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Skye MiniMet Installation Manual

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MiniMet Installation Manual
Iss. 2.0

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Summary of Contents for Skye MiniMet

  • Page 1 ™ MiniMet Installation Manual Iss. 2.0...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    3.3.2 Mast bolted to a concrete base …............. 5 3.4 Mast Mounted on a Roof Top …..............6 3.5 Mast mounted on a wall …................6 3.6.10m Retractable Mast …................. 6 MOUNTING THE DATAHOG OR MINIMET …........RADIATION SCREENS FOR RH & AIR TEMPERATURE …......
  • Page 3 Appendix 9, 10 & 11 Mounting the GSM/GPRS Enclosure on the Mast with a Solar Panel …..Appendix 12 Typical MiniMet Installation with GSM/GPRS …....Appendix 13 Typical MiniMet Installation without GSM/GPRS …... Appendix 14 Plan of a Concrete Base for a 10m Retractable Mast …..

  • Page 4: Introduction

    / maintenance / recalibrations by post worldwide. On site engineer service visits are available directly from Skye in the UK, please contact your local Skye distributor for details of an on site service in your own country.

  • Page 5: Choosing A Suitable Location

    MiniMet Installation 2. CHOOSING A SUITABLE LOCATION FOR AN AUTOMATIC WEATHER STATION The ideal location for installing an automatic weather station would be a flat area of short kept grassland, minimum 10m x 10m in size, fenced and surrounded by a larger flat area with no height obstructions in the near vicinity.
  • Page 6 MiniMet Installation Again, the standard mast height is 2 m, but the actual pole height should be chosen according to the immediate surroundings and obstructions, for example other buildings, tall trees, chimneys, exhausts etc. The same rule applies in that the mast should be placed at least twice the distance away, of the height of the tallest obstruction.

  • Page 7: Mast Assembly

    MiniMet Installation 3 MAST ASSEMBLY 3.1 Joining Instructions for a Mast supplied in more than one Section There will be three small brass bars supplied for each joint required, each with 2 drilled and tapped holes, and fixing bolts and washers.

  • Page 8: Erection Of Mast On A Concrete Base

    3.3.2 Mast Bolted to a Concrete Base Items required: pole, base plate, guylines with locking ring, large guy pegs, (concrete bolts, mallet, spirit level - not supplied, although a MiniMet Installation Toolkit is available for purchase – please enquire). Firstly prepare the concrete base according to the dimensions in Appendix 1 and leave to fully harden.

  • Page 9: Mast Mounted On A Roof Top

    3.4 Erection of Mast on Roof Top As each installation will have differing circumstances, there are no standard instructions for this section. Please contact Skye or your local distributor for advice or an installation quotation. 3.5 Erection of Mast on a Wall Again each installation will have differing circumstances, but Skye can supply T&K Brackets for this type of installation.
  • Page 10 MiniMet Installation The bottom tube is the largest diameter and does not exceed 50 mm. The top tube is the smallest in diameter and does not exceed 38 mm. The wall thickness of the tube is not less than 2 mm.
  • Page 11 MiniMet Installation The mast will be erected as indicated in the sketch on the previous page. This is not a scale drawing but is intended to show how the mast would look when fully erected. Three guylines come from each guyline ring. The guylines from the top two rings are anchored at points close to each other on the ground.
  • Page 12 MiniMet Installation 5. Drive the large guyline pegs about halfway into the (or fix bolts as appropriate), at 4.85m, 5.15m, 9.85m and 10.15m (approximately) from the mast base plate, 3 at each distance at 120 degrees circular spacing, (one for each guyline rope). Pegs should be fixed at an angle of approximately 45 degrees pointing away from the base plate.
  • Page 13 MiniMet Installation before using the straining screws to tighten the guylines – do not overtighten – remember that metal expands and contracts with temperature. If installation takes place in the hottest season of the year, the guylines will contract and shorten as it cools, so make sure the guylines are not over strained.

  • Page 14: Mounting The Datahog Or Minimet

    MiniMet Installation 4 MOUNTING THE DATAHOG OR MINIMET If your DataHog or MiniMet logger has integral or built in relative humidity and / or air temperature sensors, please follow instructions in Section 5 If your DataHog or MiniMet logger simply has sockets to plug in external sensors, a short arm pole mount can be used to install it.

  • Page 15: Radiation Screens For Rh & Air Temperature

    If you have purchased your radiation screen with a RH / temperature probe, or DataHog or MiniMet with integral RH / temperature sensors directly from Skye, the screen will have already been fitted to the instrument for you, ready for mounting.
  • Page 16 If your RH and air temperature is integral to the DataHog or MiniMet logger, then it will probably also have various sockets around the grey box for plugging in other sensors.

  • Page 17: Levelling Units For Light Sensors

    Plug and screw up (do not over-tighten) the light sensor connector into the DataHog or MiniMet logger socket marked LIGHT and use plastic cable ties to prevent cable movement and damage from rubbing. Light sensors should be mounted in a fully open area, so that no shadow or shade will fall across its surface at any time of day or at any sun angle.

  • Page 18: Mounting The Wind Sensors

    MiniMet Installation 7. MOUNTING WIND SENSORS It is essential to install wind sensors in an open area, away from obstacles which may cause disturbances or eddies in the natural wind patterns. If you have followed the described guidelines for erecting the mast, this should ensure accurate wind measurements will be taken.

  • Page 19: Single Vector Wind Sensors

    Place over the top of the mast and secure in place using the two locking bolts. Plug and screw up (do not overtighten) the anemometer connector into the DataHog or MiniMet logger socket marked WIND SPEED and use plastic cable ties to prevent cable movement and damage from rubbng.

  • Page 20: Windsonic

    11. The M6 nuts can now be tightened to secure the assembly to the mast. 12. Plug and screw up (do not overtighten) the sensors connectors into the DataHog or MiniMet logger sockets marked WIND SPEED and WIND DIRECTION respectively.
  • Page 21 11. When the sensor is in this position, it will be measuring wind coming FROM a northerly direction. 12. The ‘U’ bolt nuts can now be tightened to secure the assembly to the mast. 13. Plug and screw up (do not overtighten) the sensors connectors into the DataHog or MiniMet logger socket marked WINDSONIC.

  • Page 22: Raingauges

    Plug and screw up (do not overtighten) the raingauge connector into the socket labelled RAINGAUGE on the DataHog or MiniMet logger. Run the cable down the pole and / or the guy ropes, securing with plastic cables to prevent movement and cable rubbing.

  • Page 23: Mounting Raingauges On An Skm 229 Bracket

    10. The top half can now be screwed back on. 11. Plug and screw up (do not overtighten) the raingauge connector into the DataHog or MiniMet logger socket marked RAINGAUGE. 12. Run the cable down the pole and / or the guy ropes. Use plastic cable ties to prevent cable movement and damage from chafing.
  • Page 24 MiniMet Installation 12. Plug and screw up (do not overtighten) the raingauge connector into the DataHog or MiniMet logger socket marked RAINGAUGE. 13. Use plastic cable ties to prevent cable movement and damage from rubbing.

  • Page 25: Mounting The Barometer

    50 mm. See Appendix 5. Plug and screw up (do not overtighten) the barometer sensor connector into the DataHog or MiniMet logger socket marked AIR PRESSURE and use plastic cable ties to prevent cable movement and damage from rubbing.

  • Page 26: Mounting The Surface Wetness Sensor

    50 mm. See Appendix 5. Plug and screw up (do not overtighten) the surface wetness sensor connector into the DataHog or MiniMet logger socket marked Surface Wetness (or 0-2 V on some DataHogs) and use plastic cable ties to prevent cable movement and damage from rubbing.

  • Page 27: Installing Temperature Probes

    Plug and screw up (do not overtighten) the temperature sensor connector into the DataHog or MiniMet logger socket marked TEMPERATURE. Run the cable down the pole and / or the guy ropes, securing with plastic cables to prevent movement and cable rubbing.
  • Page 28 12. Push the four tent pegs, one at each end of each skid plate, firmly onto the ground to secure the assembly. 13. Plug and screw up (do not overtighten) the sensor connector into the DataHog or MiniMet logger sockets marked GRASS TEMPERATURE.

  • Page 29: Installing Tensiometers

    'backfilled' with a soil slurry to ensure good contact. We would recommend the use of an auger, which can be purchased from Skye. Please see the Tensiometer manual for full details.

  • Page 30: Installing An Evaporation Pan & Gauge

    Skye DataHog or MiniMet data logger. The gauge can be placed directly in the pan, or connected to the pan using supplied stainless steel pipe and fittings.

  • Page 31: Mounting A Solar Hog

    Plug and screw up (do not overtighten) the Solar Hog 8 pin connector into the DataHog or MiniMet logger socket marked RS232 and use plastic cable ties to prevent cable movement and damage from chafing.

  • Page 32: Installing Mains Hog

    As each mains powered installation will be slightly different, this is just a general guide. The MainsHog contains a transformer which provides a 12 V supply to the DataHog or MiniMet logger. As it contains full mains voltages, the MainsHog housing itself is not suitable for an outdoor installation and is usually placed near the connecting PC.
  • Page 33 MiniMet Installation To link the DataHog or MiniMet to the PC, install the 1m datalead between the RS232 socket on the MainsHog unit, and the serial port of the computer. Install and run the Skye software as instructed in the manual.

  • Page 34: Installing The Gsm/Gprs Remote Link

    MiniMet Installation 16. INSTALLING THE GSM/GPRS REMOTE LINK This module allows the remote connection of the DataHog or MiniMet logger via the GSM/GPRS digital mobile telephone network. Whilst the two systems use different mobile phone technology and operate in different ways, installation on the mast is the same.
  • Page 35 MiniMet Installation The solar panel hinged bracket can be angled according the to installation site latitude (a guide is latitude + 15 degrees, e.g. for the UK, tilt the solar panel at 52 + 15 = 67 degrees from the horizontal).

  • Page 36: Final System Assembly

    17.1 Standard MiniMet Assembly Appendix 13 shows a typical MiniMet weather station installation, with the standard Solar Hog option. The raingauge is ground mounted and the soil temperature inserted into the soil. The Solar Hog is usually mounted about halfway up the pole, facing towards the sun.
  • Page 37 North or South as appropriate. The DataHog or MiniMet incorporating the RH and air temperature probes are usually placed opposite the light sensor, to counter each other's weight. The short arm pole mount on the logger means that it is possible to place the top of the radiation screen also at the height of the top of the pole.

  • Page 38: Calibration & Maintenance

    The logger itself should be periodically checked that the electronics is recording accurately. This can be done by Skye or by applying known voltages, currents or digital pulses into the logger inputs and checking the logger’s measurements.
  • Page 39 A bearing check is recommended annually, with a bearing change recommended at a minimum of every 2-3 years. 7. BAROMETER Recalibration is recommended annually. Sensors can be returned to Skye or can be checked by a direct comparison against a reference. 8. RAINGAUGE The raingauge top should be kept free of debris at all times.

  • Page 40: Annual Service Contracts

    MiniMet Installation 19 ANNUAL SERVICE CONTRACTS CONTRACT 1 Return to base service. Includes: Calibration / operation check and fit new batteries for DataHog datalogger Recalibration of 1 sensor annually (for example RH sensor) Recalibration of 1 sensor biennially (for example solar radiation sensor) Spares and new filter for raingauge All instrument transfer by courier.
  • Page 41 MiniMet Installation CONTRACT 4 Annual 'health check' service plus emergency call out within 2 working days one site visit by engineer to undertake: calibration / operation check and fit new batteries for DataHog datalogger Recalibration of 1 sensor annually (for example RH sensor)

  • Page 42: Software

    Installed MiniMets without GSM/GPRS or a cable link to a computer To offload the data from this type of installation, the MiniMet needs to be visited with a laptop computer and the RS232 to serial data lead which was supplied with your station.
  • Page 43 Access to data only is provided as part of the cost of the MiniMet, but a 'DataPlus Service', which gives 'Live Display' of the weather and one month of historical data in graphical format, is offered for a reasonable annual charge.

  • Page 44: Appendix 1 List Of Tools Required For Installation

    MiniMet Installation APPENDIX 1 LIST OF TOOLS REQUIRED FOR INSTALLATION (AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AS ACC/20) Nutspinner M6/10mm A/F 2. Screwdriver 75 x No. 1 Phillips 3. Screwdriver 75 x 3mm parallel tip 4. Cutters 140mm 5. Screwdriver chubby flat 6. Club hammer 2.5lb 7.

  • Page 45: Troubleshooting

    MiniMet Installation APPENDIX 2 CONCRETE BASE FOR A 2M MAST...

  • Page 46: Appendix 3 Site Location

    MiniMet Installation APPENDIX 3 SITE LOCATION...

  • Page 47: Appendix 2 Concrete Bases

    MiniMet Installation APPENDIX 4 ASSEMBLY OF MAST SUPPLIED IN MORE THAN ONE SECTION...

  • Page 48: Appendix 5 Assembly Of Pole/Wall Mounting Brackets

    MiniMet Installation APPENDIX 5 ASSEMBLY OF POLE/WALL MOUNTING BRACKETS APPENDIX 6 ARG 100 RAINGAUGE BASEPLATE ASSEMBLY...

  • Page 49: Appendix 4 Assembly Of Mast Supplied In Sections

    MiniMet Installation APPENDIX 6 RAINGAUGE BASEPLATE...

  • Page 50: Appendix 7 Mounting Of Gsm/Gprs Enclosure To Bracket

    MiniMet Installation APPENDIX 7 MOUNTING OF GSM/GPRS ENCLOSURE TO BRACKET...

  • Page 51: Appendix 6 Assembly Of Baseplate For Arg 100

    MiniMet Installation APPENDIX 8 MOUNTING THE GSM/GPRS MODULE ON THE MAST (NO SOLAR PANEL)
  • Page 52 MiniMet Installation APPENDIX 9 MOUNTING OF THE GSM/GPRS UNIT ON THE MAST WITH A SOLAR PANEL – STEP 1...
  • Page 53 MiniMet Installation APPENDIX 10 MOUNTING OF THE GSM/GPRS UNIT ON THE MAST WITH A SOLAR PANEL STEP 2...

  • Page 54: Mast With A Solar Panel

    MiniMet Installation APPENDIX 11 MOUNTING OF GSM/GPRS UNIT ON THE MAST WITH A SOLAR PANEL STEP 3...

  • Page 55: Appendix 12 Typical Minimet Installation With Gsm/Gprs

    MiniMet Installation APPENDIX 12 TYPICAL MINIMET INSTALLATION WITH GSM/GPRS...

  • Page 56: Appendix 13 Typical Minimet Installation Without Gsm/Gprs

    MiniMet Installation APPENDIX 13 TYPICAL MINIMET INSTALLATION WITHOUT GSM/GPRS...
  • Page 57 MiniMet Installation APPENDIX 14...
  • Page 58 MiniMet Installation APPENDIX 15 FITTING THE BATTERY COVER...

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