AeroSense 6-in-1 Ultrasonic Weather Station with Bracket (RS485)

Specifications

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

• Power Consumption: < 1.2 W.

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

• Wind Speed Range: 0 to 40 m/s (Accuracy: ±(0.2 m/s ± 0.02v)).

• Wind Direction Range: 0 to 359.9° (Accuracy: ±2°).

• Air Temperature Range: -20°C to +60°C (Accuracy: ±0.5°C).

• Relative Humidity Range: 0% to 99% RH (Accuracy: ±3%RH).

• Barometric Pressure Range: 300 hPa to 1100 hPa (Accuracy: 0.2 hPa).

• Light/Solar Radiation Range: 0 to 200,000 Lux (Accuracy: ±5%).

• Protection Rating: IP65.

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

Downloads:

• AeroSense 6-in-1 Ultrasonic Weather Sensor - Bracket Mount_Datasheet

Key Applications and Projects

• Renewable Energy Optimization: The 6-parameter model is highly specific to solar farms, allowing operators to correlate real-time solar irradiance (Lux) and ambient temperatures with panel energy output.

• Agricultural & Smart Farming: Automating greenhouse climate control systems and monitoring field evapotranspiration rates.

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

• Building Automation: Optimizing commercial HVAC heating and cooling loads by feeding external ambient data into the system.

Unlock New Capabilities (Project Evolution) The Solar Farm Efficiency Tracker: Standard weather stations monitor wind and rain, but solar installations require more specific data. By utilizing the AeroSense 6-in-1 sensor's integrated dome sensor, you can continuously log Light/Solar Radiation up to 200,000 Lux alongside air temperature. By piping these specific Modbus registers (0x0004 and 0x0006) directly into your site's SCADA system, you can write custom logic to detect when solar panels are underperforming relative to the actual available sunlight, triggering automated maintenance or cleaning alerts!

PACKAGE INCLUDED

• 1 x AeroSense 6-in-1 Ultrasonic Weather Sensor.

• 1 x Angled Metal Mounting Bracket (245mm x 150mm).

• 2 x Mounting Screws.

• 3 x Wingnuts.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. What environmental parameters does the AeroSense 6-in-1 measure? It measures light/solar sensing, barometric pressure, wind speed, wind direction, air temperature, and relative humidity.

2. What is the communication interface for this sensor? The sensor utilizes the RS485 Modbus RTU protocol.

3. What is the maximum transmission distance for the RS485 connection? The RS485 communication can reach up to 2000 meters.

4. What voltage does the sensor require? It operates on an input voltage of 10V to 24V DC, with 12V DC being the nominal target.

5. How much power does the sensor consume? The sensor consumes less than 1.2 W of power.

6. What is the maximum wind speed it can detect? The measuring range for wind speed is 0 to 40 m/s.

7. How do I physically secure the sensor to the bracket? You place the sensor on the flat portion of the bracket and secure the base using the three included screws and wingnuts, being careful not to over-torque them.

8. Is there a designated path for the wiring cable? Yes, you can route the 4-wire cable safely from the sensor body gap and pass it through the 32mm center hole of the mounting bracket for clean cable management.

9. How do I align the sensor for accurate wind direction? You must locate the "N" alignment arrow stamped on the top plate next to the solar dome and point it exactly towards geographic True North during installation.

10. Why must the bracket be mounted perfectly level? Any tilt will disrupt the horizontal ultrasonic time-of-flight geometry, which will result in dropped or skewed wind vectors.

11. How do I maintain the light sensor on the top? The clear solar dome must be kept completely free from dust, bird droppings, and scratches. You should clean it only with a soft, damp microfiber cloth and non-abrasive cleaners.

12. How do I read the Air Temperature via Modbus? Read the 16-bit signed integer at PLC Address 40007 (Register 0x0006) and divide the value by 10 to get the temperature in Celsius.

13. How do I read the Barometric Pressure via Modbus? Read the 16-bit integer at PLC Address 40009 (Register 0x0008), which provides the direct value in hPa.

14. What are the color codes for the RS485 wiring? The Yellow wire is Modbus Data Plus (RS485-A), and the Blue wire is Modbus Data Minus (RS485-B).

15. What color wires are used for power? The Red wire is for Power Supply Positive (VCC), and the Black wire is for Power Negative/Ground (GND).

16. What happens if I reverse the power polarity? Reversing the RED (VCC) and BLACK (GND) wires, or applying AC voltage, will instantly destroy the internal RS485 communication transceiver.

17. What is the IP rating of the enclosure? The sensor housing has an Ingress Protection rating of IP65.

18. What material is the sensor housing made of? It is constructed from UV-resistant ABS engineering plastic.

19. How high above the ground should this be mounted? The unit should be mounted at least 2 meters above ground level to prevent artificial wind turbulence.

20. Can I insert a tool to clean the ultrasonic gap? No, you must never touch, press, or insert objects into the ultrasonic transducers located in the measurement gap, as this will permanently destroy the sensor's ability to measure wind.