La Crosse Technology WS2355 User Manual

Operation Manual

Table of Contents

Page

1. Introduction…………................................................................................50

2. Intended use............................................................................................50

Weather Station.......................................................................................50

System requirements for PC use..............................................................51

Features of the base station.....................................................................52

Features of the thermo-hygro sensor........................................................53

Features of the wind sensor.....................................................................53

Features of the rain sensor.......................................................................53

3. Safety Notes............................................................................................54

4. Packaged contents...................................................................................55

5. Setting up.................................................................................................56

6. Operation using cable connection or wireless 433MHz.............................59

7. LCD overview...........................................................................................61

8. Function test............................................................................................62

9. Mounting..................................................................................................62

10. Resetting & factory settings......................................................................66

11. Function description.................................................................................68

12. Operation keys.........................................................................................71

13. Basic programming modes.......................................................................73

14. MIN/MAX programming modes................................................................74

15. Alarm programming modes......................................................................76

16. Auto-memory for stored values................................................................83

17. Accessories: extensions cables................................................................84

18. Changing batteries...................................................................................85

19. Interference and problems with operation.................................................86

20. Transmission range..................................................................................87

21. Cleaning and maintenance.......................................................................87

22. Specifications...........................................................................................88

Professional Remote Weather Station

23. Liability disclaimer....................................................................................90

This Operation Manual is part of this product and should be kept in a safe place for future reference. It contains important notes on setup and operation.

Please visit our web site www.heavyweather.info for downloads of complete instruction manuals and the most current version of the 'Heavy Weather' software.

1. Introduction

Thank you for purchasing this Professional Remote Weather Station. Designed for everyday use, the weather station will prove to be an asset of great value for

your personal use in the home or office. Please read this instruction manual thoroughly to fully understand the features and

functions so that you can enjoy the safe and correct operation of this unique product.

2. Intended Use

Weather Station

The base station measures the indoor environment of its surrounding area and receives weather data from the following three outdoor sensors:

1) Thermo-Hygro Sensor

2) Wind Sensor

3) Rain Sensor

The received data is continuously updated to bring you the latest weather information on the base station’s LCD. The thermo-hygro sensor is the main data communication unit since both the wind and rain sensors are connected to the thermo-hygro sensor for operating power and rely on it to communicate to the base station. Weather data sent from the thermo-hygro sensor can be done by wireless 433MHz transmission (up to 100 meters in open space) or by cable connection.

Using the enclosed 2 meter computer cable and CD-ROM, you can install the Heavy Weather software to your PC and upload all the received weather data from the base station. Access the latest weather information from your PC and upload up to 175 sets of recorded weather data by the base station and generate useful statistics and charts onto your spreadsheets (175 sets of data is stored in the base even if the PC is switched OFF). The software itself does not set any limits as to how many data sets that can be transferred to PC.

This weather station is designed to work easily with your PC. There are no tedious requirements to turn your PC ON or OFF, simply connect and disconnect the PC cable at any time.

System Requirements for PC use:

The minimum system requirement for use of this “Heavy Weather” software is: Operating system: Windows 98, Windows 2000, XP Pro and Home Editions, and Vista

Processor: Pentium 166 MHz or above RAM: 32MB of RAM or above Hard disk: 20MB free space CD-ROM drive

For full details on operation and installation of the “Heavy Weather” software refer to the PC manual in PDF format on the CD-ROM.

Installation for the USB adapter driver

1- Find the Heavy Weather CD-ROM within the packaging. 2- Plug in the USB adapter to the computer. 3- Follow the Windows Installation steps to find the driver.

Select “ Install from a list of specific location (Advanced)” 4- Install the CD-ROM to CD drive. 5- From the list that appears select: E:\USB\ where E: is the location of the CD drive.

Note:

For the latest USB adapter driver, please visit: http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm For the detail installation instruction for the USB adaptor, please visit: http://www.ftdichip.com/Documents/InstallGuides.htm

After installing the USB Adapter Driver check in Device Manager to confirm that Windows has recognized the adapter:

To determine which COM Port your USB adapter is on: 1- Find MY COMPUTER and “right click” the icon. 2- Select MANAGE. 3- Click on DEVICE MANAGER. 4- You should see COM Ports listed with numbers after them Ex: Communications Port

(COM 1), USB to Serial Bridge (COM 4). If you do not see a COM setting, your computer does not recognize your USB driver. 5- If the USB adapter is not on COM port 1, 2, 3 or 4 you will need to change it. 6- Double click the COM Port Ex: (COM 7) this will bring up a Communications Port

Properties Box. Click the Port Settings Tab, Click Advanced. 7- Click the Drop Down next to the COM port number and select Com 1, 2, 3, or 4. If

they are IN USE see your computer person BEFORE changing. After configuring the adapter, connect the weather station and open the Heavy Weather

software. Click SETUP button and select the proper COM Port. Data should begin to download within a minute or two.

Features of the base station:

• Receives and displays the DCF77 radio controlled time and date

• Display of extensive weather data, in all cases with programmable alarm functions for

certain weather conditions as well as records of all minimum and maximum values

along with time and date of their recordings

• Indoor and outdoor temperature and relative humidity displays in degrees Fahrenheit

or Celsius (user selectable)

• Indoor and outdoor relative humidity displays

• Air pressure reading in inHg or hPa, absolute or relative (user selectable)

• Detailed display of rainfall data in 1 hour, 24 hours, total since last reset (user

selectable in mm or inch)

• Wind speed in mph, km/h, m/s, knots or Beaufort (user selectable)

• Wind direction display with LCD compass as well as numerical (e.g. 225°) and

abbreviated characters (e.g. SW)

• Wind chill temperature display

• Dew point temperature display

• Weather forecast display by weather icons (sunny, cloudy, rainy)

• Weather tendency indicator

• Storm warning alarm

• LED back light

• Simultaneous display of all weather data with individual settings by the user

• COM port for easy connection to your PC

• All the weather data from the base station and up to 175 sets of weather history data

with user adjustable measuring intervals can be recorded and uploaded to your PC

Features of the Thermo-Hygro Sensor

The thermo-hygro sensor measures the outdoor temperature and relative humidity. It also collects the readings from the rain and wind sensors before transmitting the data to the base station by wireless 433MHz or by the 10 meter cable included in this set.

Features of Wind sensor

The wind sensor measures wind speed and wind direction and sends the data to thermohygro sensor which in turn transmits the data to the base station. Operating power is taken from the thermo-hygro sensor using a 10 meter cable connection.

Features of Rain sensor

The rain sensor measures the rainfall and sends the data to thermo-hygro sensor which in turn transmits the data to the base station. Operating power is taken from the thermohygro sensor by a 10 meter cable connection.

3. Safety Notes

• Damage caused by failure to comply with this instruction manual will invalidate any

guarantee! The manufacturer and supplier will not be held liable for actions due to

failure to comply with this instruction manual or from data inaccuracies that may occur

with this product!

• In case of harm or damage to a person or property caused by improper handling or

failure to comply with this instruction manual, the manufacturer and supplier cannot be

held liable.

• For reasons of safety and operation, alterations to this device are strictly prohibited.

• To operate the weather station, use only supplied adaptor and batteries of the

recommended type.

• Do not leave used-up batteries in the device as these may corrode and release

chemicals that may damage the unit.

• Inserting batteries in an incorrect polarity will cause damage to this product.

• This product is not a toy kept out of the reach of children.

• Do not depose new or used batteries to fire as they may explosion or release

dangerous chemicals.

• This product is not to be used for medical purposes or for public information.

4. Packaged Contents

Before setting up, carefully unpack the contents onto a table or flat surface and check that the following are complete:

Item: Consisting of: Fittings: Illustration:

Base Station

• Main unit

• AD/DC 230V power

Adaptor - optional use (included)

ThermoHygro Sensor

Wind Sensor

• Main unit

• Rain protection

cover

• Main unit with wind vane

• 10 meter cable (already attached to the main unit)

• 10 meter cable optional connection to the base station (included)

• Wall mounting screws

• Plastic anchors for

screws

• 1 x U-bolts for mast

holder

• 2 x Washers

• 2 x Nuts

• 2 x Plastic cable ties

• Mast holder

• L-shaped

extension

Rain Sensor

• Main unit (base and funnel)

• 10 meter cable (already attached to the

Heavy weather PC software

main unit)

CD-Rom format (English, German and French languages only)

• 2 meter PC cable for PC connection optional use (included)

5. Setting up

Firstly, choose to use the adaptor (included in this set) or batteries for operation. Both these methods allow for operation of using wireless 433MHz transmission or cable connection between the base station and the sensors and setting up for both methods is as follows:

Battery compartment

Socket for

PC COM

Battery

Battery Cover

Thermo

Hygro Sensor

Sensor sockets

Base Station:

Setting up using batteries:

Compartment

Adaptor

Thermo-Hygro Sensor

Port

Sensor sockets

Important: To avoid operating problems, please take note of battery polarity if inserting

1) Pull away the rain cover of the thermo-hygro sensor to reveal the three sockets (for the wind sensor, rain sensor and the base station)

2) Connect the attached cables of wind and rain sensors to the corresponding sockets of the thermo-hygro sensor by clicking them into place

3) Open the battery cover of the thermo-hygro sensor located below the three sockets and insert 2 x AA, IEC LR6, 1.5V batteries and close the cover

4) Open the base station’s battery cover located at the back of the unit and insert 3 x AA, IEC LR6, 1.5V batteries into the battery compartment and close the battery cover

Setting up using the AC adaptor:

1) Power up all the sensors as described in setting up using batteries above

2) Using the AC adaptor (included), plug it into the mains outlet and power up the base station by inserting the adaptor jack into the 6.0V DC socket located on the side of the base station

Every time the thermo-hygro sensor is powered up (for example after a change of batteries), a random security code is transmitted and this code must be synchronized with the base station to receive weather data.

any batteries

When the base station is powered up, a short beep will sound and all LCD segments will light up for about 5 seconds before it enters into a 15 minute learning mode to learn the sensors security code. After the learning mode (or by pressing the MIN/MAX key at anytime), the base station will start the DCF77 radio controlled time reception.

Note for DCF77 Radio Controlled Time:

The time and date display is based on the signal provided by a highly accurate Caesium atomic clock operated by the Physikalisch Technische Bundesamt in Braunschweig (Germany). This radio-controlled clock does not only provide for the weather station’s time and date display but also functions as the time source for all of this weather station’s memory and history values using time and date information.

LCD backlight:

When using the power adaptor, or under battery operation, the LCD backlight will switch on for 16 seconds intervals when any key is pressed.

6. Operation using cable connection or wireless 433MHz

Cable Connection:

Using this method of operation will provide interference free transfer of the weather data from the sensors to the base station. The data sending interval from the sensors to the base station will also be more frequent compared to using 433MHz transmission and will result in higher power consumption. Therefore batteries will have a shorter life span for cable connection compared to using 433MHz. To operate using cable connection, simply use the enclosed 10 meter cable and connect the thermo-hygro sensor to the base station. Once the connection is detected, the base station will automatically continue reading the data from the sensor.

The user may at any time switch from cable connection to using 433MHz (or vice versa) by simply disconnecting (or connecting) the cable from the base station to the sensor. When the base station detects no cable connection to the sensors, the existing data reading interval is changed to the new reading interval, i.e. using cable connection is every 8

seconds data reading interval or from 32 seconds - 128 seconds intervals when using 433MHz (depending on wind speed)

Using the AC adaptor to operate the base station will also supply power to the sensor if the cable is connected to it. Batteries used for 433MHz transmission may be left in the sensor when using cable connection for power back-up in case of AC power failure. A loss of power would desynchronize the base station and the sensor and no weather data will be received. To Synchronize the units so that the weather data can be received, press and hold the PLUS(+) for 2 seconds. However in general, batteries that will not be used for long periods should be removed to avoid leakage.

Wireless 433MHz transmission:

Using 433MHz wireless transmission of weather data from the sensor to the base station will provide users greater freedom as to where units can be positioned without the need to be restricted by cable.

Note:

If no outdoor weather data is displayed or the signal to the sensors is lost during setting up, mounting, changing of batteries to the sensor or plugging or unplugging cables, simply press and hold the PLUS(+) key for 2 seconds and a short beep will sound to synchronize the base station to sensors. Without being synchronized, weather data will not be received.

2 3

7. LCD Overview

The following illustration shows the full segments of the LCD for description purposes only and will not appear like this during normal operation and use.

1. Low battery indicator

2. DCF77 radio controlled time icon

3. Date display

4. Time zone display

5. Date, seconds, alarm time and time zone

6. Alarm icon

7. Weather forecast icons

8. Weather tendency indicator

9. Pressure alarm display

10. hPa/inHg air pressure unit

11. Pressure units (relative or absolute)

12. 433MHz reception icon

13. Rainfall display

14. Indoor, outdoor, humidity, dew point, wind chill, rainfall alarm icon

15. 24h, 1h or total hour display

16. Humidity display as RH%

17. Rainfall units (inch or mm)

18. Temperature display units (ºC or ºF)

19. Outdoor temperature/humidity display

20. Indoor temperature/humidity display

21. Dew point temperature display

22. Wind chill temperature display

23. Wind alarm icon

24. Wind information for Min/Max speed and wind speed low, high, direction alarm

25. Wind direction and speed (m/s, knots, Beaufort, km/h or mph) display

26. Alarm buzzer ON/OFF icon

27. General alarm icon

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