Senseca VUP12 Meteorology Weather Station Heating Instruction Manual
- June 28, 2024
- senseca
Table of Contents
Senseca VUP12 Meteorology Weather Station Heating
Specifications
- Ventilation power supply
- Heating power supply
- Operating conditions
- Increase of air temperature with heating on
- Cable length
- Protection degree
- Weight
- Dimensions (mm) and description
Product Usage Instructions
Installation
Fixing the pyranometer: If ordered together with the unit, the pyranometer is already installed inside the unit. If the unit has been ordered separately, follow these steps to install the pyranometer:
- Shade disk
- Feet
Positioning the Unit
For accurate horizontal positioning: Use the leveling device on the pyranometer. The unit has height-adjustable feet for leveling. Leave at least 2 cm of air between the bottom of the unit and the supporting surface to allow adequate ventilation. Use the M6 fixing holes for attaching to a support plate.
Connections
Pay attention to: Respect the polarity of the fan to ensure proper air flow. The power supply of the heaters does not have polarity.
- Fan positive: Wire color – Red
- Fan negative: Wire color – Black
- Heater 1: Wire color – Yellow + Green
- Heater 2: Wire color – White + Blue
Use of Ventilation and Heating
Ventilation: The unit’s ventilation operates continuously to maintain
uniform temperature and prevent dust accumulation on the dome
Heating: Activate the heating circuits based on ambient temperature.
Single or both heating circuits can be activated depending on climate
severity. Refer to the provided diagram for heating activation
recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
-
Q: Can the unit be used in extreme weather conditions?
A: Yes, the unit can be used in extreme weather conditions to prevent dew, frost, snow, and ice formation on the sensor dome. -
Q: What is the cable length provided with the unit?
A: The unit comes with a standard 5m connection cable ending with free wires for easy installation. -
Q: How many heating circuits does the unit have?
A: The unit is equipped with two independent heating circuits of equal power, allowing flexible adaptation basedon climate conditions.
OPERATING MANUAL
VUP12 Ventilation and heating unit
Introduction
The VUP12 ventilation and heating unit allows increasing the accuracy of solar
radiation measurements maintaining the operating temperature of the sensor
uniform. Ventila-tion reduces the type “A” offset (present in pyranometers and
pyrgeometers) due to cooling of the dome with respect to the sensor body.
It can be used outdoor in any weather condition and avoids the formation of
dew and frost on the optical part of the sensor.
The use of ventilation and moderate heating prevents dew formation on the
dome, especially in the early morning hours, allowing much more accurate
measurements even in moderate climates.
The heating function can also be used in extreme environmental conditions, to
avoid the formation of snow and ice on the sensor dome.
The unit is equipped with two independent heating circuits of equal power,
which can be individually activated to better adapt the heating function to
the climate of the in-stallation site.
Supplied as standard with a fixed 5 m connection cable.
The unit is suitable for LS02… and LPS10… series pyranometers and allows solar
ra-diation measurements to be performed according to the recommendations of
the fol-lowing standards:
- ISO/TR 9901
- IEC 61724-1
- “BSRN operations manual”
Caution!
The unit contains parts that could be at high temperature (heater) and moving
mechanical parts (fan).
Before performing installation and maintenance operations, disconnect the
power supply and wait for the heater to cool down.
- The unit is not intended for use with sensors other than those indicated.
- Respect the power supply values indicated in the technical specifications and pay attention to the indicated polarities.
- Do not use extension cables.
Symbols
Warning – hot surface
Technical specifications
| Ventilation power supply | 12 Vdc ± 10% / 1.6 W |
|---|---|
| Heating power supply | 12 Vdc ± 10% |
6 W (heating 1) + 6 W (heating 2)
Operating conditions| -40…+70 °C / 0…100 %RH
Max. altitude 3000 m
Increase of air temperature with heating on| ~2,2 °C with ventilation and both heating circuits on
~1,1 °C with ventilation and one heating circuit on
Cable length| 5 m standard, ending with free wires
Protection degree| IP 54
IP 67 the internal electrical connection
Weight| 0.6 kg approx. (excluding cable)
Dimensions (mm) and description
Installation
Fixing the pyranometer
If ordered together with the unit, the pyranometer is already installed inside
the unit. If the unit has been ordered separately, to install the pyranometer:
- if present, remove the pyranometer shade disk and feet;
- remove the upper cover by loosening the three fixing knobs;
- remove the plate in the center of the unit by unscrewing the 2 M5x10 Allen screws;
- fix the plate to the pyranometer base with the 2 M5x16 countersunk screws sup-plied; pay attention that the countersinking of the holes in the plate is on the opposite side to the base of the pyranometer;
- fix the plate with the pyranometer to the unit with the 2 M5x10 Allen screws;
- pass the pyranometer connection cable through the membrane cable gland on the upper cover and attach it to the M12 connector on the pyranometer; the pyranom-eter must be oriented so that the connector faces the membrane cable gland;
- replace the upper cover and tighten the three fixing knobs.
Positioning the unit
For an accurate horizontal positioning, use the levelling device on the
pyranometer. The unit has height-adjustable feet for levelling.
Leave at least 2 cm of air between the bottom of the unit and the feet
supporting surface to allow adequate ventilation.
The two M6 holes at the bottom of the unit can be used for fixing to a support
plate.
Connections
Pay attention to respect the polarity of the fan, otherwise the air flow will
be in the opposite direction to that expected (bottom up). The power supply of
the two heaters has no polarity.
| Function | Wire color |
|---|---|
| Fan positive | Red |
| Fan negative | Black |
| Heater 1 | Yellow + Green |
| Heater 2 | White + Blue |
Use of ventilation and heating
Ventilation is normally always in operation, to keep the temperature of the
pyranome-ter uniform and to prevent dust from settling on the dome.
Instead, the need to activate the heating circuits depends on the ambient
temperature. Only one of the two heating circuits can be activated if the
climate is not particularly severe; or, both circuits can be activated if the
climate is more severe.
The diagram below provides an indication of when heating activation is
recommended:
The exact temperature at which to activate the heating can also depend on
other cli-matic factors. For example, the probability of dew forming on the
dome is affected by whether the climate is dry or humid. Therefore, the exact
activation temperature should be adapted to the place of installation.
When the heating circuits are turned on and off, the pyranometer measurement
may be affected by a change in the order of 1…3 W/m2, due to the ongoing
temperature change. It takes about 20 minutes for the pyranometer to stabilize
in the new operating condition; during this period the pyranometer operates
normally, but the additional measurement error indicated should be taken into
account.
Maintenance
Periodically check the cleanliness of the lower grids so that proper airflow
is ensured. The maintenance period depends on the degree of pollution of the
environment in which the unit is installed.
If necessary, remove the upper shell for thorough cleaning.
Safety instructions
The unit proper operation and operating safety can be ensured only in the
climatic con-ditions specified in this manual and if all standard safety
measures as well as the specific measures described in this manual are
followed.
Do not use the unit in places where there are:
- Corrosive or flammable gases.
- Direct vibrations or shocks to the instrument.
- High-intensity electromagnetic fields, static electricity.
User obligations
The unit operator shall follow the directives and regulations below that refer
to the treatment of dangerous materials:
- EU directives on workplace safety.
- National law regulations on workplace safety.
- Accident prevention regulations.
WARRANTY
The manufacturer is required to respond to the “factory warranty” only in
those cases provided by Legislative Decree 6 September 2005 – n. 206. Each
instrument is sold after rigorous inspections; if any manufacturing defect is
found, it is necessary to contact the distributor where the instrument was
purchased from. During the warranty period (24 months from the date of
invoice) any manufacturing defects found will be repaired free of charge.
Misuse, wear, neglect, lack or inefficient maintenance as well as theft and
damage during transport are excluded. Warranty does not apply if changes,
tampering or unauthorized repairs are made on the product. Solutions, probes,
electrodes and microphones are not guaranteed as the improper use, even for a
few minutes, may cause irreparable damages.
The manufacturer repairs the products that show defects of construction in
accordance with the terms and conditions of warranty included in the manual of
the product. For any dispute, the competent court is the Court of Padua. The
Italian law and the “Convention on Contracts for the International Sales of
Goods” apply.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
The quality level of our instruments is the result of the continuous product
development. This may lead to differences between the information reported in
the manual and the instrument you have purchased.
We reserve the right to change technical specifications and dimensions to fit
the product requirements without prior notice.
DISPOSAL INFORMATION
Electrical and electronic equipment marked with specific symbol in compliance with 2012/19/EU Directive must be disposed of separately from household waste. European users can hand them over to the dealer or to the manufacturer when purchasing a new electrical and electronic equipment, or to a WEEE collection point designated by local authorities. Illegal disposal is punished by law.
Disposing of electrical and electronic equipment separately from normal waste
helps to preserve natural resources and allows materials to be recycled in an
environmentally friendly way without risks to human health. 
Senseca Italy S.r.l.
Via Marconi, 5
35050 Selvazzano Dentro (PD) ITALY
info@senseca.com