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STEVENSON SCREENS - CHEAP OPTION

For discussion of DIY weather equipment - sensors, accessories, improvements to existing kit etc
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Repairman77
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Re: STEVENSON SCREENS - CHEAP OPTION

Post by Repairman77 »

Looks very good Twitter; like the solar panel; where did that come from?
I have one of those that's supposed to top up your car battery but I don't think they give out much current.
Mike.
Retired Radio and Electronics Engineer residing in Cambridgeshire, UK.
westonweather
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Re: STEVENSON SCREENS - CHEAP OPTION

Post by westonweather »

I picked it up for a tenner including postage on eBay and the fan for £1.50!

Seems to work well for the purposes of turning a fan, but at only 5W output it wouldn't do much for charging a car battery to be honest!
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Repairman77
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Re: STEVENSON SCREENS - CHEAP OPTION

Post by Repairman77 »

You need one of those they put on roofs to give any amount of current, although many decades a go I got a 12V one a foot square; still have it somewhere.
Retired Radio and Electronics Engineer residing in Cambridgeshire, UK.
westonweather
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Re: STEVENSON SCREENS - CHEAP OPTION

Post by westonweather »

Well that's mine complete!

Today's update HERE.

Whole project thread HERE.

Thanks again to Mike for the inspiration to build this. I'll report back with how it's going and if it's solved the temperature bump I see on the graphs when the Sun shines!
Last edited by westonweather on Fri 21 Feb 2014 7:49 am, edited 3 times in total.
westonweather
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Re: STEVENSON SCREENS - CHEAP OPTION

Post by westonweather »

How's the new screen working for you Mike?

Pleased to say that mine appears to be performing well as conditions this morning were similar to yesterday morning and the Stevenson Screen has smoothed out the peak I was seeing in my temperature graphs.

Details HERE
Last edited by westonweather on Fri 21 Feb 2014 7:50 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Repairman77
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Re: STEVENSON SCREENS - CHEAP OPTION

Post by Repairman77 »

Mine' working quite well; I've been playing with thermometers trying to see how far out the digital ones are; around 0.2-0.4 degrees roughly. It seems that it's nigh impossible to buy a mercury precision calibrated lab thermometer these days; they seem to shy away from everything that contains mercury. I have a load of old ones from around mid 1980's but they can drift out of calibration over several decades. Haven't had any peaks in the sun today so the box appears to be doing it's job.

Glad you got yours working well; it's certainly a cheap option. I think those making the real ones are making a packet out of them, especially when they charge another £300 for a metal stand made from a few bits of angle iron welded together!

Mike.
Retired Radio and Electronics Engineer residing in Cambridgeshire, UK.
westonweather
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Re: STEVENSON SCREENS - CHEAP OPTION

Post by westonweather »

Repairman77 wrote:especially when they charge another £300 for a metal stand made from a few bits of angle iron welded together!
My "met post" top on the metal post works very well. Cost me under £8 for the solid metal stand :D
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mstrandbo
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Re: STEVENSON SCREENS - CHEAP OPTION

Post by mstrandbo »

This looks very good, westonweather! And thanks to Repairman77 also.

I think I will buy one of these - i fear the postage to norway xD - and set it up similarly to yours. I also have the WH1080 bump on the sunny days :)
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westonweather
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Re: STEVENSON SCREENS - CHEAP OPTION

Post by westonweather »

Credit to Mike (Repairman) really for coming up with the idea.

Works very well. We had a windy & wet period over the weekend and the screen kept all the rain out. The "bump" issue is solved and it doesn't look unsightly in the garden.
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Repairman77
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Re: STEVENSON SCREENS - CHEAP OPTION

Post by Repairman77 »

Thanks folks; mine seems to work well although I did get a peak on a very sunny day which can probably be cured by a small screen to keep the direct sun off; will see how it goes. But I guess all single louvred screens would have the same problem.

Just by sheer chance I came across it on ebay; was looking for something different and ebay with it's wondrous search routine added these lanterns. Serendipity is the word I believe. :)

Mike.
Retired Radio and Electronics Engineer residing in Cambridgeshire, UK.
callum91
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Re: STEVENSON SCREENS - CHEAP OPTION

Post by callum91 »

Hi

My lantern arrived today and my white boat paint is on its way.

Can anyone think of suggestions of what to use for the 'roof' of the lantern?

I don't have any saws or a workshop so ideally it needs to be something that's already roughly the right size (doesn't matter if it overhangs slightly).

Thanks,

Callum
westonweather
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Re: STEVENSON SCREENS - CHEAP OPTION

Post by westonweather »

I actually used the top of a Christmas Cracker box! It was fairly firm plastic which I trimmed down with a stanley knife, stuck it to the top with silicone sealant, then painted over. Its doing the job just great :)
callum91
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Re: STEVENSON SCREENS - CHEAP OPTION

Post by callum91 »

Ah that's a good idea! Unfortunately I recently threw a Christmas decoration box away that would have been ideal.
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mmcp42
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Re: STEVENSON SCREENS - CHEAP OPTION

Post by mmcp42 »

westonweather wrote:Well that's mine complete!

Today's update HERE.

Whole project thread HERE.

Thanks again to Mike for the inspiration to build this. I'll report back with how it's going and if it's solved the temperature bump I see on the graphs when the Sun shines!
newbie here
was interested to look at your project
but I seem to get broken links :(
weather station here: http://www.mmcpix.com/wx.html
westonweather
Posts: 166
Joined: Sun 29 Dec 2013 8:37 am
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Re: STEVENSON SCREENS - CHEAP OPTION

Post by westonweather »

mmcp42 wrote:
westonweather wrote:Well that's mine complete!

Today's update HERE.

Whole project thread HERE.

Thanks again to Mike for the inspiration to build this. I'll report back with how it's going and if it's solved the temperature bump I see on the graphs when the Sun shines!
newbie here
was interested to look at your project
but I seem to get broken links :(
Sorry, I had to change servers and never copied the forum across. I will find the pictures later and post in this thread. Either tonight before bed or tomorrow.
Last edited by westonweather on Fri 21 Feb 2014 7:51 am, edited 2 times in total.
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