WeatherHawk

WeatherHawk Snow Arm Installation Procedure

Updated: December 18, 2008

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The following procedure is for the addition of Snow Arms to the WeatherHawk weather station. Snow arms offset the wind sensors from the main weather station platform to eliminate the potential for sensor obstruction by snow buildup.

User supplied components/facilities required:

WeatherHawk weather station

Weatherproof electrical or self vulcanizing tape (user supplied)

WeatherHawk components supplied:

Snow Arm Kit

WeatherHawk Weather Station Preparation:

  1. Disconnect the WeatherHawk weather station from power and remove it from its mount. Turn “off” the power switch. Rest the weather station bottom side “up” on a large flat table using a rolled towel or other support. Make sure that there is no pressure or stress placed on the rain gauge or the wind sensors.
  2. Remove the seven screws around the base of the weather station. Do not remove the three mounting bracket screws. Discard two of the screws.
  3. Pull the case sections apart by pulling the base up using the mounting bracket. Do not twist or pull the station apart to either side as this may damage internal connectors and wiring.

Removal of Existing Wind Sensor Posts and Wiring:

  1. Remove the wind speed and wind direction sensors from their posts and disconnect them from their respective wiring bundles.
  2. Pull the wind sensor wiring bundles through the posts, and then unscrew the posts from the WeatherHawk instrument platform.
  3. Remove the rubber protective boots from the wind sensor posts and save for reuse.
  4. Cut the wire ties from the wind sensor wiring bundles and remove them from the weather station.

Installation of Snow Arms and Wiring:

  1. Install the new wind sensor wiring bundles and secure them with wire ties along their length. Connect them to the appropriate connectors on the Panel/Connector PWA P/N 14127 in the weather station. Route the ends through the holes in the weather station platform body and then through the NPT Nylon tubing fittings supplied in the snow arm kit.
  2. Screw the NPT Nylon tubing fittings into the WeatherHawk platform in place of the sensor posts and tighten ½ turn past hand tight.
  3. Note that one of the curved snow arms has a yellow wire pulling strap installed. Put the ends of the wind speed sensor wiring bundle through the loop and pull the wiring bundle through the snow arm and out of the side slot in the end of the snow arm. Remove the strap from the wiring bundle and save for reuse with the second wind sensor wiring bundle.
  4. Loosen the ferrull on the wind speed NPT Nylon tubing fitting and force the snow arm with installed wiring into the fitting, taking care not to crimp wires in the process. Hand tighten the ferrull.
  5. Repeat the process in 3 & 4 for the wind direction sensor wiring bundle.
  6. Slide the rubber protective boots onto the appropriate wind sensor snow arm. Note that the snow arm is significantly smaller in diameter than the original wind sensor post. This differential must be eliminated with a flexible shim made of electrical tape. Estimate the approximate location for an electrical tape shim between the boot and the snow arm. Wrap sufficient black electrical tape around the snow arm until the rubber boot will hold its location when it is pulled onto the electrical tape shim. Peel the rubber boot back down over itself to facilitate installation of the wind sensors.
  7. Install the wind sensors on the appropriate snow arm and connect the associated wiring. Note that sometimes the screws that lock the wind sensors to the posts will strip when removed because this is metal into plastic. You will find a second set of holes available on the wind sensor if this happens, or use a larger screw in the same hole.
  8. Turn on the weather station, connect to it with a PC and verify that the wind sensors are reporting values.
  9. Confirm that all wiring bundles are properly secured inside the WeatherHawk, and then close the weather station body using five of the seven enclosure screws. Do not install the two screws on the underside of the weather station below the wind sensors.
  10. Rotate the snow arms in the ferrules until they are aligned with the sides of the weather station body forming a large “V”.
  11. Install the snow arm retainers on the weather station body using the two screws supplied with the snow arm kit. These replace the screws discarded when the procedure was started. Assure that the snow arm retainers capture the snow arms in the “U” section of the retainer. This may require that the snow arms are forced further into the ferrules, or some slight bending of the retainer may be required.
  12. Tighten the ferrules ½ turn past hand tight.
  13. Unpeel (unroll) the rubber boots on the wind sensors such that they cover the wind sensor base and then either wrap the bottom with weatherproof electrical tape (or self vulcanizing tape), or use a plastic tie to secure them against slipping down the snow arm.
  14. Reinstall and test the weather station.