Boltek LD-250 User Manual

BOLTEK CORPORATION

Lightning Detection

LD-250 Lightning Detector

Installation/Operators Guide

SEE DISCLAIMER ON REVERSE

B O L T E K L IG HT N I N G D E T E C T IO N

LD-250 Lightning Detector

Disclaimer

LD-250 lightning data is only approximate and should not be used for safety applications. Strike and storm

locations indicated and alarm statuses may be erroneous and should not be used to safeguard personnel,

equipment or data.

Neither Boltek Corporation nor its affiliates shall be liable to the purchaser of this product or third parties

for damages, losses, costs, or expenses incurred by purchaser or third parties as a result of use, misuse,

accident, or abuse.

Notwithstanding the above Boltek Corp’s liability shall not exceed the purchase price of the equipment.

THIS EQUIPMENT IS NOT TO BE USED FOR SAFETY PURPOSES

 2000-2013 Boltek Corporation

4 Stonebridge Drive Unit 2

Port Colborne, ON.

L3K5V5

Canada

Email: [e-mail]

Web: www.boltek.com

Phone [phone] • Fax [phone]

FCC Compliance Statement

For United States Users

This equipment is tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio or television reception.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause interference to radio and television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment on and off,
the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures.

 Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
 Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
 Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
 Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

WARNING

The connection of a non-shielded equipment interface cable to this equipment will invalidate the FCC Certification
of this device and may cause interference levels which exceed the limits established by the FCC for this equipment.
It is the responsibility of the user to use a shielded interface cable with this device. If this equipment has more than
one interface connector, do not leave cables connected to unused interfaces. Changes or modifications not
expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

For Canadian Users

This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment
Regulations.

Cet appareil numérique de la class B respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le materiel brouilleur du
Canada.

WARNING

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPERATE THE LD-250 OR THE LD-250

DISPLAY SOFTWARE WHILE DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

Table of Contents

Installation ........................................................................................ 5

Quick Start

Installing the Antenna ...................................................................... 6

Mobile Installation ....................................................................... 12

USB Adapter Cable

Operation ........................................................................................ 17

Mobile Operation ........................................................................... 17

GPS/Compass Connection ............................................................. 17

Front Panel Controls ..................................................................... 18

Noise .............................................................................................. 19

Receiver Range .............................................................................. 19

RS232 Commands and Messages .................................................. 21

Commands

................................................................................ 6

.............................................................. 14

............................................................................... 21

RS232 Messages

Making an Antenna Cable ............................................................. 23

................................................................... 22

I N S T A L L A T I O N

Chapter

1

T

Installation

he LD-250 Lightning Detector puts a live lightning map on your laptop or desktop
computer. The LD-250 is suitable for use in mobile, portable or fixed installations.
With two antennas you can move the unit between a fixed installation and a
portable installation. When used mobile the LD-250 requires a GPS connected to

the GPS/Compass NMEA port on the rear of the unit.

Your LD-250 package should contain:

1 LD-250 lightning detector
1 lightning detector antenna
1 antenna cable,

standard length 50 feet (15 meters)

1 AC wall adapter,

120VAC to 12VDC for North America,

220VAC to 12VDC for Europe
1 automotive lighter/accessory power cable
1 GPS/Compass connector to pigtail cable
1 DB-9 male to DB-9 female RS232 cable
1 USB to RS232 adapter cable
2 Velcro strips for mobile mounting
4 rubber feet for desktop mounting
CDROM containing Windows software
CDROM containing USB drivers
1 user manual (this is it)

Unpack your LD-250 and make sure all the parts are included.

5

I N S T A L L A T I O N

Quick Start

1) Connect the DB-9 cable from your computer COM port (or the USB-RS232 cable from
your computer USB port) to the RS232 connector of your LD-250.

2) Plug in the AC power adapter into the read of the LD-250 and into an AC outlet. Turn
on the LD-250. It should beep and illuminate the indicator lights for 2 seconds.

3) If using the USB-RS232 cable, you may need to install the drivers from the mini
CDROM disc first if Windows doesn’t install them automatically.

4) Install the Lightning Display software provided on the included CDROM, then run
application after installation is completed and select LD-250 under the hardware
configuration options menu.

5) Connect the antenna cable to both the LD-250 and the antenna. Hold the antenna a few
feet from a computer monitor or television. (A laptop computer display may not produce
enough noise.) The LD-250 should detect the radio frequency noise from the monitor as a
constant stream of noises and/or strikes. By moving the antenna you should be able to
find a position that produces strikes. Yellow strike dots should appear on the display.
Rotating the antenna should change the strike direction.

6) Mount the antenna away from televisions, computer monitors and other sources of
noise.

Installing the Antenna

The antenna is housed in a small black plastic box that must be mounted vertically on a
non-metallic support. The antenna cable plugs into the bottom of the antenna housing.
When mounting the antenna ensure the correct side of the antenna faces north. The cable
plugs into the bottom of the antenna with the front of the antenna facing north. The front
of the antenna corresponds to the top of the computer screen. If the antenna does not face
north the top of the computer screen will not be north.

Provided there are no large metal objects to block the radio signals, mounting the antenna
6 feet high is ok. Mounting the antenna 12 feet high is good. 20-25 feet is better.

6