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Attaching MB7389 sensor question

Home › Forums › Environmental Sensors › Attaching MB7389 sensor question

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    • 2019-03-01 at 8:18 PM #12837
      nick
      Participant

        Hi,
        I would like to attach a MB7389 HRXL-MaxSonar-WRMT sensor to a Mayfly data logger.
        Is there a recommendation on how to do that if the sensor is several feet away from the logger?
        When searching the forums, I see examples of them being directly attached to the Pelican Case.

        I was thinking of getting the sensor with the shielded cabled attached from MaxBotix (https://www.maxbotix.com/Ultrasonic_Sensors/cable-attach-option.htm) then going into a grove to 6 pin screw terminal. That would keep everything IP67 rated.

        Thanks

      • 2019-03-01 at 11:02 PM #12838
        Shannon Hicks
        Moderator

          Yes, that cable option should be fine. I’ve made my own waterproof housing for the sensor end using a threaded PVC coupler and a cable gland since that’s cheaper. You won’t need a 6-pin screw terminal since there’s only 3 wires to connect (power, ground, and data). You can connect a 4th line to the start/stop pin of the sensor if you want to trigger the readings that way, but it’s not necessary. So just a regular Grove-to-4-terminal board would work fine for connecting it to one of the Mayfly’s Grove ports.

        • 2019-03-04 at 4:59 PM #12840
          nick
          Participant

            Shannon,

            Do you have a recommended outdoor rated cable to attach to the sensor?

            Thanks

          • 2019-03-05 at 10:28 AM #12841
            Shannon Hicks
            Moderator

              The cable I usually use for the ultrasonic sensors is this McMaster-Carr part number: 8233T32

              It’s a CMR rated 4-conductor, stranded, shielded, 22ga cable. It also happens to have a CMX rating which makes it sunlight resistant and suitable for outdoor and wet locations. Most other mult-conductor cables (like the kind you can find at the local hardware stores) are not suitable for wet locations or will break down in sunlight, so the jacket will absorb water over time or will crack and degrade due to UV light exposure.

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