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Gill MetPak II User Manual

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MetPak II
Weather Station
Gill Instruments Limited
Saltmarsh Park,
67 Gosport Street,
Lymington,
Hampshire.
SO41 9EG
UK
Copyright © Gill Instruments 2010
Reg No. 3154453 Registered Office: The George Business Centre, Christchurch Road, New Milton, BH25 6QJ
User Manual
Tel: +44 (0) 1590 613500
Fax: +44 (0) 1590 613501
E-mail: anem@gill.co.uk
Website: www.gill.co.uk
Doc No. 1723-PS-0001
Issue 1

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Summary of Contents for Gill MetPak II

  • Page 1 Gill Instruments Limited Fax: +44 (0) 1590 613501 Saltmarsh Park, E-mail: anem@gill.co.uk 67 Gosport Street, Website: www.gill.co.uk Lymington, Hampshire. SO41 9EG Copyright © Gill Instruments 2010 Reg No. 3154453 Registered Office: The George Business Centre, Christchurch Road, New Milton, BH25 6QJ...
  • Page 2 Foreword 2010 Gill Instruments Ltd. All rights reserved. © Thank you for purchasing the MetPak II manufactured by Gill Instruments Ltd. To achieve optimum performance we recommend that you read the whole of this manual before proceeding with use. Gill products are in continuous development and therefore specifications may be subject to change and design improvements without prior notice.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Console Display Options ................. 18 3.1.5 Define Configuration Settings ................19 3.1.6 Data logging ....................20 Configuring MetPak II....................23 3.2.1 Configuring MetPak II using HyperTerminal ............ 24 3.2.2 Configuring MetPak II for SDI-12..............27 3.2.3 SDI-12 Commands..................28 Troubleshooting....................29 Fault-Finding......................... 29 Servicing ........................
  • Page 4 Table 10 Abbreviations used in UNIT configuration command Table 11 Common problems and their solution Table 12 Status codes as output with the MetPak II data string Table 13 HygroClip connections (6-way connector J1) Table 14 WindSonic anemometer connections (8-way connector J4)

  • Page 5: Introduction

    1. Introduction MetPak II is a compact and lightweight multi-sensor instrument that measures the most essential weather parameters. Gill ultrasonic technology, as used in the proven WindSonic instrument, measures wind speed and direction. Temperature and Humidity are measured and Dewpoint calculated using an industry standard probe housed in a naturally aspirated radiation shield.

  • Page 6: Principle Of Operation

    1.1.1 Wind Speed and Direction Sensor The MetPak II uses the WindSonic wind speed and direction sensor. The WindSonic measures the times taken for an ultrasonic pulse of sound to travel from the North transducer to the South transducer, and compares it with the time for a pulse to travel from S to N transducer.

  • Page 7: Radiation Shield

    Calibration data is maintained within the integrated electronics. It provides digital output signals for Relative Humidity, Temperature and Dewpoint to the MetPak II interface box. Figure 3 Position of Temperature and Relative Humidity Probe in the Radiation Shield 1.1.4...

  • Page 8: Abbreviations

    Receive Received Data SDI-12 Serial – Data Interface standard for microprocessor based sensors Start of String Transmit Transmitted Data Very High Frequency1 World Meteorological Organisation MetPak II User Manual © Gill Instruments Ltd Last Change Page 4 20 August, 2010...

  • Page 9: Quick Start Guide

    Introduction Quick Start Guide This section provides an overview of the installation and operation of MetPak II. For more detailed information about any of the steps, use the references to other sections of this manual. Decide how you are going to connect MetPak II to your PC or communications network.
  • Page 10 Tighten the mounting bracket to hold the unit firmly in place. Connect the communications cable to your PC or network device. Place the MetPak II CD in your PC’s CD drive and install MetView. Run MetView. Select the Connect to the first device found check box. Click on the Scan button.

  • Page 11: Installation

    2. Installation MetPak II has been designed to meet and exceed the stringent standards listed in its specification (see page i). Pre-Installation Checks As with any sophisticated electronics, good engineering practice should be followed to ensure correct operation:  Ensure the MetPak II will not be affected by other equipment operating locally, which may not conform to current standards, e.g.

  • Page 12: Installation

    2.2.1 Bench system test Prior to physically mounting the MetPak II in its final location, we strongly recommend that a bench system test is carried out to confirm the system is configured correctly, is fully functional and electrically compatible with the selected host system and cabling (preferably utilising the final cable length).

  • Page 13: Table 2 Recommended Belden Cable Types

    To ensure correct operation and for maximum protection from lightning, a separate lightning rod system is recommended to protect the system. You can also earth the MetPak II through its mountings or by connecting a grounding cable (minimum of 6mm² copper wire) to a spare MetPak II metalwork bolt hole.

  • Page 14: Communication Connections

    Attach the cable’s screen wires to the terminal post (see Figure 4). After connection, securely tighten the gland nut to prevent moisture ingress. NOTE. Ensure that MetPak II is configured for the chosen communications method (see page 25) Hex Terminal...

  • Page 15: Figure 5 Connection Of Gill Usb Cable (Part No. 1723-10-051)

    Installation USB Lead Connection (COMMS set for RS232) Connect to Hub box J5 Connect MetPak II to a PC USB port using the Gill Configuration Cable 1723-10-051. J5 Pin Colour None None Yellow Orange None None Black Figure 5 Connection of Gill USB Cable (Part No. 1723-10-051)

  • Page 16: Figure 7 Rs422 Connections (Comms Set For Rs422)

    Nos. SDI-12 SDI-12 Signal Ground Signal Ground Screen wires Chassis ground V Supply – – DC Power Supply V Supply + Figure 8 SDI-12 connections MetPak II User Manual © Gill Instruments Ltd Last Change Page 12 20 August, 2010...

  • Page 17: Mounting Metpak Ii

    Position It is the responsibility of the customer to ensure that the MetPak II is mounted in a position clear of any structure, including the mounting post, which may obstruct the airflow or induce turbulence.

  • Page 18: Figure 9 Correct Mounting Position For Metpak Ii

    Installation Figure 9 Correct mounting position for MetPak II MetPak II User Manual © Gill Instruments Ltd Last Change Page 14 20 August, 2010...

  • Page 19: Operation

    Using an MS Windows Terminal (View Data and Configure the MetPak II)  SDI-12 command set (Retrieve Data) MetView Before you can use MetView, check that MetPak II is correctly connected to a COM or USB port on your PC (see page 10). 3.1.1 Opening MetView Click on the MetView button on your PC’s desktop or choose:...

  • Page 20: Scanning For Devices

    Operation 3.1.2 Scanning for Devices To set up communicate between MetView and a connected MetPak II: Click on the Scan button to search the available COM ports for MetPak II devices. Figure 11 Scanning for MetPak II devices When a device is found, MetView displays the console (see Figure 12), obtains the MetPak II configuration settings and then retrieves and displays MetPak II data.

  • Page 21: The Metview Console

    Connection Status Table 4 Connection status indicators Reading Function Green Background Tick Indicates MetPak II logging or communicating correctly with MetView along with reading the MetPak II firmware version. Red Background Cross Indicates MetPak II not logging or connected/communicating to MetView.

  • Page 22: Console Display Options

    Operation 3.1.4 Console Display Options MetView Console buttons can convert data from the MetPak II to read different units or scale settings. This does not alter the actual MetPak II configuration. Units shown in bold denote default settings Table 5...

  • Page 23: Define Configuration Settings

    Reporting Format Click on the OK button or on the Cancel button to return to the Configure Sensor screen. Click on View Display to return to the MetView Console. MetPak II User Manual © Last Change Gill Instruments Ltd 20 August, 2010...

  • Page 24: Data Logging

    Operation 3.1.6 Data logging NOTE. MetView logs data based on the MetPak II configuration not on the MetView console settings. To log MetPak data, click on the Logging button on the MetView console. The Logging dialog box is displayed. Figure 15...
  • Page 25 Click on the Logging button on the MetView console. Clear the Enable Logging check box. Click on the OK button. If logging has stopped, the Logging button shows a red background cross instead of the green background tick (see above). MetPak II User Manual © Last Change Gill Instruments Ltd...

  • Page 26: Figure 16 A Typical Data Log (Viewed In Windows Notepad)

     Node letter  Wind direction  Wind speed  Pressure  Humidity  Temperature  Dewpoint  Supply voltage  Status code  Checksum MetPak II User Manual © Gill Instruments Ltd Last Change Page 22 20 August, 2010...

  • Page 27: Configuring Metpak Ii

    MetPak II can be configured using:  A terminal program such as MS Windows HyperTerminal.  Gill Wind software used as a Terminal Program only. The default configuration settings are listed in the following table. Table 8 Default configuration settings...

  • Page 28: Configuring Metpak Ii Using Hyperterminal

    Start | All Programs | Accessories | Communications | Hyperterminal). Select New Connection from the File menu. Enter a name for the connection, for example MetPak II and, optionally, select an icon to represent it. Click on the OK button.

  • Page 29: Table 9 Metpak Ii Configuration Commands

    ?A-Z A | ?B | to ?Z Retrieves a line of data from a MetPak II set for Polled mode with a Node identifier set to A to Z Note. In Polled mode the unit MUST be allowed 5 seconds to be operational before the ? is used to enable polling, or it will be missed.
  • Page 30 REPORT STATUS - reports MetPak II status codes and Checksum only. The MetPak II data string can be set up in any order with the required sensor outputs. For instance, if it is required to output data in the order Pressure, Polar Wind, Temperature, Humidity, Status.

  • Page 31: Configuring Metpak Ii For Sdi-12

    Configuring MetPak II for SDI-12 To configure a MetPak II unit for SDI-12: Place the MetPak II into SETUP MODE as described on page 24. Type COMMS SDI12 and press Enter. Until the unit is restarted, the COMMS setting will remain unchanged.

  • Page 32: Sdi-12 Commands

    Code. readings (Speed, Direction Measurement command to retrieve a and Status). reading of the maximum time the MetPak II will take to complete a measurement, have data ready and the number of data values. 0D0! Retrieve a line of the a<dir><mag><status><CR><LF>...

  • Page 33: Troubleshooting

    Check that the HygroClip filter is clean. Temperature/Dewpoint and Humidity readings Status code not 00 See Table 12 Table 12 Status codes as output with the MetPak II data string Code Status Condition No fault conditions detected in measurement period.

  • Page 34: Servicing

    Bench Tests Carry out a bench test as follows: Connect the MetPak II unit to the host PC and power supply, using a known working test cable. Check that the unit is correctly configured by going into Set Up mode (see page 24).

  • Page 35: Maintenance

    If the unit has to be returned, it should be carefully packed in the original packaging and returned to your authorised Gill distributor, with a full description of the fault condition. An RMA number should be obtained from Gill Instruments first if returning directly to Gill Instruments.

  • Page 37: Technical Information

    -35C to + 70C Accuracy 0.1C Resolution 0.1C (0.1F) Units of Measure C or F Relative Humidity Range 0-100% Accuracy 0.8%@23C Resolution 0.1% Units of Measure MetPak II User Manual © Last Change Gill Instruments Ltd 20 August, 2010 Page i...
  • Page 38 1200 (SDI-12), 9600-57600 (ASCII RS232, RS422) Protocols ASCII or SDI-12 V1.3 Data Output 0.25, 0.5, 1 Hz or Polled Mode. MetPak II Status Status codes provided within the data message string Power Supply Input voltage (RS232, 4.5v –30v dc RS422)

  • Page 39: Metpak Ii Hub Pcb Connections

    Technical Information MetPak II Hub PCB Connections The following tables summarise the connections for:  HygroClip  WindSonic anemometer  RS232/SDI/RS485 communications Connection details are also found on the junction box lid. Table 13 HygroClip connections (6-way connector J1) Connector J1...

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