Field Equipment Maintenance

1
Field Equipment Maintenance

• Multimeter Use Distribution
• Introduction of Equipment and Parts
• Hands-On Equipment Troubleshooting
• Options and Discussion of Power Sources

2
Multimeter

• Use to verify power AC/DC
• Check fuses for continuity
• DC backup voltage
• E.R voltage
• Hybrid battery voltage

3
Aerochem Metrics wet/dry collector

• Troubleshooting and
• Maintenance
• Appendix C

4
Pictorial Guide to Parts

• Part Number Name
• 1 sensor unit
• 2 collector frame
• 3 sensor screws
• 4 sample bucket holder
• 5 sensor grid
• 6 sensor plate

5
Pictorial Guide to Parts

• Part Number Name
• Motorbox screws
• Sampling bucket holder screws
• Motorbox unit
• Clutch arm unit
• Clutch arm machine bolt
• Counterweight
• Waldes ring
• Push rod
• Counter weight rod
• Lid drive arms
• Lid tension springs
• 110V AC power cord
• Event recorder terminal
• Sensor unit socket
• 33 Silver drive arm

6
Pictorial Guide to Parts

• Part Number Name
• 7 motor box screws
• 10 clutch arm unit
• 18 110V AC power cord
• 19 event recorder terminal
• 20 sensor unit socket
• 21 12V DC power lugs
• 22 12V DC circuit fuse
• 23 110V AC circuit fuse
• 24 event recorder circuit fuse

7
Pictorial Guide to Parts

• Part Number Name
• 25 Motorbox stop switches
• 26 E.R./wet mode heater switch
• 27 Drive motor switch
• 28 Clutch tooth
• 29 Thrust collar set screw
• 30 Clutch tooth tension plate
• 31 Switching magnets
• 32 Clutch tooth tension spring

8
Sensor Problems

• Symptom
• Collector lid stays over the dry-side bucket
  long after precipitation stops, sensor dries
  slowly (more than 30 minutes for rain), motor not
  running. (If motor is running, see Clutch Unit -
  What Goes Wrong.)
• Collector lid oscillates non-stop between
  buckets, sensor wet or dry.
• Collector lid stays over wet-side bucket, sensor
  wet, motor not running. (If motor is running, see
  Clutch Units - What Goes Wrong.)

• See Flow Chart
• 1, page C-19
• 5, page C-23
• 6, page C-24

9
Sensor Problems

• Symptom
• Collector lid stays over dry side bucket, sensor
  dry, motor not running. (Again, if motor is
  running, see Clutch Units - What Goes Wrong).
• Sensor plate (6) snow covered or iced up.

• See Flow Chart
• 4, page C-22
• 3, page C-21

10
Motorbox Problems

• Symptom
• Collector lid stays over the dry-side bucket
  long after precipitation stops, sensor dries
  slowly (more than 30 minutes for rain), motor not
  running. If motor running, see Clutch Unit -
• Collector lid stays over wet-side bucket, sensor
  wet, motor not running. If running, see Clutch
  Unit -
• Collector lid stays over dry-side bucket, sensor
  dry, motor not running. If running, see Clutch
  Unit -
• Collector lid oscillates non-stop between
  buckets, sensor wet or dry.

• See Flow Chart
• 1, page C-19
• 4, page C-24
• 4, page C-22
• 5, page C-23

11
Belfort Recording Raingage

• Troubleshooting and Maintenance
• Appendix D

12
Introduction

• The Belfort recording raingage records positive
  increases in precipitation
• Event Recorder shows openings/closings of
  collector

13
Pictorial Guide to Parts

• Part Number Name
• 1 Catch Bucket
• 2 Zero Adjustment Screw(s) and Setting
  Bar
• 3 Limit Screw(s)
• 5 Precipitation Pen Arm
• 6 Mechanism Base
• 7 Pen Tip
• 8 Pen Shifter
• 9 Chart Drum With Clip
• 10 Bucket Platform
• 13 Clock
• 11 Top Lever
• 14 Pen Arm Stud
• 15 Event Recorder
• 16 Bucket Support Shaft

14
Pictorial Guide to Parts

• Part Number Name
• 2 Zero adjustment screws
• and setting bar
• 3 Limit screws
• 4 Fine Linkage
• 6 Mechanism Base
• 7 Pen Tip
• 10 Bucket Platform
• 11 Top Lever
• 12 Dashpot

15
Pictorial Guide to Parts

• Part Number Name
• 17 Top Cap
• 18 Funnel
• 19 E. R. Solenoid
• 20 E. R. Pen and Arm
• 21 E. R. Pivot Point
• 22 E. R. L-Bracket

16
Cleaning the Belfort

• After removing the can, compressed air or
  small paint brush can be used to remove debris.
• Gumout or other zero residue cleaner should be
  sprayed at each moving part or joint.

17
Cleaning the Belfort
18
Winterization

• Remove evaporation shield
• Add Antifreeze
• Standard Automotive ethylene glycol
• RV propylene gylcol
• 2 quarts 2.75
• Refresh as necessary

19
Summerization

• Install evaporation shield
• Remove Antifreeze
• Dispose of Antifreeze properly

20
Lid seal change

• Change annually or if damaged
• Best to change on first Tuesday of the month
• Clean after installation
• Change wet side and dry side buckets

21
ACM Power Troubleshooting-DC

• Power System
• 1.c. DC ONLY
• 1.d. DC Solar
• 1. Overall View
• 2. Cell/Regulator/Battery diagram
• 3. External Regulator Check
• 3.a Blocking Diode Check
• 3.b. Charge Control Check
• 1.e. Load Testing Batteries

22
DC ONLY

• ACM requires up to 180 AMPS/week (more in winter
  to provide ambient heater)
• Weekly battery changes needed

23
DC Solar Overall View
_
_
External Regulator with blocking diode
_
12 volt Deep cycle battery system
_
_
_
In-line 5A fuse holder and fuse
Precipitation Collector
24
DC Solar Cell/Regulator/Battery diagram
At full sun, panels can produce gt 22 volts DC

• External Regulator
• 2 jobs
• Keep charge voltage lt 16-18V.
• If gt damage battery.
• 2. Keep system from discharging.
• Blocking diode lets power go only
• 1 way (to battery).

O U T P U T
I N P U T
PANEL e
-
-
-
-
25

• External Regulator Check (see Cell/Regulator/Batt
  ery diagram)
• Blocking Diode Check
• 1. Disconnect solar panel wires from external
  regulator.
• Test with VOM for power at regulator INPUT
  position.
• If gt 5 V DC regulator is bad, allowing panel
  to discharge the battery through regulator.
• If lt 5 V DC regulator is O.K.
• Charge Control Check
• 1. Disconnect solar panel wires from external
  regulator and measure DC coming from unregulated
  panel.
• If sunny, 18-22 V DC
• If cloudy, lt 14-16 V DC
• 2. Reconnect wires from solar panel to regulator
  and disconnect OUTPUT side wires from regulator
  to battery.
• Test regulator output, even in full sun output lt
  16 V DC

26

• Load Testing Batteries
• VOM check does not ensure battery is good.
  Battery should be removed from site, hard charged
  and then load tested by battery shop.
• Portable load testers can be purchased for
  50.00.
• Recommended as standard equipment for DC,
  DC/solar sites.