Gill Instruments MetPak II User manual

Doc No: 1723-PS-0001
Issue 9
User Manual
MetPak II
▪
MetPak II Remote
MetPak II Part: 1723-PK-100
Serial Number 11270001 onwards
Firmware 2436 V2.01 and higher
MetPak II R Part: 1723-PK-150
Serial Number 11300011 onwards
Firmware 2436 V2.01 and higher

Foreword
©2010 Gill Instruments Ltd. All rights reserved.
Thank you for purchasing the MetPak II/MetPak II R 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.
The information contained in this manual remains the property of Gill Instruments
and should not be copied or reproduced for commercial gain.
Guarantee
For terms of guarantee, please contact your supplier.
Warranty is void if the coloured Wind Sensor security seal is damaged or broken,
or the Wind Sensor transducer caps have been damaged.
Trademarks
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
All other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective owners.
Cautions and Notes
The following symbols are used in this guide:
CAUTION. This indicates an important operating instruction that should be
followed to avoid any potential damage to hardware or property, loss of data,
or personal injury.
NOTE. This indicates important information to help you make the best use of this
product.
Applicable Parts
MetPak II Part 1723-PK-100
Applies to:-
Serial Number 11270001 and higher
Firmware 2436 V2.01 and higher.
Met Pak R Part 1723-PK-150
Applies to:-
Serial Number 11300011 and higher.
Firmware 2436 V2.01 and higher.

MetPak II and MetPak R User Manual
Last Change ©Gill Instruments Ltd
09 March, 2012 Page i
Contents
1. Introduction.........................................................................................................1
1.1 Principle of Operation...................................................................................................... 3
1.1.1 Wind Speed and Direction Sensor.....................................................................3
1.1.2 Radiation Shield................................................................................................ 4
1.1.3 Temperature and Relative Humidity Sensor with Dewpoint Output.................... 4
1.1.4 Barometric Pressure.......................................................................................... 4
1.2 Abbreviations.................................................................................................................. 5
1.3 Initial Test Guides........................................................................................................... 6
1.3.1 MetPak II (Part 1723-PK-100) ........................................................................... 6
1.3.2 MetPak II R (Part 1723-PK-150)........................................................................ 8
2. Installation........................................................................................................10
2.1 Pre-Installation Checks.................................................................................................10
2.1.1 Spare Parts..................................................................................................... 10
2.2 Installation..................................................................................................................... 11
2.2.1 Bench system test........................................................................................... 11
2.2.2 Equipment Required........................................................................................ 11
2.2.3 Cabling............................................................................................................11
2.2.4 Communication connections............................................................................16
2.2.5 Mounting MetPak II and MetPak II R............................................................... 20
3. Operation...........................................................................................................25
3.1 MetView........................................................................................................................ 25
3.1.1 Opening MetView............................................................................................ 25
3.1.2 Scanning for Devices....................................................................................... 26
3.1.3 The MetView Console ..................................................................................... 27
3.1.4 MetView Console Display Options...................................................................28
3.1.5 MetView Gauge Ranges and Graphs.............................................................. 29
3.1.6 Data logging....................................................................................................31
3.2 Configuring MetPak II/MetPak II R................................................................................ 34
3.2.1 Configuring MetPak II/MetPak II R using MetSet............................................. 35
3.2.2 MetSet Editing Screen..................................................................................... 37
3.2.3 Configuring using HyperTerminal.................................................................... 39
3.2.4 Configuring MetPak II/MetPak II R for NMEA Output......................................43
3.2.5 Configuring MetPak II/MetPak II R for SDI-12................................................. 44
3.2.6 SDI-12 Commands.......................................................................................... 44
3.2.7 Safe Mode.......................................................................................................47

Contents
MetPak II and MetPak II R User Manual
©Gill Instruments Ltd Last Change
Page ii 09 March, 2012
4. Troubleshooting................................................................................................49
4.1 Fault-Finding................................................................................................................. 49
4.2 Servicing....................................................................................................................... 50
4.3 Bench Tests..................................................................................................................50
5. Maintenance ......................................................................................................53
6. Technical Information.......................................................................................55
6.1 Specification .................................................................................................................55
6.2 Hub PCB Connections..................................................................................................57
6.3 Electrical Conformity Certificate.................................................................................... 59
Figures
Figure 1 MetPak II 1
Figure 2 MetPak II R 2
Figure 3 Compass points 3
Figure 4 Position of Temperature and Relative Humidity Probe in the Radiation Shield 4
Figure 5 Internal view of the hub box 16
Figure 6 Connection of Gill USB Cable (Part No. 1723-10-051) 17
Figure 7 RS232 connections 17
Figure 8 RS422 connections 18
Figure 9 RS485 Connections 18
Figure 10 SDI-12 connections 19
Figure 11 Correct mounting position for MetPak II 21
Figure 12 WindSonic Sensor Mounting 23
Figure 13 Correct mounting position for MetPak II R parts 24
Figure 14 Opening MetView Screen 25
Figure 15 Scanning for MetPak II/MetPak II R Devices 26
Figure 16 The MetView Console 27
Figure 17 MetView Gauge Range 29
Figure 18 MetView Graph 30
Figure 19 Setting up data logging 31
Figure 20 A typical data log (viewed in Windows Notepad) 33
Figure 21 Opening MetSet Screen 35
Figure 22 Summary of MetPak II/MetPak II R Device Settings using MetSet 36
Tables
Table 1 Abbreviations 5
Table 2 Recommended Belden cable types 14
Table 3 Maximum cable lengths for supported communication networks 14
Table 4 Connection status indicators 27
Table 5 MetView scale and unit options 28
Table 6 MetView averaging options 28
Table 7 Max/min markers 28
Table 8 MetView Screen Settings Options 28
Table 9 Default configuration settings 34
Table 10 MetPak II/MetPak II R configuration commands 40
Table 11 Abbreviations used in UNIT configuration command 42

MetPak II and MetPak II User Manual
©Gill Instruments Ltd Last Change
Page iii 09 March, 2012
Table 12 Common problems and their solution 49
Table 13 Status codes as output with the MetPak II/MetPak II R data string 50
Table 14 HygroClip connections (6-way connector J1) 57
Table 15 MetPak II WindSonic anemometer connections (8-way connector J4) 57
Table 16 MetPak II R WindSonic anemometer connections (8-way connector J4) 57
Table 17 PC communications (8-way connector, J5) 58

MetPak II and Met Pak II R User Manual
Last Change ©Gill Instruments Ltd
09 March, 2012 Page 1
1. Introduction
MetPak II
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. Barometric pressure is
measured using an industry standard sensor.
The instrument is supplied with digital ASCII RS232/RS422/485 (2 wire point to
point) and digital SDI-12 outputs. NMEA 0183 output is also configurable. An
electrical hub box is fitted to the mounting bracket allowing convenient termination
of all electrical cables.
The instrument uses a rugged U-bolt mounting clamp that attaches to any vertical
pipe up to 50mm (2”) diameter.
An electrical hub box is fitted to the mounting bracket for termination of data and
power cables.
Figure 1 MetPak II
Wind speed and
direction sensor
Radiation shield
Temperature and
Relative humidity
sensor
Hub box
Mounting
bracket
Gore-Tex Vent for
Barometric
Pressure Sensor

Introduction
MetPak II and MetPak II R User Manual
©Gill Instruments Ltd Last Change
Page 2 09 March, 2012
MetPak II R
With all the features of the MetPak II the MetPak II R 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 at up to 10 metres from the Hub box and bracket
assembly using a 10 metre extension cable. The WindSensor is designed to be
pipe mounted on a 44.45mm (1.75”) pipe of 3mm wall thickness.
Temperature and Humidity are measured and Dewpoint calculated using an
industry standard probe housed in a naturally aspirated radiation shield. Barometric
pressure is measured using an industry standard sensor.
The instrument is supplied with digital ASCII RS232/RS422/485 (2 wire point to
point) and digital SDI-12 outputs. NMEA 0183 output is also configurable. An
electrical hub box is fitted to the mounting bracket allowing convenient termination
of all electrical cables.
The instrument bracket assembly uses a rugged U-bolt mounting clamp that
attaches to any vertical pipe up to 50mm (2”) diameter.
Figure 2 MetPak II R
Remote WindSonic
(Supplied)
10 Metre Cable
(Supplied)
Temperature and
Humidity Sensor
Radiation Shield
Gore-Tex Vented Hub
Box containing
Barometric Pressure
Sensor.

Introduction
MetPak II and Met Pak II R User Manual
Last Change ©Gill Instruments Ltd
09 March, 2012 Page 3
1.1 Principle of Operation
1.1.1 Wind Speed and Direction Sensor
The MetPak II/MetPak II R 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. Likewise times are compared between
West and East, and E and W transducer.
If, for example, a North wind is blowing, then the time taken for the pulse to travel
from N to S will be faster than from S to N, whereas the W to E, and E to W times
will be the same. The wind speed and direction can then be calculated from the
differences in the times of flight on each axis. This calculation is independent of
factors such as temperature.
Figure 3 Compass points
Figure 3 shows the compass point and polarity of U and V if the wind components
along the U and V axis are blowing in the direction of the respective arrows.

Introduction
MetPak II and MetPak II R User Manual
©Gill Instruments Ltd Last Change
Page 4 09 March, 2012
1.1.2 Radiation Shield
The Multi-Plate Radiation Shield protects temperature and relative humidity
sensors from error-producing solar radiation and precipitation. This shield relies on
a combination of plate geometry, material and natural ventilation to provide
effective shielding.
1.1.3 Temperature and Relative Humidity Sensor with
Dewpoint Output
The Rotronic HygroClip module is a complete instrument, with integrated
temperature compensation. Calibration data is maintained within the integrated
electronics. It provides digital output signals for Relative Humidity, Temperature
and Dewpoint to the MetPak II/MetPak II R Hub box.
Figure 4 Position of Temperature and Relative Humidity Probe in the Radiation
Shield
1.1.4 Barometric Pressure
Barometric pressure output is provided by a solid-state device fitted on to the circuit
board in the MetPak II/MetPak II R hub box. Vent to atmosphere is via a Gore-Tex®
filter, which protects the pressure sensor from the effects of wind and rain.