AMETEK Land SOLOnet Digital Infrared Thermometer

AMETEK Land SOLOnet web-enabled digital infrared thermometer

SOLOnet is a compact digital infrared thermometer from AMETEK Land for stand-alone, single-point or multi-point temperature monitoring. It shows live data on a PC, speaks addressable RS485 and, through an optional interface unit, Ethernet, while still providing the usual 0 or 4 to 20 mA analogue output. Four models cover different materials and temperature spans: SN11, SN21, SN51 and the ratio model SNR1. Seven Star LLC supplies the SOLOnet range in Oman and the GCC as an independent supplier in Muscat.

The model code is simple. SN1 means 1 µm, SN2 means 1.6 µm, SN5 means 5 µm and R indicates the ratio type working near 1 µm, so the part you order is chosen by the surface and temperature you need to read.

SOLOnet technical specifications

How SOLOnet communicates and is configured

Each thermometer carries addressable RS485 communication, so it can talk straight to a customer device or through the optional DIN-rail SOLOnet Ethernet Interface Unit SN-W/E. The interface unit lets the installer give the unit an IP address, join the plant network and read data by Ethernet, or switch the front-panel setting to pass RS485 straight through. Current and contact-closure I/O is built into each thermometer. Setup, scaling and data display are carried out with the free SOLOnet and IQ Configurator software on a PC, and field-changeable optics can be fitted without recalibration or extra parts. Calibration is traceable to national standards.

SOLOnet accessories and the wider Land range

The manufacturer lists protective mountings: an air-cooled jacket with air purge, a water-cooled jacket with air purge for ambients above 60 °C or high radiant heat, a mounting plate with air purge for up to 60 °C, single- and dual-axis adjustable brackets, prewired cable assemblies of 3, 15 and 25 m, a DC power supply and the LMi temperature indicator. Compared with UNO, SOLOnet adds digital communications and alarm outputs; compared with System 4 and a Landmark processor it is a compact one-box solution. The SN51 is named by the manufacturer in glass-oven heating and outlet measurement, with other models for glass, aluminium, steel and minerals work.

Selecting a SOLOnet model

• SN11: 1 µm for the hottest metal and glass work, 550 to 1750 °C.
• SN21: 1.6 µm, 250 to 1300 °C, for lower temperatures on metals.
• SN51: 5 µm, 200 to 1100 °C, suited to glass surfaces and the lowest span.
• SNR1: ratio model for emissivity changes and partly obscured targets, 700 to 1750 °C.
• Focus: choose 250 mm, 500 mm, 1000 mm or infinity from the working distance.
• Network: decide whether RS485 direct or Ethernet via SN-W/E is needed.
• Mounting: specify jacket, purge and bracket for the ambient heat.

Installation, commissioning and maintenance

Fit the thermometer in a mounting that suits ambient temperature; above 60 °C use the water-cooled jacket. Run 24 V DC power and the 0 or 4 to 20 mA loop, and connect RS485 with screened twisted pair if networked. Configure emissivity, span, alarms and time functions by PC, using the SOLOnet configuration guide and quick-start guide. The manufacturer also publishes a laptop-configuration troubleshooting guide, useful for USB or serial adapter issues. Keep the sapphire window clean and note that the optional laser is switched off automatically after 120 s.

Typical applications in Oman and the GCC

The manufacturer lists aluminium, glass, industrial processing, minerals and steel as target industries. In the Gulf this translates into aluminium smelting and casting, glass container and float production, metal heat treatment and minerals processing. IP65 sealing and the sapphire window help where dust is present, and the cooled jacket allows installation near hot equipment in high summer ambient temperatures.

Information to send with an RFQ for SOLOnet

• Model: SN11, SN21, SN51 or SNR1.
• Target material, temperature range, and working distance.
• Laser sighting needed or not.
• Output and network needs (analogue, RS485, Ethernet via SN-W/E).
• Mounting jacket, purge, bracket and cable length.
• Ambient temperature at the mounting point.

Site conditions in Oman for the SOLOnet

Field instruments in Oman are exposed to strong sun, high ambient temperature, wind-blown dust and, on coastal plants, salt in the air. When you specify the SOLOnet, check the ambient and process temperature limits, the enclosure rating and the wetted and housing materials against the actual installation point, and consider sunshades for transmitters mounted in direct sunlight. Cable entries should be sealed with suitable glands so that dust and moisture cannot enter the housing.

Calibration and verification planning matters as much as selection. Record the range, configuration and tag data of each SOLOnet at commissioning, define a check interval that suits the criticality of the loop, and keep the certificates with the plant documentation so that audits and shutdown work can proceed without delay.

Documents and quotation

The manufacturer brochure for SOLOnet is attached on this page.

Send the model and your application details to Seven Star LLC and we will confirm availability for Oman and the GCC.