Young Wind Sentry Series User manual

METEOROLOGICAL INSTRUMENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
R.M. YOUNG COMPANY 2801 AERO PARK DRIVE, TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN 49686, USA
TEL: [phone] FAX: [phone] WEB: www.youngusa.com
PN: 03002-90
REV: D110210
WIND SENTRY
MODEL 03002

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MODEL 03002
WIND SENTRY
INCLUDES MODELS 03102 & 03302
INTRODUCTION
The Wind Sentry Anemometer and Vane measure horizontal wind
speed and wind direction. The small size, simplicity, and corrosion
resistant construction provide a professional quality instrument at
a modest cost. The cup wheel and vane shafts use stainless steel
precision instrument grade ball bearings which are lubricated with
a wide temperature range high quality instrument oil. Standard
bearings have light contacting seals to exclude contamination and
help retain lubricant for longer service life.
Cup wheel rotation produces an AC sine wave voltage signal with
frequency directly proportional to wind speed. This AC signal is
induced in a stationary coil by a two pole ring magnet mounted on
the cup wheel shaft. One complete sine wave cycle is produced for
each cup wheel revolution.
Wind vane position is transmitted by a 10K ohm precision
conductive plastic potentiometer which requires a regulated
excitation voltage. With a constant voltage applied to the
potentiometer, the output signal is an analog voltage directly
proportional to wind direction angle.
The instrument mounts on standard 1 inch pipe, outside diameter
34mm (1.34") and is supplied with a crossarm and junction box for
cable connections. Wind Sentry anemometers and windvanes are
available separately with similar mounting and junction box.
INITIAL CHECK-OUT
When the Wind Sentry is unpacked, check it carefully for any signs
of shipping damage. Place the cup wheel on the anemometer shaft
and secure it by tightening the set screw on the side of the hub.
The instrument is aligned, balanced, and fully calibrated before
shipment; however, it should be checked both mechanically and
electrically before installation. The vane and cup wheel should
easily rotate 360° without friction. Check vane balance by holding
the instrument so the vane surface is horizontal. It should have
near-neutral torque without any particular tendency to rotate. A
slight imbalance will not degrade performance.
The wind direction potentiometer requires a stable DC excitation
voltage. Do not exceed 15 volts. When the potentiometer wiper is
in the 8° deadband region, the output signal is "oating" and may
show varying or unpredictable values. To prevent false readings,
signal conditioning electronics should clamp the signal to excitation
or reference level when this occurs. Note: All YOUNG signal
conditioning devices clamp the signal to excitation level.
Avoid a short circuit between the wind direction signal line and
either the excitation or ground reference lines. Although there is
a current limiting resistor in series with the wiper for protection,
damage to the potentiometer may occur if a short circuit condition
exists.
Before installation, connect the instrument to a signal conditioning
device as shown in the wiring diagram and check for proper wind
speed and direction values. To check wind speed, temporarily
remove the cup wheel and connect an Anemometer Drive to the
cup wheel shaft. Details appear in the CALIBRATION section.
INSTALLATION
Proper placement of the instrument is very important. Eddies from
trees, buildings, or other structures can greatly influence wind
speed and direction observations. To get meaningful data for most
applications, locate the instrument well above or upwind of such
obstructions. As a general rule, the air ow around a structure is
disturbed to twice the height of the structure upwind, six times
WIND SPEED SPECIFICATION SUMMARY
Range 0 to 50 m/s (112 mph), gust survival 60
m/s (134 mph)
Sensor 12 cm diameter cup wheel assembly, 40
mm diameter hemispherical cups
Turning Factor 75 cm (2.46 ft)
Distance Constant 2.3 m (7.5 ft)
(63% recovery)
Threshold 1.1 m/s (2.5 mph)
Transducer Stationary coil, 1300 ohm nominal
resistance
Transducer Output AC sine wave signal induced by rotating
magnet on cup wheel shaft 100 mV p-p at
60 rpm. 6V p-p at 3600 rpm.
Output Frequency 1 cycle per cup wheel revolution.
WIND DIRECTION (AZIMUTH) SPECIFICATION SUMMARY
Range 360° mechanical, 352° electrical (8° open)
Sensor Balanced vane, 16 cm turning radius.
Damping Ratio 0.2
Delay Distance 0.5 m (1.6 ft)
(50% recovery)
Threshold 1.3 m/s (2.9 mph) at 10° displacement
Transducer Precision conductive plastic potentiometer,
10K ohm ±20% resistance
1.0% linearity, life expectancy 50 million
revolutions Rated 1 watt at 40°C, 0 watts
at 125°C
Transducer Excitation
Requirement Regulated DC voltage, 15 VDC max
Transducer Output Analog DC voltage proportional to wind
direction angle with regulated excitation
voltage applied across potentiometer
GENERAL
Operating Temperature -50 to 50°C (-58 to 122°F)

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the height downwind, and twice the height of the structure above
ground. For some observations it may not be practical or necessary
to meet these guidelines.
FAILURE TO PROPERLY GROUND THE WIND SENTRY
MAY RESULT IN ERRONEOUS SIGNALS
OR TRANSDUCER DAMAGE.
Grounding the Wind Sentry is vitally important. Without proper
grounding, static electrical charge can build up during certain
atmospheric conditions and discharge through the transducers.
This discharge can cause erroneous signals or transducer failure.
To direct the discharge away from the transducers, the instrument
is made with a special anti-static plastic. It is very important that
the instrument be connected to a good earth ground. There are
two ways this may be accomplished. First, the Wind Sentry may
be mounted on a metal pipe which is connected to earth ground.
The mounting pipe should not be painted where the Wind Sentry is
mounted. Towers or masts set in concrete should be connected to
one or more grounding rods. If it is difcult to ground the mounting
post in this manner, the following method should be used. Inside
the junction box the terminal labeled EARTH GND is internally
connected to the anti-static housings. This terminal should be
connected to an earth ground (Refer to wiring diagram).
Initial installation is most easily done with two people; one to adjust
the instrument position and the other to observe the indicating
device. When anemometer and vane are mounted on the same
cross arm (Model 03002), the azimuth potentiometer has been
aligned at the factory such that the mounting cross arm should be
oriented North-South with the vane on the North end.
To install the Wind Sentry, follow these steps:
1. MOUNT WIND SENTRY
a) Connect sensor cable to Wind Sentry junction box.
b) Place Wind Sentry on mounting post. Do Not tighten
band clamp yet.
c) Connect sensor cable to indicator.
2. ALIGN VANE
a) Select a known azimuth reference point on the horizon.
b) Sighting down vane centerline, point counterweight at
reference point on horizon.
c) While holding vane in position, slowly turn base until
indicator displays proper value.
d) Tighten mounting post band clamp.
CALIBRATION
The Wind Sentry is fully calibrated before shipment and should
require no adjustments. Recalibration may be necessary after
some maintenance operations. Periodic calibration checks are
desirable and may be necessary where the instrument is used in
programs which require auditing of sensor performance.
For wind direction calibration, the following method can yield an
accuracy of ±5° or better if carefully done. Begin by connecting
the instrument to a signal conditioning circuit which indicates
wind direction value. This may be an indicator which displays
wind direction values in angular degrees or simply a voltmeter
monitoring the output. Hold or mount the instrument so the vane
center of rotation is over the center of a sheet of paper which has
30° or 45° crossmarkings. Position the instrument so the mounting
crossarm is oriented north-south with the vane on the north and the
anemometer on the south. With the counterweight pointing directly
at the anemometer the wind direction signal should correspond
to 180° or due south. Looking from above, visually align the vane
with each of the crossmarkings and observe the indicator display.
It should correspond to vane position within 5°. If not, it may be
necessary to adjust the relative position of the vane skirt and shaft.
See step 3 in the MAINTENANCE section under potentiometer
replacement.
It is important to note that while the sensor mechanically rotates
through 360°, the full scale wind direction signal from the signal
conditioning occurs at 352°. For example, in a circuit where 0 to
1.00 VDC represents 0° to 360°, the output must be adjusted for
0.978 VDC when the instrument is at 352° full scale. (352°/360° X
1.00 volts = 0.978 volts)
Wind speed calibration is determined by the cup wheel turning
factor and the output characteristics of the transducer. Calibration
formulas showing cup wheel rpm and frequency output vs. wind
speed are included below.
To calibrate wind system electronics using an actual signal from
the instrument, temporarily remove the cup wheel and connect an
Anemometer Drive to the cup wheel shaft. Calculate wind speed
by applying the appropriate calibration formula to the motor rpm
and adjust the signal conditioning electronics for proper value. For
example, with the cup wheel shaft turning at 1800 rpm, adjust the
indicator to display 22.7 meters per second. ([(0.01250 X 1800) +
0.2] = 22.7)
CALIBRATION FORMULAS
Model 03102 Wind Sentry Anemometer
WIND SPEED vs CUP WHEEL RPM
m/s = (0.01250 x rpm) + 0.2
knots = (0.02427 x rpm) + 0.4
mph = (0.02795 x rpm) + 0.4
km/hr = (0.04499 x rpm) + 0.7
WIND SPEED vs OUTPUT FREQUENCY - Hz
m/s = (0.7500 x Hz) + 0.2
knots = (1.4562 x Hz) + 0.4
mph = (1.6770 x Hz) + 0.4
km/hr = (2.6994 x Hz) + 0.7
MAINTENANCE
Given proper care, the Wind Sentry should provide years of
service. Because of its durable, corrosion resistant construction,
the instrument requires little maintenance. The only components
likely to require replacement due to normal wear are the precision
ball bearings and the azimuth potentiometer. Replacement
of these components should only be performed by a qualified
instrument technician. If service facilities are not available, return
the instrument to the factory. Refer to the accompanying drawings
to become familiar with part names and locations. Maximum torque
on all set screws is 80 oz-in.
POTENTIOMETER REPLACEMENT
The potentiometer has a life expectancy of fty million revolutions.
As it becomes worn, the element may produce noisy signals or
become non-linear. When the signal noise or non-linearity become
unacceptable, replace the potentiometer as follows:
1. REMOVE POTENTIOMETER
a) Remove three screws which secure upper and lower sections
of main housing.
b) Carefully remove upper housing exposing wiring connections
to circuit board.
c) Unsolder potentiometer wires from circuit board. Note color
code.
d) Using a knife blade or similar instrument, loosen potentiometer
assembly from upper housing and slide it out.

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2. INSTALL NEW POTENTIOMETER
a) Slide new potentiometer cell into upper housing. Be sure to
engage cell key into housing notch.
b) Solder potentiometer wires to circuit board. Observe color
code.
c) Join two sections of main housing. Secure with screws
removed in step 1a.
3. ALIGN VANE
a) Connect excitation voltage and signal conditioning electronics
to instrument according to wiring diagram.
b) Loosen set screw in side of vane hub.
c) Position instrument so crossarm is oriented north-south with
vane on north side. Orient vane to a known angular reference.
(See CALIBRATION section.)
d) While holding vane in reference position, slowly turn vane skirt
until signal conditioning system indicates proper value.
e) Tighten set screw on side of vane hub. Do not exceed 80 oz-in
torque.
ANEMOMETER FLANGE BEARING REPLACEMENT
If anemometer bearings become noisy or wind speed threshold
increases above an acceptable level, replace the bearings. Check
bearing condition by hanging an ordinary paper clip (0.5 gm) on the
outside edge of one cup while the instrument is held in a horizontal
position. The cup should rotate downward. Failure to rotate due to
the weight of the paper clip indicates anemometer bearings need
replacement. Repeat this test at different positions to check full
bearing rotation. Replace bearings as follows:
1. REMOVE BEARINGS
a) Loosen set screw on side of cup wheel hub. Remove cup
wheel.
b) Remove three screws which hold two sections of main
housing.
c) Carefully separate upper and lower housing. Remove coil
transducer assembly from upper housing. Do not disconnect
from circuit board.
d) Loosen screw and remove ring magnet on end of shaft
inside upper housing.
e) Slide shaft and skirt assembly out of both upper and lower
bearings.
f) Using knife blade under bearing flange, carefully remove
upper bearing.
g) Using a pencil, gently push out lower bearing from above.
2. INSTALL NEW BEARINGS
a) Insert new upper bearing. Use care not to apply excessive
pressure.
b) Slide cup wheel shaft through upper bearing.
c) Slide lower bearing on shaft inside upper housing.
d) Using ring magnet assembly, push lower bearing into its seat
in upper housing.
e) Secure ring magnet to shaft using screw removed in step
1d. Use a small amount of sealant on screw to prevent it
from loosening.
f) Join two housing sections. Secure using three screws
removed in step 1b.
g) Place cup wheel on shaft. Tighten set screw on side of hub.
Do not exceed 80 oz-in torque.
VANE FLANGE BEARING REPLACEMENT
If vane bearings become noisy or if wind direction threshold
increases above an acceptable level, replace the bearings. Check
bearing condition by adding two ordinary paper clips (0.5 gm
each) to the back edge of the vane fin while the instrument and
vane are held in a horizontal position. Gently release the vane. It
should rotate downward. Failure to do so indicates the bearings
need replacement. Repeat this test at various positions to check
full bearing rotation.
Since this procedure is similar to anemometer bearing
replacement, only the major steps are shown here:
1. REMOVE BEARINGS (Remove coupling disc - same as ring
magnet)
2. INSTALL NEW BEARINGS
3. ALIGN VANE (See CALIBRATION section)
WARRANTY
This product is warranted to be free of defects in materials and
construction for a period of 12 months from date of initial purchase.
Liability is limited to repair or replacement of defective item. A
copy of the warranty policy may be obtained from R. M. Young
Company.
CE COMPLIANCE
This product has been tested and shown to comply with Euro-
pean CE requirements for the EMC Directive. Please note that
shielded cable must be used.
Declaration of Conformity
R. M. Young Company
2801 Aero Park Drive
Traverse City, MI 49686 USA
Models 03002/03102/03302 Wind Sentry
The undersigned hereby declares, on behalf of R. M.
Young Company that the above-referenced product, to
which this declaration relates, is in conformity with the
provisions of:
Council Directive 2004/108/EC (December 15, 2004)
on Electromagnetic Compatibility
David Poinsett
R&D Manager

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CABLE & WIRING DIAGRAM

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY & REPLACEMENT PARTS