SDI-12

SDI-12 is the acronym for "Serial Data Interface at 1200 Baud". SDI-12 is an asynchronous, ASCII, serial communications protocol that was developed for intelligent sensory instruments that typically monitor environmental data. These instruments are typically low-power (12 volt), are often used in remote locations, and usually communicate with a data logger or other data acquisition device. In this master-slave configuration, the data logger or data acquisition device typically acts as the master (SDI-12 Recorder and Interogator) to the data monitoring instruments, which are the slaves (SDI-12 sensors). One master can communicate with multiple slaves, so the SDI-12 protocol requires that each device in the serial network be identified with a unique address, which is represented by a single ASCII character.

This communication is achieved by digital communications along a single serial line.The digital addressing system allows an SDI-Recorder to send out an address over a single line that is occupied by up to 30 sensors with only the pre-configured sensor matching that address will respond (handshake), while the other sensors on the same line will not respond until called and typically stay in "sleep mode"(low power mode), until called (often in a sequence) at a later time by the SD-I Recorder (Master).

Advantages of this are the ability to use a single available data channel for many sensors (In many cases a technician may want to set up more sensors but is limited by the number of analogue channels that may be available on a particular Data Logger).

Another popular advantage is the ability to interface otherwise incompatible equipment. This allows more sensors to be utilised on a limited number of channels, transmit over longer distances and save power.

SDI-12 enabled sensors tend to be more expensive (due to the extra processing components and chips) though are becoming far more affordable and practical option as more and more sensors are brought out with this option.

SDI-12 communication may also have the limiting factor of taking around 20-30 seconds to take a measurement, however a resolution better than this is not a typical measurement interval in field applications, though it would be preferable to have this option and may very well be an option in the near future as electrical component technology increases.

Electrically the protocol is a three wire digital connection - data, ground and 12V. It bears no resemblance to RS-485 or RS-232 although the timing is similar. The inline data is human readable as the data is transmitted in plain ASCII.

As specified by the [http://www.sdi-12.org/ SDI-12 Support Group] , all SDI-12 communications are transmitted in ASCII at 1200 baud. A serial "break" signal is sent by the master prior to any SDI-12 message to alert the connected slaves of the impending communication. Only the slave whose address matches the address in the sent message should respond. Checksums are not used.

See also

* Data logger
* RS-485
* Serial communications
* Transducers

External links

* [http://www.sdi-12.org/ SDI-12 Support Group]