Biral Visibility and Present Weather Sensors
Biral visibility and present weather sensors measure meteorological visibility and, on present-weather models, precipitation type and intensity, for aviation, wind farm, road and tunnel applications.
- Range
- 10 m to 99.99 km (SWS-100; other ranges available across the series)
- Output
- RS-232, RS-422 or RS-485 serial; 0-10V analogue; optional 4-20mA; threshold/fault relays
- Ingress
- IP66/IP67

Overview
In detail
Product range
The range spans the SWS series (SWS-050, SWS-100 and SWS-200 visibility sensors), the VPF-710 visibility sensor, and the RWS series (RWS-20 road sensor and RWS-30 tunnel sensor). Visibility sensors are used in aviation and wind farm applications to help safeguard air traffic; present weather models additionally report precipitation type and intensity to internationally recognised standards.
How it works
The sensors use a forward-scatter measurement principle (45° scatter angle, 850nm infrared source) to report visibility as Meteorological Optical Range (MOR). Present weather models also report World Meteorological Organisation Table 4680 codes for precipitation type.
Typical specifications (SWS-100)
As a representative model, the SWS-100 measures visibility from 10 m to 99.99 km (other ranges available across the series) with a measurement error of around 5% at 1500 m. It offers RS-232, RS-422 or RS-485 serial output, 0-10V analogue output, an optional 4-20mA current output, and threshold/fault relays. It runs on 9-36 V DC (5.2W), with an optional 24V AC/DC hood heater (24W) for blowing-snow conditions, is rated IP66/IP67, and operates from -40°C to +60°C.
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Specifications
Technical specifications
- Range
- 10 m to 99.99 km (SWS-100; other ranges available across the series)
- Accuracy
- ~5% at 1500 m (SWS-100)
- Output
- RS-232, RS-422 or RS-485 serial; 0-10V analogue; optional 4-20mA; threshold/fault relays
- Supply voltage
- 9-36 V DC (5.2W); optional 24V AC/DC hood heater (24W)
- Ingress
- IP66/IP67
- Operating temperature
- -40°C to +60°C
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