Welcome to the Cumulus Support forum.

Latest Cumulus MX V3 release 3.28.6 (build 3283) - 21 March 2024

Cumulus MX V4 beta test release 4.0.0 (build 4017) - 17 March 2024

Legacy Cumulus 1 release v1.9.4 (build 1099) - 28 November 2014 (a patch is available for 1.9.4 build 1099 that extends the date range of drop-down menus to 2030)

Download the Software (Cumulus MX / Cumulus 1 and other related items) from the Wiki

Cleaning the VP2

Talk about anything that doesn't fit elsewhere - PLEASE don't put Cumulus queries in here!
Post Reply
User avatar
HansR
Posts: 5870
Joined: Sat 20 Oct 2012 6:53 am
Weather Station: GW1100 (WS80/WH40)
Operating System: Raspberry OS/Bullseye
Location: Wagenborgen (NL)
Contact:

Cleaning the VP2

Post by HansR »

I had noticed the VP2 started failing the last weeks. Sometimes minutes, sometimes hours but always came back online by itself. However I got fed up with it and as I had already a long time idea to replace the temp/hum sensor I took the device down this morning, took it apart and cleaned it thoroughly (soap, brush, submergence of every part but the sensors/electronics). Roughly 50 spiders, theirs webs, their nests and 18 month of airpollution - yes, the airquality module has not been developed in vain - washed away.

I'm going to do this more often I think.
Next time I'll make a movie of the running spider and the mud streaming away.
Today you'll have to do with a photo.
20201216_122001[1].jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Hans

https://meteo-wagenborgen.nl
CMX build 4017+ ● RPi 3B+ ● Raspbian Linux 6.1.21-v7+ armv7l ● dotnet 8.0.3
AndyKF650
Posts: 704
Joined: Thu 20 Aug 2020 8:35 am
Weather Station: Davis VP2 Plus
Operating System: RPiv4 64bit Linux 12 Bookworm
Location: Jersey Channel Islands
Contact:

Re: Cleaning the VP2

Post by AndyKF650 »

Yes that was my experience but only after 6month. As you say spiders seem to like the sensors and it all gets pretty mucky with airborne dust. I set my cleaning routine every 6 months. It seems to take a few hours so lost data for that period but all connections come back on line with no further issues.
Phil23
Posts: 884
Joined: Sat 16 Jul 2016 11:59 pm
Weather Station: Davis VP2+ & GW1000 (Standalone)
Operating System: Win10 Pro / rPi Buster
Location: Australia

Re: Cleaning the VP2

Post by Phil23 »

Did mine back in August.
Replaced the Temp/Hum sensor with the same SHT31 & also upgraded the rain tipper.

The red dust in it was amazing.
Also had a spare fan on standby, but the old one cleaned up OK.

UV damage to the shield plates is fair to medium after 4 years of Aussie Sun.
When freight opens up a bit more I'll get another standard set of radiation shields to go with the spare FARS upgrade I have on hand.
20200814_104309_1.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
:Now: :Today/Yesterday:

Image

Main Station Davis VP2+ Running Via Win10 Pro.
Secondary Stations, Ecowitt HP2551/GW1000 Via rPi 3 & 4 Running Buster GUI.
:Local Inverell Ecowitt Station: :Remote Ashford Ecowitt Station:
User avatar
HansR
Posts: 5870
Joined: Sat 20 Oct 2012 6:53 am
Weather Station: GW1100 (WS80/WH40)
Operating System: Raspberry OS/Bullseye
Location: Wagenborgen (NL)
Contact:

Re: Cleaning the VP2

Post by HansR »

@Phil: Yes, that is about similar to mine.
Only difference is mine was pitch black with spiders, yours seems to be covered in desert sand.
Air Quality different style.
Hans

https://meteo-wagenborgen.nl
CMX build 4017+ ● RPi 3B+ ● Raspbian Linux 6.1.21-v7+ armv7l ● dotnet 8.0.3
Post Reply