export the event data from the Event tab, click the
“Export” button and the user will be given the opportunity
to choose a location for the saved file. After naming the
file and selecting save, the export window will appear.
All of these parameters are adjustable. If other events or the slot data on any of the available channels of data is to be
downloaded, check the appropriate box. If the entire data file is not of interest but only a proportion is, use the slide bars
to adjust the start and finish times of the data to be exported.
Tip: It is not advisable to scroll through the events when the Events data table is open as it will dramatically reduce
the speed at which the software is able to load the next event.
To add any of the summary or slot information in addition to the event data, check the appropriate boxes to be exported. Click
on the “Export” button, and when the system has finished an export completed window will appear.
The exported data files are recorded in the Export directory under the ShockLog system. If unsure of the route to this
directory, view the “Data path” option under the tools menu, and the export folder can be found in the directory that holders
the Data, Setup and XML files. The files can then be imported into any appropriate software application as required.
Graph Scaling
With the ShockLog software users have the option to choose how graph scaling is presented. The system default is to
present the graphs on an “Auto” scaling setting that will maximize the scale to fit the page display. However, this can
prove to be a little confusing if the user is trying to scroll through a number of events to identify the more significant
ones as the scale will continuously changes when scrolling between the various events. It is possible to set the system
into a “Maximum” setting that will retain the axis at the g range set for the recorded data.
To change the settings, click on the arrow next to “Graph Scaling” and select either the “Auto” or “Maximum” from the
drop-down menu. Once changed, this setting will be applied to all future data files viewed until changed again.
Filters
It is possible to post-filter collected data with the filters tool. This tool allows the user to apply a lower frequency filter to
the measured data. The user can determine if impacts were the result of high frequency ringing versus longer duration
impacts which can be more damaging. It is only possible to apply a lower frequency filter not a higher frequency filter.
To illustrate the effect that such filtering can have, the exact same data file presented is shown below with two different
filters: 250Hz filter in Figure A and 10Hz filter in Figure B. The peak of the Z-axis is reduced from over 10G in Figure A to
below 0.2G in Figure B.
If you are unsure whether it is advisable to post-filter your data, please contact SpotSee Technical Support to discuss
your application.
FIGURE A
FIGURE B
FFT/PSD
FFT tools transforms time-based data into the frequency domain. It is a mathematical method for decomposing a signal
into its constituent frequencies.
A signal’s spectrum is the statistical average of a certain signal as analyzed in terms of its frequency content. PSD refers
to the spectral energy distribution found per unit time. PSD analysis is suitable for transient events whose energy is
concentrated around one time window.
These two tools allow a user to transform an event in time to the frequency domain for additional analysis
Note: Windowing functions are used to smooth the effects of artificially fast transitions.
The Rectangular (Boxcar) is the equivalent of having no windowing. The Hanning window is a common windowing tool.
The various window tools allow the user to address the beginning and ending of an impact event which by its nature is
not a continuous signal.
The Report Graph View sets the scales (linear or logarithmic) of the FFT graph.
Scroll through the events until the event of interest is displayed. Turn the FFT or PSD analysis on by clicking FFT/PST Off
and selecting the desired graph view. FFT Lin/Lin was selected for the image below:
SRS Analysis
Shock response spectrum (SRS) is a means to graphically represent an impact event
in terms of how a single degree of freedom system would respond to that event.
The horizontal axis shows the natural frequency of the system and the vertical axis
shows the peak acceleration the system would undergo as a result of the impact
event.
To enable this function, select Tools>Post Processing Options. The Report & Post
Processing Options screen will open.
Click Enable SRS Analysis to enable the tool. The user may vary the SRS Damping
Factor (%) and the Point per Octave.
In the Events screen, the SRS analysis can be displayed as a table or as a graph. Select the preferred view and the
analysis will appear on screen.
SRS Table
SRS Graph
DELTA V ANALYSIS (Δ V)
To enable this function, select Tools>Post Processing Options. The Report & Post Processing Options screen will open.
Click Enable Energy Analysis and/or Enable Energy Analysis in Event Table to enable the tool.
Enable Energy Analysis displays the Δ V analysis for each event separately (Figure C).
Enable Energy Analysis in Event Table displays the Δ V analysis for all events in the journey record (Figure D).
FIGURE C
FIGURE D
Click Δ V Level to enter the Pulse Width (seconds) and Pulse Amplitude (g) to be used for the
analysis. These values are used to calculate the velocity threshold used in the Δ V analysis.
Time Sample (sec)– time at which the max peak of the individual event occurred
Emax (g) – maximum amplitude of a measurement made with an external accelerometer (legacy product)
Eval – compares each pulse to the threshold derived when setting the Δ V levels and determines if the threshold was exceeded.
Note: Amplitude (g) is measured by the ShockLog; Δ t is based on the sample rate set by the user when the ShockLog was
programmed. Δ V = 9.8g * Δ t.
When examining the data in the Event Table, the same information is available. However, the Δ V calculation is done
using the modulus value of an impact.
Connect the USB cable to the ShockLog and then connect the other end to the PC USB port.
Communications Window
Upon plugging in the ShockLog, you will notice that the Communications window will appear in front of the other windows.
From this window you can communicate with the ShockLog unit and to monitor the current status.
If the Communications window is not already in the screen, from the “View” menu at the top of the screen, select
“Communications.” A new “Communications” window will appear at the top of the screen. Position this dockable
window as previously described. It is now possible to view the current status of the ShockLog in the various fields of the
communication window.
Drop Test
The ShockLog is now recording. The green Slot Alarm LED will flash every 5 seconds indicating that the ShockLog
is recording.
Create a few events by dropping the unit on a desk. Ideally, drop the ShockLog onto a mouse pad or notepad. It should
only be necessary to drop the ShockLog from approximately 25mm (1” inch) to create an 8 to 10 g impact event.
Repeat this process a number of times and have the unit land on different faces to create impacts in all three axes.
The status bar at the bottom left part of the screen will change from
“Connecting” to “Data Transfer”; then a new separate window will indicate
that the communication transfer is complete.
Click “OK” status and a new file will appear in the “Explorer” and “Records
Table” windows.
View File
The ShockLog data file is now ready to be viewed. Click on
either the file in the Explorer window or the Record Table
window. The File Viewer screen will display the data from the
desk drop test file that was just created.
iButton Communications
The ShockLog family of products allows for an efficient method of communication through
an iButton interface. This interface allows users to perform basic ShockLog operations
without a PC connection. iButtons are available to setup, start, stop, set clock and download
the ShockLog report.
The iButton interface serves as the link between iButtons and a PC.
The iButton Interface window is accessed via the “View” menu. Within this window users are presented with three tabs:
Read, Passwords and Program.
Read
Read is the first tab presented to users after opening the
iButton interface. This screen is used to read what is on an
attached iButton. The USB connector and BUS connector
should be plugged into the PC USB port. It may be necessary
to download drivers, but the download process is similar to the
process described in the Software Installation section.
If the user is using an iButton originally set up for the legacy RD317 products, a warning will appear stating that the iButton
is for an RD317 and asking “do you wish to change to RD317 mode?” By selecting “Yes”, the RD317 mode tick box will be
completed and any programming of the iButton will be created in the RD317 compatibility mode.
If a new iButton is being set up, and it is desirable to use it with a legacy RD317 unit, it is necessary to select the RD317
Mode box before proceeding to ensure the iButton is setup correctly for use with the older products.
Passwords
With iButtons and ShockLog units, there are two levels of password protection. The iButton password is the first level
and is user definable. The ShockLog password is the second level and is factory set. The ShockLog password cannot be
changed by the user.
iButton Passwords
The iButton passwords must be less than 8 characters and are set on the “Firmware Options” tab of the ShockLog Setup
Window. The password needs to be entered into the password box and then repeated in the confirm box.
Passwords are case sensitive and will accept alphanumeric values. However, symbols are not acceptable characters.
When a ShockLog is programmed with an iButton password, all iButtons used with that
ShockLog unit must be programmed with the same password, otherwise the ShockLog
unit will ignore the command. To program an iButton with the appropriate password,
the iButton must be connected to the PC via the USB connection BUS and then the
Password tab selected.
Move to the Password box and enter the password exactly the same as the setup file.
Move to the confirm box using either the Tab key or moving the mouse to the box.
Re-enter the password to confirm.
Once the password has been set, it is necessary to reprogram the iButtons by following the instructions in the
“Program” section below.
ShockLog Passwords
The ShockLog Passwords are factory defined and cannot be changed by the user. The ShockLog passwords work in a
similar way to the iButton passwords, preventing communication with the ShockLog from iButtons that do not have the
appropriate passwords. However, the ShockLog passwords are unique to each ShockLog and are supplied with the units
when purchased. These passwords provide a unique number for every ShockLog preventing generic passwords from being
set up and used on all units.
Every unit shipped from the factory has 3 passwords supplied with it: Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. The ShockLog password
used here requires the Level 2 password.
In order to activate the passwords in the ShockLog unit, the user must follow the instructions in “Setup Passwords” later in
this manual. Once these passwords have been activated, the only iButtons that will communicate with the ShockLog unit
are those programmed with the same ShockLog Level 2 password.
To program an iButton with the appropriate password, place it into the USB connector BUS attached to the PC and open
the iButton interface. Select the Passwords tab and enter the ShockLog password into the Password box under the
ShockLog section. Re-enter the password in the confirm box and then go to the Program tab and follow the instructions as
detailed later in this manual.
Program
With an iButton attached to the USB Connection BUS, when entering the “Program”
tab, the user will be presented with two check boxes for the different passwords
available and five buttons that are either grayed out or live, depending upon
the iButton that is attached.
The buttons allow for the creation of: Start, Stop, Setup, Clock and Download
iButtons. A number of the iButtons utilized by the ShockLog can be programmed
for a number of different options providing the user with more flexibility in
their stock of iButtons.
Once the passwords have been set, click on the appropriate program button to send the program into the iButton.
“Finished” will appear when the programming is complete. If the user is sending a setup to the iButton, when the setup
button is selected, the user will be presented with the file search window and will be asked to select the desired setup
file. Please note that if passwords are required, they must have been setup within the setup file before sending to the
iButton. Refer to the File Setup section earlier in this manual.
Setup Passwords
ShockLog passwords allow users to protect their units from unauthorized access, download and corruption. The
ShockLog passwords are factory defined for every ShockLog and are unique to each ShockLog serial number.
To set the passwords within a ShockLog, activate the “Setup Passwords” key on the Communications window. Go to
the View menu and select the “Password Setup” button. The “Password Setup” button will now be available in the
Communications window.
Attach the ShockLog to the PC, click on the “Password Setup” button in the Communications window and a new window
will open. Enter the 8 digit numeric code (provided with the ShockLog), click “Enable Passwords” and then “OK.”
The Status bar will show that the system is connecting to the ShockLog and will return “OK.” The ShockLog is now password
protected.
Now, when a user attempts to communicate with the ShockLog, it will be necessary to enter an appropriate level password
to gain access. A window requesting the required level of password will be displayed. The following levels are required:
Stop Level 1
Start Level 1
Download Level 2
Send Setup Level 2
Set Clock Level 1
Read Setup Level 2
Note: The ShockLog program has been set up to memorize a password while in the same session with the same ShockLog attached.
Once a password has been entered, it will not need to be re-entered until a new ShockLog session is opened.
To remove the password from a ShockLog unit, attach the ShockLog to the PC and open the Communication window. Click
on the Setup Password button and enter the Level 2 password but this time select “OK” when the “Enable Passwords”
button has not been selected. The password settings will be removed from the ShockLog.
Security Log
The Security Log provides users with a detailed list of communication activity for the ShockLog
unit. This data includes dates and times of activities, a description of the activity and provides an
additional audit trail for a data file. The ShockLog Security Log can only be cleared by the factory
during the ShockLog calibration process. For security reasons, users cannot clear this file.
To view and export the ShockLog security log, it is necessary to activate the “Security Log” key on the communications
window. Go to the View menu and select the Security Log Button. Return to the Communications window and the Security
Log button will be available.
After the Security Log button has been activated and a ShockLog unit is attached to the PC, clicking on the button will bring
up the following grid of information:
The grid can be sorted by column by clicking on the top of any of the columns. The data will be sorted by the selected
column. By sorting on the “Rec’ No” column, the data will return to the original order.
The Security Log data can be exported into a comma delimited file (*.csv) for importing into other applications such as
Microsoft Excel or Word. To Export the file, click the “Export” button at the bottom right hand side of the grid. A file save
window will appear. Amend the file name as required and select a different directory as required from the drop down
selection at the top of the screen.
Click the “Save” button and the file will automatically save as a .csv file for importing into other applications.
If more than one file is to be exported, the user is able to either click on the first required file and hold down the left
hand mouse button while dragging down to the last required file, or click on the first file, press and hold the shift key
and click again on the last data file required. Once the range is highlighted, a right hand mouse click will return the menu
allowing for the export to database function to be used.
Database Manipulation
In manual section various tools and techniques available for users to manipulate the data file database will be
overviewed. These tools and techniques allow the user to find and analyze data as quickly and efficiently as possible.
The various tables of data will be reviewed and the different options available for each display will be explored.
Explorer Window
The Explorer window displays the available data files within the database. The system utilizes a ‘Windows Tree’ format to
enable users to quickly search through the files.
The file name format is in keeping with the legacy file names and provides the date and time of download along with the serial
number of the ShockLog unit used for monitoring.
Click on a given file and the File Viewer will display the Report tab for the selected file. The Explorer window will open the file
showing the number of events, number of summary records and number of slot periods within the data file.
The events can be further expanded to show each individual event as separate entries. In the Event tab, with the events listed
individually it is possible to quickly change between the individual events by double clicking upon the event number.
While in any of the tabs, it is possible to view a number of events together. Click in the box to the left of each event number
(will enter a check and change the background to yellow). Initially only the last event selected will be displayed on the main
viewer screen. The headers have changed slightly and no longer display the various tab options. This is because additional
windows are opened for each of the events checked.
Now that the events are opened, it is possible to restructure the screen view using the cascade and tile options under the
View menu. This option will be detailed later in the manual.
Each individual event can now be used as in the Events tab, with full zoom capability and the cursor bar to provide additional
data. The additional text information is not available on the right hand side of the screen but g value information and the
number of milliseconds at the cursor point are displayed in the bottom left hand corner of the screen.
Records Table
The Records table provides an alternative file selection to the Explorer window. The advantage of the Records Table
over the Explorer window is that the user is able to sort and re-order the data files within the Records Table making it a
powerful search tool.
Column Data
The Records Table is constructed in a tabular format with various columns of data for each of the data files within the
database. The main columns are as follows:
Download Date: Provides the date and time that the data file was downloaded into the database.
User Comment: When downloading a file, users are offered the opportunity to enter a comment; this comment will be displayed in
this column, up to a maximum of 15 characters.
Model: Displays the type of ShockLog used to record the data file.
Events: Provides the total number of events recorded within the data file (Warn & Alarm added together).
Summaries: Displays the number of summary periods recorded during the data file.
Slots: Shows the number of Slot periods recorded during the data file.
To move around the Records table, the user can move up and down by either the center wheel on a mouse (if available)
or by using the scroll bar on the right-hand side. When the Records table is in a landscape view there will be no need
for a scroll bar to move left and right as all columns will be visible. However, should the user decide to dock the Records
table in a portrait position, a scroll bar at the bottom of the table will be presented and will enable the user to move left
and right through the columns.
File Sorting
In the Record Table, it is possible to change the order of the display by any of the columns, enabling the user to search for
specific sections of data. By clicking on the title of a column, the database will be sorted by the information held within that
column. By clicking the column again, it is possible to change between the ascending and descending views of the data.
For example, if a user is interested in knowing all of the files downloaded from a ShockLog with a specific serial number,
click on the title of the Serial Number column to put all of the files into serial number order. All data files from the same
serial number will be displayed together.
Likewise, if the highest number of events is of interest, it is possible to sort the database via the events column and quickly
identify the files with the highest number of events.
In order to return the database to its original setting, sort the files via the Download Date Time column and the data will
return to date order.
To change files, double click on a different file and the system will change files. Whatever view the user is in when a file
is selected, the Report tab view will be opened.
Event Table
The Event Table displays all of the events, both Warning and Alarm, from a selected data file. The table provides details
of an individual event and allows the user to sort the information to identify information such as the most significant
event in terms of shock or the modulus value. In addition, the table provides a number of hyperlinks directly to other
related sections of data.
Column Data
The Event Table is constructed in a tabular format with various columns of data for each of the data files within the database.
The main columns are as follows:
Show Slots: A hyperlink button to the time slot data associated with the event.
Number: The event number that represents the order the event data has been recorded in. Please note that the first event of any
ShockLog data file is 0 (zero) and not 1 (one).
Event Date: Displays the date and time the specific event was recorded; relates to the ShockLog internal date and time and may vary with
the PC date settings if the unit was set up in another time zone.
Duration: Shows the length of time in seconds that the event lasted and can be 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, or 128 seconds.
Range: Displays the g range that the ShockLog was set to when recording the event.
Rate: The effective sample rate that the ShockLog recorded the event at and will be dependent upon the compression selection made
by a user when setting up the ShockLog unit. All events are sampled at 4,096 samples per second. However, depending upon the
compression required and the user selections made the recorded sample rate may be lower.
Temp.: The temperature recorded via the internal thermistor at the time of the event.
Max X, Y & Z: These columns show the maximum g value seen on each of the axes during the recorded event.
Modulus: The Event Modulus which is the vectored X, Y and Z data, calculated with the following formula: Modulus = Sqr(XSample ^ 2 +
YSample ^ 2 + ZSample ^ 2).
To move around the Event table, the user can move up and down with either the center wheel on a mouse (if available) or by
using the scroll bar on the right side. When the Event table is in a landscape view there is no need for a scroll bar to move left
and right as all columns will be visible. However, should the user dock the Event table in a portrait position, a scroll bar at the
bottom of the table will make it possible to move left and right through the columns.
File Sorting
In the Event Table, the user has the capability of changing the order of the display by any of the columns, making it possible
to search for specific sections of data. Click on the title of a column and the database will be sorted by the information held
within that column. Click the column again and it is possible to change between ascending and descending views of the data.
For example, if interested in knowing all the events within the data file with high modulus values, click on the title of the
Modulus column to put all of the events into modulus value order. Likewise, if interested in the highest g value on Y axis, it is
possible to sort the database via the Max Y column and quickly identify the events with the highest g value for the Y axis in the
events.
To return the database back to its original setting, it is necessary to sort the files via the Number column and the
database will be back to event number order.
By clicking on any of these options the user will go to the selected event curve within the Events tab and will be able to
interrogate the event curve as explained earlier in this manual.
It is possible to continue clicking on different events and the File viewer will continue to update the event curve as the
user works through the events from the Event Table. Additionally, once in the Event tab, it is possible to scroll through
the events using the arrows in the top right corner.
Menu Options
In this manual section all of the available menu options and features that have not already been
discussed will be covered.
File Menu
New
The “New” option in the File Menu allows users to create a new database. This feature is used for various reasons including
the creation of archive databases, creating unique databases for different companies or departments etc. By clicking on the
option, the user will be presented with a save file window. Enter the desired name into the ‘File Name’ box at the bottom of
the window. Ensure the file is being saved in the correct directory, which can be selected via the drop-down window at the
top of the screen.
While viewing a database, it is possible to identify the current database by the name presented in the information bar
at the top of the screen. In addition to the Database name, you will also be presented with the data file name currently
opened for viewing.
Open
The “Open” option from the file menu provides the user with the ability to open different databases that have been
created. Users can open archive databases or different databases for different parts of the company / organization.
Click “Open” in the menu, the user will be presented with a file ‘Open’ window and will default to the ShockLog directory
created for storing ShockLog databases.
When the desired database has been found, click the appropriate file name and then click “Open.” The ShockLog software
will appear to close but will automatically reopen, this time with the selected database opened. The name in the header
bar will now show the new database name. To change back, follow the above procedure and select the default database
“ShockLog.” Databases from different directories can be selected and the ‘Look in’ drop down menu can be used to search
different directories as required.
Import
The “Import” function under the file menu allows users to import data files into the current database. Generally, this feature
will be used to import legacy ShockLog data files that a user may have recorded on their system and wishes to view under the
new software package.
The download process of ShockLog products will automatically import the data files into the opened database and will not
require the import option. However, should a problem occur with the automatic importation of data files following a download
from the latest ShockLog ranges, it is possible to import the data file through this method.
To import a single data file, select the “Import” option from the file menu. The ShockLog Data directory will open and show
a list of data files. The system default will display data files from the latest generation of ShockLog units ending with .sl_sdr.
To select one of these files, click on the desired file and then click “Open”. The system will take a few seconds and the file will
appear at the bottom of the Explorer window and in the Records Table.
If the user wants to import legacy data files, it is necessary to change the “Files of Type” to .sl_data, which represents
older legacy data files. Once the desired file has been selected, click “Open”. For more details, refer to Importing Legacy
Data Files section
Should the user wish to select a number of files at the same time, i.e. a complete directory of legacy files, this is possible
within the same menu option. Go into the “Import” menu option and select the file type (new or old), click on the first
file, then if it is a list of files, all in order, press and hold the ‘Shift’ key on the keyboard and then click (with the mouse)
on the last required file. The whole selection is highlighted. If this is all of the desired files, click “Open” and all of the
selected files will be imported. Please note this procedure may take a couple minutes for the computer to complete the
importation depending upon how many files are being imported.
If the desired files are not listed all together, it is possible to select any group of files using the Alt key on the keyboard.
Click on the first of the data files, press and hold the Alt key, with the mouse proceed to click on all of the desired data
files, one at a time, until all of the files have been selected. Once all files have been selected, release the Alt key and
click on the Open button with the mouse. All of the files will now be imported. The process can take several minutes
depending upon the number of files being imported.
Export
The Export function has been covered in the individual sections of Slots, Summaries and Events. The Export option under
the file menu works in a very similar style but instead of focusing on one section of a data file it focuses on the option
to export the complete data file or selection of data files. It should be noted though that this export facility can also be
focused down to exporting a small section of a data file just as if it had been entered from the Slots, Summaries or Events.
The data file being viewed from the Explorer window will be highlighted as the main option. However, no data will be
selected for export.
On the left side of the Export window an Explorer tree style display will appear. The user will have an option of “All records
(x)” with X being the number of files in the database, or the long description of the data file currently being viewed. On the
right side a number of tools to narrow down the export criteria are available.
A number of options are available for downloading all of the files (or some of the files) within the database. Click in the
tick box next to the “All records” entry on the left side. The box to the right will be filled with a list of the data that is to be
exported with ticks to the side, which will include:
• Download Data
• Warns
• User Comment
• Alarms Model
• Summaries
• Serial no
• Slots Events
If the user does not want to export any of this data, click the tick to blank the selection box. To highlight all of the boxes
again, click on the “All Data” button and all of the ticks will be filled in again.
There are two slide bars on the right-hand side of the screen. When exporting all records, these will represent the data
files within the database. The user can move these bars left and right to select the range of files to be exported right
down to an individual data file. Once the user has selected the data required and the data files for the information to be
extracted from, click “Export”.
The system will display a “Browse for Folder” window that allows the user to select the desired export location for the
file. Select the directory where the export is to be stored and press “OK”. Alternatively, it is possible to create a new
directory for the export file by selecting “Make New Folder”. Upon pressing this button, the system will create a new
folder under the current directory and name it “New Folder”. To change the name, right click on the new folder and select
“Rename”. Type the new name, press return, and save the export file to the new directory.
The Export will create separate comma delimited files for the different sections of data being exported. These files can be
opened in such programs as Microsoft Excel and the data can be used to further analyze the journey or storage period.
Delete
The “Delete” option under the File menu allows users to remove data files from the database and must be used with
extreme caution.
To remove a file, select it from the Explorer Window, go to the file menu, and select ‘Delete’
The following window on the right will appear warning the user that a complete data file is about to be removed from the
database. Click “OK”, the file will be deleted, and the user will be returned to the Explorer Window.
Print
The printing options under the File Menu consist of 4 sections and provide the following functionality:
Print – Prints to the default (or selected) printer and will print the current view within the file viewer screen depending on the
current tab being viewed.
Report – Will generate the one-page report, giving users a summary of the slots and events seen in a given recording period.
Slots – Will print the Slot graphs and will create a page for each of the slot graphs currently being viewed in the slot tab.
Summary – Generates a selection window, providing the user with the ability to select the columns of data of interest (in
Summary Tab). Additionally, users can insert a custom report title that will be printed on the top left side of the report.
Events – Generates a print out of the event currently being viewed (in Event Tab).
Print Screen – Sends the whole ShockLog software screen currently being viewed to the printer. It will include the Explorer
window, Records Table, Events table and any other window currently being displayed on the ShockLog software screen.
Print Setup – Opens the Microsoft Printer selection and setup window, which can be used in the same manner as any
Microsoft windows package.
Print Preview – Allows users to view what is going to be printed before committing it to paper. When selecting this option, the
user will be presented with the Microsoft Printer selection and set-up window. Selecting print from this window will display the
print document on the screen and offer the users the ability to print the document.
Tools Menu
Graph / Unit Options
This window provides users with several options including customizing the color settings for the graphs and changing the units
of measure being displayed. To change the color settings for a given graph parameter, click on the desired parameter button,
i.e. ‘Max Pk X’, and an additional window showing a color pallet will be presented. The user has the choice of selecting any of
the standard colors displayed on the front or creating a custom color by selecting the “Define Customer Colors” button and
defining the desired color.
The units of measure to be displayed can be changed with the options on the right side of the window.
Acceleration Defined as g, m/s2 or ft/s2
Pressure Displayed as bar or lb/sq in.
Temperature Displayed as Celsius or Fahrenheit.
Velocity Displayed as cm/s, m/s, ft/s or in/s.
Limit Software Filtering – Relates to the post processing filters on the Event graphs. When this box is checked and the data
file being viewed has a frequency filter of less than 250Hz, this feature will limit the filtering options to the filter value set in
the settings. For example, if the settings file had a frequency filter setting of 90Hz, the highest filter setting available for post
filtering will be 90Hz. If this option is not checked then the filter options available will be 250Hz and lower. The default setting
is to have this option selected.
No Range Bars – Relates to how the event graphs will be displayed when the events have not been recorded at 4,096 samples
per second. If this option is selected it will present the graph as a smooth line, taking the mean values between the min and
max values of the compressed data. If it is not checked the user will see the range bars, i.e. the range between the max and
min values in each group of compressed data. This option must be selected for every journey.
Data Paths
The Data Paths option displays the directory routes that are currently set for the XML, Setup Files and Data files. The XML
files are configuration files for the ShockLog accessories and should not be touched by users unless instructed to do so by
the ShockLog Technical Support team. The Setup and Data files path show the default settings of where these will be stored
and any changes that are made here will change the directories where such files will be stored and searched for future
use. Any changes within this section should be made with extreme caution and advice should be taken from the ShockLog
Technical Support Team prior to making such changes.
Communication Port
The selection of communication ports is generally only required when using serial communication and the system is unable
to automatically select the correct serial connection. Users are able to select from the drop-down menu the appropriate
port being utilized. To find the correct port being used by the computer, users must check under the device manager within
the computer control settings. Contact IT if it is unclear how to proceed.
With this option, users are also able to select the baud rate at which the ShockLog will communicate. There are times
when a slower baud rate may be required. If the user is experiencing communication difficulties, slowing the baud rate
may resolve the problem.
View Menu
Opening the View menu presents the user with a list of different screens, sections and buttons that can be activated or
deactivated in the ShockLog software.
Status Bar: Shown at the bottom of the screen; contains information in relation to a connected ShockLog unit. By default,
the status bar will be visible but can be switched off through the use of this option
iButton Interface: Opens a new window allowing users to interface with the iButton options. This function is fully
described earlier in this manual.
Setup: Opens a new window allowing the user to create or modify ShockLog setup files. This function is fully described
earlier in this manual.
Communications: Opens a new “dockable” window that allows users to communicate with an attached ShockLog device.
This function is fully described earlier in this manual.
Password Setup Button: Enables or disables the Password button on the Communications window.
Security Log Button: Enables or disables the Security log button on the Communications window.
View Read Setup: Allows the user to view the current setup.
Processed Data: Removes known anomalies from the data being viewed.
Windows Menu
The Windows menu allows the user to open and arrange various viewing screens to maximize the available data.
By hovering over the New Window option, an additional menu appears to the right side listing a number of different
screens and tables that are available.
The Explorer, Record Table, Events Table, Slot Breaks Grid, and Radio Table and are all dockable windows and are
explained in detail earlier in this manual.
Tile Vertical and Tile Horizontal options are used to rearrange the file viewer screens when more than one is being used
at the same time. For example, if a user selects several events to be viewed at the same time, it is possible to have these
displayed in different ways. The user can have the events tiled on the screen so that all the graphs can be seen at once.
It should be noted that if the user tries to view more than four graphs at once, it is difficult to view them in a tile view is
likely the better option.
The Close All option will close all screens currently open within the file viewer area except for the main file viewer screen
with the Report, Slots, Summary and Event tabs. This feature is a very useful tool if many event graphs have been viewed
at the same time.
Help Menu
The Help menu contains the ‘About’ option that will provide details as to the current version installed. Here, users can
also select if they’d like to automatically check for software updates.
If the data file has been downloaded using the latest software, the correct directory will appear, and it will only be
necessary to change the file type to view the old-style data files.
Select (*_sl_data).
A list of available data files will be displayed. Highlight the desired file and click “Open”. After a few seconds the file will
appear at the bottom of the Explorer Table window.
If it is necessary to import data files that have already been downloaded with the old ShockLog software, change the data
directory to that of the old software data directory.
If there are a number of data files to be imported, follow the process as described above, but instead of selecting a single
file, find the first file in the list, click on the file, hold the shift key and click on the last file of interest then release the shift
key. A range of files will be highlighted and by clicking the “Open” button, all the files will be imported. This operation can
take several minutes, and the software will appear to be doing nothing until the files begin to appear in the Explorer Table.
It is also possible to select a number of specific files using the control key to highlight the required files from within the list.
Clicking the “Open” button once the desired files have been highlighted will import the files.
NOTE: Operating the ShockLog Satellite in a location without line of sight to the sky will significantly reduce the battery
life of the satellite module.
Prior to use, the satellite module will show OFF on the end of the module.
Unscrew the plug and remove.
Connect the black connector / cable to the communication port of the satellite module.
Keep the plug in a safe place as it will be used to turn the device off when not in use.
Mounting
IMPORTANT: When mounting the ShockLog Satellite hardware, care must be taken to allow for line of sight to the
sky. Failure to do so will result in compromised satellite communication.
It is recommended that you mount the unit prior to starting it. This action prevents any impacts being recorded that
are a result of the mounting process.
Find a suitable mounting location on the asset with line of sight to the sky.
The ShockLog Satellite has x, y, and z axes noted on the unit. If the mounting of the ShockLog Satellite does not allow
you to match the axes of the unit, it is advisable to make a note of the exact mounting in order to correctly analyze the
reported impact values.
The ShockLog Satellite uses magnets for mounting. Grasp the unit in the positions noted by “Hold Here.” Position
two magnets in place and then carefully roll the last two magnets into position. Magnetic mounts are intended for
temporary mounting.
Safety Warning
Start Monitoring
Once the ShockLog has been programmed and the ShockLog Satellite unit has been mounted, the unit must be started to
begin recording.
It is recommended that the START iButton be used to start the ShockLog Satellite. Remove the
black center cap from the ShockLog iButton port and insert the START iButton into the port.
When the iButton LED on the ShockLog is red and the Slot Alarm LED is green, remove the iButton.
The unit will start in one minute.
The ShockLog could also have been preprogrammed to start at a specific time. Refer to Configure the ShockLog Satellite /
ShockLog section of this manual for details.
iButton port
Close the lid of the ShockLog Satellite system and secure the latches. When Event alarm LED
iButton LED Slot alarm LED
an impact event occurs during the journey, an alert will be sent through
the web-hosted application and the ShockLog LED Event Alarm will flash
red every five (5) seconds for an alarm condition and every ten (10) seconds for a warning condition.
Open the ShockLog Satellite case, remove the black plug from Event alarm LED iButton port
iButton LED Slot alarm LED
the ibutton port.
All three LEDs will flash red every ten (10) seconds when the unit has been stopped.
Recommended Storage
When the unit is not in use, it is recommended that the ShockLog be stopped and the satellite module be turned off.
To turn off the satzellite module, locate the satellite module in the ShockLog Satellite box and disconnect the connector/cable.
Locate the plug and insert it into the connector such that the word OFF is visible. NOTE If the word ON is visible, you will be
powering the module and draining the battery.
The ShockLog Cellular Module may be used with any ShockLog 298 Impact Recorder with firmware revision 30 or greater.
Install the six (6) AA batteries provided in the direction noted in each battery slot, verify
that the gasket is in place and replace the battery panel making sure that the certification
label is visible. Tighten the screws on the battery panel to preserve IP 67 rating.
The ShockLog 298 and ShockLog Cellular may be mounted to the mounting plate included with the ShockLog Cellular. The
mounting plate may be attached to the shipment with mounting bolts or magnetic feet (included). Avoid metal to metal
contact when mounting the ShockLog.
It is recommended that you mount the unit prior to starting the ShockLog. This action prevents impacts resulting from the
mounting process from being recorded.
Start Mounting
Once the ShockLog Cellular has been mounted, the unit must be started to begin recording.
If the start date has been preprogrammed, there is no additional action required of the user.
To start recording immediately, it is recommended that the START iButton be used to start the ShockLog. Remove the black
center cap from the ShockLog iButton port and insert the START iButton into the port. When the iButton LED on the ShockLog
is red and the Slot Alarm LED is green, remove the iButton. The unit will start in one minute.
When an impact event occurs during the journey, an alert will be sent through the web-hosted application and the ShockLog.
LED Event Alarm will flash red every five (5) seconds for an alarm condition and every ten (10) seconds for a warning condition.
All three LEDs will flash red every ten (10) seconds when the unit has been stopped.
If this is the first connected device purchase for your company, you must establish an account admin. This person will be
responsible for managing user access to the SpotSee Cloud. Navigate to activate.spotsee.io to begin the activation process.
Enter the Customer Number found on the packing list that shipped with the ShockLog Satellite, the
SpotSee invoice or order acknowledgement.
Click Activate.
Enter the admin email address in the pop-up box and click Enter. An email will be sent to the Admin’s email address from no-
[email protected].
NOTE: If the email is not received within 5 minutes, please check your spam or junk folders. If it has still not been received,
please contact SpotSee technical support. Follow the link in the email to create your password.
A message will prompt you to select an available contract for the unit. Click the
dropdown list to select a contract. Click Activate.
The admin can view and manage other users and assets inside the company. Clicking Users on the left side menu displays a list
of all existing users for your account. Add a user by clicking the plus (+) sign or edit a user by clicking the pencil icon.
Jane Smith
John Brown
Jane
Smith
If you have forgotten your password, click “Forgot Password.” Enter your email and click “Reset Password.” An email will be
sent with directions and a link to reset your password.
Dashboard
The SpotSee Cloud allows you to monitor the ShockLog Satellite from any location. After logging into the cloud platform, the
dashboard will show you the last known location of your ShockLog Satellite assets, a list of your active assets and the most
recent alarm for each asset.
To examine the information for each individual ShockLog Satellite unit, click on the asset name in either the Active Asset or
Last Alarm Per Unit lists or click on the location icon on the map.
Asset Page
Once a ShockLog Satellite unit has been selected, more detailed information surrounding that unit will be displayed.
Date Range
By default, the date range for a device in the SpotSee Cloud is the past seven (7) days. The date range is shown in the top right
portion of the screen. If a particular date range is of interest, the range
can be changed by selecting the calendar icon shown to the right.
Notifications
When an alarm occurs, notifications can be sent to interested users. Click on the alarm icon to open the notifications form.
Enter the email address of the peson(s) who should receive notifications when an alarm occurs. Click the + button to add
additional users and the Update button after all email addresses have been entered.
Location
The map will show the locations of the selected ShockLog Satellite. Alarm and summary location pins will be clustered by
proximity. Alarm pins will be displayed in red while summary pins will be displayed in blue. Pins displayed with a number in
them can be clicked and the map will zoom in until you can see individual pins. A red heat map around the pins indicates that
there is at least one alarm within that cluster.
Alarms/Summaries
On the right side of the asset page is the list of alarms and summaries for the unit. The alarm shows
the axis as well as the value recorded on the axis. Summaries show the total number of alarms
reported. If the ShockLog Satellite is in an area where it cannot communicate with the satellites,
then the summary alarm count will alert users that an alarm has not been transmitted to the cloud
and that the ShockLog should be downloaded at the end of the journey for details regarding any
missed alarms.
It is possible to turn off summaries (or alarms) from the cloud view. When doing so, summaries (or
alarms) will be removed from the map and the list.
The trip path is traced by default in the SpotSee cloud. If you do not wish to see the journey path,
you may remove the Lines from the map.
Click on the item at the bottom of the alarm list to turn parameters off or on. The parameter that
has been turned off will change to a gray color.
It may be desirable to turn off summaries when loading large amounts of data as this will speed the load process. However,
you will no longer see all of the trip segments on the map.
Hover the cursor over the bars in the Alarms over Time graph to see the individual impact values.
Impact Histogram
Below the Impacts over Time graph, you will find the Impact Histogram. This graph will show you how many impacts occurred
over a certain impact threshold. The graph divides the impact values into bins. Each bar on the graph represents the number
times an impact occurred over a certain threshold.
In the example below, there was one impact 10G or less in the y-axis, two impacts of 10G or less in the z-axis and two impacts
between 11 and 20G in the y-axis.
Other Parameters
The ShockLog Satellite will also record temperature, humidity and tilt & roll. Each parameter will have a value over time graph
associated with it.
The graph below illustrates temperature over time. Hover the cursor over the points in the chart to see the individual
temperature values.
This document is written and published by SpotSee All rights reserved. Rev: 10/2019
[email protected] 1300 074 625 shockwatch.com.au Mar 2020 96
1300 074 625
[email protected]
shockwatch.com.au
Mar 2020