STATION OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE - Wind Resource Assessment: A Practical Guide to Developing a Wind Project - page 89

is the main method of data retrieval. The testing may require a spare in-house
data logger.
• It is important to ensure that the number of personnel being sent to the site
is adequate for the tasks to be performed. For safety, tower climbing requires
at least two people—one to climb and the other to be ready to respond
to problems from the ground. Raising and lowering tilt-up towers usually
requires at least four people.
• The team leader should inform the home office of where the team will be and
when it is likely to return. For sites in especially remote or dangerous areas,
the team should stay in regular contact with the home office, and management
should be promptly notified if contact is lost for an extended period or if the
team fails to return on time.
2. On-Site Procedures
• It is recommended that on-site work begin with an informal meeting in which
the day's plans are reviewed. This also offers an opportunity to verify compli-
ance with any personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements and safety
procedures.
• If data are to be retrieved during the visit, this should be done first to minimize
the risk of data loss from operator error, static discharges, or electrical surges
during handling or checking of other system components.
• No matter the purpose, each visit should include a thorough visual
inspection (with binoculars or digital camera), as well as testing, when
applicable, to detect damaged or faulty components. The results should
be recorded on the Site Visit Checklist. The inspection should include the
following:
- Data logger
- Sensors
- Communication system
- Grounding system
- Wiring and connections
- Power supply (or supplies)
- Support booms
- Tower components (for guyed tower systems this includes anchors, guy
wire tension, and tower vertical orientation).
• Scheduled component replacements (e.g., batteries), operational checks, and
troubleshooting should be carried out during the visit if necessary. Trou-
bleshooting guidelines should be developed before the first site visit.
• The instantaneous data logger readings should be examined to verify that all
measured values are reasonable.
• The Site Visit Checklist should be filled out to ensure that all operation
and maintenance tasks have been completed and the necessary information
documented.