ALWS Advanced Lightning Warning System

ALWS™ - Advanced Lightning Warning System

The TOA Advanced Lightning Warning System (ALWS) typically consists of three or more TOA electrical field mills (EFM) which continually measure the changes in atmospheric electrical fields out to a range of 6 or more miles from the sensor. A photo of the EFM appears below.

Analysis and display of the atmospheric charge data collected from all of the EFM sensors in the ALWS are provided by the Lightning Warning Processor (LWP) which produces a broad range of analyses and warning outputs. Such outputs include trend charts, site alarms and sensor status reports.

EFM electrical field mills

TOA Electrical Field Mill Technical Specifications

  Operational:    
 
Accuracy
   0.5% of reading
 
Range
   Dependent on conditions, minimum of 6 miles
Reliability
   100% notification of field change
Response Time
   Programmable (based on user selected options)
Signal Interface
   2 digital communications ports and 1 analog
Measuring Range
   Programmable from (0 to 1 kV/m) to (0 to 30 kV/m)
     
User Selectable Options:    
Readings per second
   1 to 50 (software selectable)
Calibration procedure
   Software based
Software Upgrades
   Remote software installable
Remote Diagnostic
   Operating temperature
Power supply voltages
Motor turning indication
DAC operations
Factory low level diagnostics