Davis VP2 Wind and direction problem

[Dennisdg]

My weather station:
Davis Vantage PRO2 wireless

Problem:

I moved the ISS from the roof to a pole about 6ft high in the garden.
The anemometer unit I left above the roof level (about 30ft agl) and its cable just reaches the ISS and continued to send data to the Vantage PRO2 console.
I decide to lengthen the anemometer cable by first removing its connection at the sensor interface module, then cutting the cable a few feet from the ISS and inserting about 20 ft of flat 4 core cable. I soldered the connections. I checked the continuity from the extension cable to the RJ11 plug that connects to the ISS.
Since then I can't receive any wind speed or direction data.
I even tried re-joining the original cable but again no data. Cleaning the RJ11 and its socket with a cotton bud hasn't helped.

That’s the problem.

Is there a reset feature in the ISS which may kick the wind speed and direction to start?
All the other data, rain and Temp/HUM continue to work.
Or any other suggestions appreciated.

Thanks

[mcrossley]

Electrically it is pretty basic, so long as the connections are in right order, there are no shorts or open circuits there is nothing much to get wrong. The ISS seems fairly tolerant to shorts as well - normally no permanent damage.
So, it sounds like you have done everything I would - though I think would I have extended it using connectors. Thats what I did with the solar sensor which I have above the roof as well.

[Dador]

Maybe there is a short circuit somewhere on these soldered wires? When using adapters, you have to be careful, because they sometimes cross the connection.

[Dennisdg]

I'm still pulling my hair out having remade the soldered connections, and tried different extension cables a few times. Next I'll measure the resistance between the RJ-11 pins with a view to testing the anemometer cable.

Anemometer circuit.png

As there doesn't seem to be a 'reset' button in the ISS last night I removed the backup battery and disconnected the solar cell from the ISS and let the unit run down hopefully resetting the electronics. I was surprised that it took about 12 hours before the ISS stopped transmitting. CumulusMX did report alarm has been triggered. A low battery condition has been detected.

[mcrossley]

Did you also switch on the test LED, which drains it slightly faster?

[Dador]

Once I found information that in order to discharge the supercap in the ISS, you had to connect the end of the power supply from the console to the input above the battery on the ISS PCB. Of course, without plugging it into an electrical outlet. I've used this method once or twice to reset the ISS.

[Dennisdg]

Mark

I did look at setting switch 4 on to power the test led then promptly forgot!

Dador

Thanks for the suggestion to reset the unit.

[RayProudfoot]

Dennis, just a suggestion if you have the console. Try resetting it by removing power lead, then remove batteries and finally remove the Datalink module.

Leave for 2 mins and then insert everything again. Here’s the official advice…
https://www.manula.com/manuals/pws/davi ... he-console

[Dennisdg]

Ray

Thanks for the suggestion unfortunately the problem still exists.

I'll check the voltage between pins 4 and 5 of the RJ11 in daylight tomorrow.

Regards