WeatherStation Instrument ® Owner’s Guide Models: LB100, LB150 Record the serial number found on the WeatherStation® instrument. Serial No.
Copyright © 2007, 2008 Airmar Technology Corp. All rights reserved.
Table of Contents Introduction......................................................................................4 Safety Instructions........................................................................... 5 Adding External Sensors................................................................. 6 Choosing the Mounting Location.................................................... 7 Mounts............................................................................................. 8 Installing.........
IMPORTANT: Please read the Owner’s Guide completely before proceeding with the installation. Introduction Thank you for purchasing Airmar’s ultrasonic WeatherStation® instrument. This product is actually six different sensors in a single unit—without any moving parts. The compact housing is waterproof with a single removable cable. Data is output in digital RS485 format using the NMEA 0183 sentence structure.
Safety Instructions WARNING: Correct Installation Important The WeatherStation instrument must be installed and operated according to the instructions in this owners guide. Failure to do so could result in poor product performance, personal injury, and/or damage to the vehicle. WARNING: Electrical Safety The power supply voltage must be 12VDC (±3VDC). Any other voltage may damage the WeatherStation instrument and/or result in fire, causing personal injury and/or damage to the vehicle.
Adding External Sensors Some WeatherStation instruments can receive data from an external relativehumidity and/or air-temperature sensor(s). The instrument automatically detects if a sensor is internal, external, or not available at all. Simply connect the external sensor(s) to the WeatherStation instrument. • GPS—An external GPS can be connected instead of or in addition to the internal GPS. The WeatherStation instrument gives priority to valid external GPS data when available.
Min. 1m Figure 1. Antennas Courtesy of Northstar BNT, Acton, MA Choosing the Mounting Location For accurate readings and a reliable GPS signal, selecting the best location for the WeatherStation instrument is very important. Easy access and appearance should be secondary considerations. Since each installation is unique, the best separation distances from other equipment will vary depending on the particular equipment and how it is configured.
Mounts The WeatherStation nut has standard 1"-14 UNS or 3/4" NPT threads. deck mount center pass-through deck mount side pass-through ratchet mount with extension extension with cable pass-through cable passthrough cable passes through center of mount Figure 3. Antenna mounts (not supplied) Copyright © 2007 Airmar Technology Corp. Where to Purchase Gemeco (USA) Tel: 843.394.3565 Fax: 843.394.3736 email: sales@gemeco.com Airmar EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) Tel: 33.(0)2.23.52.06.48 Fax: 33.
Installing WARNING: Always wear safety goggles and a dust mask. CAUTION: The silver metal plate and the blue film found in the wind channel of the WeatherStation instrument are essential to its operation (see Figure 4). Be careful not to scratch the plate, puncture the film, or damage them in any way. CAUTION: Do not remove the waterproof connector(s) to ease cable routing. If the cable must be cut and spliced, use Airmar’s splash-proof Junction Box No. 33-035 and follow the instructions provided.
Permanent Mounting 1. Place the mount at the selected location. Orient any cable exit in the direction that you want the cable to travel (see Figure 5). 2. Position the mount at a 90° angle to the mounting surface. If necessary, use shims to make it level. 3. Mark the holes for the screws. If the cable will pass through the center of the mount, also mark that hole. Note: If you are using a ratchet mount, be sure you have purchased an extension with a cable pass-through.
Attaching the WeatherStation Instrument CAUTION: If you use a thread lock, use plumber’s tape. Do not use a liquid thread lock as it may weaken the plastic, causing it to swell and crack. CAUTION: It is necessary to accurately measure the wind direction. If mounting on a stationary surface, be sure the alignment tabs face north. If mounting on a vehicle, be sure the alignment tabs face forward and parallel to the centerline of the vehicle.
Cable Routing & Connecting Depending upon your application, route the WeatherStation cable to a Converter, PDA, laptop computer, or other device. WARNING: Always wear safety goggles and a dust mask. WARNING: The power supply voltage must be 12 VDC (±3VDC). WARNING: The power panel must have a 1 amp fast-blow fuse or circuit breaker. CAUTION: Do not remove the waterproof connector(s) to ease cable routing. If the cable must be cut and spliced, use Airmar’s splash-proof Junction Box No.
Mounting Location of the Converter 1. Select a convenient, dry, mounting location for the water-resistant Converter, a minimum of 1m (3') from the PC (see Figure 7). 2. Hold the Converter at the selected location and mark the position of the screw holes. If the Converter will be mounted on a vertical surface, face the cables downward to avoid water seeping into the box. WARNING: Always wear safety goggles and a dust mask. 3. At the marked locations, drill the holes for the screws.
Completing the Installation 1. Fasten the Converter in place with the screws supplied. 2. Plug the WeatherStation cable into the Converter. 3. Plug the USB cable into the PC. 4. Fasten all the cables in place. LED Indicator Light The green LED indicator light will flash when the Converter is operating. Installing the Software Follow the instructions in the WeatherCaster™ Software Guide.
Maintenance & Updates Software Updates Periodically, Airmar will release updated versions of both the WeatherStation firmware and the WeatherCaster software. Updates can be downloaded from Airmar’s web site, www.airmar.com, or contact Airmar’s technical support personnel for a CD. Calibration The WeatherStation instrument is calibrated at the factory and does not require any calibration after purchase. Maintenance Since the WeatherStation instrument has no moving parts, it requires minimal maintenance.
Where to Purchase Gemeco (USA) Tel: 843.394.3565 Fax: 843.394.3736 email: sales@gemeco.com Airmar EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) Tel: 33.(0)2.23.52.06.48 Fax: 33.(0)2.23.52.06.49 Email: sales@airmar-emea.
Appendix A—How the WeatherStation Instrument Works About the Ultrasonic Wind Sensor The ultrasonic wind sensor (an ultrasonic anemometer) measures apparent wind speed and direction. The WeatherStation instrument contains four ultrasonic transducers, visible through the four holes in the top of the sensor’s wind channel (see Figure 9). These transducers operate in pairs—one transducer injects a pulse into the air.
Consider the case of a vehicle proceeding at a speed of 15 MPH in calm air. An observer on board would experience a wind of 15 MPH from dead ahead. This apparent wind would be due solely to the motion of the vehicle. If a true wind of 15 MPH was blowing from the rear, an observer would experience dead calm—no apparent wind. That is because the vehicle is moving at the same speed and in the same direction as the surrounding air.
About the Electronic Compass The WeatherStation instrument includes a pair of magnetoinductive sensors that measure magnetic field strength in two axes on the horizontal plane of the WeatherStation instrument. From these measurements, it calculates the resultant magnetic heading angle, thereby providing a built-in electronic compass. Like all magnetic compasses, the WeatherStation compass will be affected by any ferrous or magnetic materials in the vicinity, such as metal structures, motors, speakers, etc.
About the Relative Humidity Sensor The WeatherStation instrument contains a capacitive cell humidity sensor that measures the relative humidity of the air. Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air. Relative humidity is the percentage of saturation of the water vapor in the air. It is the ratio of the moisture content of the air to the saturated moisture level at the same temperature and pressure.
About the Global Positioning System Some WeatherStation instruments have a built-in GPS with their own antenna, receiver, and position determining electronics. The GPS receiver receives radio signals from a constellation of orbiting satellites maintained by the U.S. government. By accurately measuring the time it takes for a transmission to travel from each satellite to the receiver, the unit is able to determine the distance between the satellite and the receiver.
Appendix B—Technical Information NMEA 0183 Sentences Datum Reference GPS Fix Data Geographic Position L/L Standard GNSS DOP and Active Satellites Standard GNSS Satellites in View Heading, Deviation, Variation Heading Relative to True North Meteorological Composite Wind Speed & Direction with respect to north Apparent Wind Speed & Direction with respect to front of vehicle True Wind Speed & Direction with respect to front of vehicle Recommended Minimum GNSS Course Over Ground (COG) & Speed Over Ground (SOG)
Acronyms & Abbreviations CD COG DOP GNSS GPS PC SOG USB WAAS 2D 3D Compact Disk Course Over Ground Dilution Of Precision Global Navigation Satellite System Global Positioning System Personal Computer Speed Over Ground Universal Serial Bus Wide Area Augmentation System Two Dimensional GPS Fix Three dimensional GPS Fix Glossary Firmware WeatherCaster The software within the WeatherStation hardware The PC application program Trademarks Airmar® is a registered trademark of Airmar Technology Corporation.
35 Meadowbrook Drive, Milford, New Hampshire 03055-4613, USA www.airmar.
