ISS_Manual_revB Page 1 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM INTEGRATED SENSOR SUITE INSTALLATION MANUAL For Vantage ProTM or Vantage Pro PlusTM The Integrated Sensor Suite (ISS) collects several types of weather readings for display at your Vantage ProTM console. The data is sent to the console either through a cable or by wireless transmission, depending on the version.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 2 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM C OMPONENTS The ISS includes these components: Rain Collector Anemometer Vane Solar Panel (wireless models only) Control Head Drip Ring Wind Cups Anemometer Arm Radiation Shield Debris Screen (place inside Rain Collector Cone after installation) 40' (12.2 m) Anemometer Cable Anemometer Base The hardware shown here is provided for assembly and mounting.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 3 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM Additional Components on Vantage Pro Plus UV and Solar Radiation Sensors Vantage Pro Plus also includes an ultraviolet (UV) sensor and a solar radiation sensor. These two sensors are on the rain collector side of your ISS. Note: Please make every effort when handling your ISS not to touch the small white diffusers on top of the UV and solar radiation sensors. Oil from the skin will reduce their sensitivity.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 4 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM T ABLE OF C ONTENTS Components................................................................................................ 2 Tools for Setup............................................................................................ 5 Preparing the Anemometer....................................................................... 5 Disassembling the Radiation Shield...........................................................
ISS_Manual_revB Page 5 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM T OOLS FOR S ETUP ✦ Small Phillips-head screwdriver ✦ Scissors or wire-cutters ✦ Adjustable wrench or 7/16" wrench ✦ Compass or local area map ✦ Ballpoint pen or paper clip (small pointed object of some kind) ✦ Drill and 3/16" (5 mm) drill bit (if mounting on a vertical surface) Before Going Outside...
ISS_Manual_revB Page 6 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM 3. Slide the flat washer, tooth-lock washer and hex nut onto the machine screw. Tighten the hex nut while holding the screw with a Phillips screwdriver to prevent it from turning. 4. Press the sensor cable firmly into the zig-zagging channel in the base, taking up any slack between arm and base.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 7 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM Attaching Wind Cups to Anemometer Arm The wind vane is situated at the end of the arm, on top of the anemometer head. Underneath the anemometer head you will attach a black plastic drip ring and the wind cups. 1. Slide the black plastic drip ring onto the anemometer head. Gently push the drip ring up until it clicks into place. Anemometer Head Drip Ring 2.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 8 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM 3. Push the wind cups up onto the stainless steel shaft that is protruding downward. 4. Slide the wind cups up the shaft as far as possible. 5. Use the Allen wrench provided to tighten the set screw on the side of the wind cups. When you let go of the wind cups, they should drop slightly. 6. Spin the wind cups.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 9 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM D ISASSEMBLING THE R ADIATION S HIELD The sensors are connected by cables to the Sensor Interface Module, or “SIM”, located inside the radiation shield. The SIM contains electronics which measure and store weather values for transmission to the console via cable or radio waves. The radiation shield’s white plastic plates protect the SIM from sun and other sources of radiated and reflected heat, and from precipitation.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 10 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM 4. Verify that the rain sensor cable is plugged into the receptacle labeled “RAIN” on the SIM. 5. If you have a Vantage Pro Plus, verify that the UV and solar radiation sensors are plugged into the SIM.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 11 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM (Setup of Cabled version, continued...) Once powered, your ISS will immediately begin collecting data from the sensors for display at the console. Data is sent through the cable that you connected during the preceding step in order to power the ISS. Verifying Reception of ISS Data at the Console When you plugged in your console to apply power to the ISS, the console went into Setup Mode.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 12 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM W IRELESS V ERSION : P OWERING TION WITH THE C ONSOLE THE ISS AND T ESTING C OMMUNICA- Applying Power to ISS Insert the 3-volt lithium battery into the SIM. ✦ Insert the battery into the battery holder, matching the “+” sign on the battery with the “+” sign on the SIM. The solar power components store electricity inside the SIM for use at night. When this energy is depleted, the ISS uses power from the battery.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 13 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM (Setup of Wireless version, continued...) Verifying Reception of ISS Data at the Console Install three C batteries to power-up your console/receiver, if you haven’t done so already. Details in the Console Manual: “Wireless Vantage Pro Console Installation.” If it is already powered but not in Setup Mode, press and hold the DONE key then press the DOWN arrow key. When powered-up, the console will go into Setup Mode – Screen 1: Transmitters.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 14 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM If You Do Not See Current Readings First, verify that the console/receiver is powered and is not in Setup Mode. Then, on your ISS, ensure that all sensor cables are firmly connected to the SIM and the battery is properly installed. Walk around the room with the console, standing for a few moments in various locations to see if you are picking up signals from the ISS.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 15 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM If the LED flashes repeatedly but your console isn’t picking up a signal anywhere in the room, it could be related to one of the following causes: 1. You changed the transmitter ID on the ISS but didn’t change it at the console/receiver. 2. Reception is being disrupted by RF (radio frequency) interference.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 16 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM Tipping Bucket Mechanism Twist off the rain collector cone. Cut the plastic cable tie. 3. On your console screen, look for DAILY RAIN display. 4. While watching the daily rain display, slowly tip the bucket mechanism until it drops to opposite side. Each tip indicates 0.01" of rain and takes up to 10 seconds to register at the console. If the number doesn’t change, you may be tipping the bucket too quickly. Try again, more slowly this time. 5.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 17 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM Range of Wireless Transmission The range of wireless transmission depends on many factors. For the best reception, position your ISS and console/receiver as close together as possible. Range is up to 800' (250 m) in the line of sight, under optimal conditions. Typical range under most conditions is 150' to 500' (45 to 150 m), but this may be reduced by walls, ceilings, trees, or foliage.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 18 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM M OUNTING THE I NTEGRATED S ENSOR S UITE The anemometer and the rain collector side of your ISS can be mounted either together as a unit on a pole, or separately. 40' (12 m) of sensor cable has been provided with the anemometer so you can flexibly configure your system to monitor wind conditions. For example, you could mount the anemometer at the highest point of a roof, then place the rain collector side on a fence closer to ground level.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 19 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM Mounting ISS as a Single Unit (Both Sides Together on a Pole) Once you loosely mount the two sides of your ISS together on a pole, you’ll be able to swivel the unit to the correct direction and then tighten the hex nuts. You will also be able to slide it vertically to the desired height. Take a compass or local area map to help you determine which direction is north.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 20 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM Please remember to mount your ISS so the anemometer arm is extending toward the north. (Otherwise, you will need to re-orient the wind vane. See “Appendix C: Re-orienting the Wind Vane” on page 29.) Note: In the Northern Hemisphere, when the anemometer arm is pointing north, the solar panel will be facing south for maximum sun exposure.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 21 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM Mounting Anemometer on a Pole by Itself See the illustration on page 19. 1. While holding the mounting base against the pole, place a U-bolt around the pole and through the two holes in the base. 2. Place a flat washer, a lock washer and a hex nut on each of the bolt ends. 3. Swivel the anemometer until the arm is pointing north.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 22 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM Clearing the Data Collected While You Were Testing Reception Now that your ISS is mounted outside, you may want to clear out the data that was stored in the console while it was indoors. To do an “all-clear”, 1. Press the WIND key so the graph icon appears underneath “Wind” in top-left corner. 2. Press the 2ND key, then press and hold the CLEAR key.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 23 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM Wireless Transmitting Stations for Vantage Pro Use Davis’ new remote sensor/transmitters to collect additional weather measurements, without the inconvenience of routing cables: ✦ Wireless Temperature Station #6370 ✦ Wireless Temperature/Humidity Station #6380 or #6385 ✦ Wireless Soil Moisture/Temperature Station #6361 ✦ Wireless Leaf Wetness/Temperature Station #6341 For more details, please see “Appendix A: Wireless Transmitter IDs” on page 26, or
ISS_Manual_revB Page 24 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM T ROUBLESHOOTING If a Sensor Functions Intermittently Carefully check all connections from the sensor to the ISS. (To access the SIM where sensor cables plug in, see “Removing Radiation Shield Plates” on page 9.) Loose connections account for a large portion of potential problems. Connections should be firmly seated in receptacles, and plugged in straight. If you think a connection may be faulty, try jiggling cable while looking at the display.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 25 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM “Wind readings aren’t what I expected them to be.” Be very careful. Comparing to measurements from TV, radio, newspapers, or a neighbor is NOT a valid method of verifying your readings. Davis Instruments sensors are carefully tested at the factory. If you have questions, contact Technical Support. Contacting Davis Instruments Technical Support (510) 732-7814 for Technical Support, Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:30 pm Pacific Time.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 26 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM S PECIFICATIONS FOR W IRELESS V ERSION ✦ Temperature range: –40 to 140° Fahrenheit (–40 to 60° Celsius) ✦ Wireless transmission frequency: 916.5 MHz 868.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 27 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM Antenna Battery Holder ON 1 2 3 4 DIP Switches DIP SWITCHES IN TOP-RIGHT CORNER OF SIM (ILLUSTRATION HAS BEEN ENLARGED FOR CLARITY) To change to another ID, use a ballpoint pen or paper clip to toggle DIP switches #1, 2, and 3.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 28 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM Using Multiple Transmitting Stations with Wireless Vantage Pro Transmitter Type Maximum per Console (8 total) Integrated Sensor Suite (ISS) 1 Anemometer Transmitter Kit 1 Leaf Wetness/Temperature Station 1 Soil Moisture/Temperature Station 1 Temperature Station 8 Temperature/Humidity Station 8 This table shows the maximum number of each type of Wireless Transmitting Station that can be used with a single Vantage Pro console/receiver.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 29 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM Other Accessories ✦ Rain Collector Heater #7720 For use in cold climates, to measure the moisture content of frozen precipitation (freezing rain, snow, hail, etc.). ✦ Wireless Repeater #7624 or #7625 For extending the range of wireless transmission. Go around corners or increase the distance between transmitter and console/receiver. ✦ Complete System Shelter #7724 To locate your Vantage Pro console outside.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 30 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM To orient the wind vane accurately, you will need to look at the console display. You may wish to have a friend or family member on the ground do this for you. 1. Press WIND key on console to display current wind direction in degrees. 2. Use your compass or a landmark to determine in which direction (S, E, W, etc.) the anemometer arm is now pointing. 3.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 31 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM 5. Being careful to keep the stainless-steel shaft from turning, place the wind vane on top of shaft with the vane’s nose pointing in the same direction as the arm. Slide the wind vane down the shaft as far as it will go. PLACING VANE ONTO SHAFT 6. Use the Allen wrench provided to tighten the set screw on the side of the wind vane. Tighten set screw with Allen wrench SECURING WIND VANE 7.
ISS_Manual_revB Page 32 Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM FCC P ART 15 C LASS B R EGISTRATION W ARNING This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
