Technical Documentation

Wind-Repeater
VL- WR

man_VL-WR_1.5.0_eng
Safety Instructions

Documentation History

Revision Date Description Author

1.0 9.9.2013 First Revision DP
1.1 21.02.2014 Pin out X2 fixed DP
1.2 15.4.2014 Pin out X3 fixed, Baud rate Description add. DP
1.3 31.7.2014 SW 1.2 – TWC function add. DP
1.3.1 15.09.2014 Minor corrections of text. DP
1.4.1 21.11.2014 SW 1.4.1 included DP
1.4.2 11.12.2014 Corrected translations, Update to SW 1.4.2 DP
1.5.0 12.12.2015 Update SW1.5.0 DP

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Safety Instructions

Table of Content
1 Safety Instructions ........................................................................................... 4
2 System Description.......................................................................................... 7
2.1 X3 – Power Supply............................................................................................. 8
2.2 X2- Serial Interface ............................................................................................ 9
2.3 Display and Key Functions ................................................................................. 9
2.3.1 Display modes ................................................................................................... 9
2.3.2 Dimming ........................................................................................................... 10
2.3.3 Lamp test ......................................................................................................... 10
2.4 Display of the Wind Direction ........................................................................... 10
2.4.1 Setting the display time .................................................................................... 10
2.5 Display of the Wind Speed ............................................................................... 11
2.6 Software-based dimming via NMEA telegram: ................................................. 11
2.7 Option Integrated True Wind Converter (Not used for SAM) ............................ 11

3 Installation und Commissioning ................................................................... 12

3.1 Setup ............................................................................................................... 13
3.1.1 Terminal program initialize ............................................................................... 13
3.1.2 Parameter setting ............................................................................................. 14

4 Error Messages and Troubleshooting .......................................................... 18

5 Contact Information’s .................................................................................... 19

List of Figures
Figure 1: Front View ...................................................................................................... 7
Figure 2: Rear View ...................................................................................................... 8
Figure 3: Display Shows Error in the absence of valid NMEA ..................................... 12
Figure 4: Display Shows Normal Output...................................................................... 13
Figure 5: Terminal settings .......................................................................................... 13
Figure 6: Download settings ....................................................................................... 14
Figure 7: Interface settings .......................................................................................... 14
Figure 8: Start screen via terminal............................................................................... 15
Figure 9: Setup entry help ........................................................................................... 15
Figure 10: Manually setting of the baudrate with setup function ‘b’ .............................. 16
Figure 11: NMEA- Timeout setting .............................................................................. 17

List of Tables
Table 1: Technical data ................................................................................................. 7
Table 2 : X3 Power supply ............................................................................................ 8
Table 3: X2 Serial Connection....................................................................................... 9
Table 4: X4 Occupancy - external operation ............................................................... 10

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Safety Instructions

1 Safety Instructions
Please read carefully the safety instructions manually before using this device! Follow all instructions
that are in the User Guide (Manual) to achieve the optimal performance. These safety and operating
instructions should be kept good

General Safety Instructions

Symbols Explanation

-refers to an information

-means warning and indicates a special situation

-indicates a hazardous situation which may cause to heavy and serious injury or death

1. Personnel

The installation, commissioning and dismantling of the device should be made only by trained and
authorized personnel. During installation, it is necessary to pay attention to the safety instructions
which is defined by the user.

2. Proper Use of the Device

The equipment is designed exclusively for the intended purpose specified in the manual. Any other use and /
or misuse of the device can lead to unpredictable risks including death and causes the loss of all the claims
against the manufacturer.

3. Limitation of Liability

The manufacturer would not take over any liability for damages resulting from the:
- Usage of the device by untrained and unauthorized personnel.
-Use of device not for intended purpose.
-Opening and/or manipulation of the device.
-not following the instruction manual and safety instructions.

4. Electric Current

!!Danger of Life from Electric Current!!

Direct contact to the parts of the device will cause to electric shock. In case of damage to the insulation, the
device must be switched off immediately and the damaged area to be energized.

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Safety Instructions

This is to ensure that the power supply is imparted to be switched off when other work is in process on the
device.

5. Electric Shock

If the objects (e.g. hairpins, needles or coins) or liquids fall into the device, which can cause to life
threatening electrical short-circuits and leads to fire. The user must make sure that all above men-
tioned objects specially made of metal and/ or liquid things not fall in to the device intentionally or unintention-
ally.

6. Safety Operations

The operation and use of the device done by instructed and authorized personnel.

7. Power Supply

The equipment exclusively operated with the operating voltage indicated in the manual.

8. Cable Connection

While installing the cable connections, the user must pay attention to the safety regulation. Always
pay attention to the connection to the protective earth ground! Attention to be paid in connection with
other devices is to be of the same earth potential (same heavy current/voltage side).

9. Ventilation

The equipment must be installed in such a way that good ventilation is ensured. It is not appropriate to put any
kind of article such as newspaper on the device.

10. Water and Moisture

The device is not allowed to operate in close vicinity of electrical conductive liquids and moist areas.
On the device or nearby area of device is not allowed to place any liquid thing.
Attention: Danger of Electric Shocks!

11. Temperature and Heat

The operating temperature of the device is defined in the specifications. The device must not be placed near
the things which produce heat such as to blowers, heaters, furnaces or other devices.

12. Opening the Device

Never open the housing. Touching the internal parts lead to risk of electric shock. It is not permitted to
make any changes in the device.

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Safety Instructions

13. Cleaning

Do not use any volatile solvents such as alcohol, diluents, gasoline etc. for the cleaning of the hous-
ing. Only use dry, clean cloth.

14. Unusual Smell

If any unusual smoke or smell occurs, immediately switch off of the device and remove it from the
main power supply! Contact your dealer or the manufacturer.

15. Fuses

The replacement of the fuses in the device is only permitted by trained and authorized technical person-
nel.

The change of the fuses only allowed when the device is switched off and removes from main power supply.
Otherwise there is a risk of electric shocks. The security functions and the safety values are mentioned in the
manual. In the case of using the other fuse specified in the manual expire the guarantee for this equipment.

16. Repairing

The user is not allowed to perform the maintenance work as specified in the manual. All maintenance and
repair work is only allowable by trained and authorized technical personnel.

Special Safety Instruction

For the specific safety information about the device, please refer to manual!

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System Description

2 System Description
The basic function of the wind display is to filter out and display the information from NMEA telegrams. The
NMEA telegrams MWV and MWD are analyzed. The baud rate is automatically detected between 4800 and
38400 8N1. The hardware consists of one LED- ring with two color-LED (Red/Green) and 3 rows of 7 - seg-
ment displays in mono color red. The upper and lower 7 segment displays two digits and are smaller com-
pared to the center row which can display 4 digits in large.. The relative, true to ship or north calculated true
wind speed in m/s is displayed with an accuracy of 1 decimal point. The dimming of the display can be done
via the dim button or remotely using the DDC NMEA telegram.

Figure 1: Front View

24V (9-32V) max. 120 mA

Supply Voltage
All connections via plug in terminal technology up to 2.5 mm ²
Dimensions 144x 144 x 90 / Panel mounting with clamps
Weight 420g
Input 1x RS422 up to 38400 8N1 according to IEC 61 162-2: Receiver
galvanic decoupled. Baud rate detection is automatic.
Output 1 x RS422 baud rate to 38400 8N1 equal to the input baud rate
Degree of Protection IP54
Storage Temperature -40 up to 85 °C
Working Temperature -15 up to 70°C
Humidity Max 90%; non-condensing

Table 1: Technical data

All NMEA messages and setup for commissioning is done via an RS 422 interface.
Several displays can be cascaded because the messages MWV, MWD and DDC are forwarded.

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System Description

2.1 X3 – Power Supply

Signal
Clamp
1 +24V
2 0V
3 Shield / Ground

Table 2 : X3 Power supply

Figure 2: Rear View

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System Description

2.2 X2- Serial Interface

The data exchange is via a serial RS 422 interface according to IEC 61162-2. MWV, MWD and DDC tele-
grams are forwarded via the transmission lines to other listeners. The baud rate of the receiving side is auto-
matically recognized by the operating voltage and incoming NMEA messages.
This process can take up to 40 seconds. The baud rate of the transmitter side is adjusted accordingly. If the
correct baud rate has been detected, this should be saved. This happens when a button is pressed briefly
SEL or DIM to initialize the automatic saving of parameters. Since the baud rate rarely changes in an existing
system, so the next time the system restarts, the operational readiness achieved more quickly. Alternatively,
the baud rate can also be entered in the setup.

Clamp NMEA-Signal Meaning

1 A‘ RX+
2 B‘ RX-
3 B TX-
4 A TX+
5 C GND (isolated RS 422 shield)

Table 3: X2 Serial Connection

2.3 Display and Key Functions

The upper 7-segment display is 2 digits and is the wind force on the Beaufort scale accordingly.
The mean 7 segment display 4 digits and is the wind speed in m / s or error codes.
The lower 7-segment display is 2 digits and is the wind speed in knots to.
The wind direction is issued by an LED ring that consists of 36 two-color LED.
Red is the current wind direction and green of the area from which the wind has blown in the past 1- 10
minutes. The time range is adjustable (see 2.3.2).

2.3.1 Display modes

The display mode can be selected by pressing the SEL button.

The following display modes can be selected:
Mode "true": True Wind: The telegram $ - MWD is evaluated.
Mode "rel": Relative wind: The telegram $ - MWV (R) is evaluated.
Mode "tts": True to Ship: The telegram $ - MWV (T) is evaluated; this option is not active ex works.
LED "m/s": Unit of wind speed in the middle display. This is m/s and not changeable.
Caution:
The desired presentation can be done only if the corresponding message is present.
For example, if selected "true" and there is no MWD, leads to timeout and error message E03 in the middle
display, since this normally the case on SOLAS vessels it has been de-activated.

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System Description

2.3.2 Dimming

The DIM key is provided for adjusting the brightness of the display. The luminous intensity is increased in
steps with each keystroke until maximum brightness. Once the maximum has been reached it continues with
the lowest brightness.
When the button is pressed continuously, the brightness continuously increased up to the maximum or the
button is released. To return must be released to start at the minimum the key. Minimum and maximum are
adjustable parameters.

2.3.3 Lamp test

Press and hold the DIM button and then pressing the SEL button until the lamp test is triggered.
In this case, all the LED are active, so that the maximum brightness DIM current level is generated.
Thus, the function of all the LED can be checked. The LED circle appears yellow, because the red and green
LEDs are active simultaneously.
When you release the button, the LED test remains active for about 3 seconds and a new key press is ac-
cepted only after that!
Please check the dimmer and display mode (rel, true or tts) to and correct if necessary.
Clamp Signal Meaning
1 Remote Contact DIM Parallel external connection button for DIM.
2 GND Ground for DIM, SEL and PROG button
3 PROG Contact the Service SW - update. Must be open
during operation!!
4 Remote Contact SEL Parallel external connection button for SEL.

Table 4: X4 Occupancy - external operation

2.4 Display of the Wind Direction

The wind direction is displayed on the LED ring which is composed of 36 two-color LED. This results in a grid
of 10 °.
The current wind direction is indicated with a LED red. If the wind direction changes, the area between the
new and the old wind direction is shown in green. The green area indicates the sector from which the wind
has come in a certain time interval. If within this time interval, a green LED is not readdressed the time interval
is reset. After the time has expired the green led is extinguished.

2.4.1 Setting the display time

Press the SEL button and keep it pressed. At the same time press the DIM button once to see the current
display time of the sector appears, from which the wind has blown in the past time. To increase this time press
and release the DIM button until the desired time is indicated and release the SEL button afterwards. The time
can be set from 1-10 minutes.
Please check the dimmer and display mode (rel, true or tts) to and correct if necessary.

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System Description

2.5 Display of the Wind Speed

The current wind speed is shown simultaneously by three types.
The upper shows the current wind force in Beaufort, the lower in Knots (integer) and the middle in m / s with
one decimal place.

2.6 Software-based dimming via NMEA telegram:

The dimming of the display may happen via the DDC NMEA telegram according to IEC 61162-1 Ed. 4
(08/03/33).
$--DDC, a, XX, c, s, * hh <CR> <LF>,
a: Display dimming preset (D, K, N, or O) - is used secondarily, if XX does not exist.
The brightness of the stages can be set in the setup.
XX: Display brightness 0 ... 99% - is primarily used!
c: Color palette - is not evaluated
s: Status of the message must be with the telegram is evaluated C.
hh: LRC checksum is optional, but is evaluated if * is present.

The empty fields can be filled, but not evaluated. This telegram should be available at the serial input and will
be forwarded to the serial output.

2.7 Integrated True Wind Converter

If the MWD telegram is not available, the device can calculate the true wind. For end, the following NMEA
telegrams must fit multiplex via the serial interface: MWV, HDT/HDG und VTG.
In addition, MWD is then output to MWV.
This function requires additional capacity of the microcontroller and can cause a reduction in NMEA through-
put. This functionality must enable in the setup and is disabled by default.

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Installation und Commissioning

3 Installation und Commissioning

VL-Wind Repeater can be assemble / disassemble only if the power is off. When working on the module, the
ESD protection must be observed.
Before handling ESD - Create bracelet, connect to the GND (housing modules, hull structure, grounding bolt,
etc.) and bring the system to potential.
Alternatively, by touching the GND potential (housing of the hull structure, grounding bolt, etc.) on the body
bring the system to potential. The module should be connected via shielded cables to the signal sources. The
shielding is one-sided, hang up to centrally located close to the ship’s hull (GND)
The nominal voltage is 24 V, but the function is possible in the range of 9 - 32 V. Since the power consump-
tion of about 2.4 W is constant, the current increases correspondingly at a low supply voltage. Internally, the
voltage with a self-resetting fuse 1500 mA is protected against internal short circuits.
All signals should be checked before connecting to the module using a multimeter to avoid any damage. Fig-
ure 3 shows the view after the operating voltage and without NMEA signal.

Figure 3: Display Shows Error in the absence of valid NMEA

If a valid NMEA telegram received, the view of the output is shown in figure 4. The green LED segment indi-
cates the area from which the wind came in the last 1 .10 minutes. The red LED on the ring displays the cur-
rent wind direction.

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Installation und Commissioning

Figure 4: Display Shows Normal Output

3.1 Setup
Communication is via X2 using a terminal program such as "Hyperterminal" from Microsoft or as shareware
"OC Console" from Castlesoft.

3.1.1 Terminal program initialize

Figure 5: Terminal settings

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Installation und Commissioning

It is important to adjust CR> CR / LF (out), so the ENTER key is transmitted. (0x0D 0x0A).
This is important for text input to detect the end and start processing. For other terminal programs this must
also be guaranteed!

Figure 6: Download settings

The interface operates according to the program start with 4800 baud, 8 bits, no parity and one stop bit (8N1),
giving the current baud rate of the system!
This can be quite different and must be adjusted accordingly to the setup.

Figure 7: Interface settings

3.1.2 Parameter setting

After the operating voltage, the system displays the version of the software. The baud rate is 4800 baud up
here forever and changes to the currently set baud rate.

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Installation und Commissioning

Figure 8: Start screen via terminal

With the setup [ENTER] command you get to the setup function.

Figure 9: Setup entry help

With a single keystroke, the functions of the setup can be selected that offer a prompt for each parameter.
Press Enter to complete all typed or reassurance that the current-taken. A correction of the inputs is the BACK
SPACE - possible key.
The function R ‘resets all parameters to factory settings and restarts the software!!

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Installation und Commissioning

As an example, the baud rate is intended to serve. This is the starting value for automatic baud rate detection.
Do they match the baud rate of the existing NMEA inputs, there is no further search and the system is ready
for work quicker.

Figure 10: Manually setting of the baudrate with setup function ‘b’

As another example, shows the change in the NMEA timeouts. It specifies the time in seconds within a valid
NMEA telegram must be received to prevent an Error message.

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Installation und Commissioning

Figure 11: NMEA- Timeout setting

The remaining parameters are self-explanatory.

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Error Messages and Troubleshooting

4 Error Messages and Troubleshooting

At system startup and during normal operation, the software performs selftests to ensure proper operation of
the system. The integrated „Watchdog“ will restart the system should the software freeze.
This is demonstrated by cyclic start-ups of the system. In the middle of the display the Error of the NMEA in-
puts will be displayed.

-E 03-:
No signal at the serial port.
Remedy:
Test the signal level and polarity. The baud rate must be 4800, 9600, 19200 or 38400 8N1.

MWD or MWV are received but the selected mode (true, rel) is not included in the received NMEA telegrams.
Remedy:
Press SEL button to change the mode or feed the necessary telegrams.

The desired information is contained in the message, but is marked as invalid (V = invalid).
Remedy:
Check the sensor source why the data is invalid.

Specifications are subject to change without any prior notice!

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Contact Information’s

5 Contact Information’s

Do not hesitate to contact us for further information!

VEINLAND GmbH
Pappelallee 19
14554 Seddiner See OT Neuseddin
Germany

Phone: +49 33205 2697 0

Fax: +49 33205 2697 29
e-mail: info@veinland.net
web: www.veinland.net

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