WH3080 solar readings

[actioman]

Hello there,

I also took advantage of the fórum discount code (thanks Steve! ), and bought the WH3080.
By mistake they sent me the WH1090. I informed Martin Westover and he was flawless. He told me that they knew of the mistake and had already sent me the correct model weather station free of charge and without having to return to 1090. Amazing!
I received it at the beginning of the month and since then has been tested in a temporary place. I bought it specifically for it's solar module. But until now, I'm not very satisfied...

Near me (about 10km / 6.2 miles) I have a Davis Vantage Pro2 Plus run and solar values ​​are quite different, you can see it here: http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstat ... =IBADAJOZ5

One thing to bear in mind are the high values ​​at the beginning and end of the day (around 10h and 17h)!

I leave you here the charts several days to get an idea.




























Another thing that happens is the Cumulus does not update the value UV. All other parameters update, but not this one. And this happens when the UV ​are 12!?





What it means the yellow light near the UV? Because sometimes it is off...

If necessary, I put here any file you want.

In two or three occasions and although the console of the weather station to present the UV data, in the Cumulus appears 0, as you can see on 06/08/2011, near 17h. Does not appear in any other chart, because I corrected the values ​​manually. All other values ​​were correct, not only recorded the UV.

The solar module is oriented to the south, as indicated, so do not know what is going on.

Is there anyone else with an WH3080, who can share their solar data?

I just know one of these weather station in the Wunderground. It's in South Africa and UV appear to have the correct values​​. At least these peaks does not exist, like mine. You can see it here: http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstat ... WESTERN101

May I have a faulty module, that is the question?


Here I leave you some pictures of the weather station:











I'm thankful for any help!

[steve]

I've split your post off into a separate thread. I'll reply to some of your points shortly.

[actioman]

I've split your post off into a separate thread. I'll reply to some of your points shortly.

Thank you very much Steve! I will wait for your answers!

[steve]

Near me (about 10km / 6.2 miles) I have a Davis Vantage Pro2 Plus run and solar values ​​are quite different

The WH3080 and the VP2 measure different things. The WH3080 measures luminosity, in Lux, and the VP2 measures irradiance, in W/m2. Cumulus tries to convert the Lux into W/m2, simply by multiplying by 0.0079, which is apparently a reasonable figure for sunlight. But this can only ever be an approximation. You can if you wish adjust the multiplier by adding a line to the [Station] section of cumulus.ini:

LuxToWM2=0.0079

but substitute the value you want to use instead. That may get you some better W/m2 values.

Another thing that happens is the Cumulus does not update the value UV. All other parameters update, but not this one. And this happens when the UV ​are 12!?

From your graphs, it's clear that sometimes Cumulus does record the value 12, so I guess the answer is that the station is not sending 12 at the times when Cumulus is not showing 12. If you turn on the debug log at the times when the console is showing 12 but Cumulus is showing something else, we can see what the actual data is.

What it means the yellow light near the UV? Because sometimes it is off...

It's supposed to be the sun. It's lit when Cumulus thinks the sun is shining, based on the current theoretical maximum solar value at any given time. You need to experiment with the solar settings (see the help for the station settings) until you get reasonable results - you shouldn't really be getting readings higher than the current theoretical max value, as you are getting quite often. But this is connected to the Lux to W/m2 conversion as well, of course.

In two or three occasions and although the console of the weather station to present the UV data, in the Cumulus appears 0, as you can see on 06/08/2011, near 17h.

Again, turn on the debug log when Cumulus is showing zero when the console is showing something else, and we can see the actual data.

[actioman]

The WH3080 and the VP2 measure different things. The WH3080 measures luminosity, in Lux, and the VP2 measures irradiance, in W/m2. Cumulus tries to convert the Lux into W/m2, simply by multiplying by 0.0079, which is apparently a reasonable figure for sunlight. But this can only ever be an approximation. You can if you wish adjust the multiplier by adding a line to the [Station] section of cumulus.ini:

LuxToWM2=0.0079

but substitute the value you want to use instead. That may get you some better W/m2 values.

First of all, once more Steve, here you are to help and give some of your time to others! Thank you very much!
In relation to your tip, ok I will try it, but also can I made the changes in the Cumulus window, in the Station Settings? If yes, which is the parameter should I change: "Trans factor" or "Sun Threshold"?

From your graphs, it's clear that sometimes Cumulus does record the value 12, so I guess the answer is that the station is not sending 12 at the times when Cumulus is not showing 12. If you turn on the debug log at the times when the console is showing 12 but Cumulus is showing something else, we can see what the actual data is.

So here goes: the two photos that showed in the initial post, were taken on 15/06/2011. The first at 16h23 and the second one at 16h24. In attachment I send you the log file.

debug_Elvas.rar

It's supposed to be the sun. It's lit when Cumulus thinks the sun is shining, based on the current theoretical maximum solar value at any given time. You need to experiment with the solar settings (see the help for the station settings) until you get reasonable results - you shouldn't really be getting readings higher than the current theoretical max value, as you are getting quite often. But this is connected to the Lux to W/m2 conversion as well, of course.

There is no configuration for the solar panel. Only guide it to the South and thats all. I will try with the adjust of the multiplier, as you told me above.

Again, turn on the debug log when Cumulus is showing zero when the console is showing something else, and we can see the actual data.

I still do not have a log of this problem. As soon as I have it, I will publish it here.

I still suspect that my solar panel has problems...
No explanation for these high levels of UV. Always by the 10h and the 17h. So I would like to know of the experiences with this weather station that the other members have.

[steve]

In relation to your tip, ok I will try it, but also can I made the changes in the Cumulus window, in the Station Settings? If yes, which is the parameter should I change: "Trans factor" or "Sun Threshold"?

Sorry, I obviously wasn't being clear.

If you think your W/m2 is wrong, then you can try changing the LuxtoWM2 setting.
Once you think your W/m2 readings are reasonable, then you can adjust 'Trans factor' so that your calculated max is a better match for your actual readings (i.e. it should be at least as high as your reading most of the time).
Then you can adjust 'Sun Threshold' to improve the calculation which decides whether it is currently sunny.

So here goes: the two photos that showed in the initial post, were taken on 15/06/2011. The first at 16h23 and the second one at 16h24. In attachment I send you the log file.

Here's the first data:

1147.83485 : 16:24:43Solar Data: BA 02 0F 09

The 09 is the UV reading.

Then it changes to

1148.53485 : 16:25:53Solar Data: A5 EF 0E 0E

It's now reading 14, which is off the scale, so Cumulus ignores that (the display stays at 9).

It later changes to 13

1152.03469 : 16:31:43Solar Data: 51 BA 0E 0D

Still off the scale.

[dpmiller]

so the transmitted value is actually from 0-14 rather than the console display's 0-12?

/ must have a go at the trans and threshold on mine- it lights up yellow a bit to much methinks.

[steve]

so the transmitted value is actually from 0-14 rather than the console display's 0-12?

It does seem that way. Perhaps I should change it to accept values higher than 12...

[actioman]

Sorry, I obviously wasn't being clear.

If you think your W/m2 is wrong, then you can try changing the LuxtoWM2 setting.
Once you think your W/m2 readings are reasonable, then you can adjust 'Trans factor' so that your calculated max is a better match for your actual readings (i.e. it should be at least as high as your reading most of the time).
Then you can adjust 'Sun Threshold' to improve the calculation which decides whether it is currently sunny.

These settings are a little confusing to me. I have to see if I read some information about tuning of solar radiation.
I thought it was something like: Assemble, plug in and working!

Here's the first data:

1147.83485 : 16:24:43Solar Data: BA 02 0F 09

The 09 is the UV reading.

Then it changes to

1148.53485 : 16:25:53Solar Data: A5 EF 0E 0E

It's now reading 14, which is off the scale, so Cumulus ignores that (the display stays at 9).

It later changes to 13

1152.03469 : 16:31:43Solar Data: 51 BA 0E 0D

Still off the scale.

so the transmitted value is actually from 0-14 rather than the console display's 0-12?

It does seem that way. Perhaps I should change it to accept values higher than 12...

Yes, dpmiller ans Steve. If you look at the pictures again, you will see that the information it appears on the consoleis : over 12 "> 12". The console has the value "UV 12" and "UV> 12".
It sends this information, and this confuses the Cumulus. Now I understand.

However I think you should not add more values. You can not use something that also indicate a more than 12 information.
I understand this to generate a graph is not feasible. Therefore it is best if possible, limit the value to 12 when the console says it's the value is greater than 12.
What is the maximum amount of UV in the other weather stations (Davis, Oregon, etc.)? It was better to try to standardize the information, no?

dpmiller, and the values ​​of your UV are correct? Can you share here your graphics, please? Because this all started only by unusually high values ​​that I have every day around 10 a.m and later around 5 p.m.

Thank you again, for your help!

[steve]

These settings are a little confusing to me. I have to see if I read some information about tuning of solar radiation.
I thought it was something like: Assemble, plug in and working!

Well, it is, if you want Lux values and have some use for them. If you want Cumulus to try and be clever and do something with the readings, then I'm afraid you'll have to play around with the settings. This is the same for Davis stations (apart from the conversion from Lux).

If you look at the pictures again, you will see that the information it appears on the consoleis : over 12 "> 12".

Ah, I couldn't make that out in your picture, but now I see what you mean.

However I think you should not add more values. You can not use something that also indicate a more than 12 information.
I understand this to generate a graph is not feasible. Therefore it is best if possible, limit the value to 12 when the console says it's the value is greater than 12.

Well, I could just display the supplied value; it doesn't have to be a 'greater than 12' value.

What is the maximum amount of UV in the other weather stations (Davis, Oregon, etc.)?

Davis stations apparently give a value between 0 and 16.

[steve]

I've changed the code so it does this:

if UVreading < 0 then use 0
else if UVreading > 16 then use 16
else use reading as supplied

[actioman]

I've changed the code so it does this:

if UVreading < 0 then use 0
else if UVreading > 16 then use 16
else use reading as supplied

Ok! Now is just wait to test these changes in a new beta and see how it behaves Cumulus!

Thank you!

[actioman]

Steve here I come again . This time to try to know what's going on with Cumulus as the chart indicates that the UV were 0, but the console showed 12.




I send you the debug file:

Debug.rar

In solar radiation have not got anything right so far (as you can see the graph). And I already have this conversion value: "LuxToWM2 = 0.0070"


Thank you once more!

[steve]

Steve here I come again . This time to try to know what's going on with Cumulus as the chart indicates that the UV were 0, but the console showed 12.

It looks like the new code isn't working, but I can't see anything wrong with it. Are you sure you're using the latest build?

In solar radiation have not got anything right so far (as you can see the graph). And I already have this conversion value: "LuxToWM2 = 0.0070"

It's hard to say; unless you have some other data to compare with, you can't know whether you're getting correct W/m2 values. Maybe it's correct, but the max is just too low.

[dpmiller]

I've seen the light and UV readings on the console drop to --- occasionally. Temp and wind is still transmitted so it might be a connection issue w. the solar unit. I squeezed the pins on the plug, haven't seen the issue since. Might be worth a try?