WEATHER GUARD
Broaden your horizons and open a whole new world of information: the great outdoors. The sensors on USGR Wadsworth’s Weather Station WeatherGuard send valuable exterior climate conditions to the control, allowing for expanded responses that protect the structure and equipment while maintaining an optimal growing environment.
The USGR Wadsworth Control Systems WeatherGuard takes the worry out of protecting your greenhouse and crop from wind, rain and snow. It overrides normal operations to close vents or retract shade systems when high winds, cold weather, rain or snow might cause damage.
For example, if your STEP 50 wants to open the vents because it is hot and the Wadsworth Control Systems WeatherGuard has detected high wind, then the vents will not open.
The USGR Wadsworth Control Systems WeatherGuard system is different from the Wadsworth Weather Station. WeatherGuard does not monitor sunlight intensity or humidity. It overrides the environmental control’s decisions whereas the weather station shares information with the environmental control.
The WeatherGuard is used with the following controls:
- STEP Up
- MiniSTEP
- STEP 50
- STEP 500
BENEFITS
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- WeatherGuard protects your greenhouse structure.
- WeatherGuard allows windward vents to close in high winds while leaving leeward vents open.
- WeatherGurad protects vents from cold temperatures.
- Individual settings determine how far a roof or side vent can open in precipitation.
- WeatherGurad protects outdoor shades in high winds or precipitation.
- WeatherGurad protect the structure from snow damage by uncovering indoor curtains and turning on gutter heaters.
- Outdoor Reset for boiler systems and heat valves reduces heating demands
- Outdoor temperatures allow heat and cooling retention settings for curtains
- Outdoor light readings determine
– When curtain should cover
– Level when supplemental lighting activates
– Irrigation schedule
– Accumulated light level to influence night temperature setpoint
– Influence on day temperature setpoint
– Influence on day relative humidity setpoint
- WeatherGuard software allows for graphing of weather and equipment information
- Ground or gable mount includes mounting pole and hardware
FEATURES
- The WeatherGuard monitors:
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- Wind speed
- Wind direction
- Outdoor temperature
- Precipitation
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- The WeatherGuard is easy to program.
- The WeatherGuard displays weather status.
- Weather instruments on a 22′ mast.
- 100′ of cable to connect the control panel to the instruments.
- WeatherGuard control comes in a sturdy anodized aluminum cabinet.
- Variable Temperature Lockout on vents limits air exchange during freezing temperatures
- Cold Lockout for cooling equipment protects crops from sudden drops in temperature
- Day/Night Frost settings prevent exhaust fans and shutters freezing in open position
- Day/Night Frost settings for pad pumps prevent pad wall water from freezing
- Wind Speed Restriction uses wind direction and speed to protect roof and side vents – Separate leeward and windward settings
- Wind Speed Lockout allow you to select equipment that will not operate without an open vent
- Rain Restriction for roof and side vents protects crop from flooding
- Snow Determination activates gutter heat or uncovers curtain to melt snow
SENSORS
More information gives Seed more power and you more control. Sensors add value to your Seed control as constant monitoring guides greenhouse climate management. The result is improved crop yield and quality, reduced energy consumption and lower environmental impact. Sensors reduce microclimates, improve pest management effectiveness and result in a consistent crop.
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- Temperature – -40˚F – 212˚F Resolution 0.56˚F
- Humidity – 0-100% Non-Condensing, Resolution 0.17%
- Wind Speed – 0-120 MPH Resolution +/- 0.34 MPH
- Wind Direction – 0-360˚ Resolution +/- 22.5˚
- Light – (mW Option) 0-175mW/cm2 Resolution 0.2 mW/cm2
– (PAR Option) 0-4000µmol/m2s Resolution 5.0 µmol/m2s
- Precipitation Sensor w/ heater – On/Off (adjustable sensitivity 0-500K Ohm)
Options
- Use your equipment to its maximum potential by responding to a variety of data sets
- Temperature – Readings inside and outside the greenhouse provide rapid measurements
- Humidity – Relative humidity readings from indoors and outside the greenhouse allow the controller to make informed decisions about how to regulate humidity
- Exclusive to Seed – high humidity sensor. Perfect for propagation of any high humidity environment with an operating range of 0-100%
- Anemometer and wind direction – Measures wind speed and direction and data is used to determine when to open and close vents
- Light PAR – Modulating lights – use PAR sensor at crop level to check amount of light received from the sun – and modulate lights up or down in intensity to provide proper micromole level for the crop. Reduces energy usage of the light as well as your cooling system.
- Precipitation – Combined with temperature sensor to protect structure from heavy snows, informs venting decisions
CO2 (carbon dioxide) – Essential component of photosynthesis. Needs to be monitored for alarm conditions - PH (acidity and alkalinity); EC (electrical conductivity); DO (dissolved oxygen) – Used in all mediums including aquaponics and deep water culture for logging, monitoring and alarms
- Barometric Pressure – Keeps pathogens out or butterflies in by using fans to maintain a positive/negative pressure in zone
- Soil Moisture – Irrigation trigger or, backup trigger to keep the crop from wilting
- CO (carbon monoxide) – Monitors boiler rooms for alarm status
- External sensors – Wadsworth’s Weather Station configured to meet your needs with temperature, wind speed and direction, humidity, and light readings
EXAMPLES
- WeatherGuard Protects Vents and side walls
- Establish parameters to define minimum and maximum wind speed and direction for each vent or side wall.
- Determine when your vents should be prevented from opening based on outdoor temperatures.
- Set maximum opening for each vent for when there is precipitation.
