Cumulus Support

2 quick questions..

1. Will the rain gauge still work after temp of - 20 c or lower during the course of winter. Im concered in case the ice will damage the box when temp rebound above 0 c or 32 f. I live in montreal canada and winters could be nasty.

2. There are 2 batteries that go in the temp sensor compartment. Do both batteries work for the rain and temp or separate one for the temp and one for the rain.

I wouldn't think snow or ice could break it, but I'm from the tropics, so I'll let someone from Canada answer that one, as someone from Canada holds a Cumulus record for temp range (-40 to +40 or so), and that would stuff me up

The outdoor temp/humidity sensor also gather's the information from the rain gauge and wind instuments, and rerequires both batteries to run the unit.

Re: the rain gauge, do a search, as some put heaters in them. This allows to measure snow and stop them from freazing up. Worse case senario, the drain holes freeze up, it fills with water then expands as it freezes. It may break something? Let's wait for some more replies hey?

When I used to have my Oregon weather station, I mounted a small 12 volt halogen bulb inside the case of the rain guage, it was the type of bulb that you get in garden lights, this in turn was connected to a 12 volt thansformer, via an externally mounted thermostat as soon as the outside temp. dropped to the set temp. the halogen lamp wouls swith on and there was then enoungh heat generated to stop the rain gauge freezing up, but not enough heat to evaporate any rain, will be looking to do this to my present set up.

The folks from the UK can get away with small heaters, but for us Canuks - forget it. It's going to freeze up any day now, and it is going to thaw about April. It is also going to survive (at least mine has survived 2 winters).

Also forget removing a battery... all items are powered by the same pair of batteries.

Hi guys.

does it really rain @ -20 C ?

I suspect not, even in Canada

Now, in US, probably. The do everything in 'spades' haha.

Best advice would be to use the 'text input' to record non-rain precipitation.

Hi Phil,
One of the funky things about water is that it expands as it freezes. Since ice is less dense, this makes ice float, and allows us to go fishing in winter in Canada. Unfortunately, things like your garden hose or water pipes don't enjoy the expansion, and often need replacing if you allow them to freeze with water inside. Since the rain gauge allows water inside, it's a valid question whether or not it will be damaged. Fortunately there are holes in the bottom to let the water out, so the sensor won't be damaged.
Now if they had only designed it so that the anemometer didn't freeze in position when we actually do get freezing rain, they'd have gotten a gold star.
Of course, I doubt any of the F.O. parts would have survived this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Amer ... rm_of_1998 We were 15 days without electricity or running water at my house.

hi charlie. ok on the freezing, its been a problem here too. we had -2 C over the w/e and yesterday - 4 C.

I wonder how the proffessionals handle their kit. Heaters, as you suggested?

Just looked your location up. Its 8 degrees South of me but so much colder. Thank goodness for the Gulf stream eh?

OK mate, stay warm and prosper

I doubt any FO parts would be damaged being plastic which is a bit flexible. That's where plastic pipes for plumbing score - they don't split when it freezes like copper or iron pipes do. You might find the ice in the anemometer gap pushes the parts apart a bit. I glued a skirt onto my FO anemometer to stop the freezing rain and snow from getting at the gap - had no problem with it last winter like I did the one before.