Owner’s Guide & Installation Instructions WeatherStation® Instrument Model PB150 Record the serial number found on the underside of the instrument. Serial No._______________Date of Purchase_________________ 17-426-02 rev.
Copyright © 2007 - 2010 Airmar Technology Corp. All rights reserved.
Table of Contents Introduction......................................................................................4 Safety Instructions........................................................................... 5 Adding External Sensors................................................................. 6 Choosing the Mounting Location................................................... 7 Tools & Materials............................................................................ 8 Installing................
IMPORTANT: Please read the Owner’s Guide completely before proceeding with the installation. Introduction Thank you for purchasing the Airmar’s ultrasonic WeatherStation® instrument. This exciting 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 NMEA 0183 format.
WARNING Do not use the WeatherStation instrument for your primary navigational device. The two-axis compass can give inaccurate readings when the vessel is pitching and rolling. WARNING: Navigation Aid Only The WeatherStation instrument is only an aid to navigation and should never be solely relied upon. It is not a replacement for traditional navigation aids and techniques. Only official government charts contain all the information needed for safe navigation.
Improve Course-Over-Ground and True Wind Readings The WeatherStation instrument incorporates a two-axis compass. Significant errors can occur in the heading when the vessel is pitching and rolling. If there is an error in the heading, there also will be a corresponding error in the true wind direction. The True Wind error can be minimized or eliminated by using Course-Over-Ground instead of the internal compass to make calculations. (COG heading data is obtained from the GPS.
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 on the boat will vary depending on the particular equipment and how it is configured. Choose a location that balances the requirements below (see Figure 1).
Tools & Materials Antenna mount with standard marine 1"-14 threads and pass-through for cable (see Figure 2) Hardware to install the antenna mount Extension tube (optional) Safety goggles Dust mask Pencil Level Electric drill Drill bits Phillips screwdrivers Plumber’s tape (optional) Grommets (some installations) Cutting pliers (some installations) Wire strippers (some installations) Electrical tape (some installations) Heat Shrink tubing (some installations) Cable ties Converter (some installations) Combin
Installing WARNING: Always wear safety goggles and a dust mask. CAUTION: The reflector plate and the waterproof film found in the wind channel of the WeatherStation instrument are essential to its operation (see Figure 3). 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.
WeatherStation alignment tabs face forward and parallel to the keel (centerline) of the vessel wind channel where air travels through the sensor nut assembly extension tube (most installations) cable exit (some installations) antenna mount Figure 4. Installation Copyright © 2008 Airmar Technology Corp. 1. Place the antenna mount at the selected location and mark the holes for the screws (see Figure 2). Also, mark the hole in the center of the mount for the cable to pass through.
WeatherStation connector alignment key nut assembly captive nut Figure 5. Connector Copyright © 2008 Airmar Technology Corp. 6. With the nut assembly on the cable near the WeatherStation connector, thread the cable through the extension tube (if used), antenna mount, and the cable exit. Allow several inches of cable topped by the connector above the nut assembly (see Figure 5). 7. Screw the nut assembly onto the top of the antenna mount/extension tube. Hand tighten only. Do not over tighten. 8.
Cable Routing & Connecting Depending on the equipment that you will be using, route the WeatherStation cable to a Converter, a Combiner, or directly to an NMEA 0183 display. You must read the safety instructions below before going to the section that is appropriate for your equipment. 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.
NOTE 3: The display power may be wired directly to the WeatherStation cable, or it may be wired separately. WeatherStation Function WeatherStation Cable Display Function NMEA input A/+ Yellow NMEA output A/+ (see Note 2) NMEA input B/– Orange NMEA output B/– NMEA output A/+ White NMEA input A/+ NMEA output B/– Blue NMEA input B/– 12 VDC + Red (see Note 1) 12 VDC + (see Note 3) 12 VDC –/ground Black 12 VDC –/ground Shield Bare Shield No Connector—Wiring 1.
Software Installing the Software Follow the instructions in the WeatherCaster™ Software Guide. Software Updates Airmar may release updated versions of the firmware. The latest revision will be available for download through an email to you, from Airmar’s website at www.airmar.com, or a CD can be mailed by Airmar’s technical support personnel. Calibration The WeatherStation instrument is calibrated at the factory and does not require any calibration after purchase.
Where to Purchase Gemeco (USA) Tel: 803.693.0777 Fax: 803.693.0477 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.
Combiner Problems The LED light on the Combiner indicates its current operating mode and if an error is detected during the self-test process. See the table below. Color and Flash Count Mode and Error Condition Description of Mode and Required User Action Red No flashing Start-up mode No error Normal operation mode that should last for no more than 1.5 seconds. Any longer indicates an error with the program. No action required.
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 vessel proceeding at a speed of 15 knots in calm air. An observer on board would experience a wind of 15 knots from dead ahead. This apparent wind would be due solely to the motion of the boat. If a true wind of 15 knots was blowing from the stern, an observer would experience dead calm—no apparent wind. That is because the boat 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 Air Temperature Sensor The WeatherStation instrument includes a built-in negative-temperaturecoefficient thermistor that measures the ambient air temperature. This NTC thermistor is located in a thermally isolated region of the WeatherStation housing that is open to the outside air. About Wind Chill Temperature Wind Chill is a term that describes the heat loss on the human body resulting from the combined effects of low temperature and wind.
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.
About True Wind Relative to Water If a fix from a GPS receiver is not available, it is still possible for the WeatherStation instrument to determine a value for true wind, if the speed of the vessel through the water is known. In this case, it is necessary that a water-speed sensor with an NMEA output (such as an Airmar Smart™ Sensor) be connected to the NMEA input on the WeatherStation instrument (or to the optional Combiner).
Appendix B—Technical Information Baud Rates WeatherCaster needs to be set as follows: • If you have a USB Converter, set the baud rate to 4800. • If you have a Combiner, set the baud rate to 38400.
Acronyms & Abbreviations CD COG COM Port DOP EGNOS GNSS GPS LED PC SD SOG UNS USB UTC WAAS 2D 3D Compact Disk Course Over Ground Communications Port Dilution Of Precision European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service Global Navigation Satellite System Global Positioning System Light Emitting Diode Personal Computer Satellite Differential Speed Over Ground Unified National Standard Universal Serial Bus Universal Time Coordinated Wide Area Augmentation System Two Dimensional GPS Fix Three dimensional GPS
