Columbia Weather Systems Magellan 420 User manual

Magellan 420 Weather Station 1
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
Magellan 420 Weather Station™
User Manual
Version 1.01
Serial Number: ___________________
Date Purchased: _________________
All specifications subject to change without notice.
Printed in U. S. A.

2 Magellan 420 Weather Station
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
© Copyright 2011 Columbia Weather Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Proprietary Notice: Magellan, Magellan 420, Orion, Orion 420, Orion LX,
Capricorn 2000, Capricorn 2000MP and Capricorn 2000EX are
trademarks of Columbia Weather Systems, Inc. The information and
drawings contained herein are the sole property of Columbia Weather
Systems, Inc. Use of this publication is reserved exclusively for
customers of Columbia Weather Systems, Inc. and their personnel.
Reproduction of this material is forbidden without the express written
consent of Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.

Magellan 420 Weather Station 3
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
Welcome!
Congratulations on your purchase of a Magellan 420 Weather Station.
Please read this manual completely prior to installation.

4 Magellan 420 Weather Station
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.

Magellan 420 Weather Station 5
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
Important Notice: Shipping
Damage
BEFORE YOU READ ANY FURTHER, please inspect all system
components for obvious shipping damage. The Magellan is a high
precision instrument and can be damaged by rough handling. Your unit
was packaged to minimize the possibility of damage in transit. Please
save the shipping container for any future shipment of your Magellan
sensor.
In the event your order arrives in damaged condition, it is important that
the following steps be taken immediately. The title transfers automatically
to you, the customer, once the material is entrusted to the transport
company.
NOTE: DO NOT RETURN THE INSTRUMENT TO COLUMBIA
WEATHER SYSTEMS until the following steps are completed. Failure to
follow this request will jeopardize your claim.
1. Open the container and inspect the contents. Do not throw away
the container or any damaged parts. Try to keep items in the
same condition as originally received.
2. Notify the transport company immediately.
3. Request the transport company’s representative inspect the
shipment personally.
4. After inspection, request a Return Materials Authorization (RMA)
from Columbia Weather Systems by calling [phone].
5. Return approved items to us at the following address:
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
2240 NE Griffin Oaks Street, Suite 100
Hillsboro, OR 97124
6. After a repair evaluation, an estimate of the cost of repair will be
sent to you.

6 Magellan 420 Weather Station
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
ESD Protection
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) can cause immediate or latent damage to
electronic circuits. Vaisala products are adequately protected against
ESD for their intended use. However, it is possible to damage the
product by delivering electrostatic discharges when touching, removing,
or inserting any objects inside the equipment housing.
To avoid delivering high static voltages yourself:
1. Handle ESD sensitive components on a properly grounded and
protected ESD workbench. When this is not possible, ground
yourself with a wrist strap and a resistive connection cord to the
equipment chassis before touching the boards. When neither of
the above is possible, at least touch a conductive part of the
equipment chassis with your other hand before touching the
boards.
2. Always hold the boards by the edges and avoid touching the
component contacts.

Magellan 420 Weather Station 7
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
Table of Contents
WELCOME! -------------------------------------------------------------3
IMPORTANT NOTICE: SHIPPING DAMAGE -----------------5
ESD P ROTECTION ............................................................................................. 6
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION -------------------------------------9
T HE M AGELLAN 420 W EATHER S TATION ......................................................... 9
S PECIFICATIONS .............................................................................................. 10
Input Voltage.............................................................................................. 10
Sensor Housing .......................................................................................... 11
Serial to Analog Converters....................................................................... 11
P RINCIPLES OF M EASUREMENTS ..................................................................... 12
Temperature............................................................................................... 12
Humidity..................................................................................................... 12
Barometric Pressure .................................................................................. 12
Wind Measurement .................................................................................... 12
Fluxgate Compass...................................................................................... 12
SECTION 2: PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION ---------------------- 13
M AGELLAN S ENSOR T RANSMITTER ................................................................ 13
M AGELLAN 420 E NCLOSURE .......................................................................... 14
S URGE /L IGHTNING P ROTECTORS .................................................................... 15
SECTION 3: INSTALLATION ------------------------------------ 17
W EATHER S TATION S YSTEM C ONFIGURATIONS ............................................. 17
I NSTALLATION O VERVIEW .............................................................................. 18
U NPACKING THE U NIT .................................................................................... 18
Installing the Magellan Sensor Transmitter............................................... 19
Site Selection.............................................................................................. 19
North Alignment......................................................................................... 19
Installing the Mast ..................................................................................... 19
Location ..................................................................................................... 19
Mounting Method....................................................................................... 19
Routing Cable ............................................................................................ 20
Location ..................................................................................................... 21
Mounting Method....................................................................................... 21
Routing Cable ............................................................................................ 21
Connecting the Sensor Transmitter to the Magellan 420 Enclosure ......... 22
Connecting the 420 Enclosure to the PLC................................................. 23
SECTION 4: OPTIONAL SENSOR MOUNTING
HARDWARE ---------------------------------------------------------- 25

8 Magellan 420 Weather Station
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
O PTIONAL S ENSOR M OUNTING H ARDWARE ................................................... 25
Tripod and Tiedown Kit ............................................................................. 25
Specifications ............................................................................................. 27
Roof Mounting ........................................................................................... 28
Wall Mounting ........................................................................................... 30
SECTION 5: OPERATION ----------------------------------------- 33
SECTION 6: MAINTENANCE ------------------------------------ 35
F ACTORY C ALIBRATION AND R EPAIR S ERVICE .............................................. 35
SECTION 7: USER SUPPORT INFORMATION-------------- 37
L IMITED W ARRANTY ...................................................................................... 37
EXCLUSIONS............................................................................................ 37
R ETURN FOR R EPAIR P ROCEDURE .................................................................. 38

Magellan 420 Weather Station 9
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION
The Magellan 420 Weather Station
The Magellan 420 weather station provides wind direction and speed
measurements, capacitive relative humidity, temperature and barometric
pressure readings – all in a single sensor module.
The sensor transmitter includes a built-in electronics flux compass for
automatic North orientation.
The Magellan 420 provides 4-20mA current output for the 6 weather
parameters.
High accuracy and fine resolution make this system ideal for precision
weather monitoring.

10 Magellan 420 Weather Station
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
Specifications
Wind Speed
Range: 0-112mph (0-50 m/s)
Accuracy: +/-0.5 m/s or 5% of reading
Resolution: 1 mph (1 m/s)
Units Available: knots, mph, km/hr, m/s
Wind Direction
Azimuth: 0-360°
Accuracy: ±5°at wind speed >2.2 m/s
Resolution: 1°
Units Available: °Azimuth
Temperature
Range: -58 to +122°F (-50 to +50°C)
Accuracy: ±0.2°C
Resolution: 0.1°C
Units Available: °F, °C
Barometric Pressure
Range: 17.50 to 32.50 InHg (600 to 1100 hPa)
Accuracy: ±0.35 hPa (at 25°C)
Resolution: 0.1 hPa
Units Available: Kpa, mbar, InHg
Relative Humidity
Range: 0 - 100%
Accuracy: ±3%
Resolution: 1%
Units Available: %RH
Compass
Accuracy: ±2°
Resolution: 1°
Input Voltage
The Magellan 420 is powered with an internal switching power supply
Input: 120/240 VAC, 60 Hz

Magellan 420 Weather Station 11
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
Sensor Housing
Protection class: IP66 (with mounting adapter)
Materials: Polycarbonate + 20% glass fiber, stainless steel (AISI 316)
Weight: 650 g (1.43 lbs)
Serial to Analog Converters
Analog Range: 4-20 mA
Current sourcing
Accuracy at 25°C: 0.1% of range
Maximum load: 600 ohms
Output reaction time: 0 – 40 ms
DA Conversion: 12 bits (resolution 4096)
Current Consumption: 30 mA to 110 mA

12 Magellan 420 Weather Station
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
Principles of Measurements
Temperature
The temperature sensor in the Magellan uses a precision triple-element
thermistor. This provides highly accurate and stable temperature
readings.
Humidity
The relative humidity sensor is a capacitive polymer sensor. The
construction of the humidity sensor element provides excellent
resistance to wetting, dust, dirt, oils, and common environmental
chemicals.
Barometric Pressure
The barometric pressure sensor is a stable transducer using nano-
technology, yielding a linear and repeatable sensor with low hysteresis.
The piezoresistive pressure sensor module is mounted on a small
electronic circuit board.
A microcontroller controls the operation of the sensor and the data
interface. The microcontroller polls the pressure sensor module once per
second for the barometric pressure and ambient temperature. The raw
readings are temperature corrected by the microcontroller.
Wind Measurement
A unique folded-path, low-power sonic anemometer operates on the
principle that the speed of the wind affects the time it takes for sound to
travel from one point to a second point. If the sound is traveling in the
direction of the wind, then the transit time is decreased. If the sound is
traveling in a direction opposite the wind, then the transit time is
increased.
Fluxgate Compass
The internal compass module is low power and compact. It employs a
pair of magneto-inductive sensors which change inductance with varying
magnetic field strengths, to sense the Earth’s magnetic field.
The microprocessor measures the output of the internal compass and
then corrects wind direction data for the orientation of the sensor. The
output of the wind direction is relative to magnetic North. A user
programmable value of Magnetic Declination may be entered through
terminal mode to enable output relative to True North rather than
Magnetic North.

Magellan 420 Weather Station 13
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
SECTION 2: PHYSICAL
DESCRIPTION
Magellan Sensor Transmitter
The Magellan Sensor Transmitter is an all-in-one sensor unit containing
sonic wind speed and direction sensor, temperature sensor, relative
humidity sensor, and barometric pressure sensor.
The temperature and relative humidity sensors are combined in a single
module housed in a self-aspirating radiation shield.

14 Magellan 420 Weather Station
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
Magellan 420 Enclosure
The Magellan 420 Enclosure contains the following:
1. AC power supply with +24 VDC output
2. AC power filter and suppressor
3. Two RS-232 to 4-20 mA converters
4. Sensor connection terminal block
The enclosure used is UL 508 Type 4, NEMA/EEMAC Type 4.
Enclosure flammability rating UL94-5V.

Magellan 420 Weather Station 15
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
Surge/Lightning Protectors
A nearby lightning strike may induce a high voltage surge which the
internal suppressor of your weather instrument may not be able to
withstand, causing significant damage to the weather station. Protect
your weather station investment with the Magellan Surge Protector. This
compact transient overvoltage suppressor is designed for weather
stations in areas with an elevated risk of lightning strikes such as the top
of high buildings, or installations with cable lengths greater than 100 feet.
•Superior 3-stage surge protection
•Tolerates up to 10kA surge currents
•Both differential and common mode protection on each channel
•Filtering against HF and RF noise
•Two power channels and two data channels
•Environmental protection class IP66
Catalog Number: 8355
Includes adjustable mounting kit

16 Magellan 420 Weather Station
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.

Magellan 420 Weather Station 17
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
SECTION 3: INSTALLATION
Weather Station System Configurations

18 Magellan 420 Weather Station
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
Installation Overview
Unpacking the Unit
Installing Sensor Transmitter
Installing the Magellan 420 Weatherproof Enclosure
Connecting the Sensor Transmitter to the enclosure
Connecting the enclosure to the PLC
Unpacking the Unit
The sensor transmitter comes in a custom shipping container. Be careful
when removing the device.
Unpack the Magellan 420 weather station and verify that all parts are
included.
1. Standard system includes:
Magellan Sensor Transmitter
50 ft sensor cable + additional cable length if ordered
Magellan 420 Weatherproof Enclosure
User Manual
Inspect all system components for obvious shipping damage (Refer to
“Important Notice: Shipping Damage” in case of damage).
Save the shipping carton and packing material in case the unit needs to
be returned to the factory. If the system does not operate or calibrate
properly, see Section 6: Maintenance and Section 7: Troubleshooting, for
further instructions.

Magellan 420 Weather Station 19
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
Installing the Magellan Sensor Transmitter
Site Selection
Finding a suitable site for the sensor transmitter is important for getting
representative ambient measurements. The site should represent the
general area of interest.
The sensor transmitter should be installed in a location that is free from
turbulence caused by nearby objects, such as trees or buildings.
WARNING: To protect personnel (and the device), a lightning rod should
be installed with the tip at least 40 inches (one meter) above the sensor
transmitter. The rod must be properly grounded, compliant with all local
applicable safety regulations.
North Alignment
The Magellan sensor has a built-in electronic compass for North
alignment.
The Magnetic Declination has been entered into the sensor for your
area. To change the magnetic declination, please see the Operation
section.
Installing the Mast
There are three acceptable methods for mounting the mast to a roof or
building structure: Sloped roof mounting, flat roof mounting or wall
mounting. See Optional Sensor Mounting Hardware for more
information.
Location
Do not attach the sensor transmitter to a radio transmitting mast or
tower.
Select a mounting location that will allow the sensor cable to be routed
away from other data cables to avoid interference. Never route sensor
cables in tall trees. Do not mount sensors close to power lines or
telephone lines. For normal roof mounting, the recommended minimum
distance from power or telephone lines is 25 ft. (8 m). Use extreme
caution when working close to power lines.
Mounting Method
Choose the appropriate mounting method for the installation and obtain
any necessary mounting hardware. If the mounting hardware is not
obtained from the factory, be certain to use metal parts which are plated
or galvanized to assure maximum longevity.

20 Magellan 420 Weather Station
________________________________________________________________________
Columbia Weather Systems, Inc.
Secure the mast to the roof, using guy wires with sufficient tensile
strength or to building wall using a wall-mount hardware kit.
Routing Cable
Use plastic tie wraps to secure the cable to mast, particularly at the mast
base. Tighten the tie wraps securely and clip off any excess length with a
wire cutter tool.
Route the cable back to the Interface Module
CAUTION: There may be electric wires in the wall. When routing cable
through walls, we recommend that you shut off the electricity in the
room(s) where you are drilling.
Any mast or tower should always be properly earth grounded to minimize
electrical storm damage. The use of a properly grounded metal mast or
tower, however, does not insure protection from electrostatic discharge.
These items could become electrically charged resulting in damage to
the sensors and/or console. This could damage the system in the event
of an electrical storm. Use insulated standoffs (user supplied, see
Section 4) when routing cable to help avoid this problem.
Note: If the standard 50 ft. cable provided with the sensor transmitter is
not long enough, it may be extended by splicing on an appropriate length
of 22-gauge, stranded, seven conductor shielded cable with the same
color code. When cutting and splicing, insure good contacts, proper color
coding of the terminal leads, and a good seal. (A good solder splice, and
water proof insulation are essential; merely twisting the respective wires
together is not adequate.) Additional cable (Catalog No. 81547) and a
water tight splice kit (Cat. No. 81580) are available from the factory.
Once the sensor transmitter has been placed, route the cable back to the
Interface Module.