AWS Convergence Technologies, INC

Do the outdoor sensors need to point a certain direction?

Yes, it is important to point each sensor in the appropriate direction.

WIND SENSORS

The appropriate direction will depending on which type of AWS wind sensor that you have.

Four Bladed Propeller (looks like an airplane).
Each 4 bladed propeller wind sensor has a small rectangular junction box near the bottom of the sensor. The face of this box must point due South.

3 Cup anemometer (note: cups must be on top).
With the 3 Cup amemometer the square tube metal mount arm of the sensor must point due East.

SENSOR SHELTER

The sensor shelter (three cone vented object) houses you temperature and relative humidity sensors. Be sure that the sensor shelter is configured such that rainfall does not fall into the sensor area. While it is not required to point the sensor shelter in a specific compass direct it is important to ensure that it is oriented in the opposite direction of the rain gauge. This will prevent the shield from blocking precipitation from falling into the rain gauge and producing inaccurate readings. It is also best for the sensor shelter to face away from the building to avoid artificial over-heating from the often very hot rooftop.

RAIN GAUGE

The rain gauge is not required to point in any specific compass direction. However, it is important to orient the rain gauge so that the sensor shelter and anemometer are not directly above the rain gauge, thus preventing precipitation from falling uninhibited into the rain gauge. If you are mounting the sensor mast on the side of a building try to orient the rain gauge so that it points towards the building making cleaning and maintenance easiest.

WHITE JUNCTION BOX (older units only)

Finally, some Automated Weather Source units have a rectangular white metal junction box for cable connections at the bottom of the mast. If your unit has a white junction box like this, just make sure it is right side up, with the round openings for the cables on the bottom, so that rain or snow does not enter the box.