Installation
This section shows the installation procedures for the WiForAgri agro-weather monitoring stations.
Pole installation
The standard WiForAgri station is supplied with a 2m long self-balanced stainless steel pole which makes the station self-installing on the dedicated pole in a few minutes of work. The first operation to carry out is the choice of the exact point of positioning of the pole.
When choosing the installation site, we recommend the reading of the following guidelines; do not hesitate to contact the Customer Care for any doubts and/or further information: our experts are available to identify with you the optimal installation point.
Choose a position where the pole and the station will not be a hindrance for work operations in the field (for example for the passage of the tractor and for other foreseen mechanical operations).
Keep away from trees, buildings and other high obstacles that can interfere with the rain measurement (shielding effect) or can create shadowing of the station.
If your field is approximately flat, choose a fairly central position with respect to the cultivated area. For flat fields of limited size (under 3 hectares) even a perimeter position to the field is perfectly suitable.
If your field is located on a slope, you have two possible and both valid approaches to identify the optimal installation area:
A) choose a fairly central position with respect to the cultivated area while maintaining an average altitude. This choice is recommended for large vineyards with clear micro-climatic differences between the upper and lower parts of the vineyard;
B) based on a historical knowledge of the vineyard, choose the most sensitive and most predisposed position to the attack of the main pathologies from which you want to defend yourself. This choice is the most cautious and is recommended for small-medium sized vineyards.
Below is an image illustrating how to install the post directly into the ground (recommended) or how to screw it onto a pre-existing curb/wall/plinth.
To install the post directly into the ground, it is sufficient to dig about 50cm deep, bury the square plate of the post, cover the excavation if necessary, reinforcing it with some fill stones.
To install the pole using plugs, it is necessary to identify a solid fixing base of at least 40x40x40cm and it is also necessary to drill the square plate of the pole to fix it using metal plugs (not supplied).
| Pole installation in the ground | Post installation on plinth |
|---|---|
The pole has a circular section. At the two ends of the pole (upper and lower) 2 plates are welded wider than the diameter of the pole.
→ The plate that must be buried or dowelled is the square one without holes (it is used to stabilize the pole in the ground).
→ The circular perforated plate goes upwards: there are three holes on it. Make sure that one of them faces North.
WiForAgri standard (v.Sigfox)
WHAT DO YOU NEED
a number 8 fixed hex key (present in the box)
a spirit level/bubble
a plastic clamp
package with PVC plate and bolts (present inside the box)
Installation of the rain gauge with attached sensors
In this phase the installation pole has already been positioned and fixed correctly; immediately take note of the serial code of the station that you will need later (it is a numerical code present on a small silver sticker behind the micro-computer and/or on/under the rain gauge).
Place the station upside down with the mouth of the rain gauge on the ground.
From the hardware package, extract three nuts and screw them onto the three studs, as shown below:
Insert the circular white PVC plate into the three pins so that its largest hole, used for the passage of the cable coming from the station, is aligned with the cable itself.
Adjust the 3 nuts still screwed on the pins, under the PVC plate, to lower the plate so that the same pins protrude above the plate for at least 3cm.
Hold the station with two hands, turning it upside down to bring it back to the correct position for installation (rain gauge mouth upwards); during this manoeuvre, place one hand on the PVC plate to prevent it from slipping off during rotation.
Still holding the station with two hands, position the three pins protruding under the PVC plate into the three holes on the top of the installation pole, making sure that the green tab at the base of the rain gauge (leaf wetness sensor) is oriented towards North; release the station slowly with the lower hand holding it with the upper hand above the rain gauge to check its still precarious balance.
Precisely adjust the 3 nuts on the PVC plate to level the upper mouth of the rain gauge; use a level to check leveling; check the correct bubble by placing the level horizontally above the mouth of the rain gauge and orienting it in two perpendicular directions.
Use the 3 nuts from step 3 to tighten the studs under the PVC plate. You can insert 3 washers between the PVC plate and the tightening nuts. Slowly tighten the 3 nuts until you feel some resistance (tighten well but don't overdo it, the PVC plate could break).
Double-check the correct installation with the bubble and if necessary repeat points 8-9.
Installation of the micro-computer WiForAgri
Use the two metal ties provided to secure the micro-computer's gray plastic mount to the installation post. At this stage do not overtighten the straps so that the support can still slide on the pole; the support must be fixed with the grooved part towards the pole and with the part that has 3 humps/protrusions upwards.
Hook the micro computer to the gray plastic support fixed to the pole: a. insert the 3 humps/protrusions of the gray plastic support in the upper part of the micro- computer where there are 3 holes/slots; b. fix the lower part of the microcomputer to the support by simply screwing (only with your fingers) the special metal pin present in the lower/lower part of the microcomputer;
Slide the support with the hooked micro-computer upwards up to a few cm from the PVC plate;
Insert the cable coming from the rain gauge into the special connector on the bottom/bottom part of the micro-computer;
ATTENTION:
the two connectors have a small internal groove that allows only one connection direction; after having correctly inserted the cable connector into that of the micro-computer with a slight pressure, screw the cable connector tightening nut only with your fingers; continue tightening gently until locked.
Take the supplied antenna out of the special component bag and screw it onto its connector, see image:
Now take out the supplied Allen key and the battery, again from the component bag:
Open the electronics box by unscrewing the screws at the four corners, then insert the battery as follows:
The station is now on. You can complete the installation by adding a simple plastic clamp to block the cable coming from the rain gauge on the main pole.
WiForAgri standard (v.TCP)
Installation of the rain gauge with attached sensors
In this phase the installation pole has already been positioned and fixed correctly; immediately take note of the serial code of the station that you will need later (it is a numerical code present on a small silver sticker behind the micro-computer and/or on/under the rain gauge)
Place the station upside down with the mouth of the rain gauge on the ground.
From the hardware package, extract three nuts and screw them onto the three studs, as shown below:
Insert the circular white PVC plate into the three pins so that its largest hole, used for the passage of the cable coming from the station, is aligned with the cable itself.
Adjust the 3 nuts still screwed on the pins, under the PVC plate, to lower the plate so that the same pins protrude above the plate for at least 3cm.
Hold the station with two hands, turning it upside down to bring it back to the correct position for installation (rain gauge mouth upwards); during this manoeuvre, place one hand on the PVC plate to prevent it from slipping off during rotation.
Still holding the station with two hands, position the three pins protruding under the PVC plate into the three holes on the top of the installation pole, making sure that the green tab at the base of the rain gauge (leaf wetness sensor) is oriented towards North; release the station slowly with the lower hand holding it with the upper hand above the rain gauge to check its still precarious balance.
Precisely adjust the 3 nuts on the PVC plate to level the upper mouth of the rain gauge; use a level to check leveling; check the correct bubble by placing the level horizontally above the mouth of the rain gauge and orienting it in two perpendicular directions.
Use the 3 nuts from step 3 to tighten the studs under the PVC plate. You can insert 3 washers between the PVC plate and the tightening nuts. Slowly tighten the 3 nuts until you feel some resistance (tighten well but don't overdo it, the PVC plate could break).
Double-check the correct installation with the bubble and if necessary repeat points 8-9.
Installation of the micro-computer WiForAgri
Use the two metal ties provided to secure the micro-computer's gray plastic mount to the installation post. At this stage do not overtighten the straps so that the support can still slide on the pole; the support must be fixed with the grooved part towards the pole and with the part that has 3 humps/protrusions upwards.
Hook the micro computer to the gray plastic holder fixed to the pole: a. insert the 3 humps/protrusions of the gray plastic support in the upper part of the micro-computer where there are 3 holes/slots; b. fix the lower part of the microcomputer to the support by simply screwing (only with your fingers) the special metal pin present in the lower/lower part of the microcomputer;
Slide the support with the hooked micro-computer upwards up to a few cm from the PVC plate;
Insert the cable coming from the rain gauge into the special connector on the bottom/bottom part of the micro-computer;
ATTENTION:
the two connectors have a small internal groove that allows only one connection direction; after having correctly inserted the cable connector into that of the micro-computer with a slight pressure, screw the cable connector tightening nut only with your fingers; continue tightening gently until locked.
Using the special Allen key supplied, open the cover of the micro-computer by unscrewing the four screws on the corners. On the electronic board you will have to insert the battery connector as shown in the figure (red cable on the 3.3V side indicated on the board), then make sure that the antenna is tight.
The station is now on. You can close the lid and proceed to install the mini solar panel. Use the Phillips screwdriver to loosen the screws of the three hooks at the upper and lower ends, then tighten them as shown in the photo, taking care to orient the side with two hooks upwards. Finally, insert the connector into the slot next to the antenna:
The installation is complete. You can use the plastic tie to secure the rain gauge wire to the main pole.
Data TX testing
Proceed with the transmission test only after completing all steps of the installation procedure.
Open the lid of the box containing the micro-computer by unscrewing the 4 fastening screws;
Locate the single small button on the main circuit board; gently press the button and release it until you hear a "click": use a non-conductive material object to press the button.
check that a small yellow LED blinks up (few seconds) on the main electronic board (at the top left of the button).
ONLY IN THE TCP VERSION (WITH TELEPHONE MODEM):
check that a second yellow LED blinks up (few seconds) on the main board (L2)
check that a led positioned on the telephone modem bliks up (few seconds)
this LED first flashes slowly and then at a higher frequency only if/when the cell phone signal has been hooked up correctly
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