Vaisala RS41-SG, RS41-SGP User Manual

M211667EN-G

User Guide

Vaisala Radiosonde

RS41-SG and RS41-SGP

PUBLISHED BY
Vaisala Oyj
Street address:	Vanha Nurmijärventie 21, FI-01670 Vantaa, Finland
Mailing address:	P.O. Box 26, FI-00421 Helsinki, Finland
Phone:	[phone]

Visit our Internet pages at www.vaisala.com.

© Vaisala 2018

No part of this manual may be reproduced, published or publicly displayed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical (including photocopying), nor may its contents be modified, translated, adapted, sold or disclosed to a third party without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Translated manuals and translated portions of multilingual documents are based on the original English versions. In ambiguous cases, the English versions are applicable, not the translations.

The contents of this manual are subject to change without prior notice.

Local rules and regulations may vary and they shall take precedence over the information

contained in this manual. Vaisala makes no representations on this manual’s compliance with the local rules and regulations applicable at any given time, and hereby disclaims any and all responsibilities related thereto.

This manual does not create any legally binding obligations for Vaisala towards customers or end users. All legally binding obligations and agreements are included exclusively in the applicable supply contract or the General Conditions of Sale and General Conditions of Service of Vaisala.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

1.	About This Document.....................................................................................		5
1.1		Version Information.............................................................................................	5
1.2		Related Manuals...................................................................................................	5
1.3		Documentation Conventions.............................................................................	6
1.4		Trademarks...........................................................................................................	6
1.5		Regulatory Compliances.....................................................................................	6
2.	Product Overview.............................................................................................		9
2.1		Introduction to Vaisala Radiosonde RS41.........................................................	9
2.2		Unwinder.............................................................................................................	10
2.3		Packing.................................................................................................................	11
2.4		Product-Related Safety Precautions...............................................................	12
2.5		ESD Protection...................................................................................................	12
2.6		Lithium Battery-Related Precautions..............................................................	13
3.	Operation............................................................................................................		15
3.1		Preparing the Sounding....................................................................................	15
3.2		Preparing the Radiosonde Balloon..................................................................	15
3.2.1		Handling the Balloon...................................................................................	15
3.2.2		Filling the Balloon........................................................................................	16
3.3		Preparing Optional Sounding Accessories....................................................	20
3.3.1		Totex Parachute 5710-5...............................................................................	21
3.3.2		Non-Totex Parachute...................................................................................	21
3.4		Preparing RS41 Unwinder.................................................................................	22
3.4.1		Detaching Unwinder Stick.........................................................................	22
3.4.2		Handling the Unwinder String...................................................................	23
3.4.3		Attaching the Unwinder to the Balloon...................................................	24
3.5		Preparing the Radiosonde with Ground Check Device RI41........................	25
3.6		Preparing RS41 Sensor Boom..........................................................................	29
3.7		Checking the LED Light...................................................................................	30
4.	Storage and Transportation.........................................................................		31
4.1		Storage................................................................................................................	31
4.2		Transportation....................................................................................................	31
4.2.1		Transporting RS41 Radiosondes with Lithium Batteries.........................	31
Appendix A: Safety Instructions for Balloon Operators...........................			33
Appendix B: Radiosonde Warranty...................................................................			35
Technical Support......................................................................................................			37
Recycling.......................................................................................................................			37

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RS41-SG and RS41-SGP User Guide

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List of Figures
Figure 1	Vaisala Radiosonde RS41 with Unwinder......................................................	10
Figure 2	RS41 Unwinder.......................................................................................................	11
Figure 3	Radiosonde RS41 Optional Accessories.......................................................	20
Figure 4 RS41 Unwinder Details.......................................................................................		23
Figure 5 Unwinder Clip Is Level with the Unwinder Bottom Plate.........................		24
Figure 6 Ground Check Device RI41................................................................................		26
Figure 7	Lithium Battery Handling Label......................................................................	32

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List of Tables

List of Tables
Table 1	Manual Versions.......................................................................................................	5
Table 2	Related Manuals.......................................................................................................	5
Table 3	Unwinder Properties.............................................................................................	10
Table 4	RS41 LED Lights.....................................................................................................	30

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4

Chapter 1 – About This Document

1. About This Document

1.1 Version Information

This document provides information for operating Vaisala Radiosonde RS41-SG and RS41SGP, referred to as RS41 in this manual. For information on the sounding software, see the appropriate sounding system documentation.

In this manual, RS41 refers to Radiosonde RS41-SG and RS41-SGP, unless otherwise mentioned. RI41 refers to both RI41 and RI41-B, unless otherwise mentioned.

Table 1 Manual Versions

	Manual Code	Description
	M211667EN-G	May 2018. Updated images for the improved cover version of RS41.
	M211667EN-F	June 2017. Updated for the improved cover version of RS41.
	M211667EN-E	November 2016. Updated with the new Vaisala User Guide template.
	M211667EN-D	December 2015. Updated information on radiosonde LED light functionality.
		Updated instructions for handling the balloon and the unwinder.
	M211667EN-C	March 2015. Updated for MW41 software release 2.3. Information on handling the
		unwinder updated.

1.2 Related Manuals

Table 2 Related Manuals

	Manual Code	Description
	DOC231720	Vaisala RS41 Unwinder Quick Guide
	M211367EN	Vaisala Guide to Sounding Preparations Technical Reference
	M211429EN	Vaisala DigiCORAâ Sounding System MW41 Getting Started Guide
	-	On-line help for Vaisala DigiCORAâ Sounding System MW41, available in the
		sounding software user interface

Visit www.vaisala.com/RS41 to watch short videos on how to use the RS41 unwinder.

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1.3 Documentation Conventions

WARNING! Warning alerts you to a serious hazard. If you do not read and follow instructions carefully at this point, there is a risk of injury or even death.

CAUTION! Caution warns you of a potential hazard. If you do not read and follow instructions carefully at this point, the product could be damaged or important data could be lost.

Note highlights important information on using the product.

Tip gives information for using the product more e…ciently.

Lists tools needed to perform the task.

Indicates that you need to take some notes during the task.

1.4 Trademarks

DigiCORAâ and MARWINâ are registered trademarks of Vaisala Oyj.

1.5 Regulatory Compliances

Vaisala Radiosonde RS41 complies with the following performance and environmental test standards:

•2004/108/EC Electromagnetic Compliance: EN 61000-4-2, EN 61000-4-3 and EN 55022 / EN 302 054-2

•ERM Electromagnetic Compatibility and Radio Spectrum Matters: ETSI EN 302054-1 and ETSI EN 302054-2

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Chapter 1 – About This Document

• RoHS compliance: RoHS Directive (2011/65/EC)

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Chapter 2 – Product Overview

2. Product Overview

2.1 Introduction to Vaisala Radiosonde RS41

Vaisala Radiosonde RS41 o‡ers excellent data availability and accuracy of humidity, temperature, pressure, and wind measurement. The radiosonde is fast and stable with individual, SI-standard traceable calibration.

Vaisala Radiosonde RS41 temperature sensor utilizes linear resistive platinum technology. The small size of the sensor results in low solar radiation error and guarantees fast response. Wind data, height and pressure are derived from Vaisala Radiosonde RS41 GPS data combined with di‡erential corrected GPS data from the ground station.

Robust design, Physical Zero Humidity Check and In-built Functional Temperature Check ensure reliable performance in every situation. The radiosonde is also easy to use. For example, there is no need for the user to connect the batteries to the radiosonde to activate it. The radiosonde is automatically activated when placed on the ground check device. To make it easier to check the status of the radiosonde, the radiosonde has LED light indicators visible on the cover.

To further improve the design of Radiosonde RS41, the radiosonde now has EPS covers with plastic fasteners. This makes the radiosonde's look and feel slightly di‡erent from before, but the radiosonde performance is still on the same high level. The plastic covers have been removed to decrease the total plastic amount of RS41.

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Figure 1 Vaisala Radiosonde RS41 with Unwinder

1Sensor boom

2Power switch

3Additional sensor interface connector

4Antenna

5LED light

6Unwinder

7Unwinder stick

2.2 Unwinder

The unwinder is specifically designed for use with Radiosonde RS41. The unwinder is installed to the radiosonde so that it bends the sensor boom to the correct sounding position, ensuring repeatable results in the soundings.

Table 3 Unwinder Properties

Object	Property
Material of the string	Non-UV treated polypropylene
Tenacity	<115 N

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Chapter 2 – Product Overview

Object	Property
Length of the string	55 m
Unwinder weight with stick	29 g

The unwinders are shipped in the radiosonde package, packed separately from the radiosondes. This allows the operator to prepare the balloon and the unwinder at a time that is most convenient.

Figure 2 RS41 Unwinder

2.3 Packing

Radiosonde RS41 is shipped in a box with 40 radiosondes. The shipping box has been tested following the standards to tolerate the mechanical and environmental transportation conditions. Inside the shipping box, the radiosondes are packed in their own handling packages.

•The shipping box size is 740 x 400 x 320 mm (length x width x height), and it weights 10.9 kg.

Unwinders are packed in a separate cardboard box and shipped in the same box with the radiosondes. The unwinder box contains 20 unwinders.

•The unwinder box size is 375 x 300 x 70 (length x width x height), and it weights 0.8 kg.

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