Blog from October, 2009

Pressure port covered

On the Oct 15 visit, Kurt noticed that the inlet of the barometer
pressure port had been taped over, though the tape had peeled back
and was no longer covering the inlet hole. Pressed the tape
back down, but it probably won't stay.

It was probably taped on Oct 1 when the TRHs were removed in anticipation
of a controlled burn.

So since Oct 1, the pressure data should not be trusted.

Oct 14. Arrived on site 10:55 MDT.
Kurt Knudson and Gordon Maclean (EOL) and Fabian Guerrero and Armando Cisneros from CISL/NETS.

Installed DC power supply in the power/network enclosure at turbulence tower. It is charging one battery for the beacon and two batteries for the data system and sensors.

Removed solar panels and other batteries from the site.

Fabian and Armando terminated and tested the fibers, installed fiber patch panels
at the tower enclosure and in the seatainer, and connected the fiber/copper media converters. The media converters are from Transition Networks, model E-100BTX-FX-05. I believe that they are the standard temperature models (not the "HT", versions), and so their temperature range is 0 to 50 degC. At the tower the converter is in the metal enclosure. Hopefully the converter's own heat and heat from the DC supply will keep it warm enough.

The 30 foot run of ethernet cable from the enclosure to the data system at the tower is currently an indoor-rated cat 5 cable, with RJ45 connectors on each end. It is routed through a 1/2 inch hole in the side of the adam and through a knock-out in the bottom of the enclosure. It should be replaced with an outdoor rated cable through conduit to prevent critter chewing.

We removed the WIFI equipment and cables at the turbulence tower and the walkup tower.

Configured the data system with IP address 192.168.100.202. With the fiber link it is now directly on the 192.168.100 subnet.

The etherant (unit C) at the turbulence tower was not working. Saw no light on the power LED, but the DC-DC converter was delivering 15 V to the interface panel inside the adam.

The adam had been working, though it wasn't reachable over the wifi because of the problem with etherant C. The pocketec (#5) contained 12 days of data. Swapped in pocketec #3 and brought back #5 to Boulder.

Updated the NIDAS software on the system, revision 4985.

Measured the power draw of the data system with 5 sonics, GPS, barometer, PC104 stack and pocketec disk (no etherant): 12.8 Volts, current: 1.4 to 1.61 A.

The fiber link was operational at 2:20 MDT. Left site shortly after. Late lunch at the BuckSnort in Sphinx Park.

Paul Painter from Green Mountain Falls Electric completed the installation of the electrical enclosure at the turbulence tower, and the connecting of the power cables at either end on October 7. So, line power should now be available at the turbulence tower.

The service should be 5 kVa, there should be two circuits each with outlets inside the enclosure and water proof outlets outside the enclosure.

Power cable and data cables between the walk-up and turbulence towers were trenched into position on Monday, October 5 2009. Connections at either end of the cables will be completed shortly.

October 1, 2009

Mostly Sunny.  Cold and breezy. 

Karl and I inspected "ding" in tower.  Nothing was resolved of what could've done this dent.  There's not paint/led/copper transfer for a bullet/arrow.  It almost looks like somone tried to hang something over wrenched it.  ??

TRH's sensors were removed and taken back to NCAR.  Some of them were VERY dusty.  I kept shields and cables all plugged in and at their heights.  However, I did remove all TRH port fuses.  So be careful when opening the ADAM box since the fuses are just loose inside. 

Taped pressure port.

Removed one battery from the beacon battery bank and added it to the ADAM battery bank.  So four batteries on ADAM and two on beacon.  Also took a rack of panels(good ones) from the beacon and moved it to the two banks for the ADAM.  So hopefully where they are positioned we will have more charging throughout the day.  Beacon's one rack is getting morning and some afternoon sun.  All batteries seem to be around 12.5V. ADAM was down when we arrived (~10:30).

Took guy-wire tensions.  Will add readings to the guy-wire sheet.  They look good!

Boom angles (rough shots).  Starting from 2m to 45m (in degrees).  40.9, 46.3, 41.9, 72.9, 109.3.  I don't feel very comfortable with the data scope.  We may want to shoot with theodolite.  Add 180 degrees to these angles.

Removed Oncley's trailer from ACD site. 

Fire line is covered again with pine needles.  FYI.