---
title: "Commissioning"
canonical: "https://farmconnect.docs.rubiconwater.com/space/WS/1932230730/Commissioning"
format: markdown
---
> Macro (toc)
# Complete the Weather Station Inspection Test Plan (ITP)
During the commissioning process, follow the checklist provided here:
[0078-ITP-Weather Station Commission](https://bit.ly/3ymTW9s)
When the process is complete, sign and date the form and return it to the Project Manager.
# Adjust System Fusing for a Pedestal Mount
If you are connecting the Weather Station to a Rubicon pedestal you must use the pedestal Maintenance menu to adjust the current limit in the System Fusing settings.
To adjust the current limit:
**Step 1**
Unlock and open the pedestal controller housing to access the keypad.
**Step 1**
Press and hold **x** CANCEL to return to the Home screen.
**Step 1**
Press ✔ SELECT to enter the Operator Interface menu and scroll ▼ DOWN to the MAINTENANCE option. You will be prompted to enter the password.
**Step 6**
Press ✔ SELECT until you return to the "> SYSTEM FUSING" menu item.
---
# Commissioning with the Commissioning Utility
Commission the weather station using the [Weather Station Commissioning Utility](https://bit.ly/3Fkcihv)
Use this utility to specify the environmental variables of the site where the weather station is installed. Typically, you will do this in the field after you have installed the weather station.
**Step 1**
Download and install the utility on a Windows computer.
**Step 2**
On the SolarDrive board, disconnect the RS-485 cable that runs between the SolarDrive and the RTU.
**Step 3**
Use a cable splitter to connect both the weather station and a Rubicon Diagnostic Pendant to the pedestal.
**Step 4**
Start the commissioning utility. It will scan and detect the port to which the weather station is connected.
> ℹ️ **Note**
> ℹ️
> ℹ️ If the port is not detected, you can select the correct port from the COM PORT drop-down option or rescan the ports using the **Rescan** button.
**Step 5**
Enter the following details:
> ℹ️ **Note**
> ℹ️
> ℹ️ The Modbus Address defaults to 80 and should not be changed.
| | |
| --- | --- |
| **Site Altitude** | Altitude of the site relative to sea level in meters. (You can use Google Earth to find this information). |
| **Magnetic Declination** | To get the magnetic declination for a site, you will need:
1. **Site coordinates**
Get the site latitude and longitude from Google Maps, GPS, a survey drawing, or GIS.
2. **Date**
Use today’s date, or the date of survey/installation, because magnetic declination changes slowly over time.
3. **Official calculator**
For Australia, use the **[Geoscience Australia Magnetic Declination / AGRF calculator](https://geomagnetism.ga.gov.au/agrf-calculations/agrf-form)**. It is designed for the Australian region and uses the Australian Geomagnetic Reference Field.
You can also use the **[NOAA/NCEI Magnetic Declination Calculator](https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/calculators/magcalc.shtml)**, which estimates declination worldwide using geomagnetic models such as WMM/IGRF.
**Enter the following details:**
- Latitude
- Longitude
- Elevation, if required
- Date
The calculator will provide the **declination**, usually shown in degrees **East** or **West**.
---
**How to use the result**
For example:
- **11.5° East** means magnetic north is **11.5 degrees east of true north**.
- **11.5° West** means magnetic north is **11.5 degrees west of true north**.
When commissioning the weather station:
- If the calculated declination is **East**, enter it as a **positive number**.
- If the calculated declination is **West**, enter it as a **negative number**.
For example:
- **11.5° East** → enter **11.5**
- **11.5° West** → enter **-11.5**
You can enter the value in one of two ways:
- Use the **left-hand field** to enter degrees in decimal format, for example: **11.5** or **-11.5**
- Use the **right-hand field** to enter degrees and minutes, for example: **11°30′** or **-11°30′**
Whichever option you choose, the other field will be automatically calculated and populated.
> 📝 11.30 in degrees and minutes means 11 degrees 30 minutes, which equals 11.5 decimal degrees.
> 📝 It is not the same as 11.30 decimal degrees. |
| **Installation Height** | Height of the weather station above ground level. This defaults to 5 meters. |
| **Effective Roughness Length** | Overall roughness length parameter expressed in meters and used in wind speed calculations. This parameter describes the nature of the terrain within a 2km radius of the Weather Station.
Select a roughness length description from the dropdown menu or choose the *Custom* option and enter the value directly.
The default value is 0.03m which corresponds to open, flat terrain with few obstacles. |
| **Effective Roughness Length Upstream** | Eight directional roughness length parameters which are selected in the same manner as for the overall Effective Roughness Length. |
**Step 6**
Click the **Update Parameters** button to upload the parameters to the Weather Station.
> ℹ️ **Note**
> ℹ️
> ℹ️ If this process is aborted or interrupted, any values that have already been uploaded will not be reverted and the weather station may have a mixture of old and new values.
**Step 7**
Click **Quit** to close the application. You will be prompted to choose whether to save your changes as the new defaults for the commissioning utility.
**Step 8**
On the SolarDrive board, reconnect the RS-485 cable that runs between the SolarDrive and the RTU.
---