New Davis Anemometer Ordered...

[mcrossley]

Well, my anemometer failed for about 8 hours the other day - the reed switch contacts were stuck closed. So time to order a new one.

My VP2 was manufactured in Oct 2006 so it is just over 9 years old. I looked at my average wind speed for the last couple of years and I reckon that reed switch must have clicked its contacts around 400 million times in its lifetime - I think it has earned its retirement!

Hopefully, the new style Davis anemometer will be a little more sensitive than old one. The new one is already on its way courtesy of John at Prodata, I hope the ladder will be coming out later this week - weather permitting!

[steve]

I know I go on about how often I've had to replace my temp/hum sensor, but my anemometer has been quite reliable, considering the wind here. I did have to replace it about five years ago, but I can't actually remember what the problem was - I'm not sure that it was the reed switch giving up.

[steve]

I think that, given my average wind speed of 15 mph, my current anemometer has done about a billion rotations in five years.

[mcrossley]

I think that, given my average wind speed of 15 mph, my current anemometer has done about a billion rotations in five years.

Agreed! It's doing amazingly well!

[RayProudfoot]

Mark,

I noticed your station had anemometer problems. I have the new brass-tipped anemometer and it is more sensitive than the old one. Mine broke 2 years ago and John shipped a new one the next day. I only lost one full day's record.

The new one has a much improved switch which should last a very long time.

[mcrossley]

My replacement has arrived this morning, I've got the ladder up, now to summon up the bravery to lean back at the top of it get to the mast on the gable stand-offs. I'm not good with heights!

[steve]

Check the wind speed on your station before you climb the ladder!



(Sorry)

[steve]

Actually, I see that you're getting readings from the old one at the moment, so that joke wasn't very good.

[mcrossley]

I did briefly unplug it, but I've put it back in now, the ladder wasn't in the right place.
I've got a conference call to go on soon, another excuse to delay the job for a while. Ohh, and then maybe some lunch, and then...

[mcrossley]

OK, 'tis done! My wobbly legs are back on terra firma. Looking at it may be a few degrees out from North, but correcting that will have to be another day as I've been called away for a couple of days for work.

I'll recondition the old anemometer either as a spare or sell it. I see the new one seems to use double bearings on the wind cups rather than bearing and brass bush. Also, the direction pot doesn't seem to have that rough spot at North - or it is much smoother.

[RayProudfoot]

I'm so pleased you're still alive! You can have 2 chocolate digestives with your afternoon tea. Well done Mark!

[mcrossley]

The new direction sensor is much freer than the old one, resulting at the moment in a much waggier graph, the instantaneous readings have a larger scatter than before (excuse all the impenetrable technical terms)....

Capture.PNG

[steve]

I wonder if the extra wagginess is due to a change in design, or whether your old one was just getting stickier?

[Grimers]

I wonder if the extra wagginess is due to a change in design, or whether your old one was just getting stickier?

Oh my!

[mcrossley]

I think it is a combination of the old one being a bit stiff, this one being easier to move, and it being pretty gusty at the mo. When the wind is from the SW I have a big eucalyptus tree upwind of me. So the vane continues to swing in the lulls.