CW3E id: PVC
CDEC id: PVC
NWS id: PYCC1
Lat/Long: 39.320908 / -123.102820
Elevation: 289m
Team Lead: Lisa Katz
Install Date: Jan. 14, 2017
Permit Expires: Jan. 1, 3000
Watershed: Russian
Telemetry: Cell
Monument: Tripod
Land Owners: PV Fire Dept
Permit Type: Handshake
Site Type: RadMet

The RAD-Met is located in a field south of the Potter Valley Fire Department (PVFD). The school districts maintenance yard is located to the south of the field. The station is installed on soft soil with grass ground cover.  During the summer the PVFD periodically mows the grass around the station to reduce fire fuels. The adjacent open area is used by PVFD for a Memorial Day picnic.

  • Power is run with an extension cord from an outlet mounted on a post on the SW corner of the shade cover noted as 10521 in the photo above ( photo ). The cord is run through flexible conduit and buried a few inches below the surface ( photo ). A deeper buried conduit run would be preferable and was discussed with PVFD when the system was installed but has not been implemented.
  • The RAD-Met enclosure is made of painted steel.  It is mounted on a unistrut stand that is sitting on the ground. The enclosure is covered by a wood box to minimize solar heat gain ( photo ). The box is designed to cover all four sides of the enclosure and must be lifted off over the RF antenna to access the enclosure.  The enclosure is oriented so that the door opens away from the prevailing wind direction. A thermostatically controlled fan was installed on the side of the enclosure in summer 2019 ( photo ).
  • The MRR is mounted on METEK's aluminum tripod designed for the sensor and staked to the ground ( photo ). The dish heater is not connected ( photo ).
  • The disdrometer is mounted on a galvanized steel stand ( photo ) that is mounted on a flat triangle of unistrut with a 25 lb barbell attached to each corner of the triangle.. The power supply for the disdrometer is mounted in a stainless steel enclosure attached to the disdrometer stand with AC power to the power supply running from the RAD-Met enclosure. Two disdrometers were originally installed at this location ( photo ); only one is currently installed.
  • A Pluvio weighing rain gauge is installed at this site ( photo ).
  • The GPS is installed on one leg of the SurfaceMet tripod ( photo 1 , photo 2 ).  The GPS antenna is installed on a tripod cross arm ( photo ).
  • All cables between the RAD-Met and the sensors are covered with split loom ( photo ).


Tasks

Due Owner Created By Details
-- -- Lisa Katz RU - PotterValley - modem firmware is 4.9.6.008, needs 4.9.9.002
-- -- Lisa Katz Add a campbell scientific tool to the enclosure pocket
-- -- Lisa Katz PVC 10/50/100 cm soil sensors are not working. Prior to replacement, we need to investigate why the sensors are failing.


Sensors

TypeLabelModelSNInstalled On
Air Temperature/Relative Humidity--HygroVue10E3948June 20, 2023
Anemometer--R.M. Young Wind Monitor HD195573June 20, 2023
Barometer--Vaisala PTB110U0310855June 20, 2023
Disdrometer--OTT Parsivel2410959Jan. 1, 3000
MRR--Metek-MRR-2--Jan. 1, 3000
Pyranometer--Kipp and Zonen SP Lite 2222420June 20, 2023
Soil MoistureSoil 1 (5cm)Stevens Hydraprobe290466April 21, 2024
Soil MoistureSoil2 (10cm)Stevens Hydraprobe28106June 20, 2023
Soil MoistureSoil3 (15cm)Stevens Hydraprobe28107June 20, 2023
Soil MoistureSoil4 (20cm)Stevens Hydraprobe28108June 20, 2023
Soil MoistureSoil5 (50cm)Stevens Hydraprobe28109June 20, 2023
Soil MoistureSoil6 (100cm)Stevens Hydraprobe28110June 20, 2023
Tipping Bucket--Texas Electronics TE525MM-L91482-0722June 20, 2023


Other Equipment

TypeLabelModelSNInstalled On
ComputerNoneUnknownNoneJan. 1, 3000
Data LoggerNoneCR1000X44321June 20, 2023
UPSNoneunknownNoneJan. 1, 3000
Cell ModemNoneSierra wireless GX450LA52110333001003Jan. 1, 3000
GPS AntennaNoneTrimble NetR92612755603Jan. 1, 3000


Visits

OnSummary
Feb. 5, 2025Disdrometer Missing Data Alert 02/05/25 PVC
Feb. 5, 2025Disdrometer Missing Data Alert 02/05/25 PVC
Aug. 1, 2024LoggerNet upgrade
July 30, 2024FileZilla, firewall and modem setting upgrades
July 29, 2024Onsite Hydraprobe troubleshooting
April 21, 2024Replaced 5cm hydraprobe
Dec. 22, 2023Remote troubleshooting for Hydraprobe 5cm
June 20, 2023Added SMOIL to existing RadMet station
July 11, 2019RAD-Met enclosure cooling fan installation


Funding Sources

StartEndSource
Jan. 1, 3000 -- AR Program