METEOROLOGICAL INSTRUMENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
ELECTRONIC COMPASS
W/ SERIAL INTERFACE
MODEL 32500
R.M. YOUNG COMPANY 2801 AERO PARK DRIVE, TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN 49686, USA
TEL: (231) 946-3980 FAX: (231) 946-4772 WEB: www.youngusa.com
P/N: 32500-90
REV: P032410
MODEL 32500
ELECTRONIC COMPASS
WITH SERIAL INTERFACE
SPECIFICATIONS*
2.0 INSTALLATION
The 32500 is supplied in a weather-resistant enclosure with a mount-
ing adapter that ts 1 inch IPS pipe (1.34 inch nominal diameter). When
used with the YOUNG Wind Monitor, the mounting adapter engages
the Wind Monitor orientation notch. Refer to the WIRING DIAGRAM for
electrical connection details and jumper settings.
Compass:
Resolution: 0.5 degrees
Accuracy: ±2 degrees (rms)
Win d Sp ee d In pu t:
Sensor Type: AC Frequency Generator
Sensitivity: 50mV p-p at 10Hz
Range: 0-2000 Hz
Win d Di re ct io n In pu t:
Sensor Type: Potentiometer
Range: 0-5000mV = 0 to 355 degrees
Excitation: 5000mV (limited to 5 mA)
Voltage Inputs (Auxiliary Sensor Inputs):
Resolution: 12-bit
VIN1 and VIN2 0-1000mV
VIN3 and VIN4 0-5000mV
Voltage Outputs:
OUT1 0-5000mV 0-100 m/s wind speed
OUT2 0-5000mV 0-360° true wind
direction
Serial Output: Full duplex RS-232,
Half duplex RS-485 (2 mS turnaround)
1200, 4800, 9600, 19.2K, & 38.4K baud
8 data, 1 stop, no parity
Operating Temp: -50°C to 50°C
Power: 11 to 30 VDC, 40 mA
It is important to install the 32500 so it remains level during operation.
This becomes increasingly important when used at northern and southern latitudes far from the equator since progressively more of the earth’s
magnetic ux becomes vertical. By keeping the 32500 level at these
latitudes, the measurements will be free of the vertical ux inuence and
remain accurate.
If possible, avoid installing the compass near magnetic devices or machinery. After installation, the compass must be calibrated to correct for
local magnetic conditions. If the compass is moved or its local environ-
ment changes signicantly (machinery moved), the compass should be
calibrated again.
3.0 OPERATION
Operation begins automatically when power is applied. Jumpers congure the 32500 for common output formats.
3.1 COMPASS CALIBRATION
When the 32500 is operated for the rst time, its internal compass must
be calibrated for local conditions. To calibrate the compass, please follow
the steps outlined below.
1. Remove cover from compass. Press and hold CALIBRATE button
for 5 seconds. The CALIBRATE indicator will begin to blink. Refer to
WIRING DIAGRAM to locate CALIBRATE button.
2. Slowly rotate vehicle on which compass is mounted. Steer vehicle in
a tight circle and make TWO complete revolutions. Each revolution
should take at least one minute. THE COMPASS MUST REMAIN
LEVEL DURING CALIBRATION.
Mounting: 1 inch IPS (1.34 inch actual diameter)
Size: 4.75” (12cm) H
0.87” (7.3cm) W
2.12” (5.3cm) D
*Specications subject to change
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Model 32500 ELECTRONIC COMPASS measures magnetic heading, wind speed and direction signals from YOUNG sensors, and signals
from four general purpose voltage inputs. Wind direction input may be
combined with compass measurements to obtain true direction. Voltage
inputs may be used with YOUNG temperature, humidity, barometric
pressure, and other sensors. One voltage input may be congured for
connection to a tipping bucket precipitation gauge.
Measurements are available in several serial data formats in either full
duplex RS-232 or half-duplex RS-485 signals. Both continuous and
polled serial outputs are available. When polled, up to 16 units can be
networked together. For marine applications the 32500 produces standard NMEA serial output sentences. Calibrated voltage outputs for wind
speed and direction are also provided when the 32500 is connected to a
YOUNG wind sensor.
3. After two complete revolutions, press and hold CALIBRATE button
until indicator stops blinking. Calibration is now complete. Calibration
parameters are retained when power is removed.
4. Replace cover. Use this procedure to recalibrate compass at any time.
Serial communication command may also be sent to start and stop the
compass calibration. Please see section 4.2 SERIAL COMMANDS for
details.
3.2 SIGNAL INPUTS
The 32500 has two special wind speed and direction inputs for YOUNG
sensors and four voltage input channels for connection to other meteorological instruments like temperature, humidity, and barometric pres-
sure sensors. Two of the voltage input channels may also be congured
as alternative wind speed and wind direction inputs for sensors like the
Young 85XXX family. For best performance, sensors should be installed
within 3m (10ft.) of the 32500.
Measurements from the voltage input channels are converted to numerical values (0-4000) and sent in the serial ASCII output string:
VIN1 and VIN2 full scale input is 1000mV DC, therefore:
Input millivolts = Serial output value / 4
VIN3 and VIN4 full scale input is 5000mV, therefore:
Input millivolts = Serial output value x 1.25
VIN3 and VIN4 may be congured as alternative wind speed and direction inputs using CMD250 in SOFTWARE mode. Please see section 4.2
SERIAL COMMANDS.
Selecting PRECIP or PRECIP POLLED output formats will congure
VIN4 to count tips from a tipping bucket precipitation gauge.
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32500-90
Please refer to SERIAL FORMAT DIAGRAM and WIRING DIAGRAM in
the Appendix for additional details.
3.3 JUMPERS
W1 JUMPERS A, B, and C, determine serial output format. Jumper
congurations and associated output format are listed below: 1 signies
that jumper is installed, 0 signies that jumper is omitted. See the SE-
RIAL FORMAT DIAGRAM in the Appendix for more details.
A B C SERIAL OUTPUT FORMAT
0 0 0 ASCII Output
0 0 1 Polled ASCII
0 1 0 NMEA1
0 1 1 NMEA2
1 0 0 RMYT
1 0 1 PRECIP
1 1 0 PRECIP POLLED
1 1 1 SOFTWARE Mode
Baud rates of 1200, 4800, 9600, 19.2K, and 38.4K baud are available.
Most jumper-selected output formats force the baud rate to a predetermined value. All serial signals use 1 start, 8 data, and 1 stop bit. Any
externally connected serial device must be set to the same baud rate as
the 32500.
4.1 P OL LI NG
When the serial output format is ASCII POLLED or PRECIP POLLED,
the 32500 sends data only when it receives a serial polling command:
Ma!
where ‘a’ is the unique address of the unit. The default address is ‘A’ but
any alphanumeric character may be used (see POLLING CHARACTER
in section 4.2 SERIAL COMMANDS).
See the SERIAL FORMAT DIAGRAM for details on ASCII POLLED
data format.
ASCII and RMYT formats force the serial baud rate to 9600. NMEA
formats force the baud rate to 4800.
ASCII and POLLED ASCII are general purpose outputs that may be
used with the YOUNG 26800 or devices that can communicate serially.
NMEA outputs are generally for marine applications. RMYT is a proprietary format for use with the YOUNG Wind Tracker.
PRECIP and PRECIP POLLED formats congure VIN4 to count tips
from a tipping bucket precipitation gauge. (Requires a 10K ohm resistor
between EXC and VIN4.)
SOFTWARE mode allows output format and other parameters to be set
using serial commands. Please see section 4.0 SERIAL COMMUNICATION and the SERIAL FORMAT DIAGRAM for more information.
W2 & W3 JUMPERS determine output connection type. Only one
connection type may be used at a time. Please refer to the WIRING
DIAGRAM in the Appendix for jumper location and connection details.
JUMPERS OUTPUT TYPE
VOUT Calibrated output for wind speed and direction.
OUT1 0-5000mV = 0-100 m/s Wind Speed
OUT2 0-5000mV = 0-360 degrees Wind Direction
232 RS-232 full duplex serial
485 RS-485 half duplex serial
4.0 SERIAL COMMUNICATION
The 32500 uses either full-duplex RS-232 or half-duplex RS-485 signals
for serial communication. RS-232 is the most simple and operates up
distances of 30m (100ft). The RS-485 option is preferred in electrically noisy environments, in applications where multiple units must be
networked, or in NMEA marine applications where RS-485 signals are
required.
The full duplex RS-232 connection may transmit and receive serial data
at the same time.
The RS-485 connection is half-duplex meaning the unit cannot transmit
and receive at the same time. The 32500 internally manages the switch
between modes.
Many applications require the 32500 to transmit only. However, RS-485
applications that require polling the 32500 or sending commands to it
require that the externally connected serial device must be capable of
managing its own half-duplex switching from transmit to receive.
4.2 S ER IA L COMMANDS
Serial co mm an ds c on fi gu re o pe ra ti ng p ar am et er s an d pe rform
calibrati on s.
Whi le m os t W1 J UM PE R se ttings configure the 32500 to use predeter mi ne d pa ra me te rs , th e SO FTWAR E mo de a ll ow s op er ational
parameter s to b e un iq ue ly c on fi gu re d by serial commands. The
parameter s ar e re ta in ed e ve n wh en p ow er i s removed.
Commands ma y be s en t us in g a PC a nd simple communications
programs su ch a s Hy pe rTerm or any other properly configured
serial de vi ce . All commands that begin with CMD must end with a
carriage re tu rn ( AS CI I 13 ).
Commands ma y be s en t at a ny time but it may be more convenient t o pa us e 32 50 0 se ri al o ut pu t. This is especially necessary
with ha lf -d up le x RS -4 85 c om mu ni ca ti on .
Command Description
CMD100 OPE RATE
CMD110 PAUSE
CMD200 n DAMPING (0=NONE, 1=FAST, 2=SLOW)
CMD210 n FORMAT 0 ASCII
1 ASCII POLLED
2 N ME A (KTS, DIR)
3 N ME A (KTS, DIR, TEMP, RH , BA RO
4 R MY T
5 P RE CI P
6 P RE CI P POLLED
7 ASCII 2
9 D IA GN OS TI C
CMD220 n OUTPUT R ATE (0=15Hz, 1=0.1Hz, 2=2Hz)
CMD230 c POLL CH AR AC TE R (0 -9 , A-Z)
CMD240 nn BAUD RATE
(12=1200, 4 8= 48 00 , 96 =9 60 0, 1 92 =1 92 00 ,
384=38400)
CMD250 n INPUT TYPE (1=PULSE/POT, 2=VIN3/VIN4)
CMD900 REPORT PARAMETER SETTINGS
CMD910 START COMPASS CALIBRATION
CMD920 STOP COMPASS CALIBRATION
X Alter na ti ve c om ma nd t o en te r OPERATE mo de
3xESC Alter na ti ve c om ma nd t o PAUSE
3xCNTL-S Alternative command to START compass cali-
bration
3xCNTL-X Alternative command to STOP compass cali-
bration
At low baud rates with proper cable installation and connections, transmission distances up to 7km (4mi) are possible using RS-485.
32500-90
DAMPING d et er mi ne s th e am ou nt o f averaging applied to the
compass m ea su re me nt .
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