Nasa Clipper wind indicator - outputs

[fatboyfinn]

I wonder if anybody knows what the outputs should look like electronicaly . Found the wind indicator sender flooded - luckily without the power on! Cleaned it up and replaced the corroded parts and all is well but I need to know how to adjust the direction pcb - speed is just a pulse. so no problem. I have the direction pcb outputing something like 0.5v to 3.0v on each axis.

Andy

 

[pvb]

Welcome to the forum! Don't think you have to adjust the direction - you set the vane alignment on the instrument display head.

 

[fatboyfinn]

What I need to know is the electrical levels, ie as the vane moves the signals change from a low to a higher level. It's not unusual in data loggers to have a range of 2.5volts starting at 0.5v and ending at 3.0v - I understand that it is calibrated in software but the hardware needs to be
doing the right thing, if you see what I mean.

Andy

PS Good to be on the forum - this is my first cruising boat after many years of Finn sailing and cruising with friends.
Still sailing the Finn!

 

[Niander]

Think youll have to ask Nasa about that.

 

[exfinnsailor]

Hi .. Let my FINN go not enough time .. Anyway it does not matter what the voltage is .. If it changes as the vane moves round thats ok. The Wind Indicator is then tuned to the wind vane .. My old one was 180 Degrees out .. THey make them so you can fasten them anyway round .. Its the unit that knows that 3v or 2v is North .. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[philip_stevens]

If you go to this page, then click on Clipper Wind, you can download the .pdf instruction manual, that tells you how to alter the dead ahead setting from the instrument display.

 

[captainslarty]

Its a sin cos output.

 

[hubert]

The output from the nasa mast head unit is as follows:-

The screen wire is supply negative.

The red wire is the 5volt line.

The white wire gives a 10ms 5volt pulse for every rotation of the wind cups.

The blue wire gives a voltage proportional to the sine of the wind angle. It has a range of about 0.5volts to 4.5volts.

The black wire gives a voltage proportional to the cosine of the wind angle and has the same range.

I have fixed a couple that were damaged. They are easy to work on. Take care not to bend the little sensors on the pcbs.

 

[fatboyfinn]

Thanks Hubert,

Thats what I wanted to hear - as I said I set it up 0.5v > 3.0v
and it worked "nearly" ie the display would only go to 350 > 200 degrees through 90 - guess the extra 1.5 volt would do it.

Thanks again - I hate being beaten!

Andy