|
1. VoiceAlert
VoiceAlert is a standard, no extra cost feature, provided
by OscarMom that will call you if a problem arises at your pond. VoiceAlert
uses an ordinary phone line and will speak to you about the problem, will
give you pond and aerator status and aerator control options. You ‘speak
back’ by using ‘Touch Tone’ responses on you phone. VoiceAlert
also allows you to call in to get pond status and to control aerators
from any ordinary phone (cell phone). VoiceAlert will run on Windows 95/98
computers that have a ‘voice modem’ installed and working.
2. Redundancy
In addition to saving money, increasing production and
giving you peace of mind not to mention more sleep, the underlying principle
of Oscar is to absolutely and significantly reduce the risk of losing
fish. If Oscar is properly maintained and used in the way it was intended,
it will do just that. An important part of its design is that it has numerous
redundancies in its operation so that when there is a failure, another
part of the system will take over and you will not be caught unaware.
Some of these redundancies are:
A. OscarMom & OscarDad
An operational Oscar system requires either an OscarMom or an OscarDad
but not both. It is highly recommended however that both be implemented
so that OscarMom can monitor OscarDad. In this way, if OscarMom were not
operational, then at least OscarDad would continue to take care of the
ponds and if OscarDad were to fail, then OscarMom would know about it
and would alarm you about the situation.
B. Alarm Notification
When a situation arises that needs your immediate attention, then an alarm
is raised. You are notified of this alarm in several (redundant) ways.
1) Loud beeper from OscarMom’ s alarm box.
2) ‘Help’ voice from OscarMom’s computer.
3) VoiceAlert notification from OscarMom over the phone
4) Flashing strobe light at OscarDad (option)
C. Watchdog Alarm
OscarMom’s alarm box is controlled by a microcomputer that monitors
the operation of the OscarMom program. If your Windows based computer
were to fail (stop unintentionally), then the ‘watchdog’ in
the independent micro-computer would detect this problem and would sound
its loud beeper to notify you.
D. Dual Probe Option
Oscar offers the option to use dual probes. In this way, if one probe
were to fail, then the second probe would be there to detect the failure.
E. Battery Backup
The entire Oscar system is designed to operate on its internal lead-acid
batteries. In this way, when the power fails, as it frequently does, Oscar
is not interrupted and you have continuous and reliable information regarding
your ponds and their D.O. States.
3. Aerator Operation
Oscar does much more than just a ‘dumb switch’
that simply turns your aerators on and off based upon an oxygen reading.
Oscar incorporates a high degree of intelligence to control your aerators,
much same as you would. Also, as a safety factor, Oscar includes a strategy
or policy to turn aerators on when conditions are uncertain or questionable
so as to absolutely reduce the risk of losing fish. Some of Oscar’s
smart aerator control features are:
A. D.O. Trend
Oscar does not turn an aerator off the first time a D.O. Reading is at
or above the set point, but rather requires that two consecutive D.O.
Reading satisfy the criteria. The reason for this strategy is that the
nature of fish is to ‘scatter’ away from the aerator when it
is turned off and, if it is turned off prematurely, then the fish may
not be able to find their way back.
B. Early Off
With Oscar, you have the option to turn the aerators off at a lower D.O.
Set point when it is early in the morning. This feature will save you
aerator costs, however, it still requires that the D.O. Trend is rising.
C. Aerator Rollover
If, while Oscar is monitoring aerator operation, it is discovered that
an aerator is not operating properly, then Oscar will automatically attempt
to turn on the next consecutive aerator. An alarm condition is of course
created and you would be notified immediately of the situation.
D. Power Monitoring & Startup Sequencing
Oscar is continuously monitoring the power availability to the aerators.
When power is lost to a running aerator, that aerator is immediately turned
off so that if power were immediately or momentarily turned back on, it
would not damage the equipment. When the power has been restored for 15
seconds, then Oscar will turn the aerator back on in sequence with the
other aerators.
E. Amp Operating Range
OscarMon monitors the aerators for amp ‘normal operating range’.
If an operating aerator fall outside these ranges, then something is amiss
and an alarm is generated. If the amp reading is low, then the aerator
has stopped running or is not pulling a load. If it is high, then aerator
maintenance is needed.
F. FailSafe
When the D.O of a pond is not known for certain, then the worst case scenario
is assumed and the aerators for that pond are turned on. This could happen
if there were a buoy problem such as lost communication, probe failure,
battery failure, etc. Of course an alarm would be generated and you would
be notified immediately.
G. Dual Aerator Timers
Oscar provides two aerator timers per pond that can be used to turn your
aerators on whenever you wish. These aerator timers do not override the
D.O. Set limit operation.
|
