Owner’s Guide & Installation Instructions WeatherStation Instrument ® Models: 300WXR 300WX 150WX 110WX 100WX PB200 PB150 LB150 Patents Pending Record the serial number found on the underside of the instrument. Serial No._______________Date of Purchase_________________ 17-461-01 rev.
Copyright © 2008 - 2011 Airmar Technology Corp. All rights reserved. All Rights Reserved. Except as expressly provided herein, no part of this manual may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, disseminated, downloaded, or stored in any storage medium, for any purpose without prior written consent of Airmar.
Table of Contents Introduction & Features.............................................................4 Outputs & Functions................................................................. 5 Safety Instructions.................................................................... 6 Importance of True Wind......................................................... 7 Adding External Sensors.......................................................... 7 Hardware........................................................
IMPORTANT: Please read the Owner’s Guide completely before proceeding. Introduction Thank you for purchasing Airmar’s ultrasonic, WeatherStation Instrument. This exciting product has multiple sensors in a single unit—without any moving parts. The compact housing is waterproof with a single removable cable. Functions and features vary by model.
Apparent wind speed and angle True wind speed and direction True wind speed relative to water Heater to keep wind channel free of ice Air temperature Apparent wind chill temperature True wind chill temperature Barometric pressure Relative humidity Dew point temperature Heat index temperature Rain intensity Rain accumulation Rain event duration Peak time of rain intensity Magnetic compass heading Heading relative to true north Rate of Turn Angle of pitch and roll Rate of pitch & roll Global Positioning Syste
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. Follow the safety precautions below to reduce the risk of poor product performance, property damage, personal injury, and/or death.
The Importance of Understanding True Wind Direction When the WeatherStation Instrument is stationary, the direction from which the wind is blowing is known as the true wind. The WeatherStation Instrument is programed to measure the direction based upon the specific orientation of the sensor. For the WeatherStation Instrument to accurately calculate the true direction of the wind, it must be installed and oriented correctly. To learn more about true and apparent wind direction, visit www.airmar.
Cables & Connecting/Converting Hardware The WeatherStation Instrument can be connected to a device and/or network in several ways. You must have the correct cable and any needed converting/ connecting hardware before beginning the installation. WeatherStation Cables • • • • Length NMEA 0183 Cable NMEA 0183 Cable (for instrument with heater) NMEA 2000® Cable NMEA 2000® Cable Part No.
Tools & Materials Safety goggles Dust mask Pencil Level Electric drill Drill bits Phillips screwdrivers Teflon pipe-thread tape (optional) Deck gland (some installations) Grommets (some installations) Cutting pliers (some installations) Wire strippers (some installations) Heat-shrink tubing (some installations) Heat gun (some installations) Multimeter (some installations) Cable ties (some installations) Where to Purchase Parts Obtain parts from your instrument manufacturer or marine dealer.
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. Choose a location that balances the requirements below.
Installing 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: The WeatherStation Instrument must be installed upright and vertically—NOT tilted to one side. If the WeatherStation Instrument is tilted from the horizontal plane, it may introduce an error in the compass and wind readings.
Permanent Mounting 1. Place the mounting hardware at the selected location. Orient any cable exit in the direction that you want the cable to travel. 2. Position the mounting hardware at a 90° angle to the mounting surface. If necessary, use shims to make the mounting surface level (see Figure 4). 3. Mark the holes for the screws (see Figure 1). If the cable will pass through the center of the mount, also mark that hole.
Attaching the Cable to the WeatherStation Instrument 1. 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. Be sure to leave several inches of cable extending beyond the nut assembly (see Figure 5). 2. Screw the nut assembly onto the top of the antenna mount /extension tube. Hand tighten only. Do not over tighten. NOTE: If you use a thread lock, use teflon pipe thread tape only. 3.
Cable Routing & Connecting Depending on the equipment you will be using, route the WeatherStation cable to an Airmar Converter, Combiner, or Splitter; an NMEA 0183 display or an NMEA 2000 network. After reading the cautions below, go to the appropriate instructions. WARNING: The power supply must be OFF before making electrical connections. WARNING: The power supply voltage must be that specified for the model.
Connecting to an Airmar Converter, Combiner, or Splitter Follow the installation instructions that are supplied with the unit. Connecting to an NMEA 0183 Display Route the WeatherStation cable to the display. Do not fasten the cable in place at this time. Connector on Display End If your WeatherStation cable has a connector on the display end, and it can be plugged into the port on your NMEA 0183 display; do so now. Coil any excess cable and secure it with cable ties to prevent damage.
locator 10 WeatherStation connector NMEA 0183 RS422 interface x NMEA 0183 RS232 interface V+ VA /+ OUT V+ VTX OUT A/+ IN B/- IN RX IN NO CONNECTION B/- OUT NO CONNECTION SHIELD SHIELD BARE 10 Figure 6. NMEA 0183 WeatherStation Cable—no heater Copyright © 2007 - 2011 Airmar Technology Corp.
Connecting to an NMEA 2000® Network CAUTION: Only two termination resistors are required on an NMEA 2000 network. More than two will degrade the bus performance. Route the WeatherStation cable to the NMEA 2000 network. Plug the NMEA 2000 connector into the network node (see Figure 8). Coil any excess cable and secure with cable ties to prevent damage. locator 10 WeatherStation connector NMEA 2000 network connector 10 Figure 8.
Calibrating the Compass WARNING: The internal compass may need to be calibrated after the instrument is installed for maximum accuracy. Perform the pretest below to determine if calibration is necessary. CAUTION: Boat—The Pretest and AutoCalibration Procedure must be done in calm seas in a 0.8 km (0.5 mile) open area away from other boats and ferrous objects such as structures and aids to navigation.
Maintenance CAUTION: Do not disassemble the WeatherStation Instrument. There are no user-serviceable parts inside. Removing the three screws holding the lower housing will damage the waterproof seal, voiding the warranty. CAUTION: Do not immerse in water or pressure wash. Doing so may allow water to infiltrate the WeatherStation Instrument, voiding the warranty. CAUTION: The reflector plate and the waterproof film found in the wind channel of the WeatherStation Instrument are essential to its operation.
Humidity Sensor: 110WX, 150WX, 300WX, 300WXR 1. Remove the two screws from the humidity sensor or blank (see Figure 11). 2. Remove the sensor or blank. 3. Push the new humidity sensor into place. Fasten it with the two screws supplied. Using a torque wrench, apply 0.25 - 0.30Nm. Do not over tighten. screws humidity sensor Figure 11. Replacing the humidity sensor Copyright © 2011 Airmar Technology Corp.
Troubleshooting No Readings or Inaccurate Readings • • • • • Is there power to the WeatherStation Instrument? Are all the connections tight? Is the cable-run free of kinks? Is the wiring correct? Are there any obstructions in the wind channel? Keep it free of spider webs, insects, dirt, and other debris. Be careful not to puncture the waterproof film or scratch the reflector plate.
Technical Information Additional Data Available from the WeatherStation Instrument There are parameters that the WeatherStation Instrument can make available to the user. Usually, more data is available from the WeatherStation Instrument than can be displayed in a reasonable format on a screen. Also, if all the data was continuously transmitted to the display, the update rate would be too slow and could not keep up with WeatherStation measurements.
Acronyms CD EGNOS GPS LEN NA NPT PC UNS USB WAAS Compact Disk European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service Global Positioning System Load Equivalency Number Not Available National Pipe Thread Personal Computer Unified National Standard Universal Serial Bus Wide Area Augmentation System Glossary Firmware WeatherCaster™ software 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.
