Diagnose wind instruments (task)

Nevermore has a Datamarine LX360 wind instrument which did not seem to work in the Fall of 2007 when the boat was acquired.

Winter 2007 Status

The plastic fin on the windvane had been broken off. A new fin has been fabricated from 0.01" thick aluminum sheeting, based on a template found in the instruction manual for the instrument.

The anemometer was disassembled. A broken wire and two corroded diodes were replaced on the circuit board. The internal bushings were greased and the anemometer was re-assembled.

The instrument now seems to work on the bench. The wind direction needle matches the orientation of the wind vane and the digital display reads a number that seems to match the velocity of the cups.

To Do

• The counter-weight on the front of the wind vane needs to be changed to account for the lighter aluminum fin.
• The indicated windspeed should be tested in known wind conditions. It is unknown whether or not the unit can be calibrated, but there is a trimpot on the circuit board inside the unit.