Specifications

48
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.1
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: Every two weeks (or every time the station is visited)
inspect the radiation shield to make sure no animals have colonized the structure (wasps love the
shade provided by the shield). Clean the surface of the main ‘umbrella’ and the tube with a slightly
damped cloth to remove dust and dirt and keep the efficiency of the shield as high as possible. Check
that the fan is working by placing your hand (or an inexpensive portable flow monitor, e.g. Kestrel®
1000 Pocket Wind Meter-Forestry Suppliers) at the bottom of the shield. Slight suction should be
experienced (if a flow monitor is available it should read about 5 mph or greater -  8 km per hour).
The data logger is programmed to record the speed of the fan and write it to the data file, so if there is
any problem with the fan it should be apparent in the data immediately. Replacement fans can be
ordered from MetOne (make sure you order the fan with the tachometer cable – part # 3558)
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Inspect the precipitation gauge every time the station is visited.
Remove any debris from the collection funnel or debris screen. Every two weeks, remove the cover of
the gauge to make sure no insects or other animals are present inside. Carefully check that the tipping
bucket mechanism is moving freely (D
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tip it because a rainfall event will be recorded in the
data logger). Inspect the siphoning tubes attached to the bottom of the gauge and make sure they are
clear and free from debris (otherwise water will back up into the gauge). Check the bubble level to
ensure the gauge is leveled. If needed, correct the level by adjusting the nuts on the mounting
brackets.
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Every month, check the level of the pyranometers and adjust if
necessary. Remove any debris on the sensor head by using a soft brush. If the debris is substantial
(e.g. a bird dropping) note it in the maintenance log (Appendix A.3), and carefully clean the surface of
the sensor with a lightly dampened cloth (do not use chemical cleaners). Inspect the drain hole next to
the sensor and ensure it is open and free of debris.
6.1.5 Power systems maintenance
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Clean the surface of the solar panel every month by removing any debris, bird
droppings, dust, etc. This will keep the panel working at the maximum efficiency possible. Using a
voltmeter, measure the voltage differential coming out of the panel; not the regulator (at maximum
efficiency - full sun, this should be about 17.9 V).
B
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: Every month check the battery to ensure it is working properly. Check that all the cable
connections are tight and clean (no salt deposits or rust). When extracting data from the data logger,
examine the data for the battery voltage minimum logs for any warning signs that the battery is not
performing optimally. Normal minimum voltages should be between 11-13 V. If the voltage of the
rechargeable battery dips below 10.5 V, this can cause irreversible damage to the battery. If the
minimum battery voltage dips below 10.5 V, immediately replace the battery.
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As mentioned in Section 6.4.1, check the manual precipitation gauge every
time the station is visited. Follow the instructions in S
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8
of the Climate Data
Management Tool Help (Appendix A.8) for information about uploading this data.