Summit Laboratory
OVL tour
Crooked Creek tour
Barcroft tour
Observatory tour
summit lab interior temps
summit lab electronics
 "Virtual Reality" panoramas of White Mountain summit
Virtual tour of WMRC facilities, continued
View of summit lab from the south. The hut is oriented east-west, and is approximately 15 feet wide and 30' long. A dividing wall separates two interior rooms. In addition to weather instruments, the mast to the left supports a white antenna which broadcasts and recieves internet communications from the Owens Valley Lab in Bishop. The mast to right supports another antenna which communicates with the Barcroft Station and the Crooked Creek station. The roof supports two 100 watt photovoltaic panels which recharge batteries inside the hut. These in turn power the communications system and the weather station.
Two bunk beds, a kitchen table, and a propane-powered cook stove occupy the east room. The hut is wired for electricity and flourescent lighting. Power is provided by portable gasoline generator. The windows are tightly shuttered with steel shutters, and the doors are sealed to prevent snow from drifting in and filing the rooms. Built in 1955, the summit hut has withstood extreme conditions (wind, lightning, and cold) for over a half-century with no apparent damage.
 The west (lab) room has limited bench space. It houses the power system for the internet communications. The wooden floor cabinet is insulated, and contains the batteries. The gray and white unit mounted to the wall is the charge controller for the system; it regulates the charge entering from the solar panels and the loads leaving the batteries. The two black units mounted on the wall are the ethernet hub (above) and the internet communications radio power inserter (below). The system will be enclosed in a cabinet when completed.

Two 100 watt solar photovoltaic panels power the internet connection and weather station instruments.
(5-10-04).
The NW corner of the lab. (9-13-05)
end of virtual tour, return to facilities page
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