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Random Thoughts - Weston 8681 etc

Discussion specific to Fine Offset and similar rebadged weather stations
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EmmBeeGee
Posts: 22
Joined: Fri 05 Mar 2010 10:19 am
Weather Station: Weston W-8681
Operating System: Windows 7
Location: Centre of France
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Random Thoughts - Weston 8681 etc

Post by EmmBeeGee »

My recently purchased PWS is temporarily sited atop a 150 cms wall - will raise it to 2 metres above the ridge of a barn at a later (read warmer) stage.

Having read posts on a number of threads, a few thoughts come to mind:

... how plumb should be the mast,

... the most stable mast diameter considering the possible free-standing extension to raise the sensors above turbulence,

... to what extent if any, is the aerodynamic interaction between the anemometer and the WDI particularly when the WDI
is directly down-wind of the spinning cups,

... would a model aircraft-style symetrical airfoil fin provide improved WDI tail "authority" without incurring a penalty,

... would small solar panels be able to power the Tx unit,

... if using for example, a 12v PC fan to aspirate a "screen" to the temperature/Tx unit, would a solar panel power it,

...

I have no doubt that at least one reader or contributer of this forum will have tried or have positive thoughts on my ramblings.

Mal
hills
Posts: 692
Joined: Sat 26 Dec 2009 8:52 am
Weather Station: Fine Offset WH1091
Operating System: Raspbian Buster
Location: Crafers, South Australia
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Re: Random Thoughts - Weston 8681 etc

Post by hills »

Here's a few threads & comments to get you started



... how plumb should be the mast,

very plumb or it may affect your wind direction if you modify your WDI tail

... the most stable mast diameter considering the possible free-standing extension to raise the sensors above turbulence,

https://cumulus.hosiene.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=2304

... to what extent if any, is the aerodynamic interaction between the anemometer and the WDI particularly when the WDI
is directly down-wind of the spinning cups,

I think this may have been discussed in the tail mod thread below, if not have a search as it has been discussed before.

... would a model aircraft-style symetrical airfoil fin provide improved WDI tail "authority" without incurring a penalty,

https://cumulus.hosiene.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1753

... would small solar panels be able to power the Tx unit,

https://cumulus.hosiene.co.uk/viewtopic.p ... 8&start=20

... if using for example, a 12v PC fan to aspirate a "screen" to the temperature/Tx unit, would a solar panel power it,

I used to have my 2v fan powered by a solar panel without a battery backup, but obvioulsy this only worked during sunny days. As I wanted it to work at night and cloudy days I converted to a permanently powered 12v fan. I thought about using a bigger 12v panel and a battery reserve, but it was much cheaper to just use mains power.
Gina
Posts: 1885
Joined: Sat 21 Feb 2009 12:41 pm
Weather Station: Nothing working ATM - making one
Operating System: OS X, Linux Mint, Win7 & XP
Location: Devon UK

Re: Random Thoughts - Weston 8681 etc

Post by Gina »

Yes, that pretty much covers it :) I too have abandoned the idea of solar power and run a cable from the house. 12v PC fans run fast enough on 5v and only need bell wire to conduct the small current they require. You might have to check the polarity though unless you can get cable with one wire marked (colour or a little ridge on the outside of the figure 8).
Gina

Sorry, no banner - weather station out of action. Hoping to be up and running with a new home-made one soon.
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