PERSONAL WEATHER STATIONS: Queries and Advice

Robxxx7 · 15-01-2018 9:34am

JCX BXC wrote: »

Changed mine on Wednesday after a years use, died again Saturday.

something obviously not right there .. did the low battery indicator disappear as it can take a few hours(or overnight) for the indicator to clear ..

Otherwise it could be an issue with the solar panel/supercap --where its not being used during the day and hence battery being used instead .. battery should only be used at night time really ..

JCX BXC · 15-01-2018 9:54am

Robxxx7 wrote: »

something obviously not right there .. did the low battery indicator disappear as it can take a few hours(or overnight) for the indicator to clear ..

Otherwise it could be an issue with the solar panel/supercap --where its not being used during the day and hence battery being used instead .. battery should only be used at night time really ..

I had read about the low battery indication, resets at midnight, which it did do once I replaced the battery. So was gone Thursday and Friday and back Saturday

However, both times temperature and humidity readings went way off, temperature went to exactly -67.8c both times and humidity to 100%. Completely dead now and not transmitting any data.

I fear it is an issue with the solar panel/supercap, which doesn't seem easy to replace. It's outside the years warranty however consumer law should cover me.

Robxxx7 · 15-01-2018 10:06am

JCX BXC wrote: »

I had read about the low battery indication, resets at midnight, which it did do once I replaced the battery. So was gone Thursday and Friday and back Saturday

However, both times temperature and humidity readings went way off, temperature went to exactly -67.8c both times and humidity to 100%. Completely dead now and not transmitting any data.

I fear it is an issue with the solar panel/supercap, which doesn't seem easy to replace. It's outside the years warranty however consumer law should cover me.

Does sound like the solar/supercap could be at issue ..hopefully you can get it fixed .. be interesting to hear the outcome once its repaired or replaced

garroff · 15-01-2018 1:32pm

I have same problem. If sun is shining all indications work fine. No sun.....no
external temp etc.
I have to change battery every 2 weeks.
Solar charger on front does not look good. Probably cost a leg and an arm to replace.
Anyone do a replacement and how much did it cost.?

joujoujou · 15-01-2018 3:11pm

Officially no solar panel is listed on ebay nor Davis websites. But seeing prices of other spare parts I would rather make a sort of PSU unit for remote sensor cluster and solder wires to battery terminals in it.

JCX BXC · 15-01-2018 3:45pm

The vantage Vue is all encompassed in one unit making it awkward to service it.

Oneiric 3 · 15-01-2018 5:20pm

garroff wrote: »

I have same problem. If sun is shining all indications work fine. No sun.....no
external temp etc.
I have to change battery every 2 weeks.
Solar charger on front does not look good. Probably cost a leg and an arm to replace.
Anyone do a replacement and how much did it cost.?

Exactly the same problem I had last year. Like yourself and JCX, the battery died after a few days, and eventually the ISS died altogether.

I got in contact with Ryan Wilhour from Scaled Instruments:

https://www.scaledinstruments.com/

and within a few hours he identified the problem, it was the 'SuperCap' as RKK suggested above.

https://www.scaledinstruments.com/product/davis-7370-093-pro2-super-capacitor-supercap/

Pretty cheap, but given that my Davis (Pro 2) is over 10 years old, I just went ahead and purchased a new ISS transmitter:

https://www.scaledinstruments.com/product/davis-7345-976-pcba-for-pro2-wireless-iss-or-iss-plus-us/

and temp/humidity thermometer, which were far cheaper than what I would have got them on either the Davis site or any other 3rd party sites.

I don't know about the Vantage Vue as it does look like a more complex machine, but send Ryan an email (address at bottom of his webpage) and he will advise and point you in the right direction. Very helpful guy.

George Sunsnow · 17-01-2018 11:19am

I’ve a Davis vantage pro 2
In the last year I’ve had to replace the main transmitter board at a cost of €230

I’ve had 2 rain buckets in 12 years and Ive had the battery problems mentioned

This morning the temp and humidity sensor has died
It’s the most practical and useful part of the unit

To replace that is closer to €300

I will not be doing that
I’ll either use this as an opportunity to try the Davis clone an Oregon Scientific wmr 300
It’s on offer in places at €338
It looks good but poor support reviews
Tbh Ive never had to call Davis support
So Id be delighted to try it

Another option is this including a webcam and seems very good value but Ive never heard of it
I’ll do some research and have also asked the weathershop people for more info

https://www.weathershop.co.uk/bloomsky-weather-stations/

I’ve been dealing with them for 15 years

George Sunsnow · 17-01-2018 11:24am

Oneiric 3 wrote: »

Exactly the same problem I had last year. Like yourself and JCX, the battery died after a few days, and eventually the ISS died altogether.

I got in contact with Ryan Wilhour from Scaled Instruments:

https://www.scaledinstruments.com/

and within a few hours he identified the problem, it was the 'SuperCap' as RKK suggested above.

https://www.scaledinstruments.com/product/davis-7370-093-pro2-super-capacitor-supercap/

Pretty cheap, but given that my Davis (Pro 2) is over 10 years old, I just went ahead and purchased a new ISS transmitter:

https://www.scaledinstruments.com/product/davis-7345-976-pcba-for-pro2-wireless-iss-or-iss-plus-us/

and temp/humidity thermometer, which were far cheaper than what I would have got them on either the Davis site or any other 3rd party sites.

I don't know about the Vantage Vue as it does look like a more complex machine, but send Ryan an email (address at bottom of his webpage) and he will advise and point you in the right direction. Very helpful guy.

How did you get those in from the states without vat?
They are much more expensive here
I’m vat registered so can buy minus the UK’s 20% vat

Villain · 17-01-2018 11:41am

George Sunsnow wrote: »

This morning the temp and humidity sensor has died
It’s the most practical and useful part of the unit
To replace that is closer to €300

I've replaced that before, no where near that cost though e.g. http://www.weatherspares.co.uk/davis-vantage-pro2-iss-digital-temperature--humidity-sensor-sht31-413-p.asp or http://www.ebay.ie/itm/DAVIS-VANTAGE-PRO-2-HUMIDITY-TEMPERATURE-SENSOR-7346-SPARE-PARTS-WEATHER-STATION/282027222172?hash=item41aa21e49c:g:X3gAAOSwtJZXWB3z

George Sunsnow · 17-01-2018 11:44am

Villain wrote: »

I've replaced that before, no where near that cost though e.g. http://www.weatherspares.co.uk/davis-vantage-pro2-iss-digital-temperature--humidity-sensor-sht31-413-p.asp or http://www.ebay.ie/itm/DAVIS-VANTAGE-PRO-2-HUMIDITY-TEMPERATURE-SENSOR-7346-SPARE-PARTS-WEATHER-STATION/282027222172?hash=item41aa21e49c:g:X3gAAOSwtJZXWB3z

Ah cool thanks
The unit I googled included the housing etc not just the circuit
I presume that circuit pulls out of the board like a tiny plug and in likewise

Villain · 17-01-2018 11:49am

George Sunsnow wrote: »

Ah cool thanks
The unit I googled included the housing etc not just the circuit
I presume that circuit pulls out of the board like a tiny plug and in likewise

Yep very easy to change, I have had two fail on me!

George Sunsnow · 17-01-2018 12:01pm

Owning weather station
Expensive business !

onmebike · 18-01-2018 12:27pm

I have a WH1090 weather station and my anemometer has gone bust. It's totally seized.

Does anybody know how generic these parts are? Here's what my weather station looks like:

It's not a Maplin product, but Maplin have a spare parts page for their own devices and have something that looks somewhat similar.
https://www.maplin.ie/p/maplin-replacement-wind-speed-sensor-for-n96fy-n82nf

The thing is, I don't know how generic/similar these devices tend to be.

joujoujou · 18-01-2018 3:13pm

Welcome to the club - mine seized last month.

Maplin's anemometer looks 100% identical and current price's real bargain! Even if it's not identical inside, you would swap internals without hassle - all you'd need is PH1 screwdriver.

Edit: I'm pretty sure N96GY accessories would fit directly.

KAGY · 23-01-2018 10:04pm

If you use aliexpress I got a replacement on this store

http://s.aliexpress.com/6VJVna67
I replaced the wind direction for 11
Shipping is another 5 I think. Looks identical

Edit: Maplin look cheaper, but mostly out of stock, I think they were too when I checked in Dec

garroff · 24-01-2018 12:50pm

In the post this morning...Davis Vantage Pro front solar charging unit + the box that holds this unit+ 2 capacitors.
Total cost $70 , including standard postage from Scaled Instruments USA.

George Sunsnow · 31-01-2018 10:16pm

Got a new OS Wmr 300
Up and running and tweeting
It’s side by side currently with the Davis so as to compare
So far they’re matching exactly
They even look alike

Wind vain needs leveling which needs someone holding a ladder so won’t be done tonight for health and safety reasons

That means gusts are throwing the vain around giving Alice in wonder land wind directions
Very exposed to the east , northeast south southeast southwest and west
Less so northwest and sheltered north
Compromises

Anyhow you can follow if you’d like
Set every 30 mins and maybe 15 during significant weather

https://twitter.com/arklowweather/status/958810287779479554

JCX BXC · 04-02-2018 11:04pm

Weather station seems to have come back to life with all the sun over the past few days, no backup battery in it though as it's completely dead and I'm fairly sure there's a supercap issue so I've no intention of putting one in until I get to Davis.

Davis support has been underwhelming so far, got an email reply after a week informing me that I have to ring them to organise a repair, they don't have an Irish number, but have a British and American number. Tried to call the British number, but they're only open 8am-4:30pm MON-THURS and 8am-1:30 on Friday, so they're fairly hard to find time to call. I'll ring when I get a chance.

Working for the moment anyway, while there's relatively sunny conditions.

George Sunsnow · 04-02-2018 11:27pm

Is it a vue?
Just a battery issue?

JCX BXC · 04-02-2018 11:36pm

George Sunsnow wrote: »

Is it a vue?
Just a battery issue?

Yes and yes

I

Danno · 04-02-2018 11:39pm

JCX BXC wrote: »

Weather station seems to have come back to life with all the sun over the past few days, no backup battery in it though as it's completely dead and I'm fairly sure there's a supercap issue so I've no intention of putting one in until I get to Davis.

Davis support has been underwhelming so far, got an email reply after a week informing me that I have to ring them to organise a repair, they don't have an Irish number, but have a British and American number. Tried to call the British number, but they're only open 8am-4:30pm MON-THURS and 8am-1:30 on Friday, so they're fairly hard to find time to call. I'll ring when I get a chance.

Working for the moment anyway, while there's relatively sunny conditions.

Mr Price has the battery for €3 that goes in under the station (CR123 battery) They should be replaced yearly ideally in all Davis stations.

George Sunsnow · 04-02-2018 11:41pm

I don’t know mr price has them but most camera stores would have them

JCX BXC · 04-02-2018 11:42pm

Danno wrote: »

Mr Price has the battery for €3 that goes in under the station (CR123 battery) They should be replaced yearly ideally in all Davis stations.

Oh I'm aware, I've discussed it two pages back. Bought a battery when it died assuming it was a normal issue, but the battery died 3 days later. After much troubleshooting I've came to the conclusion that it's the common supercap issue, and when the battery is in the station that it won't use the solar panel and will simply just drain the battery.

byhookorbycrook · 04-02-2018 11:47pm

Looking for suggestions for a station for a primary school , please.

George Sunsnow · 04-02-2018 11:50pm

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Looking for suggestions for a station for a primary school , please.

What’s your budget?

George Sunsnow · 04-02-2018 11:51pm

JCX BXC wrote: »

Oh I'm aware, I've discussed it two pages back. Bought a battery when it died assuming it was a normal issue, but the battery died 3 days later. After much troubleshooting I've came to the conclusion that it's the common supercap issue, and when the battery is in the station that it won't use the solar panel and will simply just drain the battery.

Can you use a UK Davis agent? Sending it there for repair?
There’s one in Cork actually,I’ve lost the details but I’ll look

George Sunsnow · 04-02-2018 11:59pm

Ch marine in cork

http://www.chmarine.com/acatalog/davis-vantage-vue.html

JCX BXC · 05-02-2018 12:03am

Will look into it, CH are probably the vendor Infact!

George Sunsnow · 05-02-2018 12:08am

They’d probably have to send it away
I think the weather shop I deal with in England do their own credited repairs but I haven’t any experience of that yet

What you could also do is try you tube for DIY repair videos

There’s a rake of them

https://youtu.be/2oT8fpdPshI

PERSONAL WEATHER STATIONS: Queries and Advice

Comments