Outdoor weather station recommendations?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Outdoor weather station recommendations?

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#1602027 1-Aug-2016 07:56

All comes down to budget and how keen about weather data/stats ...

Back in Canada - I owned a La Crosse (their higher end one...back in the day) 2006 to 2010. I think it was 433mhz ---- Talk about a pita! Constant wireless drop outs. Although, there was one memorable recording of -40.0 C overnight temp.

Since moving to NZ in 2010, I purchased and enjoy the 6163 Wireless Vantage Pro2 Plus with 24-Hr Fan Aspirated Radiation Shield.

No spikes in the Temp readings... The UV and Solar is nice.

Wind speed readings every 2 secs was important to me---- House sits on a very exposed hill 50 to 70m up and 900 m from the Tasman. A few times a year we see gusts of 100kmh ---record gust of 129kmh gust.

Would love to get a WeatherHawk 600 series ---maybe someday.

The Davis 6250M Vantage Vue is a nice little unit too.

richms

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#1602040 1-Aug-2016 08:51

One thing I dont get is why they cant recharge off the wind turbine on them. That would IMO be ideal if combined with a solar panel on it since one of those 2 things is always happening.

Richard rich.ms

Azzura

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#1602082 1-Aug-2016 10:48

richms:

One thing I dont get is why they cant recharge off the wind turbine on them. That would IMO be ideal if combined with a solar panel on it since one of those 2 things is always happening.

I think the resistance put on the anemometer to generate power ---could cause error in the readings.

richms

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#1602085 1-Aug-2016 10:51

Azzura:

I think the resistance put on the anemometer to generate power ---could cause error in the readings.

So only load it up when not taking a reading? The amount it needs shouldnt be too much anyway, and if it knows the state of charge then there should be a correction factor to apply to know the speed even when it is loaded I would have thought.

Richard rich.ms

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#1602094 1-Aug-2016 11:03

DS248:

We have an Aercus WS3083, which is a re-branded Fine Offset instrument. Quite common though - quite a few NZ weather forum members seem to use them.

[...snip]

Actually, that's what I have.. Ex Trademe. The biggest issue I have is it stops responding to Cumulus and I have to physically unplug it from the USB and plug it back in (a reboot won't fix it as 5v stays up to the weather station).

Cheers,
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YadaMe

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#1602097 1-Aug-2016 11:07

Another one to watch, I backed but is over now is: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/weatherflow-smart-weather-stations#/

Uses Wifi and Bluetooth, 1 year batteries, no moving parts for wind and rain. A Company that already airflow meters, and runs their own weather network in the states.

Hopefully they meet their goal of November shipping.

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Azzura

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#1602098 1-Aug-2016 11:12

richms:

Azzura:

I think the resistance put on the anemometer to generate power ---could cause error in the readings.

So only load it up when not taking a reading? The amount it needs shouldnt be too much anyway, and if it knows the state of charge then there should be a correction factor to apply to know the speed even when it is loaded I would have thought.

I can only guess that the solar panel is sufficient enough (even over extended cloudy days) and the backup battery to cover the operating power. I haven't had a power outage or replaced the battery in my unit for 5+ yrs.

Also, manufacturers might believe---- fewer moving parts --- the better for longevity?

MikeAqua

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#1602298 1-Aug-2016 14:55

This might be informative also.

https://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/buyingguide.asp

Mike

kiwipawl

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#1602391 1-Aug-2016 17:27

Check these out.

scottjpalmer

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#1602394 1-Aug-2016 17:37

That looks alright!

kiwipawl

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#1602396 1-Aug-2016 17:43

He is another one for you

http://scientificsales.co.nz/

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#1602399 1-Aug-2016 17:50

Even better, was just going to say I don't need screen.

neb

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#1602400 1-Aug-2016 17:51

Davis are pricey, but hard to beat. I got sick of fiddling with cheapie ones that would have problems with dropouts, didn't work reliably with rechargeable batteries (some of the cheapies are terribly sensitive to battery voltage, once it drops too far, or with a NiMH, you get erratic radio performance), and other headaches, so eventually I bit the bullet and got a Davis (from the US, much cheaper). Combine it with a Meteohub (so only the sensor array is Davis) and you've got a pretty decent weather station. I've also got soil moisture sensors to deal with a garden that's 100% clay soil, so I know when to water and what state the soil is in.

Juicytree

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#1602453 1-Aug-2016 19:29

I have been looking closely at https://acurite.com/

Any user comments would be helpful

Masterpiece

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#1602456 1-Aug-2016 19:35

You really get what one pays for in this field, most of the sub $500 setups are throw away when they stop.

I setup stations for monitoring weather, streams, soils and other climate variables, also can control hardware to do stuff!, we tend to use gear from https://www.campbellsci.com/products

It is proper scientific equipment, rather expensive (the loggers are $1000~$6000 alone) and can still break if not maintained. Although we have systems in the field for years and only change the batteries and replace solar panels when they wear out.

Anemometers are generally pulse or similar hall effect types and if you tried to add charging generation it would cause high stall rates and thus be totally inaccurate for reading wind speed.

Solar panels are best for charging weather stations as generally the loads are quite low.
It's when one tries to run thirsty devices that things get problematic, above 50ma could be considered thirsty. Radios tend to be thirsty and why most systems send data on pulse, once an hour or something like that.

If someone needs particular readings outside one of the sub $500 devices why not build your own monitor from Arduino parts, ie wind speed warning system and data logging wouldn't cost much to build at all and you get to output what you want.

If you want real time type monitoring it is best to supply power via mains supplies, 12/5/3.3vdc even though low power volts wise real time monitoring uses more amps, but still use a battery in the system to create a backup supply should the mains drop or get unplugged.

Just note if you have an old station where the system crapped out, the anemometer, raingauge and radiation shield and other parts can be used by an Arduino/Pi setup.

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