When we designed the NightOwl Monitoring & Control System, one of our big goals was to make the system easy to install. We recognize that most installers do not enjoy spending hours wiring up control boxes. And with the number of wires needed, this can be a daunting task to most pump installers. With that in mind, we designed a plug-and-play system that features the M12 cable system.
For all the sensors that connect to the box, you simply need a cable with a male M12 connection. Anything that’s going to connect to the box will require a straight connector (except the Modbus sensors, which need a right-angle connection because of the Modbus Connection Block).
We also recognized that the cable length for each installation will vary. Furthermore, you might choose to run those sensor cables through conduit. This is a difficult task if you have an M12 connector on both ends of your cable. That’s why we offer cables with an M12 connector at one end and no connector at the other.
Most of our cables are 52 feet in length. This should be long enough to reach most of your sensors. Simply install the sensor, connect the cable to it, and then run your cable over to the NightOwl Monitoring & Control System box. There, you cut the cable and install an M12 cable adapter. The only tricky part is that you need to connect the wires to the proper terminals in the adapter. The color of the cables — and the landing spot for each color — may vary depending upon which sensor you are using. To help with that, we created a sheet that has the color codes for each sensor we offer. But, if you are using a sensor you bought from someone else, just send us information about the sensor, and we can get you a wiring diagram.
For most installations, our expectation is that you won’t have to wire inside the box. However, one big exception to that is if you utilize the relays that are built into some of the NightOwl Monitoring & Control System boxes. Some include ice cube relays while others only have small built-in relays. It is important to understand the limitations of the relays when wiring them up. Most have a three-amp rating so make sure you don’t overload your relays. You may need to install an ice cube relay or a contactor to properly operate the relay.
We have created several training videos demonstrating how to install each NightOwl Monitoring & Control System and some of the more technical sensors. Check out those videos to see how easy these systems are to install.
With this unique cabling system and the installation videos, you should be able to install most systems in 4 hours or less. If there is any way we can make installation easier for you, let us know!
