Product #7720
R
AIN
C
OLLECTOR
H
EATER
I
NSTALLATION MANUAL
The Rain Collector Heater may be used to protect the Rain Collector’s internal
components from freezing and/or to measure the moisture content of snowfall.
When the heater is on, it is capable of melting snow at a rate of 1/4” (6 mm) of
liquid precipitation per hour. It may not be able to keep up with larger rates of
snowfall.
The Rain Collector Heater warms only the inside of the Rain Collector and the
cone itself. For some weather conditions, it may be necessary to add a lamp or
heater beneath the unit to keep the drains open.
Please note that we have made every attempt to design and manufacture a safe
product, but Davis Instruments assumes no liability for any injury or damage
caused directly or indirectly by the installation or use of this product.
CAUTION:
Although the nominal heater voltage is not hazardous, a short in the wall transformer could
cause hazardous voltage to appear on the heater wires. For safety, you should always turn the
heater’s power unit to the “OFF” position before removing the Rain Collector’s cone. We also
recommend that you unplug the wall transformer before removing the Rain Collector’s cone.
This instruction manual is designed to take you step-by-step through the process required to install and use your Rain Collector Heater. Please take the time
to read through this manual before beginning the process.
Page 2 Rain Collector Heater
C
OMPONENTS
The Rain Collector Heater includes the following components. Please make
sure you have all listed components before continuing.
✦
Heater Assembly
Includes heater element, thermostat, and terminal block for power cable.
✦
Wall Transformer with Power Unit
✦
Insulation Blanket
✦
50’ (15 meter) Heater Cable
✦
Installation Hardware Kit
✦
Two Tie Wraps
✦
Two #6-32 x 3/4” Screws
✦
Two #6-32 Hex Nuts
✦
Two #6-32 Split Lock Washers
✦
One #8 x 3/8” Screw
✦
One 1/4” Cable Clamp
Components
Heater Assembly
Insulation Blanket
Heater Cable
50' (15 meter)
Cable Ties (2)
Wall Transformer
with Heater Power Unit
#6-32 x 3/4"
Screws (2)
with Lock Washers
and Hex Nuts
Cable Clamp
#8 x 3/8" Screw
#4 x 3/8"
Self-tapping
Screws (2)
Tools and Materials Needed for Installation Page 3
T
OOLS
AND
M
ATERIALS
N
EEDED
FOR
I
NSTALLATION
In addition to the components listed above, you will need some of the following tools and materials. Please be sure you have everything you need before
beginning the installation.
✦
Medium Phillips-head and Slot-tip Screwdrivers
✦
Drill with 5/32” (4 mm) or 3/16” (4.8 mm), and 9/32” (7.2 mm) or 5/16” (8 mm)
Drill Bits
✦
Wire Cutter
✦
Wire Stripper or Knife
✦
Cable Clips or Weather-Resistant Cable Ties
Choosing Cable for the Rain Collector Heater
The Rain Collector Heater comes with a 50-foot (15 m) length of 22 gauge, two
twisted-pair cable. When using this cable, the red and white wires are joined
and used as one wire and the two black wires are joined and used as one wire.
You may use 22 gauge, two-twisted pair wire in this manner for cable lengths
up to 120 feet (36 m). If you want to use single pair cable, use the following
table to determine the minimum wire size for the desired length of cable run.
If the heater cable is routed with any signal cable (i.e. any cable running from a
sensor, junction box or SIM), be aware that for cable runs over 50 feet (15 m)
the heater cable’s voltage may interfere with sensor voltages in the signal. To
prevent this interference, do at least one of the following:
✦
Use twisted pair for the heater cable or the signal cable.
✦
Use shielded cable for the heater cable or signal cable (shield must be grounded).
✦
Keep the heater cable and the signal cable separated by several inches over most
of the length of the cable run.
L
ENGTH
OF
C
ABLE
R
UN
M
INIMUM
W
IRE
S
IZE
Up to 60 feet (18 m) 22AWG (0.50 mm
2
)
60-100 feet (18-30 m) 20AWG (0.75 mm
2
)
100-160 feet (30-50 m) 18AWG (1.0 mm
2
)
160-250 feet (50-80 m) 16AWG (1.50 mm
2
)
Page 4 Rain Collector Heater
I
NSTALLING
THE
R
AIN
C
OLLECTOR
H
EATER
The instructions below will take you step-by-step through the procedure
required to install the Rain Collector Heater. Make sure the wall transformer is
unplugged until you are instructed to plug it in.
Attaching the Heater to the Rain Collector
1. Remove the Rain Collector’s cone from the base and, if necessary, remove the mounting screws from the base of the Rain Collector.
2. If screw holes for the Rain Collector Heater are not already present in the base, position the heater as shown below (at the edge of the Davis logo imprinted on the base
with the terminal block facing away from the bucket) and mark the location of the
screw holes on the heater assembly.
Earlier versions of the Rain Collector did not come with built-in holes for the
Rain Collector Heater. If your Rain Collector does not have built-in holes
you need to drill them yourself following the instructions below. Otherwise,
skip to step 5.
Marking Screw Holes
3. Using a drill with a 5/32” (4mm) or a 3/16” (4.8 mm) drill bit, drill holes in the marked
locations.
4. Using a drill bit with a large enough diameter to allow your power cable to pass
through, drill a cable hole in approximately the position shown below.
For the provided 50’ (15 m) cable, use a 9/32”” (7.2 mm) or a 5/16” (8 mm)
drill bit. The precise location of the power cable hole is not critical.
Power Cable Hole
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