Site Installation Guide This Guide applies to both the Signature Series and Series 500 WeatherHawk System Families WeatherHawk™ 815 W. 1800 N. Logan Utah 84321-1784, Email: service@weatherhawk.
Table of Contents Power Sources ..................................................................................................................... 1 Site Selection Ground Installations ...................................................................................................................... 1 Roof Installations ..........................................................................................................................
Site Installation Guide This guide includes procedures for installing your WeatherHawk station on a tripod or pole, on the ground or a rooftop, and for installing our associated mounting/installation kits as required. Before installing your WeatherHawk at your site, read over the sections on power sources, site selection, and communications considerations. The installation procedures start on page 4.
An option when obstructions exist is to raise the weather station height above the obstruction by using mast extensions or mounting the WeatherHawk on a roof. a. If your WeatherHawk station will be inside a fence to discourage vandalism, the fence top edge must be lower than the wind sensors even if the fence is chain-link. b. Accurate wind measurements require your WeatherHawk to be located at the highest point in a particular region. c.
Wireless Communications Transmission Ranges Site your WeatherHawk within the spread spectrum radio transmission range. Typical line-of-sight (LOS) transmission ranges are listed below: Up to ½ mile (0.8 km)for the WeatherHawk 916/922/520/521 Up to ¼ mile (0.4 km)for the WeatherHawk 240 Up to 7 miles if optional higher gain antennas are installed on both the WeatherHawk station and the RF4xx Base Station a. The transmission ranges assume standard WeatherHawk antennas are used at the computer site.
Testing Radio Transmissions To test the radio transmission of your WeatherHawk, carry the WeatherHawk to the site attached to the tripod or mounting pole then attempt to communicate with the WeatherHawk using the host computer. If obstructions in the line of sight are preventing the WeatherHawk from communicating, try the following: Relocate your WeatherHawk away from obstructions. Remove the obstructions.
2. If using mast extension(s), drive the extension(s) into the mast by inserting the tapered end of the extension into the top of the mast and striking the extension top with a wooden block or mallet (Figure 4). Mast extension Tripod mast Figure 4: Drive the tapered end of the mast extension (left) into the tripod mast. If using two extensions, drive the tapered end of the second extension into the top of the first extension.
Procedure 1b: Ground Installations 1. If needed, prepare the site. A temporary site may require brush or tall weeds to be removed and footings dug if the site is not level. A permanent site may require pouring a concrete pad or fabricating some other form of a permanent base (See WeatherHawk website for a hole pattern drawing of the TP1 to assist in pre-cast bolt alignment for permanent footings). 2.
Procedure 1c: Flat Roof Installations 1. For each of the tripod feet, remove the protective paper from one side of the sealing pad to expose the adhesive then adhere the sealing pad to the bottom of the tripod foot (Figure 7). Figure 7: The sealing pads, as well as other hardware used to attach the tripod feet to a roof, are included in the TP1 Tripod Kit. Either side of the sealing pad can be attached to the bottom of the tripod foot. Protective paper color may vary. Sealing Pad 2.
Procedure 1d: Peaked Roof Installations The WeatherHawk wind sensors should be at least 8 feet (2.5 m) above the roof peak, which requires two extensions (TP1-MX) and a guy-wire kit (TP1-GK). 1. For each of the tripod feet, remove the protective paper from one side of the sealing pad to expose the adhesive then adhere the sealing pad to the bottom of the tripod foot (Figure 9).
Procedure 2: TP1-GK Guy-Wire Kit Installation Guy-Wire Clamps Turnbuckles Bracket S-Hooks 1. Cut the guy-wire cable into three equal length pieces. 2. Loop one end of each guy-wire through a Bracket eye-bolt and clamp the guy-wire using one of the Clamps provided. 3. Install the Bracket on the tripod mast about six inches (15 cm) from the top of the mast then loosely tighten the bracket bolts that lock it to the mast. 4.
Procedure 3a: Mounting a Series 500 Station on a Tripod or Pole This procedure assumes the WeatherHawk has been setup and tested at the computer location (see Quick Start Guide), and that a tripod or pole has been installed at the site (see TP1 Tripod Installation Procedures, pp 4-8). 1. Your WeatherHawk Series 500 has an integral mounting socket on the bottom, with a stainless steel strap clamp. This socket and clamp arrangement will accommodate mast sizes from 1.5-1.66 inches.
Procedure 3b: Mounting a Signature Series Station on a Tripod or Pole This procedure assumes the WeatherHawk has been setup and tested at the computer location (see Quick Start-up Guide), and that a tripod or pole has been installed at the site (see TP1 Tripod Installation Procedures, pp 4-8). 1. Place your WeatherHawk assembly on top of the mast or pole with the base firmly seated on the top edge of the mast or pole (Figure 12).
4. Firmly tighten the U-bolt nuts. 5. If the TP1-GK Guy-wire Kit has been installed, assure that its orientation will not interfere with the solar panel (if one is installed) then evenly tighten the turnbuckles to tension the guy-wires. 6. Confirm the WeatherHawk is level by viewing the bubble level on top of the WeatherHawk (Figure 15).
Procedure 4: Solar Panel Installation 5 W Solar Panel 1.6 W Solar Panel 1. Place the solar panel on the mast below the station to the maximum distance allowed by the solar panel cable. 2. Loosely tighten the U-bolt so that the solar panel is stable but can be rotated on the mast or pole. 3. Use a compass (supplied in the optional Tripod Installation Kit, P/N TP1-TK) to properly align the solar panel. If your site is in the northern hemisphere, the glass surface of the panel should face south.
Procedure 5: TP1-GR Ground Kit Installation a. Proper earth grounding of the system may be required for both personal safety and reliable system function, we recommend a qualified electrician install the grounding kit. b. If the station is directly connected to the Host computer but not properly grounded and isolated, the Host computer can be damaged by environmentally induced electrical surges. c. This kit is for ground installations only. Do not use the TP1-GR kit for rooftop installations.
Appendix A: WeatherHawk Equipment The following equipment is available from WeatherHawk and these items can be ordered on-line at http://www.weatherhawk.com. Contact WeatherHawk Customer Service for questions concerning the use of the following equipment. Communications Options USB-AD Serial-to-USB Adapter The USB-AD Serial-to-USB Adapter is required if your computer has a USB port to communicate with the WeatherHawk.
Power Supplies SP1-KT 1.6 W Solar Panel Kit This solar panel is for use with the WeatherHawk 232 only and when it is located below Latitude 40. It recharges the internal battery (see Procedure 4: Solar Panel Installation, p. 12). It has a 24 sq inch surface area and produces 1.6 watts, at a peak of 20 volts. The SP1-KT includes: 1.
Mounting/Installation Kits TP1—Tripod/Mast Assembly The TP1 tripod/mast assembly provides a stable support for the WeatherHawk and is suitable for both ground and rooftop installations (see TP1 installation procedures, pp 4-8).
TP1-MX—Tripod Mast Extension The TP1-MX extension fits into a ¼” diameter post and is used to increase the height of the WeatherHawk wind sensors (see TP1 installation procedures). When used with the TP1, one extension provides a wind sensor height of 69” to 89” (179 to 231 cm). A second TP1-MX can be used to provide a wind sensor height of 98” to 120” (255 to 312 cm). The TP1-MX includes: ¼” (32.5 cm) OD, 35” (89 cm) long steel post with one end crimped a.
HM1—Low Profile Mast Assembly The HM1/low profile mast assembly is a modified satellite dish mast. It provides a stable support for the WeatherHawk and is suitable for rooftop and well supported fascia board installations. The HM1 includes: Foot Mast (12 inches 30.8 cm) high Kit that includes (6) lag bolts and (3) sealing pads (used for rooftop installations) The HM3 is a three foot version of the HM1.
Customer Service Additional information is provided in “Frequently Asked Questions” on our Web site (www.weatherhawk.com) or you can contact WeatherHawk at: 866-670-5982 (toll free in USA) 435-750-1802 (international) 435-750-1749 (FAX) service@weatherhawk.com International Service Centers WeatherHawk (UK) United Kingdom and Europe http://weatherhawk.co.uk Campbell Scientific of Canada Canada http://www.campbellsci.ca/CampbellScientific/splash.
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