National Weather Service Training Center FPR - E HPD THE NEW GENERATION THE FISCHER-PORTER REBUILD COASTAL ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS

National Weather Service Training Center FPR – E HOW TO: PREP THE F&P INSTALL FPR-E COMPONENTS SET UP, CONFIGURE CALIBRATE DOWNLOAD DATA TROUBLESHOOT

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E PARTS ZENO ASSEMBLY LOAD CELL BATTERY FLASHDRIVE

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E ASSEMBLY This should be done at the WFO Disassemble F&P, save parts IAW Appendix B Ensure that gage base and weighing tower are clean, then clean again particularly make sure that all Dashpot fluid is cleaned off Carefully inspect all 4 sets of flexures, replace as needed Ensure that weighing mechanism can move up and down freely

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E ASSEMBLY INSTALL THE LOAD CELL  Note the Loadcell # and Calibration #’s  Make sure shipping bolt is raised to support bottom of weighing mechanism  Install “S” Hook to main spring hook  Carefully attach top of Loadcell to “S” hook  Raise lower weighing arm and attach bottom of Loadcell to lower hook  Pass cable out back of weighting tower  Use a cable tie on the tower to support cable  Lower shipping bolt

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E ASSEMBLY  Ensure the Loadcell does not contact any part of the tower  Adjust the Zero Adjust Knob or the Range Adjust Screw on bottom arm to put lower arm parallel to base of gage. THIS ENSURES LOAD CELL IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE BASE  Raise shipping bolt to support lower arm during remainder of assembly

National Weather Service Training Center ZERO ADJUST KNOB LOADCELL RANGE ADJUST SCREW LOWER ARM SHOULD BE PARALLEL TO BASE OF GAGE

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E ASSEMBLY MOUNT ZENO ASSEMBLY  Completely remove two 7/16ths bolts on front of F&P base (held punch mechanism)‏  Place ZENO assembly on front of base with hole aligned (washers on top of ZENO bracket)  Tighten right hand bolt  Locate Ground wire on left hand side of ZENO, attach Ground under washer on left hand side of ZENO

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E ASSEMBLY While working inside the ZENO assembly you must practice good electrostatic discharge (ESD) management, either use an ESD ground strap or ground yourself to the ZENO assembly Loosen screws on front of assembly with a Phillips screwdriver and remove cover. Save desiccant (desiccant is good for ~ 2 years) Loosen upper Gland fitting on left hand side of assembly

National Weather Service Training Center LOADCELL CABLE GLAND FITTING

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E ASSEMBLY Thread Loadcell cable into Gland Fitting  Very carefully pass cable behind the circuit board and out the right hand side  Pull enough cable through to reach the 3 terminal blocks on front  Re-install Gland Fitting, hand tighten

National Weather Service Training Center Terminal Blocks to be used for Loadcell Cable connections

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E ASSEMBLY Connect wires to terminals as shown below

National Weather Service Training Center WIRING DIAGRAM FOR LOADCELL

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E ASSEMBLY When you attach wires to terminal blocks make sure that terminals are on bare wires and not on the insulation WRONG RIGHT

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E ASSEMBLY Return desiccant packs to inside of ZENO Double check Gland Fitting for Loadcell cable and battery power Install cover back on ZENO assembly making sure you tighten the 4 screws evenly so gasket is compressed correctly

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E SOLAR PANEL Installation of solar panel will take place in the field It is recommended that solar panel be mounted at a height similar to solar panel on Legacy F&P. This will help prevent inadvertent contact with lawn mowers. (See diagram next slide provided by Engineering)‏ Determine mounting angle based on Latitude Mount Solar Panel on outside of gage with good southern exposure

National Weather Service Training Center

FPR-E SOLAR PANEL Locate plug in base of gage and remove if needed Pass cable through hole Screw strain relief fitting into hole on outside of gage Remove shrink wrap from outer (gray) solar panel wire insulation, this allows cable to pass through the Gland fitting Remember to practice good ESD management After removing cover, pass cable through Gland fitting on lower right had side of ZENO assembly (don’t squeeze fitting)

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E SOLAR PANEL Allow 3 inches of cable through Gland fitting Insert black wire into negative terminal and tighten Insert white wire into positive terminal and tighten  Notice label at back of terminal board Hand tighten Gland fitting Use multi-meter to check voltage at terminal voltage should be between 13.6V and 14.5V

National Weather Service Training Center 1. GND, battery V, battery V, solar 4. GND, solar 5. Unused 6. Unused

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E POWER UP A 3-stage, 12V battery charger is preferred for charging the 7.2AH sealed battery (battery is fully charged when the charger enters float mode). Make sure that it does not charge at a rate greater than 2 amps. Do not use an automotive battery charger After the battery is fully charged, disconnect the charger cables and let it rest indoors for a day (with nothing connected). If the battery voltage stays within the range of 13.6V to 14.5V after resting, it will be ready to power the FPR-E data logger.

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E POWER UP Remove terminal covers from battery Place battery with terminals away from F&P door on flat, stable part of base Plug the BLACK WIRE onto the negative terminal FIRST Plug the white wire onto the positive terminal There is no power switch or indication ZENO is powering up, wait at least 30 seconds before pressing the button on the side of the ZENO

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E POWER UP If nothing is shown on the display after waiting appropriate time and pressing button, check the MDL (slow blow) 250V 2 amp fuse located under the gray cap behind the display board. Use multi- meter to check fuse. FUSE

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E POWER UP Under normal operations always allow data logger to run past the quarter of the hour, particularly to allow changes to take effect.

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E HYPERTERMINAL SETUP Accessories – Communications - Hyperterminal Name the connection & select icon Connect to: select Com 1 Com 1 properties (port settings)‏  Baud rate (bits per sec) 9600  Data bits 8  Parity none  Stop bits 1  Flow control (handshaking) none

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E HYPER TERMINAL CONNECTION You need a 9 pin cable and a null modem to connect. You should also use an ESD ground strap and practice good static management. When laptop is connected using Hyperterminal, strike u ~ All commands must be followed by Enter ~ Commands are NOT case sensitive

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E MENUS Type F ~ System Functions  V ~ software version 2.02-v16ed jan  S ~ set date & time format is yy/mm/dd hh:mm:ss (hours are 24 hour clock, always set to standard time)‏ time is set when you hit the enter key strike U~ to return to User menu

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E CHANGE PASSWORD Type Z ~ to enter ZENO menu Type ZENO ~ for admin password Type W ~ Type A ~ Type ZENO ~ Type FPRECOASTAL ~ for new password Type FPRECOASTAL ~ Type Z ~ Type U ~

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E UPDATE SYSTEM LOAD Type Z ~ Enter PASSWORD Type L ~ System Load menu Type R ~ set system to upload Type Y ~ allow overwrite Locate TRANSFER MENU on menu bar  Select SEND TEXT FILE (not Send File)‏  Locate FPRE_ConfigFile_SID.txt  Click OPEN to download file. When done system will return to System Load

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E UPDATE SYSTEM LOAD Type Z ~ Type Q ~  Allow system to run at least past quarter hour  Verify data is in correct format (see page 22 h.)‏ Type U ~ Type Z ~ Type E ~ to save config to memory Type U ~

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E MENUS Set up site identifier  F~ System Function  C1/5678~ (5678 = 4 digit unique COOP number)‏  C2/4100~ (State number followed by 2 zeros)‏ Type E~ To save all changes to non-volatile memory. If not saved, all changes will be lost if system power is lost.

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E MENUS CALIBRATION Calibration is dependant on all parts of the gage being related. If any part of the gage is changed the calibration must be updated. (i.e. bucket, drain hose, load cell, data logger.) Before starting calibration, ensure all flexures are in good condition. Make sure the gage is level and the lower flexure arm is parallel to the base.

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E CALIBRATION Enter load cell constants  At user menu type F~ System Function  Type K ~ Constants menu  Type C1/N where N = C1 constant from Loadcell  Type C2/N where N = C2 constant from Loadcell  Type C3/N where N = C3 constant from Loadcell Make sure to include the minus sign on C3 Save, E~

National Weather Service Training Center

FPR-E CALIBRATION Type S~ Sample Period menu Type C1/12 ~ To change Sample period to every 12 seconds Return to user menu U~ Go to test menu T~ Type C2~ to calibrate Sensor number 2 (sensor 1 not used yet) you may have to enter password.

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E CALIBRATION Type 0 ~ (zero) for A coefficient Type 2000 ~ for B coefficient Type 0 ~ (zero) for C coefficient Type U ~ Put an empty clean bucket on the gage and lower the shipping bolt so that there is at least a ¼ inch gap. Be very careful with the bucket, load cell is very sensitive.

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E CALIBRATION Type D ~ Data Retrieval menu Allow the system to run at least 90 seconds. don't lean on table/bench and keep it out of wind or covered. Type L6 ~ To look at the last 6 samples. If the samples look stable (± 0.005) write down last reading and label as B1 for later use.

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E CALIBRATION CAREFULLY add 15 inches (3 weights labeled 4111g) to the bucket. Allow system to run at least 90 seconds again Type L6 ~ Check for stability (±0.005) if the samples look good take the last one and label as B2.

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E CALIBRATION Calculate the new B coefficient  B = / (B2 – B1)‏  (15” x initial gain) / (full wgt – empty wgt)‏ Type U ~ Type T ~ Type C2 ~  Leave A and C as zero and enter the calculated B coefficient

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E CALIBRATION Carefully remove weights from bucket. Type U ~ Type D ~ Allow system to run at least 90 seconds Type L6 ~ If sample is stable label last value as -C3. It must be a negative value to account for the weight of the bucket.

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E CALIBRATION Type U ~ Type T ~ Type C2 ~ Enter the calculated value for C

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E CALIBRATION Adjust the thermal correction  Type U ~  Type D ~  Allow to run 90 seconds  Type L6 ~ Check for stability and label last value as C4  If new C is not zero recalculate C coefficient  C = -(C3 + C4)‏  Enter new C coefficient in test menu.

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E CALIBRATION Verify calibration  Carefully add weight to bucket  Type U ~  Type D ~  Allow system to run 45 seconds  Type L3 ~  Value should be ±0.02” from weight if not redo calibration

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E CALIBRATION Reset sample period  Type U ~  Type D ~  Type C1/900 ~ Save the calibration coefficients Type E ~

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E ON SITE SET UP Remove legacy and mount FPR-E – Check level Install solar panel – Check voltage on terminal – Check southerly orientation & angle – Observe exposure & ensure solar panel will not be shaded at any time – Solar panel may be mounted away from gage, includes 15ft cable Install battery, NEGATIVE/BLACK FIRST then positive/white – Check battery voltage at terminal – Make sure you probe the recessed screws only

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E ONSITE SET UP Perform calibration check – Must wait until after quarter hour – With bucket on reading should be 0.00” – Place calibration weight in bucket and check display – Reading should be ± 0.02” of weight You can hang a one inch universal weight (822.2gm) when bucket has liquid in it for check

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E DOWNLOAD DATA Uncap USB port and turn on display Insert flash drive – Downloads last 100 days – Display shows “time to complete min/sec – Display will show “UFdC” when complete – Re-cap flash drive Place cap back on USB port Data to WFO – – USPS

National Weather Service Training Center FPR-E TROUBLESHOOTING STERLING FIELD SUPPORT CENTER – Kevin B. Lowrie or Jennifer Dover – Monday – Friday 8AM – 5PM Eastern – (1293)‏ –