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This document describes the W-8682-MKII Professional Weather Station, an instrument designed to provide accurate weather readings and precise radio-controlled time information. The manual guides users through the setup process, familiarizing them with the device's features and operation.
The weather station offers a comprehensive display of various indoor and outdoor environmental parameters. It shows indoor and outdoor temperature, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, and rainfall amounts. Additionally, it displays the current time and date, which are radio-controlled for accuracy. The device includes an alarm function that can be set for specific weather conditions, alerting the user when predefined thresholds are met. It also records all minimum and maximum values for various parameters, along with the time and date of their occurrence, allowing users to track weather trends over time.
The weather station is designed for ease of use, with a clear LCD display that shows all relevant information. The display includes icons for time alarm, DST (Daylight Saving Time, for WWVB versions), RCC tower for time reception, date of the week/time zone, and the current date. It also features specific alarm indicators for wind direction, rainfall, and indoor/outdoor temperature and humidity. The display provides readings for wind speed in various units (km/h, m/s, bft, mph, knots), rainfall in 1h, 24h, week, month, or total displays, and temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
The device operates on 5x LR6/AA alkaline batteries (not included), with a minimum battery life of 12 months for the base station and 24 months for the thermo-hygro sensor. It retains saved data even when batteries are changed, ensuring continuous data logging.
The setup process involves inserting batteries into the transmitter/outdoor unit, which then initiates a data transmission and radio-controlled time reception routine. The main unit (receiver) will then register the transmitter and begin displaying outdoor sensor data.
The base station features five keys for operation: SET, +, HISTORY, ALARM, and MIN/MAX. These keys allow users to navigate through various modes and settings.
Quick Display Mode: Pressing the SET key in normal display mode allows users to cycle through different quick displays, such as wind speed/gust speed, 1 hour/24 hour/week/month/total rainfall quantity, and outdoor temperature/wind chill/dew point.
Setting Mode: Holding the SET key for 2 seconds enters the Setting mode, where users can adjust various parameters. These include time zone settings (with specific offsets for different regions), 12/24h time display, manual time setting (hours/minutes), calendar setting (year/month/date), wind speed and gust display units, wind direction, rainfall display units, and temperature display units. The + or MIN/MAX keys are used to select units or scroll through values, with a 2-second hold enabling larger step increments.
Calibration Mode: Holding the HISTORY key for 8 seconds enters the Calibration Mode, allowing users to fine-tune the accuracy of various sensors. This includes wind speed, rainfall data, history rainfall, outdoor humidity, outdoor temperature, indoor humidity, and indoor temperature calibration. The default calibration factor for wind speed and rainfall data is 1.0, with an adjustment range of 0.75 to 1.25. Calibration is crucial for ensuring accurate readings, especially for wind speed, which can be affected by installation constraints. For temperature and humidity, external calibrated sources like fluid thermometers or sling psychrometers are recommended for accurate adjustments.
Alarm Modes: The ALARM key allows users to enter High Alarm Mode and Low Alarm Mode. In these modes, users can set alarms for various conditions, including time, wind speed, gust speed, wind direction, 1-hour rain, 24-hour rain, outdoor humidity, outdoor temperature, wind chill, dew point, indoor humidity, and indoor temperature. The speaker icon on the LCD indicates when an alarm is enabled. When an alarm condition is triggered, it will sound for 120 seconds and flash until the condition is no longer met. Pressing any key mutes the alarm, but it will continue to flash. The alarm will reactivate automatically once the value falls below the set value.
Min/Max Mode: Pressing the MIN/MAX key cycles through maximum reading mode, minimum reading mode, and back to normal mode. In these modes, the + key displays the recorded maximum or minimum values along with their time and date stamps. Holding the SET key for 3 seconds resets individual maximum or minimum values to the current reading.
Reset to Factory Default Settings: Holding the + key for 20 seconds in normal display mode resets all settings to the manufacturer's default.
The manual provides instructions for attaching the wind cups to the anemometer's stainless steel shaft using an Allen wrench. It also emphasizes the importance of leveling the sensors using the bubble level on the rain sensor to ensure accurate readings.
For optimal radio communication, it is recommended to choose mounting locations that are free from interfering obstacles such as buildings, trees, vehicles, and high voltage lines. Radio interferences from PC screens, radios, or TV sets can disrupt communication.
The manual includes an appendix with instructions on how to replace the rain collector, thermo-hygro sensor, and wind sensor. This involves loosening screws and carefully detaching and reattaching components. Before replacing the wind sensor, the cable needs to be unplugged from the rain sensor.
The device is designed to be waterproof with an IPX3 rating. The manual also advises on battery usage, particularly in cold weather, recommending appropriate battery types to ensure proper function when outdoor temperatures are below -20°C. It also notes that a low battery indicator might show up abnormally when temperatures are outside the 10-35°C range, even with new batteries, due to voltage test point variations.
The manual concludes with a request to return used batteries to an authorized depot for environmental preservation.
General| Brand | Farnell |
|---|---|
| Model | W-8682-MKII |
| Display | LCD |
| Rainfall Measurement Range | 0 to 9999 mm |
| Backlight | Yes |
| Battery Type | AA |
| Weather Forecast | Yes |
| Alarm Function | Yes |
| Memory Function | Yes |
| Temperature Measurement Range (Indoor) | 0°C to 50°C |
| Wind Speed Measurement Range | 0 to 160 km/h |
| Wireless Range | 100 meters |
| Power Source | Batteries |
