Cumulus Support

Charlie wrote:
Malc-C's project involves switching mains power and falls into a different (more stringent) category.

LOL - yeah tell me about it.

From speaking with a consultant, a lot of what Charlie has mentioned still applies for any project, in that it needs to be safe. Whilst any voltage under the LVD threshold could be deemed safe to touch, if you draw more than the required current through even a 5v regulator it will get hot and could cause injury if touched... Not sure about the regs in the US or Canada, but over hear it's a minefield. For example I said to this consultant that I intend to use a ABS plastic case to house my PCB etc - "good" he said, "that does away with earthing issues, however it might cause problems with EMC as an earthed metal case offers better shielding, and with ABS cases there could be issues with it melting if the internal components got really hot"

I'm sure that the sunshine recorder, being low voltage and low current, may not need to comply with a bulk of sections under these directives, but as it will need a CE mark if they sell the item (built or kit form) within the EU, and it will be Alan or Ole's name on that certificate I just thought they should investigate this sooner rather than later.

Sorry guys for dragging this OT - I'll say no more on the subject

Hi All
Just a brief update. We are waiting for some samples of a component for the simplified version we are working on. At the moment they are somewhere in Illinois en route to Cornwall and Denmark.
The Cornwall prototype is now running full time and is doing what it says on the tin. So there is now a daily sunshine record added to the Excel data - sadly not in Cumulus though.
The simplified version does open up the possiblity of a wireless version - but not quite yet.
It looks as though we may have to import a component from Toronto but the shipping costs are extreme - if there happened to be a forum member in Canada willing to take a delivery and then post on in the ordinary mail system it might prove cheaper. It would probably be a package about 4 inches square and 8 inches long weighing maybe one pound. If anyone in Canada could just enquire about the postal rates to UK for that we would be extremely grateful.
Regards
Alan

apenwith wrote:So there is now a daily sunshine record added to the Excel data - sadly not in Cumulus though.

All I need is the spec - I'm already logging solar data for the VP2, so it should fit in OK.

Hi Steve
That was quick - at the moment I am using a little routine to read the raw data which compares to sun data to a threshold. What is the format of the VP2 - maybe we could create something similar. Presumably it could be read from a separate file.
Did you get a chance to look through the timelapse stuff ?
Regards
Alan

apenwith wrote: It would probably be a package about 4 inches square and 8 inches long weighing maybe one pound. If anyone in Canada could just enquire about the postal rates to UK for that we would be extremely grateful.

According to Canada Post, a package this size sent to UK as a small air packet (6-10 business days for delivery) would cost $16.47 (fractionally over £10).

My daughter lives in Montreal and I could probably get her to forward one a one-off basis, if there are no list members able to help.

apenwith wrote:That was quick - at the moment I am using a little routine to read the raw data which compares to sun data to a threshold. What is the format of the VP2 - maybe we could create something similar. Presumably it could be read from a separate file.

The VP2 supplies the solar reading in W/m2 and Cumulus does a calculation based on the current theoretical maximum to work out whether the sun is shining or not. It logs the solar value and the hours of sunshine.

Did you get a chance to look through the timelapse stuff ?

I had a quick look at the first disc, but I'm afraid the second disc is lost on my desk somewhere at the moment. I need a tidy up!

apenwith wrote:Hi All

It looks as though we may have to import a component from Toronto but the shipping costs are extreme - if there happened to be a forum member in Canada willing to take a delivery and then post on in the ordinary mail system it might prove cheaper. It would probably be a package about 4 inches square and 8 inches long weighing maybe one pound. If anyone in Canada could just enquire about the postal rates to UK for that we would be extremely grateful.
Regards
Alan

Hi Alan,
I can check on Monday with our Post Office here in Komoka on the rate (they close on the weekend) and would assist you.

Also, we have a son and daughter in the greater Toronto area and will be seeing them on Wednesday.

Paul

Hi Paul
Thanks very much for that offer - the components come from a place called Mississauga.
To keep the costs down we would probably use surface mail. We have not got the samples yet so we are not certain they will be suitable - once we know we'll get in touch. Thanks again
Alan

Mississauga is on the west side and quite close to where son and also daughter live (Milton), and son-in-law works at Microsoft in Mississauga (but mostly from home). A pick up there could be possible depending on timing and urgency. Just let me know. I will still get mailing options and rates from our Post Office on Monday.

Paul

Hi Paul
Thanks very much for that - amazing the things the forum can come up with. Once we have decided on the basis of the samples already on the way to us we'll get in touch. We'll use Private Message rather than clog up the forum if that is OK.
Best wishes
Alan

Hi All
Just an update on progress. We have been held up a bit on the simplified version waiting for some components to arrive from Kentucky - but they finally arrived in Cornwall and some are on the way to Ole in Denmark. One stays in Cornwall and is operating in a mockup to compare with the original version. The original has now been running daily from 1st November and is looking good (when we get some sun - I actually recorded 44 seconds on 5th December) and the mockup is running with the same results. Ole is busy with software and a new mechanical design around our new part.
Thanks again to Paulmy for his offer of help which we may well be taking up soon.
In case we go quiet again for a while - best wishes to all for Christmas.
Regards
Alan

Hi All
We have at last got to the fine tuning stage with the first prototypes so to ensure we are using the same definitions as the World Meteorological Organisation I have ordered a solar meter to set our thresholds to the equivalent of the 120 W/M2 standard. I also found that the WMO accept a 10% accuracy for sun recorders. We are finding better than 3% so we pass that test.
Regards
Alan

That's brilliant Alan Well done

Fantastic thread, looking forward to finished article..

Thanks
John

apenwith wrote:Hi All
We have at last got to the fine tuning stage with the first prototypes so to ensure we are using the same definitions as the World Meteorological Organisation I have ordered a solar meter to set our thresholds to the equivalent of the 120 W/M2 standard. I also found that the WMO accept a 10% accuracy for sun recorders. We are finding better than 3% so we pass that test.
Regards
Alan

Having not followed this forum for a while I was interested to read more about this. Just one question do I gather the design of this instrument is intended to measure direct solar radiation as you are setting the threshold to 120w/m² ?

Stuart