The Marine Barograph, sharing the advantages of ... - Meteograf

The Marine Barograph, sharing the advantages of 

mechanical and electronic instruments. 

4-day Display, rectilinear and ink-free 

Numerical display 

Zoom function 

Storm warning 

High precision and resolution: 0.1hP. 

Small dimension light weight 

All contact gold-plated 

also available with a PC-Interface 

This precision's Barograph runs with a single household battery and 

one roll of paper for one year. Special construction for on board use. 

Non influencing of the drawing do to movement ore vibration. 

The Meteograf is a precise electronic barograph designed for the 

observation and recording of climatic pressure changes, which are 

important indicators of forthcoming wind and weather conditions. The 

instantaneous air pressure, as shown on a conventional barometer, 

gives only vague information about imminent weather changes. Only 

by exactly recording the current air pressure, and the rate at which it is 

rising or falling, is it possible to make reliable short-term weather 

predictions and to give prompt warning of dangerous weather 

conditions.. 

Thanks to the intelligent use of the most modern technology 

(microprocessor, surface-mounted electronics, etc.) the barograph, 

Meteograf is able to combine the advantages of traditional mechanical 

barographs with those of purely electronic instruments, along with its 

own merits of small dimensions, low weight and high precision. Ease of 

operation, good readability and the requirement to reload the recording 

paper roll only once per year can be taken for granted, Attractive new 

functions, such as ‘Zoom’, ‘Transport’ and ‘Time Change’ (see below) 

can be offered for the first time in a unit of this size and price range. 

A microprocessor controls all the functions of the barograph, 

Meteograf. An analogue signal from the internal pressure sensor is 

amplified in a signal processor, digitalized and input to the 

microprocessor, which calculates and outputs the air pressure. 

Linearity and temperature correction factors for the pressure sensor 

are pre-programmed into the microprocessor, thus making the 

installation of trim potentiometers unnecessary. This guarantees an 

extremely high accuracy over the whole operating temperature and 

pressure range, as well as optimal long-term stability. There are also 

no positioning or hysteresis errors. 

To set up the barograph, Meteograf, the current air pressure is entered 

using the push-buttons adjacent to the display. If the current air 

pressure is not known, the local elevation is entered instead. The 

barograph, Meteograf then automatically converts this to the equivalent 

air pressure, as defined in the ISAO Standard Atmosphere. 

The barograph, Meteograf can be used at any altitude between -500 m 

and 6'000 m above Sea Level (-1,600 ft to 20,000 ft.) Air pressure in 

the range 960 mBar to 1055 mBar (28.3 inHg to 31.2 inHg), reduced to 

Sea Level, will be displayed and recorded.

The scriber point engraves the barogram into the reverse side of the 

waxed paper roll. The pressure record from the previous four days is 

shown clearly in the main display window. The continuous rectilinear 

record (unlike that of many other barographs, which produce a circular 

barogram) is therefore produced without using felt-tip markers or 

pens. (There is therefore no dirtying of the fingers or of the apparatus 

itself, and no requirement to replace or replenish markers or pens.) 

Because the scriber is behind the paper a new paper roll can be 

loaded into the apparatus as easily as a film into a camera. One paper 

roll is sufficient for one year’s operation. 

The paper movement is controlled to extremely high tolerances by a 

small servo motor. A second servo motor controls, via a spindle, the 

movement of the scriber. 

Numerical Display 

In addition to the linear display in the main window, the barograph, 

Meteograf has a numerical LCD display. This 

normally shows the current air pressure, but is 

also used to select and adjust the barograph, 

Meteograf’s operating functions. 

The LCD can be used to observe short-term 

pressure changes which would be 

indiscernible on the main display. Together 

with the current air pressure, the overall 

change in air pressure (+/- 0.1 mBar) in the last 1, 5, 15, 30 or 60 

minutes may be displayed. This enables a uniquely accurate 

observation of the approaching weather. 

(Her a change of – 0.1 hPa in 30 minutes) 

Other Details 

To reduce power consumption the microprocessor is automatically 

switched to an energy-saving mode between measurements, with only 

the LCD display and other basic functions operating continuously. The 

total power consumption is so low that the barograph, Meteograf will 

run off a single household battery for about 12 months. There is no 

requirement for any connection to an external power source. 

An electronic filter cancels out fluctuations in indicated air pressure 

caused by operation in rough water 

Weather conditions, particularly wind strength, are dependent on the 

rate at which air pressure changes. For any given geographical 

position, a given rate of change of air pressure may be defined as 

indicating an imminent storm. To provide prompt warning of this, the 

barograph, Meteograf has an aural and a visual alarm, which is 

activated when the rate of change of atmospheric air pressure exceeds 

a preset limit. This limit is adjusted by the operator to suit the perceived 

danger level. (Note that, if required, the operator can turn the aural 

warning off, leaving only the visual warning active.) 

Transporting the barograph, Meteograf usually results in a change in 

altitude, which in turn produces a change in air pressure unrelated to 

any meteorological effects. When in ‘Transport’ mode, the Meteograf 

ignores these changes and displays the current altitude on its LCD 

display. When the relocation is complete, the Meteograf can be easily 

reset to its normal display mode. An overall correction to the display 

can then be made to account for any weather-related pressure 

changes whilst the device was in ‘Transport’ mode.. 

The battery voltage is continuously monitored. The LCD display 

indicates battery capacity as one of four levels; Charge sufficient, 

Charge low, Battery change required and Battery flat. 

To ensure maximum reliability and durability when operated at sea, or 

in any hostile environment, the barograph, Meteograf uses high quality 

gold-plated electrical contacts throughout. For battery connections, 

these are duplicated. The electronic parts are lacquered for protection 

against corrosion. The mechanical parts are manufactured from 

stainless steel and all other parts are high quality plastic. 

PC-Interface 

The ‘Meteograf‘ is also available with a PC-Interface if required. 

The ‘Meteograf’ contains a memory in which the barometric pressure 

data recorded over the last ten days is stored. The data is recorded to 

a tolerance of 0.1 hP. (Equivalent to 0.1 mBar.) 

Using the data transfer cable supplied, this data can be downloaded to 

a PC for permanent storage or for further manipulation. 

The software is compatible with Microsoft ‘Windows’ Versions 95, 98, 

NT and 2000. Using the ‘Excel’ program, the data downloaded can be 

automatically displayed graphically using a Macro function. 

As this software is freely available, it can be customised by the 

operator to suit his or her individual data processing requirement.. 

Bester Barograph 

In several tests, the ‘Meteograf’ was found 

to be the best of the tested devices and 

was highly recommended by the 

magazines

Meteograf with wooden housings 

Meteograf with chrome steel carriage 

Meteograf with wooden casings with fittings 

Cherry, Mahogany, Walnut, Black Casing Mahogany, Walnut with Fitting mirror gold, Casing 

black with Fitting mirror black 

Meteograf Installation panels 

Mirror, Black, Silver, Gold, Chrome-plated steel dim, 

Black dim

Technical Data 

Pressure Range paper record.........960 to 1055 hPa, 28.35 to 31.15 in Hg 

Pressure Range display, memory.....940 to 1070 hPa, 27.76 to 31.60 inHg 

Altitude Range ...............................-500 to 6'000 m (-1,600 to 20,000 ft) 

Resolution .......................................................... . 0.1 hPa, (0.003 in Hg) 

Linearity............................................................ < 0.5 hPa, (0.015 in Hg) 

Temperature Error ............................. < 0.02 hPa/°C, (0.0006 in Hg/°C) 

Temperature Range........................... -10°C to + 50°C, (14°F to 120°F) 

Index Rate............................................................. 1 mm/h = 24 mm/day 

Display (Main) ..............Shows recorded pressure from previous 4 days 

Recording Method.................................... Rectilinear, Maintenance-free 

Paper Capacity ............................................................................ 1 Year 

Display (Secondary)............ 8-digit, 7 mm LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 

Filter .....................Mean value averaging (for compensation of high sea states) 

Storm Warning ........................... Aura land visual. Set point adjustable 

Memory** ..............................960 Dates, (10 Days), Resolution 0.1 hP), 

PC-Interface**............ ................................... .. RS-232, Com1 or Com2 

Electricity Supply........................ 1 Alkalin 1.5 V battery (1 year’s operation) 

Dimensions ..............................146 / 120 / 36 mm, (5.75“ x 4.75“ x 1.4“) 

Weight..................................... 500 g (inc. battery and paper.), (1.10 lb) 

Typical values 

** only PC-Version 

The manufacturer reserves the right to make changes to the unit specification 

Example 

The following example impressively demonstrates the capabilities of 

the barograph ‘Meteograf’, showing how it recorded the storms that 

swept over central Europe during the Christmas holiday of 1999: 

• In Switzerland, the deep depression "Kurt" generated storm-strength 

winds on Saturday December 25 th , causing some limited, localized 

damage 

• This was followed on Sunday December 26 th by the hurricane 

"Lothar". Wind speeds of over 200 km/h were recorded. 

Unprecedented devastation was caused all over Switzerland, with 

thousands of buildings, boats, etc. being wrecked and an estimated 

million trees being uprooted 

• Further damage was left by the depression "Martin", which passed 

over Switzerland on Tuesday December 28th. 

The barograph, ‘Meteograf’s storm warning function gave, in each 

of the three cases above, a warning several hours before the 

storm hit. 

RAEBER, CH-6024 Hildisrieden 

Tel. ++41 41 461 00 81, Fax.. 82, 

www.meteograf.come.to 

praeber@gmx.ch

: 

The Meteograf in the Vendéeglobe race, 2004 / 2005 

2: Bonduelle with Jean Le Cam 

1: PRB with Vincent Riou 

4: Temenos with Dominique Wavre 

Pro-Form with Marc Thiercelin 

6: Virbac-Paprec, with Jean-Pierre Dick

The Marine Barograph, sharing the advantages of ... - Meteograf

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