AeroSense 4-in-1 Ultrasonic Weather Station (RS485 Modbus)

Specifications

• Operating Voltage: 10V to 24V DC (12V Nominal)

• Communication: RS485 Modbus RTU (Default 9600 bps, 8-N-1)

• Wind Speed Range: 0.2 to 40 m/s

• Wind Direction Range: 0 to 359.9°

• Temperature Range: -20°C to +60°C

• Humidity Range: 0% to 99% RH

• Protection Rating: IP65

• Wiring: Red (VCC), Black (GND), Yellow (RS485-A), Blue (RS485-B)

Downloads:

• AeroSense 4-in-1 Ultrasonic Weather Sensor - Mast-Mounted_Datasheet

Key Applications and Projects

• Smart Farming: Monitoring field microclimates and automating greenhouse control systems.

• Renewable Energy: Tracking ambient conditions to ensure wind turbine safety and correlating panel output on solar farms.

• Construction Safety: Providing critical wind shear alerts for tower cranes and scaffolding operations.

• Building Automation: Feeding ambient data into commercial HVAC systems to optimize heating and cooling.

Unlock New Capabilities (Project Evolution) The Automated Greenhouse Controller: Stop guessing about your crop's climate! By mounting the AeroSense sensor to a mast above your greenhouse, you can pipe real-time temperature, humidity, and wind data via RS485 directly into an industrial PLC. Program your logic controller to automatically roll down the greenhouse wind-breaks if wind speeds exceed 15 m/s, or trigger the exhaust fans if the internal humidity deviates too far from the sensor's external ambient readings!

PACKAGE INCLUDED

• 1 x AeroSense 4-in-1 Ultrasonic Weather Sensor (Mast-Mount)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. What specific parameters does this sensor measure? It measures Wind Speed, Wind Direction, Air Temperature, and Relative Humidity.

2. What communication protocol is utilized? The sensor outputs data using the RS485 Modbus RTU protocol.

3. What is the default baud rate? The default setting is 9600 bps, 8-N-1.

4. What voltage is required to power the sensor? It requires a DC power supply ranging from 10V to 24V, with 12V being the nominal target.

5. What happens if I wire the power backwards? Reversing the Red (VCC) and Black (GND) wires will instantly destroy the internal RS485 communication transceiver.

6. Are there any moving parts that require lubrication? No, this is a solid-state device utilizing ultrasonic waves, meaning it is completely maintenance-free.

7. How do I align the wind direction? You must locate the alignment marker on the top dome and physically point it exactly towards True North during installation.

8. Will the Modbus data auto-correct if I don't align it to True North? No, the Modbus data does not auto-correct for orientation; physical alignment is strictly required.

9. What size pipe do I need for mounting? The bottom collar fits standard 40mm to 50mm outer diameter pipes.

10. Can I mount this directly against a building wall? No, it should be mounted away from walls, dense tree canopies, and HVAC exhausts to prevent artificial wind turbulence from ruining the readings.

11. How high should the sensor be mounted? It is recommended to mount the unit at least 2 meters above ground level.

12. Why is it important that the sensor is perfectly level? If the unit sits at a tilt, the geometry within the ultrasonic measurement path becomes skewed, causing errors in directional and speed readings.

13. What is the maximum wind speed it can measure? It can accurately measure wind speeds up to 40 m/s.

14. What are the operating temperature limits? The sensor functions safely in environments ranging from -20°C to +60°C.

15. Is the sensor waterproof? Yes, it carries an IP65 ingress protection rating.

16. What material is the housing made from? The housing is constructed from UV-resistant ABS engineering plastic.

17. What color wire is used for the RS485-A (Data +) signal? The Yellow wire is designated for RS485-A.

18. How do I interpret the temperature data from the Modbus register? The 16-bit signed integer pulled from PLC Address 40001 must be divided by 10 to yield the correct value in degrees Celsius.

19. How do I interpret the Relative Humidity data? The value pulled from PLC Address 40002 must be divided by 10 to get the correct percentage (%).

20. Can I clean the ultrasonic transducers if they get dirty? You must never touch, press, or insert objects into the ultrasonic transducers, as damaging these nodes will permanently destroy the sensor's ability to function.