Installation location - BWS500

BWS500 Setup Guide
Document code
M212787EN
Revision
E
Language
English
Product
BWS500
Document type
User guide

Installation location of BWS500 is to be considered based on the application, measurement objectives, and the sensors included in the BWS500 configuration. Some guidelines for selecting the location can be given but usually the location must be considered case by case.

Figure 1. BWS500 location in local applications. The general principle is to choose a location that represents the conditions that you wish to measure. For example, if you wish to measure temperature in an urban environment, it is natural to have buildings nearby to reflect the actual conditions.
Figure 2. BWS500 location in meteorological applications. For meteorological applications, and whenever otherwise applicable, choose an open, unobstructed location with no additional heat sources nearby.
r
Radius
h
Height
Figure 3. BWS500 in roads applications. When placing BWS500 on the roadside, mount the road weather sensors adjacent to the road, approximately 6–8 m (20–26 ft) from the ground.
Figure 4. BWS500 on top of building. When mounting BWS500 with WXT530 series sensor on top of a building, the recommended minimum height for the mast is 1.5 × the height of the building (H). When the diagonal (W) is less than the height (H), the minimum recommended height of the mast is 1.5 × W.
h
Recommended minimum height for the mast
H
Height of the building
W
Diagonal of the building
Table 1. BWS500 location considerationsThe following table gives an idea of what influences the measurements, helping you to choose a representative location for your measurements in your application. For more detailed information on the location recommendations for different sensors, see the relevant sensor documentation.
Property Description
Free space around weather transmitter WXT530
  • For climatological observations, Vaisala recommends a radius of 150 m (490 ft) around the transmitter.
  • For local observations in an urban or rural environment (for example cities and farms), select the location based on measurement objective.

Measurement parameter specific considerations:

  • Temperature: nearby buildings and heat sources can distort the measurement.
  • Humidity and pressure: no specific requirements. 1
  • Precipitation: obstructed access to rain, for example coverings or closeness to wall can distort the measurements.
  • Wind: trees, buildings, or other objects nearby can disturb wind flow.
Location considerations for air quality transmitter AQT530
  • Avoid installing the device next to trees or other vegetation.
  • Avoid installing the device to direct sunlight or near other heat sources.
  • The minimum distance between EGW501 and AQT530 is 1 m (3 ft).
Location considerations for remote road sensors DSC211 and DST111
  • Avoid obstacles between the sensor optics and the road surface.
  • Do not point the receiver or transmitter toward powerful light sources. Aim the sensor north in the Northern hemisphere and south in the Southern hemisphere.
  • Do not aim the sensor against traffic flow.
  • Use a steep installation angle for the sensor.
  • Make sure that the rising or setting sun does not cause reflections from the road surface to the sensor optics.
  • Park stationary maintenance vehicles with flashing lights outside the sensor's measurement area.
Location considerations for present weather detectors PWD12 and PWD22
  • Avoid obstacles in the line-of-sight of the transmitter and receiver units and above the rain sensor.
  • Make sure that the site is free of reflective surfaces disturbing the optical measurement.
  • Make sure that the site is free of obvious sources of contamination, especially when placing the sensor next to a road.
  • Do not point the receiver or transmitter toward powerful light sources. Aim the sensor north in the Northern hemisphere and south in the Southern hemisphere.
Cellular connectivity The station must be within the cellular network coverage area of your network operator.
Solar panel use
  • Avoid obstacles between the solar panel and the sun.
  • Make sure that buildings, vegetation, or other objects do not block the view.
  • Orient the solar panel towards the midday sun.
Power supply lines There must be 100–240 V AC available at the site when AC power is used.
Figure 5. Cellular connectivity at installation location
CAUTION Do not install the device close to high-powered radio transmitters or antennas.
Figure 6. Solar panel location
1 Station altitude is recorded by the system for pressure measurements.