Q: How do I choose between a LCI-90i and a LCI-80?
A: The LCI-90i is used when the line monitoring application has a requirement to monitor all three line parameters; tension, speed and payout. See the LCI-90i spec sheet here. The LCI-80 is designed specifically for rotational applications to provide operators with only a display of speed and payout line parameters and is a rugged, all-weather replacement for panel meters. See the LCI-80 spec sheet here. Both displays utilize an electroluminescent, day-light readable screen.

Q: What if I have an LCI-100 or LCI-90? How do I upgrade?
A: The LCI-90i is designed to be a drop in replacement and direct upgrade for the LCI-90. The wiring and input changes are minor. You can read more about these changes in the LCI-90i manual which you can find here. If you are using an LCI-100 display, the LCI-90i is also a direct upgrade but will requires a few mechanical modifications as the LCI-90i is smaller.

Q: What kinds of enclosures or packaging options do I have with the LCI Series?
A: All units have a waterproof stainless steel front panel with sealed tactile pushbuttons. The standard configuration for each unit is an open frame rear enclosure constructed of anodized black aluminum. These units can only be panel mounted. If desired, MTNW can provide a sealed, waterproof stainless steel rear enclosure that will provide environmental protection for the rear electronics and also provide a structure in which the unit can be gimbal bracket mounted. The LCI-90i and LCI-80 can also be mounted into any enclosure.

Q: My mounting requirements do not allow me to panel mount the displays. What are my options?
A: The displays in the LCI product line have the ability to be gimbal bracket mounted. (Each display has an optional stainless steel rear enclosure and bracket assembly that will allow it to be bracket mounted either from the top or the bottom). The brackets allow the displays to be rotated and locked in place with knurled knobs on each side. These enclosures are waterproof.

Q: Is there a remote device in the LCI Series of displays?
A: The LCI-90i and the LCI-80 can both be utilized in a master (or local) and remote mode. The operator can put any display into a remote mode through the front panel buttons and onboard menu. As the operator changes settings, alarms or other variables on the local, the remote unit will change accordingly. The remote can be connected to the local display through RS-485 or Ethernet. If the local unit ever fails, then a remote display can easily be reconfigured to replace the failed local unit.

Q: How do I calibrate the line tension of my configuration?
A: One of the strengths of the LCI-90i displays is its ability to calibrate each winch configuration. Three methods are available to facilitate line tension calibration. The first is just to enter into the calibration submenu the scale and offset of the system (for example, 5000 lbs with 0 lbs offset). This can be refined further still because each display has a wrap angle correction factor in the calibration submenu. Second, these instruments will allow the operator to do a live two-point calibration. This is the most accurate method to calibrate line tension. It removes all the misalignments of the system. The third and last method is to download look-up tables into the device. This is most applicable for non-linear systems or behaviors or for high accuracy requirements. Refer to the operating manuals for more detail.

Unlike competitive systems, all calibration can be done via the front panel pushbuttons - there is no need to access the rear enclosure!

Q: When should I use an encoder to generate speed and count as opposed to a dual proximity sensor application?
A: Encoders generally provide many more counts per revolution than a proximity or Hall Effect sensor configuration. For precise applications where line payout and speed are critical, encoders provide an excellent solution. Mounting the encoder is more complicated, as most encoders are not sealed and require an additional j-box or gear box. Care should be taken to keep the load away from the shaft of the encoder.

Q: Will the speed display be jumpy at slow speeds and accurate at high sheave revolutions?
A: MTNW has spent a great deal of effort to generate a self-tuning speed algorithm. It will behave smoothly at slow speeds and be a very accurate display of speed at high sheave revolutions. However the LCI-90i has a menu structure to change the response of the speed algorithm to match that of the operator’s requirements.

Q: What kind of load pin can I use if my wrap angle is varying?
A: It depends on how the wrap angle varies. Divide the wrap into two angles, entry and exit. If both angles vary then more equipment needs to be installed (such as a running line tensiometer) to get an accurate line tension reading. If only one angle is varying then a dual axis load pin is applicable. Pin alignment is critical but the LCI Series display can accommodate for errors generated by misaligned dual axis load pins. Refer to the operating manuals for more detail. Dual axis load pins are tricky to install and calibrate. If one of the angles varies only slightly, then another possible approach is to use a single axis load pin and calibrate at an intermediate wrap angle (middle of the wrap angle variation). The operators must then assume the tension system will have errors at the angle variation extremes.

Q: What if my load pin does not have a built-in amplifier, only a standard 4 wire output?
A: The LCI-90i can interface to 4 channels of "raw" strain gage signals. We can expect full scale inputs of 20 mV and 100 mV. The LCI-90i provides bridge sensor excitation (5V or 10V) and signal amplification using a proprietary onboard circuit. We also have one channel of 6 wire load cell interface for longer cable distances.

Q: Can different types of rotational sensors interface to the local LCI displays?
A: The LCI-90i can interface to all industry standard rotational sensors. The three main types we have interfaced to have been encoders, proximity sensors and hall effect sensors. Encoders yield high resolution information but have mounting issues. Proximity sensors require metal targets and are good for retrofits but yield low pulse rates and usually require two sensors to generate the proper waveform. Hall effects require magnetic targets excellent for retrofits, are a single barrel solution and can yield considerable pulse rates. The LCI-90i can include pull-ups or pull-down resistors for NPN or PNP sensors respectively (through the front panel menu structure).

Q: How do I specify an LCI product for my application?
A: Give us a call at 206-634-1308 to talk about your application or send us an email (lci@mtnw-usa.com) with a detailed description of your application. Pictures are helpful too!

Q: Can Measurement Technology provide complete winch instrumentation systems including count and tension sensors, instrumented sheaves and cabling?
A: Yes, please provide us with as much information as you can about your application and we will be happy to provide a complete quotation from sensors to local displays to software for data logging. MTNW has developed turnkey solutions for many of our clients.

Q: Can the LCI be used on a multi-drop network?
A: All LCI series local displays can send data to any number of remote displays and shipboard computers via a RS-485 or Ethernet (TCP or UDP) network. Each LCI display has three serial ports and one Ethernet port available for communications. This includes auxiliary RS-232 or USB serial ports that can be used as an interface for any external data acquisition system. Several protocols have been written and custom applications are welcome.

Q: Can the LCI local displays monitor more than one winch at a time?
A: Yes, the LCI-90i can monitor up to 4 winches simultaneously. This is an ideal instrument for displaying line parameters for double drum winches. Whether to choose a multi winch setup or individual displays depends on the location of the winch control stations. If the winch controls for each winch is local to a single display, then the installation of a multi winch LCI-90i is appropriate.

Q: Do either the LCI local displays or the WinchDAC software have data logging capabilities?
A: As a standard product, the LCI-90i has internal data logging capabilities to an onboard CF disk. The LCI-90i also has Ethernet connectivity for downloading this CF disk data to a PC. WinchDAC software package has the ability to provide both a graphical interface and data logging functions. WinchDAC will install on any PC that has a serial communications or Ethernet port and will continuously monitor the local LCI-90i display. The user can select sample rates for data logging and store all setup and calibration data from the local display. The software will not only provide a saved data file but also a printable report at the end of each winch event.

Q: What is the sample rate of the LCI-90i display?
A: For single winch applications, monitoring and logging tension, speed and payout data can be accomplished in excess of 150Hz.