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TELESCOPE OPERATIONS

45FT WEATHER RESTRICTIONS AND STOWING

Warning

High winds take priority over snow conditions. Please ensure personal safety through prompt notifications and aggressive monitoring of hazardous weather. Use caution when tipping the antenna to snow dump after any snow or ice accumulation.

During routine observing or tests that require antenna motion, the 45FT should be stowed when:

Antenna motion may resume after a period of 15-30 minutes where winds remain below thresholds. Use your judgement.

Stowing for Winds

STEP ACTION
1 Stop observing by pressing the main console HALT button.
2 Press the STOW button to move to stow. Set Stow Brakes.
3 Continue to monitor weather conditions and resume normal operations when possible.
NOTE The RSCREEN GUI may also be used to accomplish stow actions if the Citect Main Console is not available.
4 To resume observing, place the Citect console to auto.
5 From the RSCREEN Antenna menu, select: MANUAL mode, change REJECT to ACCEPT, then set in AUTO mode.

Electrical Storms

STEP ACTION
1 Monitor observed and forecast conditions.
2 Notify all personnel to evacuate the structure when lightning is present. Use the lightning detectors and your best judgement.
3 Advise personnel when access to the structure may resume.
4 Notify supervisor if damage has occurred. Troubleshoot and notify additional personnel as needed.

Wet Snow

STEP ACTION
1 Stop observing by pressing the main console HALT button.
2 Press the Snow East or Snow West button to move to stow. Set Stow Brakes.
3 Continue to monitor weather conditions and resume normal operations when possible.
NOTE The RSCREEN GUI may also be used to accomplish stow actions if the Citect Main Console is not available.
4 To resume observing, place the Citect console to auto.
5 From the RSCREEN Antenna menu, select: MANUAL mode, change REJECT to ACCEPT, then set in AUTO mode.

Ice-Freezing Precipitation

STEP ACTION
1 Stop observing by pressing the main console HALT button.
2 Press the STOW button to move to stow. Set Stow Brakes.
3 Continue to monitor weather conditions and resume normal operations when possible.
NOTE The RSCREEN GUI may also be used to accomplish stow actions if the Citect Main Console is not available.
4 To resume observing, place the Citect console to auto.
5 From the RSCREEN Antenna menu, select: MANUAL mode, change REJECT to ACCEPT, then set in AUTO mode.

Temperature

STEP ACTION
1 Stop observing if the air temperature drops below zero degree F by pressing the main console HALT button.
2 Press the STOW button to move to stow. Set Stow Brakes.
3 Monitor weather conditions. Continue to step 4 after the temperature remains above zero degree F for one hour.
4 Move the antenna at a reduced rate initially to warm the drives up. How long will be situation dependent.
5 Resume observing operations.

-- DavidRose - 20 Feb 2008

Topic 45FTWeatherRestrictionsAndStowing . { Edit | Attach | Ref-By | Printable | Diffs | r1.4 | > | r1.3 | > | r1.2 | More }
Revision r1.4 - 20 Feb 2008 - 15:20 GMT - DavidRose
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