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ULTIMETER SENSOR
INDEX
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WIND
SENSOR
HOW DOES IT WORK
The ULTIMETER wind
sensor is a patented, uniquely all-digital design containing two magnetic switches.
Each switch opens and closes once each time the cups go around. Wind speed is
calculated by measuring the time between consecutive pulses from one switch.
Wind direction is determined by measuring the relative timing between pulses
from the two switches. North is indicated when the two sets of pulses exactly
coincide. South is indicated when pulses from one switch occur exactly midway
between consecutive pulses from the other switch.
WHY IS THIS WIND SENSOR BETTER?
-
Extremely Reliable
-
No friction
contacts to wear out
-
Elegantly simple
for longevity and reliability
-
Top quality
electrical components - two ultra-reliable, glass enclosed, hermetically sealed,
magnetically operated reed switches
-
Top quality
mechanical components - UV resistant Lexan(c) molded parts, corrosion resistant
bearings with Delrin races and surgical stainless steel balls
-
Can be taken
apart and reassembled for cleaning, if necessary, without tools and without affecting
accuracy.
-
Digital pulse
data - resists electrical interference from radio transmitters or other sources
-
Can operate
over long distances with full accuracy, thanks to all-digital design.
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ECONOMICAL
HEATED ANEMOMETER / WIND VANE
Every now and
then, in certain winter climate conditions, a wind sensor can "freeze up"
because of freezing drizzle causing ice build-up on the outside, or dew point
condensation at freezing temperatures inside the sensor. Usually the condition
clears up in less than a day, but it can be disappointing.
Commercial
weather stations costing thousands of dollars have long used heated wind sensors
to avoid "freeze ups", but until now the problem has been common among
moderately priced systems.
Now,
in yet another exciting innovation, Peet Bros. has developed the first heated
wind sensor for home weather stations. Its heater is thermostatically controlled
and draws a maximum of only 0.8 watt. It is powered directly from the standard
junction box of ULTIMETER Models 2100, 2000, 800 and 100, using
a six conductor cable for both heater power and wind speed and direction signals.
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BAROMETRIC
PRESSURE SENSOR
HOW DOES IT WORK
The
barometric pressure sensor is a precision solid state electronic device, housed
within the ULTIMETER 2000 keyboard/display unit. A quartz membrane
over an evacuated chamber flexes as the air pressure changes. Resistance elements
on the membrane translate its flex into voltage levels that are converted to
digital signals and sent to the microprocessor.
WHY IS THIS PRESSURE SENSOR BETTER?
-
Readings
are stable because each sensor is individually temperature compensated.
-
You can
use the system at altitudes from sea level to 15,000 feet without factory recalibration.
-
Pressure
changes are shown as numeric values - not just with directional arrows.
-
Pressure
changes are determined over a full 3 hour interval.
-
Pressure
change data is updated every 10 minutes.
-
The barometric
pressure change alarm can be set for rising or falling pressure.
-
There is
a built-in preset Storm Alert feature. If the pressure falls more than 0.18 inches
of mercury in 3 hours, the barometer symbol will flash when pressure is displayed.
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OUTDOOR
TEMPERATURE SENSOR
HOW DOES IT WORK
A precision
aged metal-oxide thermistor is used to measure temperature. As the temperature
increases, its electrical resistance decreases, changing a signal voltage that
is first converted to digital form, then sent to the microprocessor.
WHY
IS THIS OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE SENSOR BETTER?
-
Each sensor
is precision calibrated for complete interchangeability.
-
Each sensor
is specially aged to assure long term stability.
-
The microprocessor
is programmed to make minute corrections over the specified temperature range,
further enhancing the resultant accuracy.
-
No user
calibration is required or provided for, because of the precision interchangeability
of the sensor elements, even in the event of sensor replacement.
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INDOOR
TEMPERATURE SENSOR
HOW
DOES IT WORK?
A precision
metal-oxide thermistor is used to measure temperature. As the temperature increases,
its electrical resistance decreases, changing a signal voltage that is first
converted to digital form, then sent to the microprocessor.
WHY
IS THIS INDOOR TEMPERATURE SENSOR BETTER?
- No user calibration
is required. Please see discussion of outdoor sensor.
- Each sensor
is precision calibrated for complete interchangeability.
- Each sensor
is specially aged to assure long term stability.
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OUTDOOR HUMIDITY / TEMP
SENSOR
HOW
DOES IT WORK?
The ULTIMETER Humidity
Sensor utilizes precision thick film polymer capacitance device. The sensor is
used in a low frequency oscillator circuit, which changes frequency as the relative
humidity changes. The output of the oscillator is fed into the microprocessor.
The exceptional long-term stability of the humidity sensor element means years
of use without recalibration.
WHY
IS THIS OUTDOOR HUMIDITY SENSOR BETTER?
-
It is accurate
from 0% R.H. to 100% R.H. Others are typically said to be accurate from 10% to
90% or even 20% to 80% R.H.
-
Unlike others,
our humidity sensor will not be damaged by prolonged high humidity. In fact it's
so rugged, it could even be totally immersed in water without damage!
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INDOOR
HUMIDITY SENSOR
HOW
DOES IT WORK?
The ULTIMETER humidity
sensor is a precision thick film polymer device. The sensor is used in a low
frequency oscillator circuit, which changes frequency as the relative humidity
changes. The output of the oscillator is fed into the microprocessor.
WHY
IS THIS INDOOR HUMIDITY SENSOR BETTER?
- The indoor
humidity sensor can be located away from the display unit, wherever humidity
monitoring is most required: in the bedroom of someone with respiratory problems,
in a greenhouse or solarium, humidor or wine cellar, or in a room where valuable
antiques or musical instruments are kept. Most other weather stations lack this
flexibility because the indoor sensor is only located inside the keyboard/display
unit.
- It is same
precision sensor used in out outdoor humidity unit, so it's accurate from 0%
R.H. to 100% R.H. Some systems economize by using a less capable sensor indoors.
- Like our outdoor
humidity sensor, it will not be harmed by prolonged high humidity and can even
be totally immersed in water without damage!
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RAIN
GAUGES
ULTIMETER "PRO" RAIN
GAUGE
HOW
IS THE "PRO" GAUGE SUPERIOR?
The
revolutionary new ULTIMETER "PRO" Rain Gauge electronic
rain gauge features superb accuracy and extraordinary reliability. Although it
empties itself automatically, it has absolutely no adjustments and no moving
parts - the long term accuracy and reliability are molded in!
Operating
on a drop-counting principle, the PRO Rain Gauge senses every one-thousandth
inch of rain and reports each one-hundredth inch back to the ULTIMETER Weather
Station. In spite of its amazing resolution, the PRO gauge can handle "world
record" class rain rates of more than 10 inches per hour!
The
Pro Rain Gauge is 5 1/8" high and has a maximum diameter of 4 1/2".
It can mount directly on a 1" pvc post (not included) or on an optional
universal mounting bracket. The PRO Rain Gauge comes with a 40 foot, 4-conductor
cable that makes power and signal connections to the junction box of an ULTIMETER 100,
500, 700, 800 or 2000 Weather Station.
We're
sorry, but the Pro Rain Gauge is not compatible with the ULTIMETER II because
the II keyboard is not able to supply regulated voltage to operate the gauge.
HOW
DOES THE "PRO" GAUGE WORK?
Accuracy
of the PRO gauge starts with its exclusive parabolic funnel that traps wind driven
rain so it won't splash out. Rain is funneled into a precision drop forming tube,
much like those you'd see in a hospital IV bottle. Each uniform drop coming out
of the tube is equivalent to exactly 0.001 inches of rain. Each uniform drop
falling from the tube is detected by four gold plated sensing electrodes that
signal an electronic counting circuit. After each ten drops this circuit sends
a signal to the ULTIMETER keyboard indicating that
another hundredth
inch of rain has fallen.
ULTIMETER PRO™ Rain
Gauge Theory
of Operations for Testing: PROrgtest.doc
ULTIMETER PRO™ Wiring Diagram: ULTPROTS.doc
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ULTIMETER TB
RAIN GAUGE
HOW
DOES IT WORK?
The ULTIMETER TB
Rain Gauge features a proven tipping bucket design. Inside each rain gauge is
a balanced "see-saw" bucket mechanism. The bucket has a divider wall
across the middle, separating it into two halves, each shaped like a miniature
coal shovel, with high sides and an open end. The rain gauge's funnel top feeds
rain water into one of the half-buckets. As soon as the correct amount of water
has been collected, the "see-saw" tips the other way, automatically
emptying the water and positioning the other half-bucket for collecting rainfall.
Each time the bucket tips, .01" of rainfall is added to the accumulated total
on the ULTIMETER weather station.
WHY
ARE THESE THE BEST TIPPING BUCKET GAUGES?
- The pivot bearings
in the tipping bucket mechanisms are metal (stainless steel) and not plastic,
for freer motion and greater longevity.
- They feature
larger-volume buckets than other tipping bucket gauges, to resist jamming (common
in smaller-bucket designs) caused by dust, pollen, webs, etc. The larger the
bucket volume, the more water weight "horsepower" for driving the tipping action.
- They have larger
collector diameters than comparable gauges. The larger the diameter, the better
the sampling of rainfall.
- More accurate
because of high vertical sidewalls to prevent splash-out of rain from the collector
funnel.
- Each gauge
is individually calibrated for optimum accuracy.
- They can be
left outdoors in winter conditions without damage.
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SENSOR
COMBOS
Sensor Combos include our two most popular optional sensors (Rain Gauge and Humidity) and provide an easy way of installing all weather sensors on the same pole (pole and tripod not included)
Sensor Combos include a Rain Gauge and a Solar Shielded Humidity/Temperature Sensor, each with a 40 ft. cable, mounted together on a special bracket to bolt to your mast.
Available with a Pro Rain Gauge or Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge. Also, offered without Humidity Sensor (for use with ULTIMETER 100).
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UNIMOUNT
SENSOR ARRAY
The Unimount Sensor Array includes all weather sensors and provides an expedient way of installing at a single location. A sturdy aluminum bracket supports the rain gauge and solar-shielded humidity/temperature sensor. Also includes a weather resistant Junction Box Housing, from which a single 50' cable carries the sensor data indoors to the ULTIMETER Weather Station, and an indoor Power Connection Box. Sensors included are an ULTIMETER Anemometer/Wind Vane, a "PRO" Rain Gauge or Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge, and an ULTIMETER Humidity/Temperature Sensor with Solar Radiation Shield.
NOTE: May be purchased as an upgrade when ordered with a weather station, or separately as a complete replacement sensor array.
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DEW
POINT
Dew point is measured by
the OUTDOOR HUMIDITY/TEMP SENSOR. The dew point temperature is derived from the
outdoor temperature and relative humidity measurements.
WIND
CHILL
Wind
chill temperature is measured by the WIND SENSOR and OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE SENSOR.
It is calculated from wind speed and outdoor temperature measurements by the ULTIMETER weather
station.
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