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Maintainence issues with MyDEL or similar

Discussion specific to Fine Offset and similar rebadged weather stations
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philcdav
Posts: 244
Joined: Tue 24 Jun 2008 9:43 pm
Weather Station: MyDEL WX2008 Mk2 Fine Offset
Operating System: XP and W7
Location: Maghull, nr Liverpool, UK
Contact:

Maintainence issues with MyDEL or similar

Post by philcdav »

hi guys.

my MyDEL system stopped recording rain data 48 hours ago.

My first check was the telephone connector under the 'screen'

Bingo, replugging did the trick.

I have added a good blast of WD40 to aid waterproofing.

Hope this helps.

Regards- Phil (G0DOR)
Phil - G0DOR
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steve
Cumulus Author
Posts: 26702
Joined: Mon 02 Jun 2008 6:49 pm
Weather Station: None
Operating System: None
Location: Vienne, France
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Re: Maintainence issues with MyDEL or similar

Post by steve »

I think I read on someone's web site about them deciding their connector looked a bit exposed, so they did something about it. Can't remember where I read it, nor what they did. Useful, huh? :)

Steve
Steve
harrym1byt
Posts: 280
Joined: Fri 15 Aug 2008 5:22 pm
Weather Station: WH 1081 (EasyWeather type)
Operating System: Win10
Location: Garforth, W. Yorks, UK
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Re: Maintainence issues with MyDEL or similar

Post by harrym1byt »

The MyDel - is the Watson, is the WH-1081 etc., which I also have.

The screen doesn't quite cover the battery compartment and the plugs when the rain is horizontal.

To help prevent rain penetration I initially added some duct tape over the battery compartment and around the plugs so the water ran away. I have since added a home made Stevenson screen, which completely covers the unit all the way down to the bracket.

The screen is just a series of plastic plant pot drip trays, with their centres cut out, that is all but the two to be used on top - the trays being used upside down. The holes in their centres made just a little bigger than the existing screen, with three holes around the edge for the rods. These I then fixed together with three lengths of screwed rod, 6x nuts, using 20mm lengths of plastic tube as spacers between the trays - plastic conduit/ water pipe or similar, three spacers per drip tray. The trays need to be of sufficient diameter to allow the centre to be cut out, but to still leave a good rim around the flat base for the rods and spacers.

Sprayed up white, it then just drops over the top of the existing screen, held down by its own weight - keeping the heat of the sun off the temperature sensor and the rain away from the electronics, but still allowing a good airflow.
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steve
Cumulus Author
Posts: 26702
Joined: Mon 02 Jun 2008 6:49 pm
Weather Station: None
Operating System: None
Location: Vienne, France
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Re: Maintainence issues with MyDEL or similar

Post by steve »

It must have been your description I read, Harry.

Steve
Steve
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GeniSim
Posts: 16
Joined: Sun 10 Aug 2008 11:52 am
Weather Station: National Geographic 265NC
Location: Jonquiere Quebec Canada
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Re: Maintainence issues with MyDEL or similar

Post by GeniSim »

Hi,

Quite interesting, would be nice to post a picture.

Marc
Marc

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G8AWO
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri 05 Sep 2008 6:25 am
Weather Station: W 8681
Location: Hatfield Herts
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Re: Maintainence issues with MyDEL or similar

Post by G8AWO »

You could also use a piece of old inner tube slid over the base of the sensor and also the cables coming in to the sensor..using a couple of cable ties to hold the tube and all the cables tight together thus slowing the ingress of moisture.
This method also has the added advantage of making the slide off panel harder to fall out.
Allways in the mire only the depth varies
harrym1byt
Posts: 280
Joined: Fri 15 Aug 2008 5:22 pm
Weather Station: WH 1081 (EasyWeather type)
Operating System: Win10
Location: Garforth, W. Yorks, UK
Contact:

Re: Maintainence issues with MyDEL or similar

Post by harrym1byt »

No, it wasn't my original idea - I just adopted and adapted it.

The original idea used threaded rods and lots of nuts to hold the drip trays in position. Short bits of tube make it quicker and cheaper to assemble.

Do a search on the http://www.midlandsweather.org.uk/ - You should be able to find the photos of the original version on there, but I'll try and post some photos of my version (if the rain stops for long enough to take some).

I like the idea of the inner tube BTW, but the basic unit does need some extra screening if it is out in the sun.
Tony
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon 23 Jun 2008 7:27 am
Weather Station: Watson W-8681 (Fine Offset)
Operating System: Windows10
Location: Mobberley, Cheshire, England
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Re: Maintainence issues with MyDEL or similar

Post by Tony »

philcdav wrote:hi guys.

my MyDEL system stopped recording rain data 48 hours ago.

My first check was the telephone connector under the 'screen'

Bingo, replugging did the trick.

Regards- Phil (G0DOR)
I had the same problem this week.

In my case it was caused by a family of spiders that had set up home in the body of the rainfall recording mechanism.

They had spun a sticky web that had locked the tipping mechanism solid!

The pair were carefully evicted and the unit was cleaned and then sprayed inside with some bug killer.

It's currently working well again.

Tony (G4HZW)
philcdav
Posts: 244
Joined: Tue 24 Jun 2008 9:43 pm
Weather Station: MyDEL WX2008 Mk2 Fine Offset
Operating System: XP and W7
Location: Maghull, nr Liverpool, UK
Contact:

Re: Maintainence issues with MyDEL or similar

Post by philcdav »

hi guys.

further to my issues with the rain sensor, i spoke too soon, as the unit failed to read a couple of hours later.

I emailed 'M+L and sons' regards replacement and was instantly informed that a replacement would be available.

Before mailing the unit i decided to have a look inside and found a spiedr web trapping the rocker bucket.

A quick clean out and alls well again.

Many thanks to M+L and full marks for speedy response.

Regards - Phil
Phil - G0DOR
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