Question on the new FINE OFFSET model using the SOLAR Cell

[DaveI]

I want to buy another FINE OFFSET Weather station kit to have a a ready spares for my current one (WH1080PC)...

The U.S. just got the SOLAR version...Since the new SOLAR version seems to be selling for less than the remaining older versions here...
I'm wondering what the differences are regarding the TRANSMITTER UNIT. I don't plan on using the sunshield/Solar cell that it comes
with as I upgraded to an Ambient Weather Solar Shield on my current setup... Is the transmitter the same unit as the older model?
The transmitter unit must have a connection jack for the Solar Cell connection. Can the Solar Cell simply be unplugged from the transmitter and
used the same as the older version without the Solar Cell but just using regular batteries? Like I said the new SOLAR version for some reason
is selling at less cost than the older version which makes me of course want to buy the new version and save money but I want to make
sure the components are the same as the older one except for the addition of a Solar Cell and possibly the addition of a jack on the transmitter
for the connection to the Solar Cell. TIA.

[AllyCat]

Hi Dave,

There are (at least) two different "solar" versions, one has just a PV cell to charge the (alkaline) batteries and the other has Lux and UV sensors. The latter transmits data in a different (extended) format to the console so it definitely is NOT compatible with the non-solar (e.g. 1080) family.

AFAIK, neither has an additional connector, the solar unit plugs into the "rain" connector on the transmitter unit and the rain cable "dasiy chains" into the solar unit. I don't know if the transmitter is compatible with the basic solar unit, but my guess is that FO wouldn't have had the foresight to plan for the later addition of the solar charging feature. In the photos from ben-s on page 2 of this thread (and from Gina on the previous page) it looks as if the original upper socket (rain?) has two pins linked, but the later board has them separated.

However, the solar version will probably work alright with normal alkaline or AA Lithium 1.5 volt cells, without the PV cell connected. But ensure that both transmitters use the same radio frequency (probably 915 MHz in the USA).

Cheers, Alan.

[DaveI]

OK...Thanks for that...If the two pins are linked on the earlier board (Passing the voltage) and the later one does not (open circuit) then
that tells me it would probably work if you went in and connected those pins again with solder, etc. But I think I'll just pay the extra $20
and get the older kit I can be sure of. THANKS.

Hi Dave,

There are (at least) two different "solar" versions, one has just a PV cell to charge the (alkaline) batteries and the other has Lux and UV sensors. The latter transmits data in a different (extended) format to the console so it definitely is NOT compatible with the non-solar (e.g. 1080) family.

AFAIK, neither has an additional connector, the solar unit plugs into the "rain" connector on the transmitter unit and the rain cable "dasiy chains" into the solar unit. I don't know if the transmitter is compatible with the basic solar unit, but my guess is that FO wouldn't have had the foresight to plan for the later addition of the solar charging feature. In the photos from ben-s on page 2 of this thread (and from Gina on the previous page) it looks as if the original upper socket (rain?) has two pins linked, but the later board has them separated.

Cheers, Alan.

[DaveI]

I got lucky... I found one left at a business that still had it at a low price (Same one I have WH1080PC)...
They even had a coupon that knocked another $10.89 off the price so my final price on it was $97.99...
$2.00 less than I bought it for before. Now I'll have a complete spares kit for anything that fails. After that
I'll just replace the spares kit on a per piece basis...

Much as I'd like to have a Davis VP2 with fan, logger, etc. I don't see myself ever spending that kind of money
when as far as I can tell this does pretty close to the same (I compare mine to others in the area and I'm pretty
much spot on once I installed the aftermarket solar shield)...That's two complete kits I've purchased for less than
$200 delivered...

[AllyCat]

Hi,

Note that I added a paragraph to my post whilst/after you responded. Hopefully in USA they're all 915 MHz, here in Europe (and elsewhere) we have the potential of 434 or 868 MHz wireless links (with the same model numbers).

I thought I'd compare the two board photos in a single frame. I believe the circled pins are the rain connector, note that there are many more components (including two transistors) near them on the solar version (upper). These presumably form a regulator/switch for the solar power. Another difference is that this (particular) solar version has the radio clock receiver (and antenna wires) at the right. The antenna tracks around the right-hand edge of the boards are subtly different, maybe a design refinement, or they may be for different carrier frequencies.

The rain sensor pins are the two middle pins of the RJ11 connector and I believe one of those pins is connected directly to "earth" (negative battery) as probably is one of the PV cell wires. So the connectors may be compatible (but obviously without the solar charging capability). The solar sensor model (not shown) uses a cable/connector with SIX cores (although I think the middle two pins may still be for the rain sensor).

Cheers, Alan.