Chapter 1. Introduction

Meteo-42 data loggers by Ammonit Measurement GmbH are professional measuring devices which record meteorological details in order to calculate the wind energy potential of a site. The data loggers can be used flexibly and are well-suited for a wide range of applications. The implemented standards of measurement evaluation and data security meet the requirements of professional specialists. However, you conveniently configure sensors, statistics and the communication via the user-friendly web interface.

Before installation read this manual carefully. Remember that time spent now setting up the data logger properly might save you from losing valuable data!

We recommend to configure and to test sensors and communication before the measuring equipment is installed on the mast.

We hope you find this manual clear and easy to understand. If you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know.

Depending on the model, Meteo-42 offers up to 48 measuring channels, i.e. up to 14 analog differential voltage inputs, up to 12 counters, up to 12 pulse width inputs and up to 7 digital channels. In addition, Meteo-42 can support up to 24 intelligent sensors via up to 3 physically separated RS-485 interfaces.

In general, Meteo-42 is divided into two main units: A communication unit and a measuring unit. The communication unit offers 3 USB slots to connect a PC, modem, web camera, or flash drive, and 1 Ethernet slot to connect a camera or router. Additionally, the Meteo-42 can be connected to the network via Ethernet.

The basic concept is shown in detail in Figure 1.1, “Overview of Meteo-42L”.

Figure 1.1. Overview of Meteo-42L

The Meteo-42 series differs mainly in the number of input and output channels and in the measurement data storage capacity. Some basic information about the different models (Meteo-42M, Meteo-42L, and Meteo-42A) are shown in Table 1.1, “Meteo-42 feature overview”.

Find below an overview of the terminals. The white areas indicate available connectors.

Figure 1.2. Meteo-42L Terminal

Figure 1.3. Meteo-42M Terminal

Figure 1.4. Meteo-42A Terminal

Meteo-42 consists of two basic systems: the Measurement And Recording System (MARS) and the Configuration, Evaluation and Communication System (CECS).

For measuring and recording data, only MARS is needed. MARS is a Cortex™-M3 microcontroller designed to work with minimal power consumption. It controls the analog data logger hardware, measurement channels and data storage. It has no access to the display or to the devices that could be connected via USB or Ethernet.

In order to use connected devices and to operate the display or the web interface, CECS has to be started. CECS is a fully operational embedded Linux™ computer with a 32-bit microcontroller. Starting it activates all Meteo-42's features, but increases power consumption.

To save power during a measurement campaign, CECS is usually powered down and only MARS is running. MARS starts, when the power connector is plugged in.

The booting process of the MARS software is indicated by the illumination of the two lower LEDs (red and yellow). Both LEDs will turn off, when the MARS is started successfully.

CECS can be started either manually or automatically. To manually start CECS, press the middle button of the keyboard and hold it until the display turns on. A manual start of CECS is necessary for the initial configuration of Meteo-42.

Later on, during a measurement campaign, CECS will be started by MARS according to the configured time schedule, e.g. to upload measurement data. After the scheduled actions have been executed, CECS turns off automatically to reduce power consumption.

1.4.1. CECS: Switch on / off behaviour

CECS is configured to run for 20 minutes, before it automatically turns off. When the time is expired and an action is still running, e.g. sending an email, the system will wait until the action is finished and will switch off afterwards. The remaining time is displayed in the status box (see Section 3.2, “Global Control Elements”) of the Meteo-42 web interface.

	Note
	With every user action, e.g. navigating the web interface or pressing a button on the keyboard, the remaining time will be reset to 20 minutes.

For SCADA operation, CECS has to run permanently. This is possible by means of the CECS always active mode. If CECS always active mode is selected, it will be displayed in the status box (see Section 3.2, “Global Control Elements”) in the web interface with the infinity symbol (∞) as well as on the Meteo-42 display with the word Always.

	Note
	The CECS always active mode is not selected by default. If the SCADA server is activated, the CECS always active mode is automatically set.

If power supply is disconnected and the data logger shuts down while CECS was running in the CECS always active mode, it will start automatically as soon as power is available again.

	Important
	When CECS is configured to be permanently on, you cannot manually shut down the system by pressing the middle button on the data logger.

CECS and MARS both have access to the measurement data storage, referred to as the shared source data memory. It is possible to view or download the source data via the web interface, see Section 6.7, “Access to Source Data”.

	Note
	For optimal data recording, it is recommended to format the data storage before starting a new measurement campaign. Formatting is a very fast process, which only takes a few seconds and can be performed via the web interface under the System → Administration menu. For further details see Section 4.2, “System Administration”.

There are two ways to control and configure the data logger: via web interface or by using the buttons of Meteo-42. The second method is only intended for checking and testing, since this control menu provides only a limited number of configuration options. However, the web interface offers all available setup options and is recommended for the configuration of the device. To use the web interface a TCP/IP or USB connection is required.

Thanks to its web interface, Meteo-42 can also be operated via Internet with mobile devices, e.g. smartphone or tablet PC.

	Important
	The Meteo-42 web interface is accessed via HTTPS connection, which uses high-grade encryption (AES-256). This connection cannot be decrypted easily using today's technologies.

Depending on the project, Meteo-42 offers various methods for communication and data retrieval. All available methods are commonly used as well as easy to handle and to configure. In order to set up the connection to Meteo-42, devices like Ethernet cable or modem are necessary as shown in the following table.