General Purpose
Supports a wide range of available sensors including Vibrating Wire, MEMs, SDI-12, and 4-20mA
General Purpose Data Acquisition
The Canary Systems® MLDAQ is a powerful, rugged and reliable wireless data acquisition station for general purpose use.
The MLDAQ supports measurements from a wide range of available sensors, including vibrating wire, load cells, micro-electro-mechanical (MEMs) sensors, flowmeters, linear potentiometers, thermocouples, thermistors, SDI-12 sensors, 4-20mA sensors, weather instruments such as wind sets, rain gages, temperature and humidity.
At the heart of the system is the CR6 Measurement and Control Module. This MCU features very flexible programming and communications, along with large internal data storage and provides for reading all commercially available vibrating wire instrumentation including piezometers, strain gages, crack/displacement meters, in-place inclinometers and load cells. Canary Systems® MiniMux are available as options to expand the number of measurement channels per station.
Battery & Enclosure
The 50AHr battery version (MLDAQ-50A/50S) supports applications requiring additional high power consumption communication or measurement peripherals. The system is supplied with AC powered battery chargers as well as solar panels.
The MLDAQ base station is designed from the outset for operation in demanding environments using a NEMA 4/12 rated painted steel enclosure. Mil-spec connectors and industrial cable glands additionally protect against harsh conditions and the elements.
Optional uni-strut mounting kits are available to provide for pipe mounting of the enclosures. The enclosures are easily wall-mounted using the integrated enclosure mounting tabs.
The MLDAQ-50 comes with a 1-year limited warranty
Extensible
Option for additional multiplexers for channel extension
Easy Configuration
Easy channel configuration and system programming using our MultiLogger® software
Specifications
| MLDAQ-12A | MLDAQ-12S | MLDAQ-50A | MLDAQ-50S | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCU | CR6 | CR6 | CR6 | CR6 |
| Enclosure Type | FRP | FRP | Steel | Steel |
| Size (LxWxH, in) | 18x16x10 | 18x16x10 | 24x20x10 | 24x20x10 |
| Weight (lbs) | 34 | 34 | 98 | 98 |
| Battery | 12AHr | 12AHr | 50AHr | 50AHr |
| Solar | – | 20W | – | 40W |
| Receiving | RS-232 | RS-232 | RS-232 | RS-232 |
| Transmitting | No | No | No | No |
| MLTB-OVP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Options | MiniMux (up to 1) | MiniMux (up to 1) | MiniMux (up to 2) | MiniMux (up to 2) |
| MCU | Enclosure Type | Size (LxWxH, in) | Weight (lbs) | Battery | Solar | Receiving | Transmitting | MLTB-OVP | Options | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLDAQ-12A | CR6 | FRP | 18x16x10 | 34 | 12AHr | – | RS-232 | No | Yes | MiniMux (up to 1) |
| MLDAQ-12S | CR6 | FRP | 18x16x10 | 34 | 12AHr | 20W | RS-232 | No | Yes | MiniMux (up to 1) |
| MLDAQ-50A | CR6 | Steel | 24x20x10 | 98 | 50AHr | – | RS-232 | No | Yes | MiniMux(up to 2) |
| MLDAQ-50S | CR6 | Steel | 24x20x10 | 98 | 50AHr | 40W | RS-232 | No | Yes | MiniMux(up to 2) |
Datalogger
CR6 | |
| Universal Channels | 12 individually configured inputs for analog or digital functions |
| Analog Resolution | 24 bits |
| Input Voltage Range | ±5 V |
| Pulse Count Channels | 16 (C1 to P4 and U1 to U12) |
| Excitation Channels | 12 |
| Digital Ports | 16 |
| Communications | Ethernet, USB, CS I/O, RS-232, CPI, RS-485, SDI-12 |
| Power | 16–32 VDC (CHG) 10–16 VDC (BAT) |
| Power Consumption | <1 mA (quiescent) ~3 mA (active, no communications) ~67 mA (active, communication) |
| Data Memory | 4 MB SRAM |
| Program Memory | 72 MB flash |
| OS Memory | 128 MB flash |
Physical & Electrical
Physical | |
| Operating Temperature | -40° to +70° C -40 to +160° F |
Solar Panel | |
| MLDAQ-12S | |
| Output Voltage | 17.2VDC maximum (loaded) |
| Output Power | 1.17A maximum (20W) |
| MLDAQ-50S | |
| Output Voltage | 18VDC maximum (loaded) |
| Output Power | 2.25A maximum (40W) |
AC Adaptor | |
| Output Voltage | 18VDC |
| Output Power | 1A maximum |
Battery | |
| MLDAQ-12A/12S | 12V 12AHr sealed lead-acid |
| MLDAQ-50A/50S | 12V 50AHr sealed lead-acid |
Module
MLTB-OVP | |
| Voltage Range | 9-16VDC (unregulated), 12VDC nominal |
| Maximum Current | 1100mA (per circuit) |
| Analog Signals | 6 |
| 5V Control Signal TVS Clamp | 6.8 volts |
| Analog Signal TVS Clamp | 16.7V |
| Gas Discharge Tube DC Spark | Over 90V |
| Impulse Discharge Current | 5.0Ka (8/20uSec) |
| AC Discharge (nominal) | 5A |
| Analog Signal Series Inductance | 10μH ±20% |
| Analog Signal Series Resistance | 35mΩ ±20%. |
| Analog Signal Current | 3.8A maximum |
Options
MiniMux Multiplexer | |
| Channels | (16) 4-channel or (32) 2-channel (switch selectable) |
| Control Inputs | 2 |
| Control Input Range | 5–16V |
| Power | 10–16VDC |
| Power Consumption (Quiescent) | <0.1µA |
| Power Consumption (Active) | ~42mA |
| Relay Contacts | Gold clad silver alloy |
| Contact Resistance | 75mΩ |
| Contact Isolation | 1500V |
| Coil Resistance | 1028Ω |
| Relay Operate Time | ~2ms |
| Relay Release Time | ~1ms |
| Relay Max Voltage | 125VAC, 110VDC |
| Relay Max Switching | 2A |
| Relay Life (Minimum) | 108 Cycles |
| Transient Protection Threshold | 75V |
| Transient Current Limit | 1kA |
News & Announcements
Canary Systems Featured in Engineering and Mining JournalMay 18, 2026 - 12:06 pm
Geotechnical Radar Monitoring CourseApril 23, 2026 - 10:25 am
See you at SME 2026!February 12, 2026 - 4:43 pm
Advisory Board Press ReleaseFebruary 2, 2026 - 1:04 pm
Slope Stability 2025 Workshop Recap & PresentationDecember 16, 2025 - 4:43 pm