Checking Sensor Cabling and Grounding - AWS310 - AWS310-SITE - AWS430 - FOC201 - RME111

Improving Weather Station Grounding (AWS310, AWS310‑SITE, AWS430, FOC201, RME111) Technical Note

Document code
M212202EN
Revision
A
Language
English
Product
AWS310
AWS310-SITE
AWS430
FOC201
RME111
Document type
Technical note

If you need to shorten sensor cables, you need:

  • Cable cutters
  • Cable stripper
  • Crimping tool
  • Pipette (rubber flange only)
  • Ferrules
  • Shrinkable tubes or electrical tape
Warning Make sure that you prepare or connect only de-energized wires.
CAUTION To avoid strain on the connector, make sure you connect the cable properly. Too much strain may cause the cable to fall off, damage the cable or connector, or make the cable or connector susceptible to water leakage.
CAUTION Do not damage or change the wiring. Incorrect wiring can cause damage and prevent or limit operation.

  1. Check that the sensor cables have been cut to a suitable length. The cables must not be looped.
    Warning A long cable between units (sensors, transmitters, power supplies, and displays) can cause a lethal lightning-induced current surge.

    If the cables are too long:

    1. Cut the cable to proper length.
    2. If the weather station has rubber flanges, insert the pipette through one of the feed-through rondels in the flange and pull the cable through.

      If the weather station has stainless steel flanges, strip the cables first.

    3. Strip the cable to expose the wires.
      1
      Ferrule
      2
      Unused wires covered with a shrinkable tube or electrical tape
      3
      Wire
      4
      Cable shield folded over cable sheath
      5
      Cable
    4. Connect the cables again. For grounding instructions, see 2 or 3. For the wiring diagram, see the installation manual.
  2. In weather stations with stainless steel flanges, check that the sensor cable shields have been grounded to the cable glands.
    • In cable glands with EMC springs, the cable shield must be firmly connected to the EMC spring.

      1
      Cable gland
      2
      EMC spring
    • In cable glands without EMC springs, the cable shield must be grounded to the cable gland using a sealing insert.

  3. In weather stations with rubber flanges, check that the sensor cable shields have been grounded to the grounding rail.
  4. Check that all unused wires have been isolated with a shrinkable tube or electric tape.