NexSens CB-950 Data Buoy

The NexSens CB-950 Data Buoy is designed for deployment in lakes, rivers, coastal waters, harbors, estuaries and other freshwater or marine environments.

Features

  • Integrated 46-watt solar panels for 138-watts of solar charging
  • Three 6" diameter sensor holes with female NPT threads for sensor deployment
  • Topside plate supports solar marine light, weather stations, and other sensors
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NexSens CB-950 Data Buoy

The NexSens CB-950 Data Buoy is designed for deployment in lakes, rivers, coastal waters, harbors, estuaries and other freshwater or marine environments. The floating platform supports both topside and subsurface environmental monitoring sensors including weather stations, wave sensors, thermistor strings, multi-parameter sondes, Doppler current profilers and other monitoring instruments.

The buoy is constructed of an inner core of cross-linked polyethylene foam with a tough polyurea skin. A topside 41” tall stainless steel tower includes three 46-watt 12VDC semi-flexible solar panels, and a center 10” ID x 25.5” tall data well accommodates batteries, data loggers, sensors, and more. Three 6” pass-through holes with female NPT bottom threads allow for quick connection of instrument deployment pipes and custom sensor mounts. The stainless steel frame supports both single point and multi-point moorings.

The CB-950 Data Buoy is optimized for use with NexSens X3 data loggers. Wireless telemetry options include global 4G LTE cellular, Iridium satellite, and global 4G LTE cellular with Iridium satellite fallback. Compatible digital sensor interfaces include RS-232, RS-485 and SDI-12. Each sensor port offers a UW receptacle connector with double O-ring seal for a reliable waterproof connection. For custom integrations, CB-PTL pass through and CB-MCL wet-mate data well lids are available.

  • Hull Outer Diameter: 42.0” (106.7cm)
  • Hull Height: 26.0” (66.0cm)
  • Data Well Inner Diameter: 10.3” (26.2cm)
  • Data Well Height: 25.5" (64.8cm)
  • Pass-Through Hole Diameter: 6.0" (15.2cm)
  • Tower Height: 41.0” (104.1cm)
  • Solar Panels: 3x 46-watts
  • Weight: 285 lb (129kg)
  • Gross Buoyancy: 950 lb (431kg)
  • Hull Material: Cross-linked polyethylene foam with polyurea coating & stainless steel deck
  • Hardware Material: 316 stainless steel
  • Mooring Attachments: 3x 3/4” eyenuts
  • (1) CB-950 solar tower
  • (1) CB-950 buoy hull
  • (1) CB-CCA anti-rotation cage clamp
  • (1) CAGE-L instrument cage
Questions & Answers
Are there alternatives to placing sensors in deployment pipes and within cages?
Yes, instruments can be mounted along stainless steel mooring lines via the MC-600 mooring cable clamp when measuring at multiple depths within the water column. A 2-point mooring design is recommended in these situations to prevent the sensor line from tangling with the anchor lines.
Are there any aspects of this platform that are not waterproof?
The data well lid includes a passive Gore-Tex vent to allow for battery outgassing. If the buoy will be deployed in high energy environments where there is a potential for submersion, we recommend upgrading this vent to the UW-PRV pressure relief valve for added protection from water ingress.
How are water quality sondes mounted to moorings?
When measuring near the surface, water quality sondes can be housed inside a slotted deployment pipe that is threaded directly to the bottom instrument well on the buoy hull. This allows instrument access for periodic cleaning and calibration without having to pull the buoy out of the water. If the project requires measurements at depth or at multiple depths, NexSens offers instrument clamps and mooring cages for mooring lines, as well as bottom platforms when sondes need to be bottom referenced instead of surface referenced.
How do I connect sensor cables to the data buoy?
For customer integrations, cables can be run through one of six ports on the passthrough data well lid and secured with a supplied cable gland. The backside of the cable gland should be filled with epoxy or sealant to prevent water ingress. Alternatively, NexSens can supply a waterproof bulkhead connector with mating pigtail for splicing with user-supplied sensor cables. This allows for a quick disconnect of the cable at the lid. When using an X2-CB or X2-CBMC data logger on a NexSens integrated system, all supplied sensor cables are terminated with mating UW plug connectors or MCIL-8-FS connectors.
How do I mount a Doppler current profiler to the data buoy?
The mounting for an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) is instrument-dependent. NexSens offers several ADCP mounts for Nortek instruments, including the Aquadopp and Signature Series ADCPs. The mounts must be designed in such a way that the acoustic beams are unobstructed by the buoy and mooring. Custom mounts are also available based on project-specific needs. Contact info@nexsen.com for more details.
Can the solar panels be individually replaced in the field?
The solar panels feature a waterproof 2-pin connector that plugs into a 3-way splitter on the solar tower. In the event of a failure, the solar panel can be swapped out in the field.
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NexSens CB-950 Data Buoy
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CB-950 data buoy with 6" instrument holes & (3) 46-watt solar panels, 950 lb. buoyancy
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