Barometric Prognosticator III
Instructions
Sage Advice of the Utmost Importance
1) Install the Barometric Prognosticator III unit on a wall inside a dwelling out of direct sunlight, as the
lenses on the front panel could focus direct sunlight sufficiently to cause a fire.
2) Do not manually turn the Readings Display Disc as this will damage the Disc Drive Engine.
3) Only connect the Barometric Prognosticator III to a source of power when it is vertical. Do not instigate
operation unless it is in a vertical position.
4) No user serviceable parts within, contact the purveyor if the Barometric Prognosticator III stops
functioning in the correct manner.
5) Keep out of the reach of small children as they could choke on small parts, get their fingers trapped in
moving parts or wreak havoc on the Barometric Prognosticator III.
6) Only connect to the supplied USB power supply or one rated to at least 1.25 amperes.
7) Keep the illuminating lamp directed at the unit and do not cover it with anything as it gets hot.
8) Use the supplied screws or similar with appropriate fixings for the type of wall to which the Barometric
Prognosticator III is being fixed.
9) The wireless monitor should be placed outside in a position sheltered from rain or direct sunlight.
10) Disconnect the source of power if your intention is to be absent for a few days.
11) Ensure air is free to flow around the provided USB power source otherwise it could get too hot.
Installing your Barometric Prognosticator III
The Barometric Prognosticator III should be installed inside a dry dwelling on a vertical wall away from
direct sunlight. It hangs on the two supplied screws. It is recommended to be installed at a height where the
Exterior Readings lens is at eye level.
See illustration above for dimensions.
1) Firmly grasping the Barometric Prognosticator III’s left and right side panels, offer it up to the wall to the
desired position.
2) Get a companion to make a small pencil mark upon the wall just above the top side panel behind the lamp
support exit.
3) Return the Barometric Prognosticator III to a flat surface, resting on its back.
4) Make a small pencil mark 69mm down the wall from the original mark.
5) Employ a spirit level to horizontally extend the lower mark out equally to the left and right by 222.5mm.
6) If your wall is constructed from wood, ensure it is sound, and carefully screw each of the two supplied
supporting screws into the wall at each end of the horizontal line. Stop tightening at the point where 7mm of
each screw remains protruding.
7) If, however, your wall is constructed from brick or some other drillable material, drill a suitable hole at
each end of this horizontal line using an appropriate drill and drill bit. Insert the appropriate type of wall plug
into each hole, tapping with a hammer until flush with the surface of the wall. Screw the supplied supporting
screws into the wall plugs. Stop tightening at the point where 7mm of each screw remains protruding.
8) Firmly grasping the Barometric Prognosticator III’s left and right side panels, offer it up to the supporting
screws. It is often easier to locate one screw first, moving the Barometric Prognosticator III around slightly
until you feel it settle against the wall as the screw enters the keyhole hanger. Allow that end of the unit to
drop down slightly and check it cannot pull away from the wall. Now raise or lower the other end of the unit
until you feel the second screw properly seat inside its keyhole hanger.
Removing the Support Packaging
The flute operating chain will be fixed to its pulley with packaging material to
prevent damage during transit.
Remove the packaging and ensure the
chain lies properly over the pulleys as
shown in the diagram.
The flute bellows will also be held
closed with packaging and this too
needs to be removed. The bellows
can be checked by gently lifting the
bottom section up to produce a note.
Installing the exterior
weather monitoring
device
The Exterior Weather Monitoring Device
should be placed somewhere outside, out of
direct sunlight and undercover. It can stand on
a flat surface, or can be wall mounted using
the keyhole cutout on its back. If it does not
already contain a battery inside the sliding
cover on its reverse, please insert one. An
operating lamp on the front of the Exterior
Weather Monitoring Device should then
begin flashing twice a minute. This indicates
normal operation.
If the readings displayed by the Barometric
Prognosticator III cease to change from day to day, the Exterior Weather Monitoring Device’s battery has
probably gone flat. Replace this, and the Barometric Prognosticator III should begin displaying current
readings.
The switch beside the battery selects one of three channels it can use to transmit information. It would only
be worth changing this setting in the unlikely event a neighbour had a wireless device working on an
identical channel. The instructions on the rear suggest using the rest button when the battery has been
replaced, although this doesn’t seem to be necessary.
Having a Pleasant Cup of Tea
Make a wholesome cup of tea and stand back and admire your Barometric Prognosticator III.
Upon First Connection of the Main Power Source
Once the Exterior Weather Monitoring Device has been installed and the Barometric Prognosticator III is
fixed to a wall, the supplied Main Power Source can be connected. The Barometric Prognosticator III will
respond by playing a short rendition of the National Anthem. It will then search for a signal from the Exterior
Weather Monitoring Device. Once detected, a second rendition of the National Anthem with be played.
At this stage the barometric pressure, exterior humidity and exterior temperature can be displayed by turning
the Preference Valve (see below). Requesting an immediate musical rendition of weather readings, will,
however, result in a uninspiring melody unworthy of the Barometric Prognosticator III. This is due to the
availability of an insufficient number of weather readings to allow proper composition. Proper compositions
will become available after an hour or so.
Clock Movement Power
Source
The clock runs off its own power source which can
be accessed via a recess in the back panel. If the
clock ceases to function, the power source can be
replaced. As the Barometric Prognosticator III
cannot stand upright by itself and because of the risk
of damage if it falls over, it is recommended that
two people undertake this task.
1) Disconnect the main power source from the
Barometric Prognosticator III. Holding it on the left
and right, lift it off the wall fixings.
2) Rest it on a flat surface, on either its left or right
hand side - not on the top or bottom as this could
damage the lamp or cable.
3) From the rear of the unit, the second person can achieve release of the old power source from the rear of
the clock by gently pulling the ribbon.
4) Once a new power source has been correctly inserted, the clock hands will begin moving after a few
seconds.
5) The Barometric Prognosticator III can be carefully rehung on its wall supports.
6) Check the flute chain is aligned with the pulley and reconnect the main power source.
Setting the Clock Movement
If the clock already shows the correct time this section can be skipped.
The clock receives a time signal from a central clock housed in the National Physical Laboratory in Anthorn,
Cumbria. This should ensure the time displayed is correct throughout the year without the need to adjust the
clock to account for Daylight Saving.
If, however, the clock does not display the correct time due to poor reception, it can be set manually. Due to
the risk of damaging the Barometric Prognosticator III, it is strongly advised that this activity is undertaken
by two persons.
1) Repeat steps one and two above.
2) Depress one of the buttons on the rear of the clock movement to set the time. The recommended button is
M.SET as you can manually set the correct time and the clock will continue to search for the time signal.
The buttons function as follows:
M.SET - This button manually sets the clock if it cannot detect the time signal. Hold the button down and the
hands will start moving after a few seconds. Release the button once the correct time is shown. The clock
will act as a normal quartz clock until it detects the time signal.
RESET - Push and hold the button for three seconds. The hands will move to the twelve o’clock position and
remain there until the time signal is detected. It is a good idea to leave the clock over night. as the reception
can improve at night. Nothing will happen if there is no reception.
REC - Push and hold the button for three seconds. This will function as RESET above, except if there is no
reception, the clock will display the last shown time.
3) Repeat steps five and six above.
Employing the Preference Valve
The Preference Valve allows you to control how the Barometric Prognosticator III operates. The valve
responds differently when turned to the left or right. Generally turning to the left allows the hourly tune to
play, whilst turning to the right causes silent operation. The number of clicks the valve is turned sets the
weather reading dial to show either pressure, humidity or temperature.
After the valve has stopped being turned, the bell or flute will sound to acknowledge a setting has been
changed.
The valve legend acts as a reminder to the following settings.
ten clicks
Turning to the right sets the optional hourly
tune to be created from the last twenty four
hours of pressure readings alone. Turning to
the left sets the tune to include three sections
based on pressure, humidity and temperature
changes.
One to Four clicks
Turning to the right cancels the hourly tune.
The bell sounds once to acknowledge this.
Turning the the left sets the hourly tune to
play. The flute plays a note to acknowledge
the change. See below for each count.
One Click
The flute sounds once and the Readings
Display Disc moves to indicate the pressure
twenty four hours ago. Over a period of eight
seconds it then maps the pressure changes up
until the present time, when the flute again
sounds once.
Two Clicks
The flute sounds twice and the Readings
Display Disc moves to indicate the humidity
twenty four hours ago. Over a period of eight
seconds it then maps the humidity changes up
until the present time, when the flute again
sounds twice.
Three Clicks
The flute sounds three times and the Readings
Display Disc moves to indicate the external
temperature twenty four hours ago. Over a
period of eight seconds it then maps the
temperature changes up until the present time,
when the flute again sounds three times.
Four Clicks
The Barometric Prognosticator III immediately
plays the selected historical weather tune on
the bell and flute (just pressure or pressure,
humidity and temperature). Right and left turns
function as above.
Musical Rendition of Historical Weather Readings
When selected to do so, the Barometric Prognosticator III will play a melodic rendition of the weather
readings taken over the previous twenty four hours. The rendition consists of three parts:
1) The bell will chime once indicating barometric pressure readings. Eight notes will be played by the flute.
These are derived from historical readings expanded mathematically to fill the available range of notes.
2) The bell will chime twice indicating relative humidity readings. Eight notes will be played, again
expanded mathematically to fill the available range of notes.
3) The bell will chime three times and then eight notes representing exterior temperature readings will be
played.
The rendition will allow you to create a mental picture of the weather trends over the previous twenty four
hours and this will allow you to more accurately make a weather prediction.
Cleaning
Wipe gently with a dry soft cloth. Do not use cleaning agents as they may damage the painted or varnished
surfaces. Using a soft brush attachment for a vacuum cleaner works well at removing dust. Alternatively, a
vacuum cleaner hose can be held carefully near individual components, and the dust can be loosened using a
soft paintbrush. Just ensure the vacuum hose doesn’t hit any of the components, as it could damage the
finish.
Improper Functioning
If your Barometric Prognosticator III seems not be displaying weather readings as you have come to expect,
remove the USB power supply from its socket. Wait a few seconds and then re-connect it. This will cause
previous weather readings to be lost, but may well solve the issue.
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