Troubleshooting: Cleaning the Radiation Shield
17
Cleaning the Radiation Shield
Check the radiation shield for debris or insect nests
at least once a year and clean when necessary. A
buildup of material inside the shield will reduce its
effectiveness and may cause inaccurate
temperature and humidity readings.
To clean the radiation shield:
1.
Remove the rain collector cone.
2.
Using a Phillips head screwdriver, loosen the
three 4” (~100mm) bolts holding the radiation
shield plates together.
3.
Separate the plates as shown and remove all
debris from inside the shield.
4.
Reassemble the radiation shield plates and fas-
ten them together using the bolts as shown in
the illustration. Use a Phillips screwdriver to
tighten the bolts.
Cleaning the Rain Collector
To maintain accuracy, thoroughly clean the rain
collector several times a year.
Note:
Cleaning the tipping bucket may cause false rain
readings. See your Vantage Pro Console Manual for
instructions on clearing weather data.
1.
Separate the cone from the base by turning it
counter-clockwise.
2.
Use soapy water and a soft cloth to remove any debris from the cone, cone screen,
and tipping bucket. Watch out for spiders — they seem to like rain collectors!
3.
Use pipe cleaners to clear the funnel hole in the cone and drain screens in the base.
4.
When all parts are clean, rinse with clear water.
5.
Re-attach the cone and replace the debris screen.
Troubleshooting
If a Sensor Functions Intermittently
Carefully check all connections from the sensor to the ISS. See “Check SIM Sensor
Connections” on page 4.
Loose connections account for a large portion of potential problems. Connections should
be firmly seated in receptacles, and plugged in straight. If you think a connection may be
faulty, try jiggling the cable while looking at the display. If a reading appears intermittently
on the display as you jiggle the cable, the connection is faulty. Try removing and then re-
installing the cable to correct the faulty connection. If the sensor still functions
intermittently contact Davis Technical Support.
The Most Common Rain Collector Problem
If the rain collector seems to be under-reporting rainfall, remove the rain collector cone to
clean the tipping bucket and clear out any debris.
4" Bolt
Plates
ISS Base
TEMP
HUM
Sensor
Lock Washer
Flat Washer
ISS Radiation Shield Assembly
