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1. c cceseeeeceeceeeeeseeseceeeeeeeeeees 18 Reconditioning ree 19 Frequency Setting ecceceeseteeeeseeeeeeeseneeeeeesneeeerena 19 Timer SENG p22 sass eee eee AEE IA AAAA 20 Ground Che Ck ccccceeeeeeceeceeeeeeeeeeseccaeaeeeeeeeeeeeeeseaeees 20 CHAPTER 5 MAINTENANCE cuncedi a aara A a e i a E AE i eciwstees 23 User s Guide Desiccant Drying ccecsecccesseeceeseseeneeseseeeeseseeeseseeeeeseneeseenens 23 Calibration of Temperature Reference cccceseesseeeereeee 24 Replacement of Temperature Reference Unit 0 24 Replacement of Ventilation Motor ccccccessesseeeeeeeeeeees 31 Replacement of Spare Sonde Cable cccssesseereeeeeeeees 32 Software Version and Calibration Information 32 Software Update 0 ecccceccceceeeeeeeeeeaeeeeeeeeeseseensaaeeeeeees 33 Parts List ara era orean aaae ran ada ara tes cts cudeveve eves seta aaien 33 PCB Connections seis oieee innin ctece tenets cee dhanneetveuidinednteee 34 CHAPTER 6 TROUBLESHOOTING weiie epee tac aaan e r a a r E aa aaiae lan Eaa 35 Common Problems aea eaae aineenaan 35 Getting Hel p ie cisiteccccceseceececteteieasecte ceevececcedesceccevevectceeveceecedencee 36 Return Instructions 0 cceseeeeeeceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeneeeeseeeneeeeneens 37 CHAPTER 7 TECHNICAL DATA eisec esate a hectic a aaa aa e eaea aaaea Eae aaaeei 39 Specificatii NS e eat eean ena Aena tae eaea naa eNet 392. List of Figures Figure 1 GC25 Ground Check Set a oea E 8 Figure 2 Open Desiccant Cartridge 0 ecceeeeteeeeeeneeeeeenneeeeeeteeeeeeeaes 13 Figure 3 GC25 Cable Connections ceeceeeeeeeeeeeceeeeeeenneeeeeeneeeeeeaas 16 Figure 4 RS92 Digital Radiosonde in GC25 Ground Check Set 18 Figure 5 Unscrew Back Plate c0 ccciQech alee eldest 25 Figure 6 Remove Back Plate ccccceeeeeeeeeeeneeeeeeeneeeeeeeeeeeeeneeeeeneaes 26 Figure 7 Unlock the Sensor Chord 00 0 eececeeceeeeeeeeeeteeeeeeneeeeeenneeeeeenaees 26 Figure 8 Remove Chamber SCrews c cccccesseeceeesneeeeesereeeeenieeeesenaes 27 Figure 9 Remove Fan Wit vi icc oie eed el acest ave 27 Figure 10 Remove Chamber Screws cccccceessececeeseeeeeeesueeeeesieeeeeenaes 28 Figure 11 Remove Sensor from Chambet ccscceeeeeeneeeeeesneeeeeenaees 29 Figure 12 New Sensor Chord with Protective Cap eceeeeeeeeeeees 29 Figure 13 Press Sensor Gently into Place 30 Figure 14 Secure Ground Wire and Chamber Screws seee 30 Figure 15 Board Connections 0 00 0 cee a E ARTAR E 34 Figure 16 Correct Position for Chamber Sensors 36 List of Tables Table 1 Operation Mode Compatibility for GC25 eee 9 Table 2 Available Spare Parts ccccccceeeeeeeeeeceeeeceeeeeseeniaeeeeeeeees 33 Table 3 Some Common Problems and their Remedies 8 35 Table 4 GC25 Ground Check Set Specifications eeeeee 39 2 M21
3. Common Problems Table 3 Problem Frequency is not shown or displayed Probable Cause Radiosonde connection cable is loose Some Common Problems and their Remedies Remedy Check cable reconnect if necessary Remaining time is not shown for ground check Radiosonde connection cable is loose Check cable reconnect if necessary Display reads Communication Error Radiosonde connection cable is loose Check cable reconnect if necessary LCD reads Check Desiccant Press Select Desiccant beads are wet Recondition desiccant beads LCD reads Check Temp Sensor The sensor is bent See Figure 16 on page 36 for correct positioning of chamber sensors Humidity levels begin to rise The fan is not working Check if the fan is spinning there should be an audible humming noise Temperature unit error PT sensor unit malfunctioning or loose Check PT sensor connection Invalid calibration info VAISALA There is a discrepancy between calibration values failed temperature calculations Check PT sensor cable Contact HelpDesk 35 User s Guide Figure 16 Correct Position for Chamber Sensors Getting Help For technical questions or for comments on the manuals contact the Vaisala technical support E mail helpdesk vaisala com Telephone 358 9 8949 2789 Fax 358 9 8949 2790 36 M210329EN C Chapter 6 Troubleshooting Return Instructions
4. If the product needs repair please follow the instructions below to speed up the process and avoid extra costs l 2 VAISALA Read the warranty information Write a Problem Report with the name and contact information of a technically competent person who can provide further information on the problem On the Problem Report please explain What failed what worked did not work Where did it fail location and environment When did it fail date immediately after a while periodically randomly How many failed only one defect other same or similar defects several failures in one unit What was connected to the product and to which connectors Input power source type voltage and list of other items lighting heaters motors etc that were connected to the same power output What was done when the failure was noticed Include a detailed return address with your preferred shipping method on the Problem Report Pack the faulty product using an ESD protection bag of good quality with proper cushioning material in a strong box of adequate size Please include the Problem Report in the same box Send the box to Vaisala Oyj Contact person Division Vanha Nurmijarventie 21 FIN 01670 Vantaa Finland 37 User s Guide This page intentionally left blank 38 M210329EN C Chapter 7 Technical Data CHAPTER 7 TECHNICAL DATA This chapter provides the technical da
5. alone ground check set connect the power supply connector to the connector marked POWER Then connect the Power Supply cable Press power and the display should read Connect Cable to Sonde The GC25 is now ready for use Network Mode Connect the power supply connector to the connector marked POWER Then connect the Power Supply cable To use the GC25 with DigiCORA system in network mode connect the direct RS 232 cable to the slanted serial connector on the back of the GC25 unit and the PC s serial port Secure the cable with screws This cable is delivered with the GC25 Set Press power and the display should read Connect Cable to Sonde The GC25 is now ready for use VAISALA 11 User s Guide Desiccant With first installation of the GC25 unit please follow the Filling the Chamber with Desiccant step list below carefully NOTE As the desiccant beads require drying it is convenient to use more than one desiccant cartridge with the GC25 unit With several cartridges they can be used in rotation This way there is no need to open and refill the cartridge with desiccant beads for drying purposes Extra cartridges can be ordered from Vaisala Filling the Chamber with Desiccant During first installation 1 Pull out the desiccant cartridge from the side of the chamber For details refer to Figure 1 on page 8 2 Hold the base firmly and open the top of the desiccant cartridge Turn the screws to release
6. detailed board connections illustration 1 Open the bottom of the of the GC25 unit by removing the two large screws 2 Remove the motor connector by opening the connector clip hinges of connector clip located on the left Next open the chamber cover and remove the ventilation plate 4 Gently lift the chamber motor from its place pulling out the flat wire from inside the unit Put the new ventilation motor into place 6 Connect the wire to the connector clip and make sure the hinges are properly fastened ls Close the bottom cover of the GC25 unit VAISALA 31 User s Guide Replacement of Spare Sonde Cable The radiosonde cable may need to be replaced when error messages are frequent or the connector no longer connects to the sonde with ease CAUTION Disconnect power to the GC25 unit completely before replacing the chamber unit CAUTION Always follow ESD protection guidelines when making adjustments to the Ground Check Set 1 Open the bottom of the GC25 unit by removing the four large screws 2 Disconnect the sonde cable see Figure 15 on page 34 for details by opening the connector clip hinges of the connector clip located on the left Remove the rubber bushing from the old sonde cable 4 Attach the rubber bushing to the new sonde cable Connect the new cable to the connector clip on the left The cable is marked Sonde cable in Figure 15 on page 34 6 With the clip secured in place tw
7. selected time from release launch The following text will appear on the display Timer disabled Set Timer NO Select either YES or NO using the scroll buttons and press Select to confirm your selection Then hold down the arrow buttons to scroll the timer either UP or DOWN Note that 15 minutes is the minimum selectable time When the value is scrolled under15 minutes the timer will be disabled Press Select to confirm your choice To re set press Back Then select YES again to re set a new time or to disable the timer 5 When the timer has been set you will enter ground check mode Ground Check NOTE The following steps are only required if you are using the GC25 in stand alone mode Otherwise DigiCORA software will complete the following steps automatically 20 M210329EN C Chapter 4 Operation At this stage please wait until GC25 informs you the conditions have been stabilized This can take 2 minutes after reconditioning has ended 6 The radiosonde transmitter is enabled Enter temperature value into the ground equipment when the ground equipment asks for them The temperature is shown on the GC25 unit s display as follows Reference T 23 45 c 8 Humidity at this stage is 0 Make sure that the desiccant beads are completely dry Enter 0 for humidity into the ground equipment This value is achieved after the chamber has been stabilized NOTE If humidity levels
8. software will complete the following steps automatically Frequency Setting NOTE When using RS92 K and RS92 KL Analog Radiosondes the GC25 unit will automatically skip Frequency Setting and go to Ground Check stage on page 20 NOTE RS92 K and RS92 KL Analog Radiosondes frequencies are tuned differently to Digital Radiosondes Refer to the RS92 K and RS92 KL user manual for frequency setting information VAISALA 2 Next the GC25 unit will ask you to set the frequency the display will show the radiosonde factory default value The following text will appear 19 User s Guide Frequency 405 35 MHz Tune freq NO If you do not want to tune the frequency press Select If you wish to tune the frequency use the arrow key to select YES and press Select Then use the arrow buttons to scroll for the desired frequency and press Select to confirm your choice Note that if nothing is displayed during frequency setting or an error message is given for example Communication Error the radiosonde connection needs to be checked disconnect and then reconnect the radiosonde and restart the ground check 3 Next you will enter the Timer Set mode press Select to continue Timer Setting NOTE The following steps are only required if you are using the GC25 in stand alone mode Otherwise DigiCORA software will complete the following steps automatically 4 The timer is used to shut off the transmitter at pre
9. 0329EN C Chapter 1 General Information CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INFORMATION About This Manual This manual provides information for installing operating and maintaining the GC25 Ground Check Set Contents of This Manual This manual consists of the following chapters VAISALA Chapter 1 General Information provides important safety revision history and warranty information for the product Chapter 2 Product Overview introduces the GC25 Ground Check Set features advantages and operation principle Chapter 3 Installation provides you with information that is intended to help you install this product Chapter 4 Operation contains information that is needed to operate this product Chapter 5 Maintenance provides information that is needed in basic maintenance of the product Chapter 6 Troubleshooting describes common problems their probable causes and remedies and contact information Chapter 7 Technical Data provides the technical data of the GC25 Ground Check Set User s Guide Safety WARNING CAUTION Related Manuals Please refer to your radiosonde and ground equipment documentation for more detailed information on the individual components and software used with the Ground Check Set GC25 General Safety Considerations Throughout the manual important safety considerations are highlighted as follows Warning alerts you to a serious hazard If you do not read and follow i
10. ERVIEW ic 200s c0ics cect cceceudeieetevececeaeys slucueven ec cavestensadeiesteseeseteneceed 7 Introduction to GC25 Ground Check Uniit 2 cceeeeeeee 7 Operation MOCES cccceeeeceeceeceeeeeeeeeecneaeeeeeeeeeeseestsaeeeeees 8 Ground Check Phases ccccceceeeeeeeeeeeceeeeeeeeeeteennnaeeees 9 RECONCITIONING esis sariini ane inaa 9 Setting the Frequency ecceeeeeseeeeeeeeeeeeeseneeeeeeneeeeeeaas 9 Setting the Timer Killer cc eeceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeteeeeeeeneees 10 Conducting a Ground Check cceeseeeeeeeeteeeeeneeees 10 CHAPTER 3 INSTALLATIONS ifcccecctscedcccsseetteccercteazenesactecaeenatecassscuccctentesceeinnavectar athcesterase 11 Getting Started roaraa a AAAA TAEAE OANIEN NATAR OTEA ERATA 11 Connections ae araa eE aa ea ESEA Si 11 Stand Alone MOG siise cesi naa aasa aS 11 Network Mod iisonic riipi eea eaaa ties 11 DeOSIC CAN iat i e a araa ea aae cote aE EAT aaa aaa ae naani 12 Filling the Chamber with Desiccant eescceeeeeeeeeeees 12 CHAPTER 4 OPERATION a a r a eras exssiveweesseres exes si cecaed E a EERE E 15 Operating Instructions cccceseeecesseeeeeeneeeeeeeeenseeeesneeeeeeseees 15 User Interface ccccccccccceccesecceceeeeeeeecenaeeeeeeeeeseeeensaneeeeeeess 16 GC25 Connections ecceceecececeeeeeeecenaeeeeeeeeeeseestnaeeeeees 16 Radiosonde Placement cccccccseesecceeeeeeeseestneeeeeeeeees 17 Radiosonde Preparation
11. Ground Check Set GC25 USER S GUIDE M210329EN C April 2005 its VAISALA PUBLISHED BY Vaisala Oyj Phone int 358 9 8949 1 P O Box 26 Fax 358 9 8949 2227 FIN 00421 Helsinki Finland Visit our Internet pages at http www vaisala com Vaisala 2005 No part of this manual may be reproduced in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical including photocopying nor may its contents be communicated to a third party without prior written permission of the copyright holder The contents are subject to change without prior notice Please observe that this manual does not create any legally binding obligations for Vaisala towards the customer or end user All legally binding commitments and agreements are included exclusively in the applicable supply contract or Conditions of Sale Table of Contents VAISALA CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INFORMATION 0 cccccceceeeeeeeeceeeeeeeeseeaeeeseeeeeseesseaeeeseeeeeneenees 3 About This Manual 2 ccccceeceeeesseeeeeeeeeeeneeeeneeeeeeeesenseeanes 3 Contents of This Manual 0 cccccceeeeeceeceeeeeseeeeneeneeeeeees 3 Related Manuals ececceceeeeeeeeeeeeceaeeeeeeeeetecnaeeeeeeeeeeee 4 Safely ranr rE A E EE N a A erect 4 General Safety Considerations ecceceeeeeeeeeeeeenneeeeeees 4 Product Related Safety Precautions ceeeeeeeeettees 4 Warranty dee ee Be a i rn A EANNA ERARA 5 CHAPTER 2 PRODUCT OV
12. LA 29 User s Guide Figure 13 Press Sensor Gently into Place 9 Feed the cable of the new sensor unit through the hole of the GC25 unit and set the chamber back into position First put the two silver screws back into place making sure that the ground wire from the new sensor cable is connected beneath the second screw Figure 14 Secure Ground Wire and Chamber Screws Connect the black fan wire to the printed circuit board PCB NOTE Make sure the black fan wire is reconnected properly so that the three pins are secured into the cap 30 M210329EN C Chapter 5 Maintenance 10 Secure the chamber back into place with the two screws Refer to Figure 8 on page 27 11 Connect the sensor chord connector head to the clip by closing the clip hinges See Figure 7 on page 26 12 Finally close the bottom of the unit and secure the plate back into place with the four screws Replacement of Ventilation Motor To determine if the ventilation motor is functioning properly open the GC25 chamber cover in ground check mode If the motor is not buzzing and air is not circulating the ventilation motor will need to be replaced Follow the steps below to replace the ventilation motor CAUTION Disconnect power to the GC25 unit completely before replacing the chamber unit CAUTION Always follow ESD protection guidelines when making adjustments to the Ground Check Set Refer to Figure 15 on page 34 for a
13. ation Use the display and buttons to conduct the ground check However if the GC25 is connected to DigiCORA via cable do not use the buttons on the GC25 unit The functioning of the display and buttons are explained in section User Interface on page 16 Switch on the GC25 unit by pressing the power button When the GC25 is on the green LED light is lit The following text will appear Connect Cable to Sonde The ground check will automatically begin when an RS92 radiosonde has been connected to it 18 M210329EN C Chapter 4 Operation Reconditioning NOTE The following steps are only required if you are using the GC25 in stand alone mode Otherwise DigiCORA software will complete the following steps automatically 1 The GC25 unit will ask if you wish to recondition The following text will appear Recond U sensor YES Reply YES or NO using the arrow buttons and press Select to confirm your choice If you choose to recondition this will take approximately three minutes Reconditiong Remaining 1 41 During reconditioning the Remaining time is displayed Note that if the time is not shown or an error message is given for example Communication Error the radiosonde connection needs to be checked disconnect and then reconnect the radiosonde and restart the ground check NOTE The following steps are only required if you are using the GC25 in stand alone mode Otherwise DigiCORA
14. begin to rise and changing the desiccant beads has not helped to correct this check to see if the fan is working There should be an audible humming noise VAISALA 9 Once the PTU values have been given to the ground equipment the ground check is complete Carefully remove the radiosonde do not damage the sensors from the GC25 unit and prepare the radiosonde for launch Now the radiosonde can be prepared for launch For details refer to the appropriate RS92 radiosonde manual See Related Manuals on page 4 for further information 21 User s Guide 22 This page intentionally left blank M210329EN C Chapter 5 Maintenance CHAPTER 5 MAINTENANCE This chapter provides information that is needed in basic maintenance of the product Desiccant Drying The granules of the desiccant absorb humidity thus maintaining a relative humidity of 0 in the chamber The used desiccant is kept in a glass container second glass container When enough of the desiccant has accumulated about half a bottle it can be regenerated dried An alternative way to use and maintain desiccant beads is by using more than one desiccant cartridge and several glass jars Do not open the desiccant cartridge until it is absolutely necessary NOTE Direct exposure to the sun or other source of heat such as keeping a hand on the cup for a long time will cause incorrect temperature and h
15. e is connected to the PCB and a second ground wire which is attached to one of the chamber screws First disconnect the black fan wire from the PCB Indicated with a white arrow in the following image Figure 9 Remove Fan Wire VAISALA 27 User s Guide Then unscrew the two silver screws which hold the chamber in place See the following image for details Figure 10 Remove Chamber Screws 5 Turn the unit around and carefully lift the chamber out of its place Set down the GC25 and carefully remove the sensor unit from the chamber see the following Note and refer to Figure 11 on page 29 NOTE When removing the sensor unit take care not to damage the sensors against the sides or walls of the chamber 28 M210329EN C Chapter 5 Maintenance Figure 11 Remove Sensor from Chamber 6 The old sensor chord has now been successfully removed Please send the old sensor chord back to Vaisala 7 Remove the protective cap from the new sensor with care Be careful not to damage the sensors Figure 12 New Sensor Chord with Protective Cap 8 Place the new sensor into the chamber firmly but carefully Once again pay attention to the rubber seal make sure the seal is set properly into place making the hole airtight See the following figure NOTE When placing the new sensor into place take care not to damage or hit the sensors against the sides or walls of the chamber VAISA
16. e tuned and set to a specific frequency User s Guide NOTE RS92 K and RS92 KL Analog Radiosondes frequencies are tuned differently to Digital Radiosondes Refer to the RS92 K and RS92 KL user manual for frequency setting information 10 Setting the Timer Killer In this phase the timer can be set to shut off the radiosonde s transmitter at a pre selected time from launch Conducting a Ground Check When the GC25 unit is in the actual ground check phase the radiosonde sensors are compared to references The temperature readings are displayed on the GC25 display The chamber unit of the GC25 contains the desiccant drying agent for 0 humidity reference For pressure reading a separate reference is needed The user gives the reference values to the ground equipment which compares them to those given by the radiosonde and makes the necessary corrections If used in Network mode this is done automatically via cable not including pressure reference values Read pressure values from a reliable reference We recommend corrections only to be done with properly maintained and calibrated units Otherwise it is recommended to not conduct GC corrections M210329EN C Chapter 3 Installation CHAPTER 3 INSTALLATION This chapter provides you with information that is intended to help you install this product Getting Started Connections Stand Alone Mode When setting up the GC25 as a stand
17. erial cable connection to PC for Network mode 2 Power cable connection Il 16 M210329EN C Chapter 4 Operation Radiosonde Placement The proper way to place the radiosonde into the GC25 Ground Check Set is described below 1 Push back the clasp of the chamber and open the cover 2 Place the radiosonde carefully with the dummy battery cover onto its tray gently setting the sensor boom into the chamber CAUTION Rough handling of the chamber cover can damage the sensor boom 3 Gently close the chamber cover and carefully fasten the clasp CAUTION Be careful not to touch or hit the RS92 sensors on the sensor boom as the sensors are fragile 4 With the radiosonde in place lift the flap at the back of the radiosonde and carefully connect the radiosonde connector to the radiosonde Be careful not to move the radiosonde so as to not damage the sensor boom in the chamber Figure 4 on page 18 illustrates the correct placement of the radiosonde into the GC25 unit CAUTION Make sure the UP text on the radiosonde connector plug is facing up CAUTION Make sure the radiosonde connector is connected to the radiosonde with the UP text facing up without turning the flatwire VAISALA 17 User s Guide 0212 244 Figure 4 RS92 Digital Radiosonde in GC25 Ground Check Set CAUTION Be careful not to touch the RS92 sensors on the sensor boom The temperature sensor is very fragile Radiosonde Prepar
18. he old unit to Vaisala The calibration date can be checked as explained in Software Version and Calibration Information on page 32 Replacement of Temperature Reference Unit CAUTION Detailed information on how to replace the temperature reference unit is explained in below Disconnect power to the GC25 unit completely before replacing the sensor unit 24 M210329EN C Chapter 5 Maintenance CAUTION Always follow ESD protection guidelines when making adjustments to the Ground Check Set Refer to Figure 15 on page 34 for a detailed board connections illustration To replace the temperature reference unit you will need a flathead screwdriver and a 2 5 mm hex key 1 With the GC25 unit switched off turn the unit over and open the bottom cover by removing the four large screws at each corner using the flathead screwdriver Remove the plate Figure 5 Unscrew Back Plate VAISALA 25 User s Guide Figure 6 Remove Back Plate 2 Unclip and pull out the sensor chord from its connector by pulling the hinges open to the sides as shown in the following picture Figure 7 Unlock the Sensor Chord 3 Turn the unit around Remove the two screws on the top of the chamber using the 2 5 mm hex key as shown in Figure 8 on page 27 26 M210329EN C Chapter 5 Maintenance Figure 8 Remove Chamber Screws 4 Turn the GC25 unit over You can see the thick sensor chord from which a small wire the fan wir
19. ist the wire slightly to ensure that the UP text faces up NOTE Make sure the UP text on the new sonde cable is facing upward to ensure correct connection to radiosonde Software Version and Calibration Information With no radiosonde connected and the GC25 power on press the right down arrow to view the calibration date on the LCD display If a year has passed since the date displayed the calibration is no longer valid In this case refer to Calibration on page 24 With no radiosonde connected and the GC25 power on press the left down arrow to view the calibration number top line and software 32 M210329EN C Chapter 5 Maintenance version bottom line on the LCD display Turn power off and on to continue Software Updates NOTE Software updates are only to be done when necessary The GC25 software can be updated as you update DigiCORA software Also Vaisala may separately request that the GC25 software is updated Parts List VAISALA To update the GC25 software it must be connected to a PC This can be done using the RS 232 cable provided with the GC25 The GC25 software is updated using GC25 Flash Programmer To check for software updates Start GC25 Flash Programmer and press the Update button Then switch off the GC25 if it isn t already Press and hold down the Back button AYN Switch on the power without releasing the Back button The upper line should be a row of da
20. nstructions very carefully at this point there is a risk of injury or even death 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 Note highlights important information on using the product WARNING Product Related Safety Precautions The GC25 Ground Check Set delivered to you has been tested for safety and approved as shipped from the factory Note the following precautions Ground the product and verify outdoor installation grounding periodically to minimize shock hazard M210329EN C Chapter 1 General Information CAUTION Do not modify the unit Improper modification can damage the product or lead to malfunction Warranty VAISALA For certain products Vaisala normally gives a limited one year warranty Please observe that any such warranty may not be valid in case of damage due to normal wear and tear exceptional operating conditions negligent handling or installation or unauthorized modifications Please see the applicable supply contract or conditions of sale for details of the warranty for each product User s Guide This page intentionally left blank 6 M210329EN C Chapter 2 Product Overview CHAPTER 2 PRODUCT OVERVIEW This chapter introduces the GC25 Ground Check Set features advantages and operation principle Introducti
21. on to GC25 Ground Check Unit The GC25 Ground Check Set is used to check the functioning of the radiosonde and the sensor accuracy as well as set the frequency of the radiosonde The GC25 is designed to be used with RS92 Digital and Analog radiosondes The GC25 Ground Check Set includes desiccant for 0 RH humidity reference A glass jar with desiccant is also provided For optimum performance the GC25 must be properly calibrated and the calibration must be valid The desiccant must also be dry This will ensure that the unit will give accurate and reliable readings VAISALA 7 User s Guide 0212 254 Figure 1 GC25 Ground Check Set The following numbers refer to Figure 1 above 1 Chamber 2 Display 3 Buttons 4 Chamter clasp 5 Radiosonde tray The GC25 has a power supply and communication connector for the radiosonde The GC25 unit is equipped with a display and buttons used to control the radiosonde Operation Modes GC25 can be operated in two modes Stand alone and Network mode In Network mode GC25 is connected to DigiCORA via cable and is operated with the help of DigiCORA Sounding Software In Stand alone mode GC25 is operated using the interface buttons on the GC25 unit M210329EN C Chapter 2 VAISALA Product Overview If you are using a DigiCORA sounding system which has a software supporting GC25 communication the GC25 can be used in Stand alone or Network mode Other sys
22. rk squares You are now in software update mode Flash Program will automatically begin to update the GC25 via cable At this stage do not press other buttons or switch off the GC25 unit When complete the PC will display a window indicating the update is ready The table below lists spare parts available for the GC25 unit Table 2 Available Spare Parts Spare Part Order Code Ventilation motor fan 212196 Spare sonde cable DRW214987 Calibrated PT 100 sensor unit DRW215049 Desiccant cartridge DRW214686 Desiccant beads 4161GC Empty glass jar for desiccant cartridge 4162GC 33 User s Guide NOTE When ordering a new desiccant cartridge it is recommended to also order the empty glass jar for drying purposes PCB Connections 34 Figure 15 below provides a detailed illustration of the board connections inside the GC25 unit Figure 15 Board Connections The following numbers refer to Figure 15 above Fan connector Ground equipment cable connect to PC for Network mode operation not needed for Stand alone operation Optional AUTOSONDE reset Power Printed circuit board PCB PT sensor unit Part no DRW215049 Sonde cable Part no DRW214987 Ped et M210329EN C Chapter 6 Troubleshooting CHAPTER 6 TROUBLESHOOTING This chapter describes common problems their probable causes and remedies and contact information
23. ta of the GC25 Ground Check Set Specifications Table 4 GC25 Ground Check Set Specifications Property Description Value Operating conditions Humidity 0 85 RH Temperature 5 45 C Temperature sensor Pt 100 IEC 751 Uncertainty 0 1 C Resolution 0 01 C Storage temperature 40 70 C Dimensions 25 cm w x 18 cm d x 9 cm h Weight 2 1 kg Power supply Input 100 240V 47 63 MHz Output 16V DC Power consumption 6 W Connectors Ground equipment External pressure reference Power supply Drying agent Molecular sieve pellets regenerable VAISALA 1 One year calibration intervals ensure the validity of uncertainty values 5 to 45 C 2 Dimensions weight x depth x height 39
24. tems and older software versions can only be used in Stand alone mode See Table 1 below for details Table 1 Operation Mode Compatibility for GC25 DigiCORA Sounding System GC25 Operation Modes MW 1x Stand Alone MW21 software version lt 3 12 Stand Alone MW21 MW31 software version gt 3 12 Stand Alone or Network Ground Check Phases A ground check performed with the GC25 Ground Check Set is used to fine tune the measurements of meteorological parameters with the RS92 Radiosonde before sounding The ground check is carried out in the following phases Reconditioning To get optimum performance from the RS92 humidity sensors the ground check includes a phase for removing possible sensor contamination If any contamination has occurred before sonde launch for example in storage this can be removed by sensor reconditioning Contamination of the humidity sensor causes dry bias to humidity measurement Contaminating molecules occupy water binding sites and the effect may vary between zero to a few percent of relative humidity indicating readings that are too low In the preparation phase the radiosonde is attached to the Ground Check set and reconditioning power is connected to the humidity sensors for 3 minutes Depending on the ground equipment in use either the GC25 unit or ground equipment will ask you to conduct the reconditioning Setting the Frequency In this phase the RS92 Digital Radiosonde transmitter can b
25. the metal top See Figure 2 on page 13 for details 12 M210329EN C Chapter 3 Installation o a de a Fa ATERT 28 0a 0 wen gt s pZ lt Pt f m r e LES Spy so EA Ya 2 Aa lt oe dta eT aoe 0212 263 Figure 2 Open Desiccant Cartridge NOTE Be careful not to deform or damage the metal netting Always hold the cartridge by the metal base 3 Fill the metal net enclosure with desiccant beads 4 Place the top of the desiccant cartridge into place 5 Close the screws to secure the metal top into place 6 Place the desiccant cartridge back into the side of the chamber NOTE Always make sure the chamber cover of the GC25 Ground Check set is properly closed VAISALA 13 User s Guide This page intentionally left blank 14 M210329EN C Chapter 4 Operation CHAPTER 4 OPERATION This chapter contains information that is needed to operate this product Operating Instructions NOTE When installed in Network Mode the GC25 and DigiCORA communicate automatically via cable In this case do not press the buttons on the GC25 unit other than ON OFF as this will disrupt communications Pressure reference values need to be read from a separate reliable pressure reference source The GC25 Ground Check set is used to prepare the radiosonde for optimal performance This is done in four stages Recondi
26. tioning the radiosonde is prepared for ground check Frequency tuning the frequency is set Timer setting the radiosonde transmitter operation time is set Ground check the transmitter is on comparing PTU values NOTE To conduct successful ground check corrections you must have reliable calibrated and valid PTU references available If no such references are available it is recommended to leave out the ground check corrections phase VAISALA 15 User s Guide User Interface NOTE Note that when the GC25 is installed in Network Mode the GC25 and DigiCORA communicate automatically via cable In this case do not press the buttons on the GC25 unit other than ON OFF as this will disrupt communications The GC25 Ground Check set has an LCD display and five buttons Below is a description of each button and its function Back Use this button to return to the previous menu Left Arrow Use this button to scroll left Right Arrow Use this button to scroll right Select Use this button to make your selection Power Switches power on and off to the GC25 unit GC25 Connections In the following figure the GC25 cable connections are shown in detail The serial cable is connected to the PC enabling Network mode Refer to DigiCORA documentation for connection to PC Pore 0504 002 Figure 3 GC25 Cable Connections The following numbers refer to Figure 3 above 1 S
27. umidity readings NOTE The desiccant beads can also be dried by placing the cartridge with desiccant in the jar into the oven This way you do not need to open the cartridge NOTE The use of more than one desiccant cartridge will ease the ground check procedure Extra cartridges can be ordered from Vaisala VAISALA 23 User s Guide Proceed in the following way 1 Put the glass container with the used drying agent or cartridge into an oven Remove the container cover 2 Raise the oven temperature to 250 C or more and maintain this temperature for three hours Let the oven cool down 4 Remove the container from the oven when the temperature is below 70 C and close the container cover 5 The drying agent is now ready for use again The desiccant beads need to be changed at certain time intervals for example regularly once a month depending on the humidity levels in the area and the number of soundings conducted however latest when humidity reading is 2 RH Calibration of Temperature Reference The recommended calibration interval for temperature reference is one year Please contact Vaisala helpdesk vaisala com to order temperature reference calibration In practice calibration will be done by replacing your current temperature reference unit with a new one Upon receiving the new temperature reference unit install it as explained in section Replacement of Temperature Reference Unit below and return t
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