How can you tell how old a Pro2 console is?

mcrossley · Post by **mcrossley** » Wed 27 Mar 2013 9:28 pm

any ideas?

sbuckler · Post by **sbuckler** » Wed 27 Mar 2013 10:39 pm

Stolen from a thread on another board:

To "read" the manufacture date code, A100226A063, as an example, AYYMMDDA063 would be Feb. 26, 2010. This was explained to me by 2 different Davis techs. edit: This also applies to the codes on any other SIM board covers.

Is that what your looking for? Sure hope so, because you've helped me a lot in the past.

Stan

mcrossley · Post by **mcrossley** » Wed 27 Mar 2013 11:02 pm

hmm, I have one in front of me that starts A61019Dxxx so that doesn't seem to fit?

mcrossley · Post by **mcrossley** » Wed 27 Mar 2013 11:45 pm

Ah, I found this...

http://vp-kb.wikispaces.com/VP+Model+ID

According to that the year is a single digit, so it looks like this console was manufactured in 19th Oct 2006

PaulMy · Post by **PaulMy** » Thu 28 Mar 2013 12:40 am

Up to 2009 mfg code is single digit and from 2010 2 digits, plus MMDD as you have already decoded,

Paul

mcrossley · Post by **mcrossley** » Thu 28 Mar 2013 9:02 am

thanks. A supplemental question... If it is fitted with a Davis serial logger of similar or older vintage, can I flash the firmware up to ver 3? I have updated it to 1.90 so far.

Post by **steve** » Thu 28 Mar 2013 9:15 am

Firmware 3.12 apparently works OK on all consoles manufactured from April 2006 onwards. Mine's July 2006 but I haven't plucked up the courage yet...

RayProudfoot · Post by **RayProudfoot** » Thu 28 Mar 2013 9:34 am

Gents,

I followed the thread on WXForum for several days before plucking up the courage to update mine. My console was manufactured in April 2009 so I was reasonably confident it would be okay.

The update was fine. My main reason was for a leading 0 to be displayed for temps between -0.9 and +0.9. Otherwise there weren't any 'must-have' benefits for me.

Here is the statement on the Davis formware page...

IMPORTANT! This firmware is only for Vantage Pro2 Wireless Consoles manufactured April 2006 or later (#6312, #6312OV, #6312UK, #6312EU). The Inside Temp, Inside Hum, and Barometer readings will not appear if 3.12 firmware is installed on consoles manufactured before April 2006.

So I'd say you'd be fine Mark. If you want to read more this thread may help. http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=18391.0

Welcome to the VP2 club!

mcrossley · Post by **mcrossley** » Thu 28 Mar 2013 9:17 pm

I took the plunge and updated to 3.12, it worked fine!

Welcome to the VP2 club!

Thanks Ray, of course I have done it on the cheap! An old beat up station that came with a 0.01 inch rain gauge (and no metric adapter), a faulty temp/humidity sensor, and a few segments on the console not working.

But, the rain gauge is now recalibrated to 0.2mm per tip...
A replacement T/H sensor (a better spec version than Davis fit) cost £25...
Next up is check the LCD connections, but to be honest it will be connected to a PC permanently so I'm not all that fussed about the console.
The whole lot stands me at just over £220, so I'm fairly happy with that.

Incidentally I noticed that the rain gauge tipper buckets were out of balance quite a bit despite looking like new when wiped down. I noticed that the left/right tips took different times on the drip calibration runs (and the rain rate jumped up/down). After a bit of careful balancing that is now sorted. That was unexpected though, I'm guessing it's the aluminium plating that is uneven as the moulding looks fine.

Change over from the FO will be after Easter when I can get everything mounted properly.

mcrossley · Post by **mcrossley** » Thu 28 Mar 2013 10:33 pm

And (mainly) success on fixing the LCD display, just two segments of one character on the scrolling display at the bottom is now not working - that's good enough for me

Post by **steve** » Thu 28 Mar 2013 11:15 pm

mcrossley wrote:I noticed that the left/right tips took different times on the drip calibration runs (and the rain rate jumped up/down).

I found the same with mine, when it was new. And it was quite a bit out on the calibration overall; I had to adjust one screw by more than the other to correct it.

duke · Post by **duke** » Fri 29 Mar 2013 7:34 am

A replacement T/H sensor (a better spec version than Davis fit) cost £25...

Interesting, do you have a link Mark?

belfryboy · Post by **belfryboy** » Fri 29 Mar 2013 8:03 am

duke wrote:
A replacement T/H sensor (a better spec version than Davis fit) cost £25...
Interesting, do you have a link Mark?

how about this one.

SHT15

RayProudfoot · Post by **RayProudfoot** » Fri 29 Mar 2013 9:11 am

mcrossley wrote:Thanks Ray, of course I have done it on the cheap! An old beat up station that came with a 0.01 inch rain gauge (and no metric adapter), a faulty temp/humidity sensor, and a few segments on the console not working.

You've done well to buy one second-hand.

But, the rain gauge is now recalibrated to 0.2mm per tip...
A replacement T/H sensor (a better spec version than Davis fit) cost £25...
Next up is check the LCD connections, but to be honest it will be connected to a PC permanently so I'm not all that fussed about the console.
The whole lot stands me at just over £220, so I'm fairly happy with that.

That's a cracking deal. What's the situation with the anemometer? Do you have enough cable to attach it directly to the ISS? I couldn't do that so had to buy a second transmitter.

Incidentally I noticed that the rain gauge tipper buckets were out of balance quite a bit despite looking like new when wiped down. I noticed that the left/right tips took different times on the drip calibration runs (and the rain rate jumped up/down). After a bit of careful balancing that is now sorted. That was unexpected though, I'm guessing it's the aluminium plating that is uneven as the moulding looks fine.

Change over from the FO will be after Easter when I can get everything mounted properly.

I never calibrated mine at all. No instructions from Davis or my UK supplier suggested it was necessary. All I did was make sure the ISS was absolutely level. It will be interesting to compare our rain totals.

mcrossley · Post by **mcrossley** » Fri 29 Mar 2013 10:38 am

duke wrote:
A replacement T/H sensor (a better spec version than Davis fit) cost £25...
Interesting, do you have a link Mark?

As belfryboy says the SHT15 is better spec than the SHT11 Davis use for a couple of pounds more. I went for the SHT75, which is the just the SHT15 packaged on a little board to avoid the hassle of surface mount components and it has the power decoupling capacitor built in. Also the response time of the SHT75 is likely to be better given it is not soldered to a thick circuit board that Davis use. I have used the original Davis board but mounted the SHT75 proud of it and encased it in a bit of old kids rock pooling net found in the shed to keep the critters out. One breath on it and the T & H readings shoot up and then down again. I got mine from Farnell as RS are out of stock until mid-April (they work out about the same price as Farnell offer "free" shipping and I couldn't spare the time to go to the RS counter in Stockport).

RayProudfoot wrote:What's the situation with the anemometer? Do you have enough cable to attach it directly to the ISS? I couldn't do that so had to buy a second transmitter.

Not sure yet Ray, I know the anemometer cable can be extended up to 240 ft, so I should be able to do something. I want the sensor up on the chimney stack this time, but finding a suitable place the ISS will be the problem where it is clear of heat sources, within cable reach, and accessible for maintenance.

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How can you tell how old a Pro2 console is?

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