Campbell WindSonic User manual

Revision: 08/2021
Copyright© 2014 – 2021
Campbell Scientific, Inc.

Table of contents
1. Introduction 1
2. Precautions 1
3. Initial inspection 2
4. QuickStart 2
5. Overview 5
6. Specifications 5
6.1 Wind direction 6
6.2 Wind speed 6
7. Installation 6
7.1 Data logger-to-WindSonic1 wiring 6
7.2 SDM-SIO1A/SDM-SIO4A wiring 7
7.3 Data logger programming 8
7.3.1 CRBasic programming 9
7.4 Siting 9
7.5 Mount the sensor 9
8. Operation 10
8.1 Sensor configuration 11
8.2 Campbell Scientific factory default settings 11
8.3 Sensor output 13
8.4 Long cables 14
9. Maintenance and troubleshooting 14
9.1 Troubleshooting 14
9.2 Maintenance 15
10. Siting references 15
Appendix A. Importing Short Cut code into CRBasic Editor 16
Appendix B. Determining True North and sensor orientation 17
B.1 Online magnetic declination calculator 19
Table of Contents - i

Appendix C. Updating an older program for the new WindSonic1 settings 21
Appendix D. Using the CPI/RS-232 port 23
Table of Contents - ii

1. Introduction
The WindSonic1 is a two-dimensional ultrasonic anemometer for measuring wind speed and
wind direction. It provides an alternative to traditional mechanical cup and vane or propeller and
vane anemometers. Unlike mechanical anemometers, the WindSonic1 has no moving parts that
need to be periodically replaced—minimizing routine maintenance costs.
The WindSonic1 outputs an RS-232 signal.
NOTE:
This manual provides information only for CRBasic data loggers. For retired Edlog data logger
support, see an older manual at www.campbellsci.com/old-manuals .
2. Precautions
lREAD AND UNDERSTAND the Safety section at the back of this manual.
lThe WindSonic1 is not recommended for conditions where rime, ice, or horizontal snow will
occur. It is not heated.
lThe WindSonic1 is a precision instrument. Please handle it with care.
lIf the WindSonic1 is to be installed at heights over 2 m (6 ft), be familiar with tower safety
and follow safe tower climbing procedures.
lDANGER—Use extreme care when working near overhead electrical wires. Check for
overhead wires before mounting the WindSonic1 or before raising a tower.
lWindSonic1 default settings were changed in February 2013. WindSonic1 anemometers
with newer settings will not work with older programs and Short Cut 3.0 or older. See
Campbell Scientific factory default settings (p. 11) and Updating an older program for the
new WindSonic1 settings (p. 21) for more information.
lThe black outer jacket of the cable is Santoprene® rubber. This compound was chosen for
its resistance to temperature extremes, moisture, and UV degradation. However, this jacket
will support combustion in air. It is rated as slow burning when tested according to U.L. 94
H.B. and will pass FMVSS302. Local fire codes may preclude its use inside buildings.
WindSonic1 Two-Dimensional Sonic Anemometer 1

3. Initial inspection
lUpon receipt of the WindSonic1, inspect the packaging and contents for damage. File
damage claims with the shipping company. Immediately check package contents against
the shipping documentation. Contact Campbell Scientific about any discrepancies.
lThe model number and cable length are printed on a label at the connection end of the
cable. Check this information against the shipping documents to ensure the expected
product and cable length are received.
4. QuickStart
A video that describes data logger programming using Short Cut is available at:
www.campbellsci.com/videos/cr1000x-data logger-getting-started-program-part-3 .Short
Cut is an easy way to program your data logger to measure the sensor and assign data logger
wiring terminals. Short Cut is available as a download on www.campbellsci.com . It is included
in installations of LoggerNet,RTDAQ, and PC400.
The following procedure also shows using Short Cut to program the WindSonic1.
1. Open Short Cut and click Create New Program.
2. Double-click the data logger model.
WindSonic1 Two-Dimensional Sonic Anemometer 2

3. In the Available Sensors and Devices box, type WindSonic1 or locate the sensor in the
Sensors >Meteorological >Wind Speed & Direction folder. Double-click either
WindSonic1 (RS-232 9.6K baud) or WindSonic1 (RS-232 38.4K baud); 9.6K baud is the
factory-default setting. The wind speed defaults to meters per second. This can be changed
by clicking the Wind Speed box and selecting one of the other options.
4. Click on the Wiring tab to see how the sensor is to be wired to the data logger. Click OK
after wiring the sensor.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for other sensors.
WindSonic1 Two-Dimensional Sonic Anemometer 3

6. In Output Setup, type the scan rate, meaningful table names, and Data Output Storage
Interval. Click Next.
7. Select the measurement and its associated output option.
8. Click Finish and save the program. Send the program to the data logger if the data logger
is connected to the computer.
9. If the sensor is connected to the data logger, check the output of the sensor in the data
display in LoggerNet,RTDAQ, or PC400 to make sure it is making reasonable
measurements.
WindSonic1 Two-Dimensional Sonic Anemometer 4

5. Overview
The WindSonic1 is manufactured by Gill Instruments, Ltd. It is an ultrasonic anemometer for
measuring wind direction and wind speed. Two pairs of orthogonally oriented transducers sense
horizontal wind. The transducers bounce the ultrasonic signal from a hood, minimizing the
effects of transducer shadowing and flow distortion.
The WindSonic1 outputs data using the RS-232 interface. It connects to two Cor Uterminals or to
the CPI/RS-232 port by using an RJ45 terminal block adapter. The WindSonic1 is also compatible
with the SDM-SIO1A and SDM-SIO4A devices, which increase the number of serial sensors one
data logger can measure. The WindSonic1 is not compatible with the CR200(X)-series or CR5000
data loggers. A similar sensor, the Wind Sonic4, is compatible with the CR200(X)-series and
CR5000; refer to www.campbellsci.com/windsonic4 for more information.
The WindSonic1 includes a user-specified cable to interface to a Campbell Scientific data logger.
A serial cable (WINDSONICRCBL-L) is available for interfacing a WindSonic1 to a computer
running the manufacturer’s computer support software. The cable and software are used during
troubleshooting or to change settings for a specific application. A copy of this computer support
software is available at www.gill.co.uk/main/software.html . WindView is used for WindSonic1
anemometers with serial numbers of 0810001 or greater, and WindCom is used for WindSonic1
anemometers with serial numbers that are less than 0810001.
Features:
lLow maintenance—no moving parts significantly reduces maintenance cost and time
lMinimum detectable wind speed of 0.01meters per second
lCompatible with Campbell Scientific CRBasic data loggers: CR6, CR3000, CR1000X, CR800
series, CR300 series, and CR1000
lCompatible with the SDM-SIO1A and SDM-SIO4A serial modules, which allows one data
logger to measure more WindSonic1 anemometers
6. Specifications
Output signal: RS-232
Measurement frequency: 40Hz block averaged to a programmable output frequency,
factory set to 1Hz
WindSonic1 Two-Dimensional Sonic Anemometer 5

Current drain: ~15 mA continuous
Operating temperature: –35 to 70 °C
Storage temperature: –40 to 80 °C
Dimensions: 142 x 160 mm (5.6 x 6.3 in)
Weight: 500 g (1.1 lb)
Operating humidity: <5% to 100% RH
6.1 Wind direction
Operating range: 0 to 359° (no dead band)
Accuracy: ±3°
Output resolution: 1°
6.2 Wind speed
Operating range: 0 to 60 m/s
Accuracy: ±2% @ 12 m/s
Output resolution: 0.01 m/s
7. Installation
If you are programming your data logger with Short Cut, skip Data logger-to-WindSonic1 wiring
(p. 6) and Data logger programming (p. 8). Short Cut does this work for you. See QuickStart (p. 2)
for a Short Cut tutorial.
7.1 Data logger-to-WindSonic1 wiring
The WindSonic1 supports serial communications with dedicated UART hardware on the data
logger control or universal terminals. Two control or universal terminals are configured as a
single communications (COMn) port.
WindSonic1 Two-Dimensional Sonic Anemometer 6

NOTE:
The WindSonic1 can also connect to the CPI/RS-232 port on a CR6 or CR1000X by using an
RJ45 terminal block adapter. Information about using this adapter is provided in Using the
CPI/RS-232 port (p. 23).
The WindSonic1 serial interface uses four wires as shown in Table 7-1 (p. 7).
Table 7-1: WindSonic1 to data logger connections
Description Color Data logger
WindSonic RxD Green C,Uconfigured for RS-232 Tx1
WindSonic TxD White C,Uconfigured for RS-232 Rx1
Power Red 12V
Serial/power reference Black G
Shield Clear G
1Uand Cterminals are automatically configured by the measurement instruction for Campbell Scientific CR6 data
logger.
NOTE:
The maximum cable length depends on the baud rate, the nominal resistance of the wire, the
capacitance between conductors, and the capacitance between the conductors and shield.
The Electronic Industries Association RS-232D standard suggests limiting the RS-232 cable
lengths to 15.2m (50ft) or less at 9600bps.
7.2 SDM-SIO1A/SDM-SIO4A wiring
The SDM-SIO1A and SDM-SIO4A allow one data logger to measure more serial sensors. The
SDM-SIO1A/SDM-SIO4A converts RS-232 signals into synchronous device for measurements
(SDM) signals. SDM is a Campbell Scientific digital communications protocol used between
Campbell Scientific data loggers and SDM peripherals. At a 1Hz measurement rate, a maximum
of four WindSonic1 sensors can be measured by a data logger. Table 7-2 (p. 8) describes the
connections between the devices. The SDM-SIO1A and SDM-SIO4A are not compatible with the
CR300-series data loggers.
WindSonic1 Two-Dimensional Sonic Anemometer 7

Table 7-2: Wire color, function, and connections to SDM-SIO1A/SDM-SIO4A and data logger
Description WindSonic1
wire color
SDM-SIO1A/
SDM-SIO4A
terminal
Data logger
terminal
WindSonic RxD Green TX-Z
WindSonic TxD White RX-A
Power Red +12V 12V
Serial/
power reference Black G
Shield Clear G
SDM data enable line C1 C(control terminal) or Uterminal
configured for SDM enable1
SDM clock line C2 C(control terminal) or Uterminal
configured for SDM clock1
SDM data line C3 C(control terminal) or Uterminal
configured for SDMdata1
1Uand Cterminals are automatically configured by the measurement instruction for Campbell Scientific CR6 data
logger.
7.3 Data logger programming
Short Cut is the best source for up-to-date programming code for Campbell Scientific data
loggers. If your data acquisition requirements are simple, you can probably create and maintain a
data logger program exclusively with Short Cut. If your data acquisition needs are more complex,
the files that Short Cut creates are a great source for programming code to start a new program
or add to an existing custom program.
NOTE:
Short Cut cannot edit programs after they are imported and edited in CRBasic Editor.
AShort Cut tutorial is available in QuickStart (p. 2). If you wish to import Short Cut code into
CRBasic Editor to create or add to a customized program, follow the procedure in Importing
Short Cut code into CRBasic Editor (p. 16). Programming basics for CRBasic data loggers are
provided in the following section. Downloadable example programs are available at
www.campbellsci.com/downloads/windsonic1-program-examples .
WindSonic1 Two-Dimensional Sonic Anemometer 8

7.3.1 CRBasic programming
The WindSonic1 updates the RS-232 output to a user-set frequency. CRBasic data loggers use
SerialInRecord() to retrieve the latest record sent by the WindSonic1 at the scan interval.
This ensures that the most current wind data is available for use by the program.
The data logger and WindSonic1 each use their own internal clocks. These clocks are not
perfectly synchronized with each other and will drift in and out of phase. This phase drift could
cause missed samples because no new data was transmitted to the data logger in time for the
next scan. The data logger program can record the number of missed samples, which will occur if
the WindSonic1 is disconnected from the serial port, the WindSonic1 has no power, or the data
logger and WindSonic1 clocks have drifted out of phase by one cycle. The example programs
available at www.campbellsci.com/downloads/windsonic1-program-examples record the
number of missed records.
NOTE:
For the CR800-series, CR3000, and CR1000 data loggers, early versions of the data logger
operating systems (OS) did not support serial communication using control terminals or the
SerialInRecord() instruction. It may be necessary to update the data logger OS. The
most current data logger operating systems are available on the Campbell Scientific website
at: www.campbellsci.com/downloads .
7.4 Siting
Locate the WindSonic1 away from obstructions such as trees and buildings. The distance
between wind sensors and the nearest obstruction should be ten times the height of the
obstruction. If it is necessary to mount the WindSonic1 on the roof of a building, the height of the
sensor, above the roofline, should be at least 1.5 times the height of the building. See Siting
references (p. 15) for a list of references that discuss siting wind direction and speed sensors.
7.5 Mount the sensor
Mount the WindSonic1 using the WindSonic Mounting Pipe Kit, which consists of an aluminum
mounting tube, three pan truss screws, CM220 Right Angle Mounting bracket, two U-bolts, and
four nuts.
1. Thread the connector end of the cable through the mounting tube; start at the end without
the three threaded holes.
WindSonic1 Two-Dimensional Sonic Anemometer 9

2. Attach the female mating connector on the cable to the male mating connector located on
the bottom of the WindSonic1.
3. Secure the WindSonic1 to the mounting tube using the three pan-head screws.
4. Attach the mounting tube to a crossarm using the the CM220 Right Angle Mounting
bracket, U-bolts, and nuts (see FIGURE 7-1 (p. 10)).
5. Mount the crossarm to the tripod or tower.
6. Orient the WindSonic1 so that the colored North marker arrows point to True North (see
FIGURE 7-1 (p. 10)). See Determining True North and sensor orientation (p. 17) for more
information.
FIGURE 7-1. WindSonic1 mounted on a crossarm
7. Route the sensor cable along the underside of the crossarm to the tripod or tower, and to
the instrument enclosure.
8. Secure the cable to the crossarm and tripod or tower using cable ties.
8. Operation
This section discusses the following:
8.1 Sensor configuration 11
8.2 Campbell Scientific factory default settings 11
WindSonic1 Two-Dimensional Sonic Anemometer 10

8.3 Sensor output 13
8.4 Long cables 14
8.1 Sensor configuration
To mimic a mechanical anemometer, the WindSonic1 output frequency must match the data
logger scan frequency. The factory setting for the WindSonic1 is 1 Hz, which is 1 output per
second.
The data output frequency of the WindSonic1 can be set to five discrete values (see Table 8-1 (p.
11)) using Gill’s computer support software and the RS-232 WindSonic to computer cable.
Table 8-1: WindSonic1 output frequencies
Output frequency (Hz) Seconds per output (s)
4 0.25
2 0.5
1 1
0.5 2
0.25 4
8.2 Campbell Scientific factory default
settings
Table 8-3 (p. 13) provides the factory-default settings. The default settings for the WindSonic1
were changed in February 2013 to improve operation in cold temperatures. Sensors with the new
settings can be identified by a small white painted dot next to the connector on the underside of
the sensor (FIGURE 8-1 (p. 13)). New sensor cables include both a yellow and white heat shrink
label; older sensor cables had two white heat shrink labels. Because cables are interchangeable
between new and old sensors, the best check is to look for the painted dot.
Table 8-2: WindSonic1 factory-default settings
Setting description Setting Comments
Continuous polar wind M2
Wind speed in m/s U1
Field formatted, comma separated values O1 Changed in February 2013
WindSonic1 Two-Dimensional Sonic Anemometer 11

Table 8-2: WindSonic1 factory-default settings
Setting description Setting Comments
Terminate records with a carriage return
and line feed L1
1 Hz output frequency P1
Baud rate – 9600 baud B3 Changed in February 2013
Power-up message H1 Changed in February 2013
Address set to “Q” NQ
Data bits and parity — 8 bits, no parity F1
RS-232 interface E3
Analog output 0 to 5 VDC T1 Does not apply
Analog range 0 to 30 m/s S4 Does not apply
Analog wrap around 0 to 360 degrees C2 Does not apply
Minimum direction velocity K50
CAUTION:
WindSonic1 anemometers with the newer default settings will not work with older programs
or Short Cut 3.0 or older. Refer to Updating an older program for the new WindSonic1
settings (p. 21) for more information.
WindSonic1 Two-Dimensional Sonic Anemometer 12

FIGURE 8-1. White dot indicating that the WindSonic1 has the newer settings
8.3 Sensor output
The WindSonic1 outputs out a comma delineated ASCII string. Table 8-3 (p. 13) shows an
example string and the element meaning.
Table 8-3: WindSonic1 output string
Example string: <STX>Q, 229, 002.74, M, 00, <ETX> 16<CR><LF>
Element in example string Meaning
<STX> Start of string character (ASCII value 2)
Q WindSonic node address (Q is the default)
229 Wind direction, degrees
002.74 Wind speed, m/s
M Units of wind speed (m/s is the default)
00 Sensor diagnostic code (see Table 9-1 (p. 14))
<ETX> End of string character (ASCII value 3)
16 Checksum of bytes between <STX> and <ETX>
CR Carriage return (ASCII value 13)
LF Line Feed (ASCII value 10)
WindSonic1 Two-Dimensional Sonic Anemometer 13

8.4 Long cables
Communications between the WindSonic1 and the data logger will most likely fail if its cable is
extended beyond 15 m (50 ft). Digital data transfer eliminates offset errors due to cable lengths.
However, digital communications can break down when cables are too long, resulting in either
no response from the sensor or corrupted readings.
9. Maintenance and
troubleshooting
NOTE:
All factory repairs and recalibrations require a returned material authorization (RMA) and
completion of the “Statement of Product Cleanliness and Decontamination” form. Refer to
the Assistance page at the end of this manual for more information.
9.1 Troubleshooting
The WindSonic1 outputs a status code (Table 9-1 (p. 14)) along with each wind direction and
speed measurement. The data logger program can filter out data when the status code is not 00.
If the WindSonic1 is not powered, not connected, is using the wrong COM port, or has missed a
sample, the wind direction and speed measurement will be NaN. The program can filter out
these values and report the number of good samples that were used in computing the online
statistics. If the total number of good samples is less than 98% of the expected samples, send the
WindSonic1 to the factory for repair (see Assistance).
Table 9-1: Status codes
Code Status Comment
00 Okay All okay
01 Axis 1 failed Insufficient samples, possible path obstruction
02 Axis 2 failed Insufficient samples, possible path obstruction
04 Both axes failed Insufficient samples, possible path obstruction
08 NVM error Nonvolatile Memory checksum failed
09 ROM error Read Only Memory checksum failed
WindSonic1 Two-Dimensional Sonic Anemometer 14

9.2 Maintenance
There are no user-serviceable parts on the WindSonic1. Keep the transducer paths clear of any
obstructions.
CAUTION:
When clearing the transducer paths, do not remove or damage the rubber caps on the
transducers.
Use a cloth and mild detergent to gently clean the transducers.
CAUTION:
Do not use solvents and avoid scratching or damaging the rubber caps.
If the WindSonic1 is damaged, fails to output data, or sends a nonzero status number (Table 9-1
(p. 14)), return it to Campbell Scientific for repair (see Assistance).
10. Siting references
The following references give detailed information on siting wind direction and wind speed
sensors.
EPA, 1987: On-Site Meteorological Program Guidance for Regulatory Modeling Applications, EPA-
450/4-87-013, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711.
EPA, 1989: Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurements System, Office of
Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711.
The State Climatologist, 1985: Publication of the American Association of State Climatologists:
Height and Exposure Standards, for Sensors on Automated Weather Stations, vol. 9, No. 4.
WMO, 1983: Guide to Meteorological Instruments and Methods of Observation, World
Meteorological Organization, No. 8, 5th edition, Geneva, Switzerland.
WindSonic1 Two-Dimensional Sonic Anemometer 15

Appendix A. Importing Short
Cut code into CRBasic Editor
Short Cut creates a .DEF file that contains wiring information and a program file that can be
imported into the CRBasic Editor. By default, these files reside in the C:\campbellsci\SCWin folder.
Import Short Cut program file and wiring information into CRBasic Editor:
1. Create the Short Cut program. After saving the Short Cut program, click the Advanced tab
then the CRBasic Editor button. A program file with a generic name will open in CRBasic.
Provide a meaningful name and save the CRBasic program. This program can now be
edited for additional refinement.
NOTE:
Once the file is edited with CRBasic Editor,Short Cut can no longer be used to edit the
program it created.
2. To add the Short Cut wiring information into the new CRBasic program, open the .DEF file
located in the C:\campbellsci\SCWin folder, and copy the wiring information, which is at
the beginning of the .DEF file.
3. Go into the CRBasic program and paste the wiring information into it.
4. In the CRBasic program, highlight the wiring information, right-click, and select Comment
Block. This adds an apostrophe (') to the beginning of each of the highlighted lines, which
instructs the data logger compiler to ignore those lines when compiling. The Comment
Block feature is demonstrated at about 5:10 in the CRBasic | Features video .
WindSonic1 Two-Dimensional Sonic Anemometer 16

Appendix B. Determining True
North and sensor orientation
The orientation of the WindSonic1 north arrow markers is found by reading a magnetic compass
and applying the site-specific correction for magnetic declination; where the magnetic
declination is the number of degrees between true north and magnetic north. Obtain the
magnetic declination for a specific site from a USGS map, local airport, or through a NOAA web
calculator (Online magnetic declination calculator (p. 19)). A general map showing magnetic
declination for the Conterminous United States is shown in FIGURE B-1 (p. 17).
FIGURE B-1. Magnetic declination for the conterminous United States (2015)
Declination angles east of True North are considered negative, and are subtracted from 360
degrees to get True North as shown FIGURE B-2 (p. 18) (0° and 360° are the same point on a
compass). Declination angles west of True North are considered positive, and are added to 0
degrees to get True North as shown in FIGURE B-3 (p. 18).
WindSonic1 Two-Dimensional Sonic Anemometer 17