NexSens XB-200 Data Buoy
Features
- Three integrated 15-watt solar panels for 45-watts of solar charging
- 4" diameter pass-through holes for water sensor deployments
- Topside plate supports solar marine light, weather stations, and other sensors
- Expedited repair and warranty service
- Lifetime technical support
- More
The XB-200 represents the next generation of data buoy platforms from NexSens Technology. It is ideal for applications requiring portability and quick deployment, yet strong enough for rough water. The platform is a popular choice for limnology research, dredge turbidity monitoring, temperature or dissolved oxygen profiling, fisheries and aquaculture monitoring, harmful algal bloom detection, and oil spill response.
The hull and solar tower on the XB-200 are made from UV stabilized, linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), offering both flexibility and toughness. The hull is filled with a lightweight, closed-cell polyurethane foam to keep the buoy afloat even if pierced or damaged. Batteries are housed in a waterproof compartment in the buoy hull with additional room for measurement electronics and telemetric equipment.
When configured with the NexSens X3 4G LTE cellular or Iridium satellite data logger, all electronics are mounted under the solar tower top plate for quick access and easy replacement. Three 4” pass-through ports accommodate water monitoring sensors, and a configurable top plate accommodates weather sensors along with a navigation beacon. Commonly integrated sensors include weather stations, wave sensors, thermistor strings, multi-parameter sondes, Doppler current profilers, and other monitoring instruments.
- Hull Outer Diameter: 30.0" (76.2cm)
- Hull Height: 22.0” (55.8cm)
- Battery Well Inner Diameter: 9.7” (23.6cm) above battery
- Battery Well Height: 20.5" (52.1cm)
- Pass-Through Hole Diameter: 4.0" (10.2cm)
- Tower Height: 20.0” (50.8cm)
- Solar Panels: 3x 15-watts
- Weight: 70 lb. (32kg)
- Gross Buoyancy: 334 lb. (152kg)
- Net Buoyancy: 264 lb. (120kg)
- Hull Material: UV stabilized, linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) with closed-cell polyurethane foam fill
- Hardware Material: 316 stainless steel
- Mooring Attachments: 2x 5/8” eye nuts
- (1) XB-200 solar tower with (3) 15-watt solar panels
- (1) XB-200 buoy hull with with 4" instrument holes
- (1) XB-200 battery well lid with power hub
- (1) XB-200 instrument cage with integrated cross members for mooring clamps
In The News
Three Decades of Research at Acton Lake
A multi-disciplinary team at Miami University, Ohio, has been studying the environmental change at Acton Lake for over three decades. Using three different NexSens buoys over this time, the team has an incredible archive of data that is helping build a picture of Acton’s past, present, and future. Until recently, a NexSens CB-50 buoy was used alongside other environmental monitoring at Acton Lake. In May 2025, the Miami team deployed a new XB-200 buoy , future-proofing their ongoing monitoring using real-time buoy systems. Acton Lake, a small hypereutrophic reservoir in southwest Ohio, covers 2.4km² and has a maximum depth of about 8m. The dam was built in 1956, and the lake has a large agricultural watershed.
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Read MoreIt’s a Buoy! Highlighting the New NexSens XB-200 Data Buoy
As scientists seek to better understand aquatic ecosystems, utilizing small data buoys to monitor offshore and cover more water is becoming commonplace. The new NexSens Technology XB-200 data buoy was designed for inland and coastal monitoring applications. Although compact, the platform is designed with adequate space for multiple sensors and measurement electronics. When configured with the NexSens X3 data logger with IoT connectivity, internal batteries, solar panels, select sensors, and other accessories, the new buoy provides an off-the-shelf solution for any monitoring project. The new buoy concept was developed by the NexSens product development team with significant user input.
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