Introduction; Installing The Weather Station; Siting Requirements And Considerations - RainWise PVmet 500 Series User Manual

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing the PVmet-500weather station. The PVmet-500is a precision, modular, and compact weather station that
uses Modbus communication over RS-485 that is SunSpec compliant. The PVmet-500was primarily designed for use in the photovoltaic
market for monitoring the following parameters:
•
Solar irradiance (× 3)
•
Back of module temperature (× 3)
•
Wind speed
•
Wind direction
•
Barometric pressure
•
Relative Humidity
•
Ambient temperature
•
Precipitation
The PVmet 500's easy installation and simple operation make it a preferred choice for the solar irradiance market.

INSTALLING THE WEATHER STATION

The weather station is typically mounted out of normal reach, so the system should be operated at ground level to make sure
that all components are working properly prior to installation. Operation of the unit is covered in Section RS-485.
The PVmet-500was designed to be easily installed in many ways. The base unit consists of a NEMA rated enclosure mounted to a PVC
mast with a hygrometer mounted to the top as shown in Figure 1.

SITING REQUIREMENTS AND CONSIDERATIONS

Weather station sensors can be affected by obstructions and local topography. Each site is different and presents challenges in its
own unique way. The PVmet-500installation requires careful consideration and planning to determine the best location without
introducing measurement errors.
Figure 1: PVmet-500Base unit
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