Installation

Modbus is a standard communication protocol that is supported by many devices. All ETC plunger lift controllers use COM1 as a Modbus Slave port that will receive commands from a Master device located on a centralized server. Enable Modbus To enable Modbus on the controller or simulator, follow these steps:…

Vision is a free PC software application that is available for download on the Vision product page through the menu.

Cyclops is the most sensitive and flexible plunger arrival sensor ever, but even it can miss arrivals in some circumstances: It is connected to an RTU/PLC with a voltage input. Click here to resolve It isn’t wired correctly There is not at least 5V supplied The sensitivity is too low…

The solenoid is certified as part of the ALiEn2/ALiEn2 Expert and is expected to be installed with a short cable length. Issues that arise from lengthening the solenoid wires are: Increase in resistance leading to poor performance Increase in capacitance Violation of certification

ETC plunger lift controller enclosures are pre-punched to accommodate both single valve solenoids and dual valve solenoid assemblies. A dual valve solenoid assembly comes with two (2) solenoids connected together with a pre-installed tee. The ALiEn2 Expert can support a total of three (3) solenoids. This can be achieved by…

ETC plunger lift controller enclosures are pre-punched to accommodate both single valve solenoids and dual valve solenoid assemblies. A dual valve solenoid assembly comes with two (2) solenoids connected together with a pre-installed tee. To purchase replacement parts, please contact an Authorized Reseller. For more information, please visit our FAQ….

While the ALiEn2 was designed as a plunger lift controller, the Expert level model does have additional valves that can be used to open and close gas injection at different portions during the plunger lift cycle. GAPL SOftware A special build of software has been created to be used on…

The purpose of Adaptive Seeking Velocity Optimization is adjust the Afterflow Time and/or Close Time to influence the plunger to arrive at a given velocity/time. This helps to both ensure consistent runs and provide a means to autonomously adjust to changing well conditions. Patents Velocity/Time Optimizations Basics Timing of Adjustments…

Fast plungers cause dangerous hard impacts at surface. The magnitude of the impact is not based on velocity of the plunger alone. To properly monitor and control a plunger well and align with the API 11PL standard, you must monitor Kinetic Energy (KE). API 11PL In June 2020, a new…

What you Need Before starting, you should make sure you have: A PC with Vision Device Management software A Link Device Connection (This provides both communication and power) with USB drivers installed Changing Modbus Settings Connect to Sasquatch using Vision and Link Device Connection, ensure Sasquatch is in Normal mode. Click here for…

The ALiEn2 line of plunger controllers has a feature called Non-Arrival to deal with plungers that do not arrive within the specified Rise Time. Non-Arrival Event When the controller determines that a plunger arrival has been missed, it records a Non-Arrival, shuts the Sales Valve, and enters the Non-Arrival Close…

The output signal (SIG) on the Cyclops IS, Cyclops ExP, and Sasquatch are designed as a dry contact. This means that it does not provide any voltage and the controller is expected to detect the flow of current. How a dry contact works A dry contact or contact switch output…

The AliEn2 Expert comes with 2 analog inputs that are used to connect pressure transducers. These by default are used for Line Pressure and Casing Pressure. While you can decide to use Tubing Pressure instead of Line Pressure, you will need both if you wish to use Load Factor. You…

Vision Device Management is a tool provided by ETC that allows you to interact with our controls and sensors. Video Tutorial Connectivity First make sure that you have established a path of connectivity to the device. Serial If connecting to a controller or Sasquatch, plug in cable from a serial…

All pressure inputs work generally the same way. This article discusses how to install, enable, and configure pressure switches or sensors. WHAT YOU NEED Before getting started, make sure you have: ALiEn2 or ALiEn2 Expert Plunger Lift Controller Pressure Transducer or Pressure Switch Install Pressure Device Pressure Switch Connections A…

Many companies will often sell an electronic product that appears to be certified and allow you to assume it is. In many cases, these products were never tested or certified, or might still be in process. This can pose a safety hazard and introduce unnecessary liability and risk. You can…

The ALiEn2 and ALiEn2 Expert comes with a universal mounting bracket that attaches to the bolts coming out of the back of the enclosure. This unique bracket accommodates almost any mounting configuration you can think of. Enclosure and Bracket Overview The controller enclosure is equipped with four (4) studs on…

The Cyclops uses Geomagnetic Sensing to monitor the Earth’s magnetic field as the plunger arrives. Mounting Location The Cyclops can be mounted in a variety of locations. Unlike coil based sensors, the plunger does not have to completely move by the sensor, nor does it have to be travelling at…

The Sasquatch uses Geomagnetic Sensing to capture waveforms as the plunger passes by each of the sensors. The more complete the waveforms are and then less interference there is, the better the velocity reading will be. Mounting Location The Sasquatch should be mounted as low on the lubricator as possible…

ETC Sensors have a unique technology embedded in them called Geomagnetic Sensing that monitors the Earth’s magnetic field in real time and then reacts to anomalies caused by ferrous metals found in plungers. By connecting Vision, we can see the changes to the magnetic field in real time. What You…

The Cyclops is mounted on the lubricator and is subject to vibration each time that the plunger arrives. Over time, these impacts can cause the connector to wiggle loose on version 2 of the Cyclops. Use a rubber stopper to prevent the connector from backing out. Cyclops Versions The Cyclops…

Load factor is a built in feature that allows you to open the well based on it’s ability to lift the fluid at the bottom of the well bore. What is Load Factor? Load Factor is the ratio of Fluid Pressure to Lift Pressure which is used to determine when…

Overview Using the Sasquatch with the ALiEn2 Expert controller allows the surface velocity to be read each cycle and be used for safety and/or optimization. This article explains the steps required to connect, configure, and troubleshoot this setup. Installation There are several steps to installing the Sasquatch as well as…

ETC controllers are equipped with one or more digital outputs. These digital outputs can be turned on and off to signal to other systems, provide power to external devices, or run relays to turn higher power devices on and off.

There is a full simulator for the ALiEn2/ALiEn2 Expert plunger lift controller that is built from the software that runs in the controller. The simulator allows for: Training without have a physical controller Evaluating controller models and features Giving controller demos Testing Modbus (using TCP) Access to manuals and instruction…

There is a lot of technical information on a certification label that helps to identify the area and conditions in which an electronic product can be used. Training Course All of the information below is covered in a training course called “Understanding Hazardous Locations Basics” which is available on our…

The faceplate in the ETC plunger lift controller has been designed to be removed and inserted in a very specific way. If done incorrectly, the powder coating can be scratched off the enclosure. Why Did ETC Do This? After looking at a lot of other controllers, they all had shortcomings…

The Cyclops IS and Cyclops ExP are the same product, but are designed and certified with different protection methods. The following information will help you to identify which product to use with your setup. Overview CycloPS IS The Cyclops IS is certified as Intrinsically Safe (IS), which means that it…

The ALiEn2 line of controllers will work with any SCADA system that supports standard Modbus. You can choose to implement your own solution using our Modbus map or work with one of the many pre-integrated solutions. Pre-Integrated Solutions A number of on premise and web based tools and systems have…

The ALiEn2 line of controllers are designed to be ultra low powered, which does restrict the type of pressure transducer that can be powered and read. Please see the sections below for more details. Single Pressure Transducer A single pressure transducer is used for reading casing, line, or tubing pressure….

All of the certification certificates and control drawings for ETC products can be found on their product page. Click on the links below to go to the appropriate page:

The solar enclosure has internal mounting points engineered into so it can be used as a housing for electronics. Detailed drawings of the solar enclosure and mounting bracket are available on the Solar Enclosure product page.

A lot of design effort, testing, and cost goes into creating a certified product. This often makes a product more expensive, but can guarantee that a product is safe. There are several different contributors to the cost of a certified product. Here are a few of them: Additional design and…

The Cyclops may not work properly with a very long cable run. The maximum cable length depends on a number of factors such as: Supply voltage Cable resistance/capacitance Controller input sensitivity Causes There are a number of potential issues that are caused by long cables that may be happening.

ETC sensors are used in a number of different geographical locations with different standards for wire and connector. As well, in some cases, the cable must be sealed to prevent the propagation of gas. For these reasons, we have chosen not to include a wiring kit with a connector.

Overview Sasquatch works by watching a ferrous plunger go by in real time, correlating multiple key points on two separate waveforms. Detection Issues If the plunger is not ferrous, no waveforms are seen leading to a zero velocity being reported. While an arrival may be detected from moving parts at…

We often get asked why the solenoid is installed on the outside of the plunger lift controller enclosure since everyone else puts them on the inside. This was an intentional design choice that comes with many benefits. Maintenance The solenoid on the outside of the enclosure allows maintenance personnel to…