Overview
The Signature 250 ADCP is a medium-range current profiler with a suite of extra features. It has a current profiling range of 200 m, and can measure wave height, period and direction at depths as great as 150 m. The Signature 250 ADCP can also measure acoustic ranging to ice. Its compact design and low power consumption make it an ideal tool for long-term deployments in all waters.
Download our guide to Signature ADCPs here.
- Currents
- Waves
Highlights
-
200 m current profiling range
-
Wave height and direction from 150 m installation depth
-
Acoustic ranging to ice
Usage
-
Ice drift and draft measurements
-
Long-term deployments requiring directional wave measurements and mid-depth current profiles
-
Upwelling and downwelling, large-scale mixing studies
Setup
The Signature Deployment software guides users through setup to ensure even the most detailed concurrent measurement schemes are handled correctly and makes certain all users can fully utilize the capabilities of the Signature 250 ADCP.
Deployment
The Signature 250 offers dependable buoy and bottom frame setups from Nortek and leading industry partners tailored for the instrument. Optional AHRS updated at the same rate as sampling improves motion correction during buoy-mounted measurements.
Data
Concurrent measurement plans enable simultaneous measurements of long-range current profiles and ice tracking. Ocean Contour is a powerful postprocessing software created specifically for the AD2CP platform.
Maximum profiling range* |
200 m |
Cell size |
1-8 m |
Minimum blanking |
0.5 m |
Maximum number of cells |
200 (average) |
Velocity range (along beam) |
User-selectable 1.0 to 5.0 m/s |
Minimum accuracy |
1% of measured value ± 0.5 cm/s |
Velocity precision |
Broadband processing, consult instrument software |
Velocity resolution |
0.1 cm/s |
Max sampling rate |
3 Hz (1 Hz at max power) |
*Dependent on measurement conditions |
Velocity range |
N/A |
Cell size |
N/A |
Profiling range |
N/A |
Range velocity limitations |
N/A |
Single |
Average |
Concurrent |
Average and waves/ice |
Alternate |
N/A |
Sampling |
Same as velocity |
Resolution/ dynamic range |
0.5 dB / 70 dB |
Transducer acoustic frequency |
250 kHz |
Number of beams |
5; 4 slanted at 20°, 1 vertical at 500 kHz (optional) |
Beam width |
2.3° (slanted), 2.2° (vertical) |
Resolution |
N/A |
Number of bins |
N/A |
Transmit pulse length |
N/A |
Transmit pulse |
N/A |
Resolution / dynamic range |
N/A |
AST frequency |
500 kHz |
AST max distance |
170 m |
Maximum wave measurement depth |
150 m |
Height range |
-15 to +15 m |
Accuracy/resolution (Hs) |
< 1% of measured value / 2 cm |
Accuracy/resolution (Dir) |
2° / 0.1° |
Period range |
2-50 s |
Cut-off period (Hs) |
25 m depth; 2 sec, 50 m depth; 2 sec,100 m depth; 2.2 sec, 150 m depth; 2.7 sec |
Cut-off period (dir) |
Please inquire |
Sampling rate (velocity and AST) |
1 Hz |
Parameters |
Acoustic ranging to ice, speed and direction, echo sounder data |
Temperature: |
Thermistor in head (sampled at meas. rate) |
Temp. range |
-4 to +40 °C |
Temp. accuracy/resolution |
0.1 °C/0.01 °C |
Temp. time response |
2 min |
Compass: |
Solid State magnetometer (max 1 Hz sample rate) |
Accuracy/resolution |
2° for tilt < 30°/0.01° |
Tilt: |
Solid State accelerometer (max 1 Hz sample rate) |
Accuracy/resolution |
0.2° for tilt < 30°/0.01° |
Maximum tilt |
Full 3D |
Up or Down |
Automatic detect |
Pressure: |
Piezoresistive (sampled at meas. rate) |
Standard range |
0-300 m (inquire for options) |
Accuracy/precision |
0.1% FS / Better than 0.002% of full scale |
Accelerometer dynamic range |
± 2 g |
Gyro dynamic range |
± 250°/sec |
Magnetometer dynamic range |
± 1.3 Gauss |
Pitch and roll range / resolution |
± 90° (pitch) ± 180° (roll) /0.01° |
Pitch and roll accuracy |
± 2° (dynamic)4), ± 0.5° (static, ±30°) |
Heading range / resolution |
360°, all axis /0.01° |
Heading accuracy |
± 3° (dynamic)4), ± 2° (static, tilt < 20°) |
Sampling rate |
Same as measurement rate (up to 3 Hz) |
Capacity |
16 GB, 64 GB or 128 GB (inquire for larger capacity) |
Data record |
Consult instrument software |
Mode |
Stop when full |
Accuracy |
± 1 min/year |
Clock retention in absence of external power |
1 year. Rechargeable backup battery. |
Ethernet |
10/100 Mbits Auto MDI-X, TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTTP protocols, Fixed IP / DHCP client /Auto IP address assignment, UPnP and Nortek proprietary instrument discovery over Ethernet |
Serial |
Configurable RS-232/RS-422 300-1250000 bps |
Recorder download baud rate |
20 Mbit/s (Ethernet only) - 1 GB in 6 minutes |
Controller interface |
ASCII command interface over Telnet and serial |
Depending on configuration |
MCBH6F (Ethernet), MCBH8F (serial), MCBH2F-G2 (pwr), optional Souriau M-series metal connector for online use (10M) |
Functions |
Deployment planning, instrument configuration, data retrieval and conversion (for Windows®) |
DC input |
15-48 V DC |
Maximum peak current |
1.5 A |
Max. average consumption at 1 Hz |
15 W |
Typical average consumption |
400 mW |
Sleep consumption |
100 μA, power depending on supply voltage |
Transmit power per beam |
4-200 W, adjustable levels |
Ping sequence |
Multiplexing or parallel |
Internal |
540 Wh alkaline or 1800 Wh lithium |
Duration |
Depending on configuration, consult software |
Operating temperature |
-4 to +40 °C |
Storage temperature |
-20 to +60 °C |
Vibration |
IEC60068-2-64 |
EMC approval |
IEC/EN 61000-6-2, 61000-6-3 |
Depth rating |
300 m |
Standard model |
POM with titanium fasteners. Reinforced polyurethane transducer cups |
Maximum diameter |
464 mm |
Maximum length with room for internal batteries |
523 mm |
Maximum length without room for internal batteries |
308 mm |
In air, no battery |
18.5 kg (17.1 kg short) |
In water, no battery |
1.5 kg (5.2 kg short) |
Battery |
5.1 kg (540 Wh), 3.8 kg (1800 Wh) |
Signature 250
5-beam head (adds 500 kHz vertical transducer)
4-beam head
Standard, with room for 540 Wh battery
Short, no room for battery
16 GB SD card data logger
64 GB SD card data logger
Pressure sensor, 0-10 m, 0,1%
Pressure sensor, 0-20 m, 0,1%
Pressure sensor, 0-30 m, 0,1%
Pressure sensor, 0-50 m, 0,1%
Pressure sensor, 0-100 m, 0,1%
Pressure sensor, 0-200m, 0,1%
Pressure sensor, 0-500m, 0,1% (Note: instrument depth rating is 300m)
10m Ethernet cable with MCIL6MP, Power/RJ45 at dry end
10-100m Ethernet cable (specify length in comments field) with MCIL6MP-PWR/RJ45
10m Serial RS232 cable, MCIL8MP-DB12
10m Serial RS232 cable, MCIL8MP-DB9 w/RS485 trigger
Serial RS422 cable >10m (specify length in comments field), MCIL8MP-DB9
Online cable, Souriau 10M open ended
Online cable, Souriau 10M PWR/RJ45, max 100m
5-beam head (adds 500 kHz vertical transducer)
Compass and tilt sensor
AHRS
Data visualization and processing software for AD2CP. Request quote for license
Virtual COM port driver to allow Nortek's serial-to-USB converters to function.
Recommended upgrade. New features, fixes and functionality
Deployment software for all Signature series instruments as an installer file. You may download it now and install later if needed. Use the Help menu "Check for updates" function to get the latest firmware and software versions. Should a 32bit be required it may be downloaded here.
The installer file of Signature Deployment as available through Microsoft Store. Use the Help menu "Check for updates" function to get the latest firmware and software versions.
Deployment software for all Signature series instruments available through Microsoft Store. Use the Help menu "Check for updates" function to get the latest firmware and software versions.
Data viewer and post-processing software for Signature series instruments.
Post-processing software for Aquadopp Generation 2, AWAC Generation 2, and Signature series instruments.
Cable, 10 m Ethernet cable with 6-pin
Cable, 10 m serial cable with 8-pin w/RS485 trigger
Battery, 18 V - 540 Wh, alkaline
The standard battery for Signature & Generation 2 AWAC instruments.
Battery, 19 V - 1800 Wh, lithium
An optional high-capacity lithium battery for Signature & Generation 2 AWAC instruments.
Battery canister, aluminium for 36*D pack w/cable to Signature / Gen 2 AWAC, 2-pin Inline (500m rating)
Battery canister, aluminium for 2*36*D pack w/cable to Signature / Gen 2 AWAC, 2-pin Inline (500m rating)
Battery pack, 5-pack, 18 V - 540 Wh, alkaline
The standard battery for Signature & Generation 2 AWAC instruments.
Battery pack, 10-pack, 18 V - 540 Wh, alkaline
The standard battery for Signature & Generation 2 AWAC instruments.
