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Maplin USB Wireless Touchscreen Weather Station Problem?

Posted: Wed 22 Aug 2012 9:13 pm
by DemonTraitor
In the hope that someone on here has one...

http://www.maplin.co.uk/usb-touchscreen ... ter-228825

Mine has been running almost a month now, absolutely fine. I love it!

Today though I have noticed the Wind-Direction indicator has been pointing North(ish), but the LCD display is indicating South(ish)... Like it's reversed???

Anyone else had a problem like this?

I feel a headache coming on LOL

Thanks. Demon

Re: Maplin USB Wireless Touchscreen Weather Station Problem?

Posted: Wed 22 Aug 2012 10:45 pm
by water01
I apologise for what might be a silly question, but you did line up the marks on the wind direction indicator to point to the North when you installed it?

Re: Maplin USB Wireless Touchscreen Weather Station Problem?

Posted: Thu 23 Aug 2012 5:43 am
by DemonTraitor
Not a silly at all. Yes, it is facing north.

The station has been working fine until now. I am so confused. And also depressed, cos now my records are now useless.

Going to try and reset it at the weekend. If that does not work I shall turn the Windicator round 180 degrees!

:(

Re: Maplin USB Wireless Touchscreen Weather Station Problem?

Posted: Thu 23 Aug 2012 8:45 am
by AllyCat
Hi,

Is it always 180 degrees out, or is there a bias to certain directions (in addition to the predominant wind direction)? I.E. do the logs contain at least ALL the primary directions N, NE, E... etc. (the "intermediate directions, NNE etc., can be rare with an unmodified FO vane). If it really is always 180 degrees out then you could edit your "bad" logs.

The reason I ask is because the direction is reported by changing a resistance value, and a bad connection could alter how/which directions are reported.

Cheers, Alan.

Re: Maplin USB Wireless Touchscreen Weather Station Problem?

Posted: Thu 23 Aug 2012 8:53 am
by Charlie
DemonTraitor wrote:Today though I have noticed the Wind-Direction indicator has been pointing North(ish), but the LCD display is indicating South(ish)... Like it's reversed???
Is there any wind blowing, or is it dead calm?
Does the indication ever change?
Can you be properly specific about the direction indicated? (This is critical for troubleshooting)
Most likely you've developed a bad connection to the wind vane - did you put any dielectric grease on the connections when you installed the system?
Is the "indicator" you refer to on the display, or in Cumulus?

Re: Maplin USB Wireless Touchscreen Weather Station Problem?

Posted: Thu 23 Aug 2012 8:52 pm
by DemonTraitor
It looks like the direction is reversed 180 degrees. On the LCD display and Cumulus. Both are updating fine at regular intervals.

Cos of having to work GRRRRR I have not had time to do proper tests.

I want to take the station down and physically move the indicator and see what results I get.

I plan on re-seating connection etc, and resetting before doing anything too drastic.

Thanks to all for your help.

I will keep you "posted"

Re: Maplin USB Wireless Touchscreen Weather Station Problem?

Posted: Sat 25 Aug 2012 1:06 pm
by DemonTraitor
Well, I took down the station and checked the connections.

To check the wind direction reading I pointed the station north as indicated on with an etched "N" and held the wind-indicator in various positions by hand, and the readings were out by 180 degrees.

I now have the etched "N" facing south, and all seems to be working fine... so far...

http://weather.alienmoons.co.uk/

Re: Maplin USB Wireless Touchscreen Weather Station Problem?

Posted: Sat 25 Aug 2012 1:47 pm
by AllyCat
Hi,

Apologies if this may be another silly question, but you do realise that all Wind Vanes (and the LCD/Cumulus displays, etc.) point to the direction FROM where the wind comes, not the direction of air flow (unlike the BBC's weather forecast indicators)?

It's very hard to see how Fine Offset could have "made it wrongly".

Cheers, Alan.

Re: Maplin USB Wireless Touchscreen Weather Station Problem?

Posted: Sat 25 Aug 2012 2:38 pm
by DemonTraitor
AllyCat wrote:Hi,

Apologies if this may be another silly question, but you do realise that all Wind Vanes (and the LCD/Cumulus displays, etc.) point to the direction FROM where the wind comes, not the direction of air flow (unlike the BBC's weather forecast indicators)?

It's very hard to see how Fine Offset could have "made it wrongly".

Cheers, Alan.

is that true?????

Are you saying, that the way I had it set previously is supposed to read that the wind is coming from the South rather than "Blowing North"?

I am looking at the manual now...

If this is correct, then I shall have to get my wife to smack me round the head with a wet fish....

Re: Maplin USB Wireless Touchscreen Weather Station Problem?

Posted: Sat 25 Aug 2012 2:56 pm
by steve
DemonTraitor wrote:Are you saying, that the way I had it set previously is supposed to read that the wind is coming from the South rather than "Blowing North"?
When I looked at your web site, your wind direction was showing as roughly Easterly, when the wind in your part of the world in currently more Westerly, so you probably had it right before you altered it. A 'Northerly' wind, for example, means that the wind is coming from the North.

Re: Maplin USB Wireless Touchscreen Weather Station Problem?

Posted: Sat 25 Aug 2012 3:00 pm
by AllyCat
DemonTraitor wrote:is that true?????..
Hi,

Yes, I'm afraid so. I'm surprised that more (weather enthusiasts) haven't complained about the BBC's "interpretation" on their website. Sorry, I nearly mentioned this in my previous post.

The "tail" of a wind vane (be it the "feathers" of an arrow or the tail of a "cockerel", for example) has a larger surface area than the "pointer" so it must automatically face into the wind.

Cheers, Alan.

Re: Maplin USB Wireless Touchscreen Weather Station Problem?

Posted: Sat 25 Aug 2012 3:02 pm
by DemonTraitor
steve wrote:
DemonTraitor wrote:Are you saying, that the way I had it set previously is supposed to read that the wind is coming from the South rather than "Blowing North"?
When I looked at your web site, your wind direction was showing as roughly Easterly, when the wind in your part of the world in currently more Westerly, so you probably had it right before you altered it. A 'Northerly' wind, for example, means that the wind is coming from the North.
Thank you for everyone's help.

I think I must be losing my marbles.

Maybe because the "Needle" on LCD display looks like a pointer saying "This Way", as in the wind is going "this way", and when people talk about "wind direction" rather than "wind bearing" I suppose???

I have a headache LOL :bash:

Re: Maplin USB Wireless Touchscreen Weather Station Problem?

Posted: Sat 25 Aug 2012 3:42 pm
by RayProudfoot
DemonTraitor wrote:
AllyCat wrote:If this is correct, then I shall have to get my wife to smack me round the head with a wet fish....
Will this do? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCwLirQS2-o

Cracks me up every time. :lol:

Re: Maplin USB Wireless Touchscreen Weather Station Problem?

Posted: Sat 25 Aug 2012 5:12 pm
by DemonTraitor
RayProudfoot wrote:
DemonTraitor wrote:
AllyCat wrote:If this is correct, then I shall have to get my wife to smack me round the head with a wet fish....
Will this do? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCwLirQS2-o

Cracks me up every time. :lol:

FANTASTIC LOL :clap: :lol: :D