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 Post subject: New console - backlight on permanently
PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 2:54 pm 
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Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:12 am
Posts: 33
Location: 03240 Saint Sornin, France
Weather Station: Maplin-WatsonW8681-Fine Offset
I've just replaced my console, because the the old pressure sensor went defective. The old one was a WH-8681 bought from Maplins. The new one is not badged on the front but is a WH1080 (bought from the UK Weather Store via EBay).

Everything has worked immediately and well, and although I bought the whole set (rather then just the console) I have only installed the console while keeping the rest for spares and experimentation.

Only issue with the new console is that the backlight is permanently on. I can find nothing in the manual, or on the forum, but does anyone else have one with permanent backlighting? It's USB powered, so shouldn't be a battery issue, but can anyone shed any light on this? (forgive pun!) Is there a way of turning it on/off?

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 Post subject: Re: New console - backlight on permanently
PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 3:07 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 10:34 pm
Posts: 1039
Location: Anglesey, North Wales, UK
Weather Station: Fine Offset
Operating System: Windows XP
have you tried a hard reset?

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 Post subject: Re: New console - backlight on permanently
PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 4:08 pm 
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Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 5:51 pm
Posts: 268
Location: Radstock Somerset UK
Weather Station: WH1081 (Maplin)
Operating System: windows 7 64bit
Sounds like that the transistor that turns the light on and off may be shorted
probably best to send it back for a replacement

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 Post subject: Re: New console - backlight on permanently
PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 7:34 pm 
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Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 1:58 pm
Posts: 482
Location: SE London
Weather Station: Fine Offset 1080/1 & 3080
Operating System: Windows XP SP3
Hi,

If you don't want to have to return it, the transistor (maybe there's a solder bridge across the tracks) is described by hans in this thread.

I've actually considering modifying mine so that the backlight is always on when USB is connected. But the batteries will soon become drained if/when USB power is not avilable.

Cheers, Alan.


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 Post subject: Re: New console - backlight on permanently
PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 9:18 pm 
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Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2008 3:37 am
Posts: 696
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Weather Station: wh-1081
Operating System: Weather Laptop - Windows 7 Pro
I'd have to wonder about inside temperature readings if the backlight is running permanently. Not a lot of heat generated but possibly enough to raise the reading.

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 Post subject: Re: New console - backlight on permanently
PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 10:38 pm 
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Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:20 am
Posts: 299
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Weather Station: Vantage Pro2 w/ daytime FARS
Operating System: Windows Vista SP2
Super-T wrote:
I'd have to wonder about inside temperature readings if the backlight is running permanently.

This is an issue for the Davis consoles.

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A man with a thermometer always knows the temperature. A man with two thermometers, not so sure.


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 Post subject: Re: New console - backlight on permanently
PostPosted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 10:45 am 
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Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:12 am
Posts: 33
Location: 03240 Saint Sornin, France
Weather Station: Maplin-WatsonW8681-Fine Offset
robynfali wrote:
have you tried a hard reset?


If this means a battery removal and re-start, then yes. And it's made no difference.


And thanks to Roy and Alan for the information about the transistor that controls the light. Returning the unit would be a pain, as I have brought it back to France from the UK delivery address. I shall explore the possibility of stray solder - and I guess I could force the light to permanently off. As I never look at the display in normal use, having no light would not bother me.

Terry and Dan suggest that permanent backlighting might raise the internal temperature measurement. I shall check this out, as I have two consoles I can place alongside each other.

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 Post subject: Re: New console - backlight on permanently
PostPosted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 11:34 am 
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Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:12 pm
Posts: 446
Location: Palmerston, NT, Australia
Weather Station: WS-1081 with rain gauge mod
Operating System: Windows 7 & 1.9.3 b1059
simonvfr wrote:
robynfali wrote:
have you tried a hard reset?


If this means a battery removal and re-start, then yes. And it's made no difference.


And thanks to Roy and Alan for the information about the transistor that controls the light. Returning the unit would be a pain, as I have brought it back to France from the UK delivery address. I shall explore the possibility of stray solder - and I guess I could force the light to permanently off. As I never look at the display in normal use, having no light would not bother me.

Terry and Dan suggest that permanent backlighting might raise the internal temperature measurement. I shall check this out, as I have two consoles I can place alongside each other.

There is also a thread in here that mentions that it also changes the pressure readings from when the light is off to when it turns on (for say...longer than 60 seconds). But as your light is not turning on/off your pressure readings should be fine, and your temp (once tested and true) can be adjusted in Cumulus. So as long as you don't mind it being on all the time, there shouldn't be any problem. Would make quite a nice night light :D

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 Post subject: Re: New console - backlight on permanently
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 2:25 pm 
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Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:12 am
Posts: 33
Location: 03240 Saint Sornin, France
Weather Station: Maplin-WatsonW8681-Fine Offset
In the end, I decided to leave the back-light running permanently as I find this occasionally useful (when computer is off, or for some reason I don't want to bring Cumulus to the fore on the screen).

I have overcome issues about battery drain by connecting the console via a powered USB hub, so external power is used even when the computer is off. Interal batteries now only used during power cuts (which are not infrequent in this part of rural France!).

I checked the impact on the internal temperature sensor - by running alongside the (previously compared) non-back-lit console I was replacing. The offset seemed very constant at 1.4ÂșC, and I have applied this correction in Cumulus.

Danger that I am making a virtue out of necessity . . . . . but I like the end result. :)

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 Post subject: Re: New console - backlight on permanently
PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:00 am 
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Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:49 am
Posts: 28
Location: Jeffersonville, Ohio USA
Weather Station: Wetherwise WS-1080
Operating System: Window XP
I have only recently installed my WS-1080 weather station. One of the few things that I don't like about it is the fact that the display is difficult to see without the backlight on. Even at the highest contrast setting. I'd like to have the backlight on constantly if it would not cause damage to the unit. Mine is connected via USB cable, so I'm not concerned with battery life. Is there a way to make the backlight stay on all the time? I really don't want to start soldering inside the unit for fear that it would void the warranty.

Thanks..

Jim


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 Post subject: Re: New console - backlight on permanently
PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:49 am 
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Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:12 am
Posts: 33
Location: 03240 Saint Sornin, France
Weather Station: Maplin-WatsonW8681-Fine Offset
As far as I know, the backlight cannot be forced to stay on. Mine does that because of (assumed) fault.

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Simon

Llama weather from central France


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 Post subject: Re: New console - backlight on permanently
PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 12:13 pm 
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Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:12 pm
Posts: 446
Location: Palmerston, NT, Australia
Weather Station: WS-1081 with rain gauge mod
Operating System: Windows 7 & 1.9.3 b1059
You can take the touch screen out to make it easier to read, but of course the touch operations will no longer work. All of the functions of the touch screen can be done through Easy Weather EXCEPT for the clock (off my memory). My screen stoped working.

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