Weather Stations

CWi Technical Ltd has been supplying our own range of integrated systems for over 10 years, drawing on our extensive field trials expertise and soils knowledge to advise on the most appropriate systems for specific projects or companies. It is this attention to our customer needs which allows us to continue to grow with 90% of our business by referral.

Buying a weather station is a complex task, and it is easy to get the sensor and logger mix wrong, be unable to communicate or get data when you need to, and end up with an obsolete system as soon as the first trial completes. Our approach focusses on longevity, and we expect all our units to last at least 15 years provided that they are maintained and installed correctly. The first unit we ever installed is still in operation today.

To take the hassle and risk out of the inverstment, CWi Technical can provide the complete equipment and data management service, so you know when you make the investment, that in 15 years time, you'll still be reaping the benefits. From sensor choice, communications options, data servicing, field installation, site changes and out of service storage, we handle it all. All you need to do is tell us where and when you want the equipment installed, and we do everything else.

For customers who choose to manage their own systems, we offer a range of solutions that are modular and easy to construct, so complex logger wiring is not necessary. You system would simply plug together.

Fast Deployment & EasyFit Modular Systems

One of the biggest issues with deploying complex and quality weather monitoring systems is speed and ease of use. Our fast deployment and easy fit systems make this simple. Our preconfigured systems can be plugged together using modular components. You choose your specification, and we provide you with the system, ready to plug and play. Sensors are interchangeable, and we can provide alternate programs on USB insertable keys for different weather configurations.

These units can come with a protective flight-case for ease of transport to global locations. All units are configured for data access to our systems by default, but can be reprogrammed for your systems if necessary. All systems simply neeed to be turned on, and the data starts to flow.

	Choice of Logger Module - from low to high cost/quality
	Easily change the battery module if extra power is required
	All modules fit onto pipe clamp system with a single allen key to fix
	All connectors are MIL specification for use in harsh environments
	Choice of solar options depending on system requirement and location
	All in one main weather unit with a single clamp attachment
	Choice of communications options, from GSM to 3G/WiFi

3G and GSM / Satelite Systems

All of our systems can be configured for GSM comms where high speed network access is limited, or in extreme cases, our systems can also be configured for use with satellite communications over GSM in very remote locations (usually tops of mountains or deserts). Our 3G units combine a balance of power supply to communications options to deliver anything from GSM to WiFi real-time capability.

The 3G units can be configured for any number of sensors. For long term sites, such as the one illustrated in Kent, we prefer to use a mast and guy line system for mounting the systems. This system uses individual sensors for cost, and has a GPRS Router option as a communications system which powers on when required to deliver data to the data centre. This unit also uses a fixed public IP so we can access and program the unit remotely when it is online. See our details on Data Management and SIM options for more information.

Low Cost Weather Stations

If you need a system but are operating on a tight budget, we have access to a number of low cost solutions which we consider to be of sufficient quality to be categorised as research equipment.

The WS-GP1 in its base form comes with no remote comms options, but can be connected to our modular GSM system. The base system provides:

• Wind Speed & Direction
• Air Temperature & Humidity
• Solar Energy
• Rainfall

It is also possible to expand this system by networking loggers together so you can include soil moisture and temperature options or any sensor with a resistance, voltage or digital output can be included. Each system comes in a carry case and has a tripd stand. These systems are fast to deploy and easy to use.

Bespoke Research Systems

As well as providing high quality research weather stations, we also get involved in some major instrumentation projects and provide a service that encompasses all your instrumentation requirements from a single source.

A good example of this is our recent involvement with Cranfield University in implementing a large lysimeter array incorporating closure monitoring and plot based accurate irrigation.

The lysimeter system is located in a portacabin at the site, and a high specification weather unit is pole mounted to the building. A high capacity solar panel is also mounted on the station which provides sufficient power to keep the internal system charged in the event of power failure from the grid. The main weather unit is a Vaisalla WXT unit controlled over SDI-12 communications from the data logger. A light sensor is also attached to allow for ET calculation. The Vaisalla Rain Cap system measures to high accuracy the rainfall, which is essential for this project.
The main lysimeter area is soiled over, but the soil sensor installation was carried out before this procedure. Each Lysimeter core holds 4 soil moisture sensors and 4 soil temperature sensors in addition to an ambient sensor. There are a total of 24 cores meaning a total of 96 soil sensors. The soil sensors used are Delta-T Devices SM300 Combined moisture/temperature units.
The system is wired into the portacabin into a bespoke enclosure which holds the logger and expansion modules. A DataTaker DT85 and 6 CEM20 expansion modules are used. The controller also has relay outputs which are used to turn on irrigation pumps based on signals received from an IR Mass Spectrophotometer located into the same building, and linked directly to the data logger. The system has full solar backup and the system is on a real time access platform on this website.

This system has now been operating for over 7 years, and was comissioned in October 2010. It is the subject of detailed research at Cranfield University under the direction of Professor Guy Kirk.