2-1
Section 2. Assembly of Components and
Erection of Tower
This section gives details of how to fit, level and align typical sensors and ancillary equipment
and how to erect the tower and fit the optional guy wires.
Before fitting components or erecting the tower, please read the SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
at the front of this manual.
Some sensors (especially those that will be mounted at the top of the tower, such as
windvanes, etc.) must be fitted and levelled/aligned while the tower is at ground level, before
it is raised. This section discusses the correct way to achieve this, as well as giving assembly
instructions for other sensors plus the solar panel and the enclosure, which can be fitted after
the tower is raised.
2.1 Assess Site and Sensor Requirements
Each site will have its own individual requirements, but, before attaching any
sensors and equipment to the tower, you should give some consideration on where
to mount them. Some sensors, such as windvanes, will need to be mounted at the
top of the tower. Other sensors and equipment, such as radiation monitors, solar
panels and enclosures can be mounted at various levels. You should assess the
requirements for your particular site, weighing the need for periodic
maintenance/ease of access against possible anti-vandalism measures, etc. For
instance, a radiation monitor or pyranometer could be mounted at a high level (to
deter vandalism and give better exposure to light), but this would make periodic
maintenance, such as cleaning, more difficult and you may wish to mount such
instruments at a lower level, accessible directly from the ground or by using a step-
ladder.
1.
This manual does not cover sensors which will not be mounted
on the tower itself (e.g. tipping bucket raingauge) or which are
not part of a standard weather station (e.g. snow depth gauge).
For installation details of these sensors, please refer to the
manuals provided with them, or contact Campbell Scientific for
assistance.
2.
Different types of mounting arm are described in this section.
Most weather stations will not require all of these arms. Where
more than one arm is fitted (e.g. an 011E and an 016E), ensure
that the wind sensors are mounted on the higher arm so that any
other arms do not affect wind measurements.
3.
You may wish, where possible, to pre-assemble certain
components in a workshop or other sheltered place before final
assembly in the field. This could save time and frustration when
assembling and fitting in less favourable circumstances. Such
tasks include, for example, securing the Relative Humidity
sensor inside its radiation shield and attaching other sensors
loosely to their mounting arms ready for final adjustment.
Once the tower base has been installed, all the sensors and other components which
will be mounted beyond easy reach should be assembled, attached to the tower and
aligned while the tower is still on the ground (as described in this section) before
the tower is raised.
NOTES
