Vaisala Beacon Station BWS500 Operating manual

M212822EN-A
Maintenance Guide
Connected Compact Station
BWS500

PUBLISHED BY
Vaisala Oyj
Vanha Nurmijärventie 21, FI‑01670 Vantaa, Finland
P.O. Box 26, FI‑00421 Helsinki, Finland
+358 9 8949 1
www.vaisala.com
docs.vaisala.com
© Vaisala 2023
No part of this document may be reproduced,
published or publicly displayed in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical (including
photocopying), nor may its contents be modified,
translated, adapted, sold or disclosed to a third
party without prior written permission of the
copyright holder. Translated documents and
translated portions of multilingual documents are
based on the original English versions. In
ambiguous cases, the English versions are
applicable, not the translations.
The contents of this document are subject to
change without prior notice.
Local rules and regulations may vary and they
shall take precedence over the information
contained in this document. Vaisala makes no
representations on this document’s compliance
with the local rules and regulations applicable at
any given time, and hereby disclaims any and all
responsibilities related thereto.
This document does not create any legally
binding obligations for Vaisala towards customers
or end users. All legally binding obligations and
agreements are included exclusively in the
applicable supply contract or the General
Conditions of Sale and General Conditions of
Service of Vaisala.
This product contains software developed by
Vaisala or third parties. Use of the software is
governed by license terms and conditions
included in the applicable supply contract or, in
the absence of separate license terms and
conditions, by the General License Conditions of
Vaisala Group.
This product may contain open source software
(OSS) components. In the event this product
contains OSS components, then such OSS is
governed by the terms and conditions of the
applicable OSS licenses, and you are bound by the
terms and conditions of such licenses in
connection with your use and distribution of the
OSS in this product. Applicable OSS licenses are
included in the product itself or provided to you
on any other applicable media, depending on
each individual product and the product items
delivered to you.

Table of contents
1. About this document.......................................................................................5
1.1 Version information.............................................................................................5
1.2 Related manuals.................................................................................................. 5
1.3 Documentation conventions..............................................................................6
1.4 Trademarks...........................................................................................................6
2. Product overview.............................................................................................. 7
2.1 Vaisala Connected Compact Station BWS500................................................ 7
2.2 Product nomenclature........................................................................................ 8
2.3 Safety.................................................................................................................... 8
2.3.1 ESD protection.............................................................................................. 11
3. Maintenance....................................................................................................... 12
3.1 Overview of maintenance................................................................................. 12
3.2 Mast maintenance.............................................................................................. 12
3.3 Sensor maintenance.......................................................................................... 12
3.4 Solar panel maintenance ..................................................................................13
3.5 Replacing PSU501 battery................................................................................ 14
4. Troubleshooting............................................................................................... 18
4.1 Troubleshooting................................................................................................. 18
4.2 Verifying connection with LED indicators.......................................................18
5. Recycling............................................................................................................20
5.1 Recycling instructions...................................................................................... 20
5.2 BWS500 recycling............................................................................................. 21
5.3 Component-level recycling.............................................................................. 22
Warranty.............................................................................................................25
Technical support.............................................................................................25
Table of contents
3

BWS500 Maintenance Guide M212822EN-A
4

1. About this document
1.1 Version information
This document provides instructions for maintaining Vaisala Connected Compact Station
BWS500.
Table 1 Document versions (English)
Document code Date Description
M212822EN-A February 2023 First version.
1.2 Related manuals
Some of these documents can be found in our product documentation portal at
docs.vaisala.com.
Table 2 BWS500 manuals
Document code Name
M212787EN Vaisala Connected Compact Station BWS500 Setup Guide
M212525EN Vaisala Connected Compact Station BWS500 Spare Part List
M212450EN Vaisala Connected Compact Station BWS500 Technical Specification
M212822EN Vaisala Connected Compact Station BWS500 Maintenance Guide
For BWS500 support information and materials, visit also:
www.vaisala.com/en/bws500-support
Table 3 Other manuals
Document Name
M212639EN Vaisala BWS Cloud Companion API Reference
M212555EN Accessing Maintenance Web User Interface
M212534EN EGW501 and PSU501 Setup Guide for Wall Installation
M212769EN PSU501 Storage Instructions
M211840EN Vaisala Weather Transmitter WXT530 Series User Guide
M212296EN Vaisala Air Quality Transmitter AQT530 Product Description
Chapter 1 – About this document
5

Document Name
M212573EN Vaisala Air Quality Transmitter AQT530 Setup Guide
M212572EN Vaisala Air Quality Transmitter AQT530 Configuration Guide
M212580EN Vaisala Air Quality Transmitter AQT530 Maintenance Guide
M211897EN Vaisala CARBOCAPâCarbon Dioxide Probe GMP252 User Guide
1.3 Documentation conventions
Warning alerts you to a serious hazard. If you do not read and follow
instructions carefully at this point, there is a risk of injury or even death.
WARNING!
Caution warns you of a potential hazard. If you do not read and follow
instructions carefully at this point, the product could be damaged or important data
could be lost.
CAUTION!
Note highlights important information on using the product.
Tip gives information for using the product more eciently.
Lists tools needed to perform the task.
Indicates that you need to take some notes during the task.
1.4 Trademarks
Vaisalaâand CARBOCAPâare registered trademarks of Vaisala Oyj.
BWS500 Maintenance Guide M212822EN-A
6

2. Product overview
2.1 Vaisala Connected Compact Station
BWS500
Gateway
EGW501
Sensors
WXT530 Series AQT530 GMP252
Powering
PSU501 SOL501 SOL502
Masts
Visualization
BWS Cloud Companion
Services
Remote
Care
Services
DKP204
DKP203DKP202 DKT504
Air pressure
hPa
16:36
1159.5
12:32:51 BWS100
SummaryDevices
Settings
Graph Measurements Settings
Winddirection
°
16:36
21.3
Windspeed
m/s
16:36
4.3
Relativehumidit y
%
16:36
37.8
Air temperature
°C
16:36
21.3
Device information
16:36
Lastdata received
Status
2020-06-0116:38:28
Active
BWS100
BWS500
Data
Communication
Service
Figure 1 Vaisala Connected Compact Station BWS500
Vaisala Connected Compact Station BWS500 is a compact weather station for
environmental monitoring. The complete solution provides measurements, data collection,
and data visualization in one package. BWS500 includes Vaisala Edge Gateway EGW501, a
selected set of sensors, powering equipment, and mounting accessories. To maximize ease-
of-use, the station comes with a data plan and a variety of service packages to choose from.
Chapter 2 – Product overview
7

When combined with data management and visualization software, BWS500 includes the
required hardware and software for managing your weather data. You can select to use
Vaisala BWS Cloud Companion for measurement data visualization.
BWS500 is suitable for a variety of applications and can be scaled to support both small and
large-scale weather observation networks − from harbor and port weather to
complementing national weather forecast networks.
Currently, the sensor selection of BWS500 includes the following Vaisala sensors:
• Vaisala Weather Transmitter WXT530 Series
• Vaisala Air Quality Transmitter AQT530
• Vaisala Carbon Dioxide Probe GMP252
WXT530 series sensors measure 6 dierent weather parameters. AQT530 provides
measurement data of the most important urban pollutant gases and particles, and GMP252
measures carbon dioxide concentration up to 10 000 ppm CO2.
You can select which sensors to include in your weather station configuration.
2.2 Product nomenclature
Table 4 Product nomenclature
Item Name
AQT530 Vaisala Air Quality Transmitter
BWS500 Vaisala Connected Compact Station
BWS Cloud
Companion
Vaisala cloud software for accessing measurement data
DKP202
DKP203
DKP204
Vaisala Short Pole Mast
DKT504 Vaisala Tripod Mast
GMP252 Vaisala Carbon Dioxide Probe
EGW501 Vaisala Edge Gateway
PSU501 Vaisala Power Supply Unit for AC (mains) and DC power
SOL501 Vaisala Solar Panel 20 W for tripod
SOL502 Vaisala Solar Panel 20 W for pole mast
WXT530 Vaisala Weather Transmitter
2.3 Safety
This product is intended for outdoor use and can be used in wet locations.
BWS500 Maintenance Guide M212822EN-A
8

Failure to comply with these precautions or with specific warnings
elsewhere in these instructions violates safety standards of design, manufacture, and
intended use of the product. Vaisala assumes no liability for the customer's failure to
comply with these requirements.
WARNING!
Changes or modifications to this equipment not expressly approved by
the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
WARNING!
If the equipment is used in a manner not specified by Vaisala, the
protection provided by the equipment may be impaired.
WARNING!
Follow local and state legislation and regulations on occupational safety.WARNING!
Assess the risks from the installation work. Consider also the eects of
local weather conditions.
WARNING!
Do not perform installation or maintenance procedures when there is a
risk of thunderstorm or lightning activity in the area.
WARNING!
Check that the instrument has not been damaged during transportation.
Do not install or operate a damaged instrument.
WARNING!
Only licensed experts may install electrical components. They must
adhere to local and state legislation and regulations.
WARNING!
Chapter 2 – Product overview
9

Make sure that you prepare or connect only de-energized wires.WARNING!
The AC (mains) power supply line must be equipped with an overcurrent
protection device (a fuse or a circuit breaker). The current rating of the overcurrent
protection device must be aligned with the cable size used to connect PSU501. Unless
local regulations state otherwise, use a maximum of 6 A device for 0.75 mm² (18 AWG)
cables, a maximum of 10 A device for 1 mm² (17 AWG) cables and a maximum of 16 A
device for 1.5 mm² (15 AWG) cables.
Do not replace the AC (mains) supply cable with a cable that has a lower rating than
specified.
WARNING!
Keep away from live circuits. Operating personnel must observe safety
regulations at all times.
WARNING!
Do not replace the battery with a battery of an incorrect type. If you do,
there is a risk of explosion. Dispose of used batteries according to statutory regulations.
WARNING!
Do not throw the battery into a hot oven or fire, or mechanically crush or
cut the battery. Improper disposal can cause an explosion.
WARNING!
Do not leave the battery in an environment surrounded by extremely high
temperatures. Extremely high temperature can result in an explosion or the leakage of
flammable liquid or gas.
WARNING!
Make sure that the battery is not subjected to an extremely low air
pressure. Extremely low air pressure can result in an explosion or the leakage of
flammable liquid or gas.
WARNING!
To avoid exposure to laser radiation, do not disassemble AQT530 unless
instructed to do so in AQT530 maintenance instructions.
WARNING!
BWS500 Maintenance Guide M212822EN-A
10

EGW501 requires a separation distance of at least 20 cm (7.87 in). This
distance must be maintained between the user and the device when the device is
operating.
CAUTION!
Make sure that the grounding wire is longer than the phase and neutral
wires. Under mechanical stress, the grounding wire must be the last to disconnect from
the protective ground terminal.
CAUTION!
To prevent electrostatic discharge, avoid touching component contacts or connectors.
Vaisala Air Quality Transmitter AQT530 is classified as a Class 1 laser device in accordance
with International Standard IEC 60825-1. It complies with 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11
except for conformance with IEC 60825-1 ED. 3., as described in the Laser Notice No. 56,
dated May 8,2019. A Class 1 laser device is safe under all conditions of normal use.
AQT530 incorporates a Class 3B laser. The laser is contained in an enclosure, preventing
direct physical access to laser radiation.
When working with equipment in extremely cold temperatures, use appropriate
personal protective equipment such as thermally insulated gloves and clothing.
Wear personal protective equipment (PPE).
2.3.1 ESD protection
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) can damage 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 in the equipment housing.
To avoid delivering high static voltages to the product, touch a conductive part of the
equipment chassis with your other hand before touching ESD‑sensitive components.
Chapter 2 – Product overview
11

3. Maintenance
3.1 Overview of maintenance
In general, BWS500 needs very little maintenance.
The stations connected to Vaisala cloud are monitored through the remote monitoring
service. If something is not working as expected, remote diagnostics analyse the issue. If a
station needs local maintenance, Vaisala contacts you to visit the station and perform simple
checks.
During a site visit you may need to connect to the maintenance web user interface locally.
For instructions, see Accessing Maintenance Web User Interface (M212555EN).
If the station runs on solar power only, Vaisala recommends a site visit twice a year to check
the solar panel condition.
Table 5 BWS500 maintenance
Task Frequency
Mast maintenance See the mast documentation
Sensor maintenance See the sensor documentation
Check the solar panel condition Twice a year
Clean the solar panel As needed
Replace the PSU501 battery Every 3 years (or more often, if needed)
More information
‣Mast maintenance (page 12)
‣Sensor maintenance (page 12)
‣Solar panel maintenance (page 13)
3.2 Mast maintenance
Your installation usually includes a mast. For maintenance instructions, see the mast
documentation.
3.3 Sensor maintenance
For maintenance instructions of the sensors, see the relevant sensor documentation.
BWS500 Maintenance Guide M212822EN-A
12

3.4 Solar panel maintenance
Handle the solar panel with care. Impact on the front or rear surface can
damage the module. Do not bend the panel.
CAUTION!
When working with the solar panel, use properly insulated tools and wear rubber gloves.
Preventive maintenance for the solar panel includes:
• Inspecting the module at least twice a year for overall integrity. Make sure that
connections to the battery are tight and free of corrosion.
• Cleaning the module surface, if needed. Dirt accumulation on the module's front
surface can reduce the light energy collected by the module. If the module surface is
dirty, gently clean it using a soft, lint-free cloth moistened with mild detergent.
Do not use a scrub brush. It can damage the front surface of the
module.
CAUTION!
Chapter 3 – Maintenance
13

3.5 Replacing PSU501 battery
1
2
3
4
Figure 2 PSU501 battery parts
1Battery
2+terminal
3−terminal
4Cable connector plug
• 7-mm socket wrench
• 5-mm flat head screwdriver or Pozidriv screwdriver (PZ2)
Vaisala recommends to replace the battery every 3 years. The battery may need to be
replaced more often if the conditions require, for example:
• When operating in an environment where the ambient temperature is regularly very
high.
• When the station runs only on solar power, that is, the battery is intensively used.
BWS500 Maintenance Guide M212822EN-A
14

The battery status and state of charge can be checked through the remote monitoring
service for stations connected to Vaisala cloud.
The backup battery does not have any replaceable parts.
Do not replace the battery with a battery of an incorrect type. If you do,
there is a risk of explosion. Dispose of used batteries according to statutory regulations.
WARNING!
1. Disconnect the power cable.
2. To remove the PSU501 top cover, unscrew the fastening screws (6 pcs) and lift the
cover.
Use either a 5.5‑mm flat head screwdriver or a Pozidriv screwdriver (PZ2).
Chapter 3 – Maintenance
15

3. To remove the PSU501 inner cover, unscrew the M4 nuts (5 pcs) and lift the cover.
4. Carefully lift up the battery and remove it from the enclosure.
5. Disconnect the cables (red and black) from the battery terminals.
6. Connect the cables to the new battery.
7. Put the new battery in the enclosure.
8. Wait for a while, and check that the status LED on the component board is blinking
green every 10 seconds.
LED
A red LED indicates a failure. If the LED is constant red, disconnect and reconnect
the battery. If this does not help, contact Vaisala.
9. Put the inner cover back in place.
BWS500 Maintenance Guide M212822EN-A
16

10. To fasten the nuts, first turn each nut a few rounds one by one. Then tighten the nuts
hand-tight.
11. Put the top cover back in place.
12. Tighten the screws until the cover makes good contact with the surface of the
enclosure base.
Chapter 3 – Maintenance
17

4. Troubleshooting
4.1 Troubleshooting
If the product does not work as it should, check all cables and connectors for continuity, bad
contacts, or corrosion.
If the failure persists, contact Vaisala technical support.
4.2 Verifying connection with LED
indicators
1 2
Figure 3 EGW501 LEDs
1Powering LED
2Connection LED
BWS500 Maintenance Guide M212822EN-A
18

1. Check the powering and connection from the EGW501 front panel LED indicators.
Table 6 Powering LED states
Powering status LED
Powering up Green, blinking fast.
Power OK Green, steady.
After 60 minutes blinking slowly.
Battery voltage low Red, blinking fast.
Error Red, steady.
Table 7 Connection LED states
Connection status LED
Connecting Green, blinking fast.
Connection OK Green, steady.
After 60 minutes blinking slowly.
Connection failed Red, steady.
A red LED indicates a failure. If the LED is constant red, disconnect and reconnect
the PSU501 battery. If this does not help, contact Vaisala.
Chapter 4 – Troubleshooting
19

5. Recycling
5.1 Recycling instructions
These recycling instructions guide you on the end-of-life treatment of this Vaisala product.
As waste regulations and infrastructure vary in each country, these instructions only indicate
the dierent components to be separated and common ways to handle them. Always follow
local requirements when disposing of the product. Vaisala encourages to use the best
available recycling practices to minimize related environmental impacts.
Vaisala is committed to meeting the requirements of the EU Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. This directive aims to minimize the impact of
electrical and electronic goods on the environment, by increasing reuse and recycling, and
reducing the amount of WEEE going to landfill. This symbol indicates that the product
should be collected separately from other waste streams and treated appropriately.
If applicable, Vaisala recommends removing the battery unit before recycling the rest of the
device. The battery unit can be recycled separately in accordance with local waste
management practices and regulations.
Integrated small sized batteries are typically left in place and removed by professionals at
the recycling facilities.
BWS500 Maintenance Guide M212822EN-A
20
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