RW WindSight RW804-1005 Mechanical Anemometer & Wind Vane System
| Origin | USA |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Type | Authorized Distributor |
| Origin Category | Imported Instrument |
| Model | RW804-1005 |
| Interface Options | RS232 digital output |
| Wind Speed Range | 0–68 m/s |
| Wind Speed Accuracy | ±3% of reading |
| Wind Direction Range | 0–360° |
| Wind Direction Accuracy | ±3° |
| Data Logging Capacity | Up to 8 years (non-volatile memory) |
| Sampling Interval | Programmable from 1 to 60 minutes |
| Power Supply | Rechargeable battery pack (solar panel option available) |
| Display Functions | Real-time wind speed & direction, 10-min/60-min averages, gust peak detection |
| Software Capability | Time-series plotting (wind speed/direction vs. time), data export (CSV, ASCII), configuration and firmware update |
Overview
The RW WindSight RW804-1005 is a robust, field-deployable mechanical anemometer and wind vane system engineered for long-term, unattended environmental monitoring in demanding outdoor conditions. Based on proven cup-and-vane transduction principles—compliant with ISO 24800 (Wind Measurement Instruments – Performance Requirements) and aligned with WMO Guide to Meteorological Instruments and Methods of Observation (CIMO Guide)—this system delivers high reproducibility across wide dynamic ranges. Its UV-stabilized polymer housing and sealed bearing assembly ensure structural integrity under prolonged solar exposure, salt-laden coastal air, and freeze-thaw cycling. Designed for integration into fixed-site meteorological networks or mobile platforms (e.g., tethered aerostats, bridge-mounted sensor arrays), the RW804-1005 provides traceable wind vector measurements critical for atmospheric boundary layer studies, aviation safety assessments, infrastructure health monitoring, and regulatory compliance reporting.
Key Features
- Mechanical dual-sensor architecture: Three-cup anemometer (NACA-profile cups) coupled with a precision 360° potentiometric wind vane—both calibrated per ASTM D5096 standard procedures.
- Embedded non-volatile flash memory supporting up to 8 years of continuous logging at 10-minute intervals (expandable via SD card slot in auxiliary data logger variants).
- Flexible communication interface: Standard RS-232 serial port for direct PC connection or telemetry gateway integration; optional industrial-grade 4–20 mA current loop or 0–1 V voltage output for PLC/SCADA compatibility.
- Configurable sampling strategy: User-defined interval (1–60 min), burst-mode capture, and event-triggered logging (e.g., wind gust > threshold).
- On-device LCD display showing real-time wind speed (m/s, mph, knots), instantaneous and time-averaged wind direction (degrees), maximum 3-second gust, and battery status.
- Low-power design: Nominal 3.6 V lithium-thionyl chloride battery pack supports >12 months operation at 10-min sampling; optional photovoltaic charging kit enables indefinite deployment in sun-exposed locations.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The RW804-1005 is certified for outdoor use under IEC 60529 IP65 ingress protection and meets UL 61010-1 requirements for electrical safety in measurement equipment. It complies with EN 13037-1:2012 for mechanical anemometers used in meteorological applications and satisfies data integrity prerequisites for GLP-aligned environmental monitoring programs. While not FDA-regulated, its audit-trail-capable software (via companion WindLog Pro v4.x) supports 21 CFR Part 11-compliant electronic records when deployed in regulated research environments requiring ALCOA+ data governance (Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate, Complete, Consistent, Enduring, Available).
Software & Data Management
WindLog Pro (Windows-based, included) provides full system configuration, real-time telemetry visualization, and post-processing analytics. Users can generate annotated time-series plots (wind speed/direction superimposed), compute sector-wise frequency distributions, export timestamped CSV files compatible with MATLAB, Python (pandas), or EPA AERMOD input formats, and perform basic statistical summaries (mean, std dev, percentile winds). Firmware updates are delivered via signed binary packages; all configuration changes and data exports are logged with user ID and UTC timestamps. Optional cloud synchronization enables remote access through secure HTTPS endpoints with TLS 1.2 encryption.
Applications
- Airport wind shear detection and runway crosswind advisory systems
- Structural health monitoring of long-span bridges and high-rise buildings (dynamic load modeling)
- Offshore wind farm site assessment and turbine wake characterization
- Forest fire behavior modeling and prescribed burn planning
- Urban microclimate mapping and ventilation corridor analysis
- EPA Title V air dispersion modeling input validation
- Academic atmospheric science field campaigns (e.g., boundary layer turbulence profiling)
FAQ
What calibration documentation is supplied with the RW804-1005?
Each unit ships with NIST-traceable calibration certificate (wind speed and direction), including as-tested sensitivity curves, uncertainty budgets per GUM (JCGM 100:2018), and verification against reference standards maintained at RW’s ISO/IEC 17025-accredited calibration lab.
Can the RW804-1005 operate in sub-zero temperatures?
Yes—the sensor head is rated for −40 °C to +70 °C ambient operation; battery performance is maintained down to −20 °C with optional low-temp Li-SOCl₂ chemistry.
Is MODBUS RTU protocol supported over RS-232?
Yes—WindLog Pro includes MODBUS register mapping documentation; custom SCADA integration is supported via open protocol specification.
How is data security handled during remote transmission?
When configured with optional LTE telemetry module, all data packets are encrypted using AES-256; authentication uses certificate-based mutual TLS handshake.
Does the system support synchronized multi-node deployments?
Yes—GPS-synchronized time stamping (via optional GPS receiver add-on) enables phase-coherent wind field reconstruction across distributed sensor arrays.
