Cumulus Support

Alan & Ole I don't doubt for one minute anything you have said and I still think this is an excellent piece of kit, I was merely observing that at this price it sets it far above what the vast majority of hobby weather enthusiasts can afford. I was hoping that it might come close to what a Davis sensor costs as it would be a good alternative to that, however that is not to be. This has become what I suspect many were fearing a superb commercial piece of kit for very serious sunshine recording at a professional price and good luck with that, I really hope it succeeds. It is not something I can consider unless the lottery comes up.

Stuart

Hi
I'd like to correct Stuart on one small point - the B-L sunrecorder is not an alternative to the Davis system which, as I understand it, estimates sunshine from global radiation.
It's also interesting that just after the third anniversay of the start of this topic it still attracts views (and controversies).
In some ways we would have liked to have kept it in the budget of every weather station owner but it got to the point where, if we continued our efforts, we could make an accurate instrument. There seemed little point in making something unless it really improved on instruments like the Campbell Stokes. So our years of toil have done that and (unless you are as lucky as someone above) at less than the normal price of the C-S and with one or two advantages - like being fully automatic.
Thanks to those who have been compilmentary and, yes, we are a little apologetic but in a way the project has led us to where we are.
Regards
Alan

I am sorry you feel I am being uncomplimentary, that was not my intention. As to it being a replacement for the Davis product, in my view it is an alternative to record sunshine hours although probably more accurate and using a different methodology it is from a user perspective an alternative. I was merely passing an observation that for the majority of home enthusiasts it is likely that it will be out of their price range which is unfortunate, this does not detract from what I hope is an excellent product and as I said I wish you well with it. I was hoping it would end up as something which would be at a price point where a considerable number of hobby weather folks would be able to afford it, including myself, sadly that is not to be but I fully understand why you have to price it as you do, and I for one do not believe you need to apologise for anything.

Stuart

Hi Stuart
You WERE included in the thanks.
Alan

Many years ago worked on a project which involved flight path vectoring and a related GPS installation. I was very impressed with the GPS as it had become a standard for use both domestically and internationally. Personally the device looked like a 1950's Cadillac utilizing a retro chrome design for the housing of the unit. That said it is and was rock solid and never breaks and is still utilized today internationally and domestically. It really though was more than just a GPS; even though I am calling it a GPS.

With respect to OP's / thread here's an alternate inexpensive device to "play" with.

http://www.hobby-boards.com/store/produ ... ector.html

priced at $28.50 USD.

That said over the years I have utilized the combo 1-wire Humidity, Temperature and light sensor. I have not had good luck though with the three that are in place today. My last "experiment" was trying to install the combo sensor in a temperature pagoda mounted something like 30 feet up. The pagoda was $70 USD. The humidity and light sensor quit working after about 4 months. The pagoda was plastic with dual mast mounting brackets broke off the mast after about two years. I have seen folks though use and build a sunshine recorder using the light sensor and a ping pong ball mounted on top of the pagoda which would maybe give you some good numbers. Today with the one working 1-wire combo device light sensor and a bit of math I still get good numbers (for me at least).

Hello everyone, I wanted to break a lance in favor of Ole and Alan, although I do not think there is a need. I am one of the field testers sunrecorder and can say how many hours have been spent to optimize and improve the device, both on the hardware and software point. I myself, together with a friend, we made a meter UV index, and adding the cost of hardware is that all the hours spent to build and develop the software, if I were to market such a device (which I'll dream of doing), do not really know at what price it should sell. One idea would be to find a solution to sell sunrecorder paying in installments, but I see a solution difficult. However, I renew my congratulations to Alan and Ole for the tremendous work done.

Dario - Marcon (Venice - Italy)

www.marconmeteo.altervista.org

Since the B-L sun recorder was one of several items on my wish list, I decided to take advantage of the summer sale and purchase one. It is now up and running (tobyspondweather/sunshine.php).
The support from Ole has been great.

Kerry

Just noticed you on the http://www.sunrecorder.net/sr-around-the-world/ Very nice site Kerry, and welcome to the B-L Sunrecorder world...
I have you added on http://www.komokaweather.com/weather/su ... today.html

Dario,
Looks like you've had to use a lot of sunscreen lately

Paul

Paul,

Thanks for the kind words.

I like all your sunshine data.

Kerry

PaulMy wrote:Just noticed you on the http://www.sunrecorder.net/sr-around-the-world/ Very nice site Kerry, and welcome to the B-L Sunrecorder world...
I have you added on http://www.komokaweather.com/weather/su ... today.html

Dario,
Looks like you've had to use a lot of sunscreen lately

Paul

Hi, Paul
Yes, here we are beginning to be serious problems of drought.
You're right, unfortunately I can not stand the sun, I overcooked also using a sunscreen with SPF 50

Dario

More suns showing on the B-L world map, and more on the horizon
http://www.sunrecorder.net/sr-around-the-world/
http://www.komokaweather.com/weather/su ... today.html

Paul

Hi Kerry,
In looking at the 12 months images would the Sunshine Norm for your area be somewhat over stated? Your daily and monthly actual sunshine is fairly similar to my recorder. However the Sunshine Norms seem to be very optimistic at 4,471 hours of a total Day Length of 4,542.4 hours

I don't think all areas have the normal sunshine data available. For our London, Ontario area I was able to get it from Environment Canada for the 1971-2000 30-year average at 1,800 hours. My recorded sunshine over the past year is about 10% above that average, and that is without some early morning sunshine which I miss in summer time due to tree and building obstruction and this could add another 2-4% above the average. We have had some great summer weather the past couple years, and that accounts for being over the 30-year average.

I was told by Environment Canada last year that they are phasing out the recording of sunshine in many of their sites as their equipment is aging.

Hello Paul,
Thank you for sending your request to Environment Canada.
In answer to your question, bright sunshine data is available from our archive. Unfortunately bright sunshine observation is no longer a nationally-supported standard supplementary climate network in Environment Canada. It is still operated at some locations on a best-effort basis, but as the supplies run out, equipment require repair and observing programs change, the bright sunshine observations will be phased out. The reduction in this network has been ongoing since about 1999 as is reflected in the diminishing number of archived observations of this element. I have checked our database and there are only 3 stations in Ontario reporting bright sunshine data, Red Lake, Wiarton and Toronto.

Best regards,

Xxxxx Xxxxx
Meteorological Inquiry Specialist
MSC National Inquiry Response Team ISO 9001:2000 Environment Canada
Spécialiste en renseignements météorologiques - Équipe nationale de réponses aux demandes du public (ENRDP) ISO 9001:2000

Paul

In looking at the 12 months images would the Sunshine Norm for your area be somewhat over stated? Your daily and monthly actual sunshine is fairly similar to my recorder. However the Sunshine Norms seem to be very optimistic at 4,471 hours of a total Day Length of 4,542.4 hours

Thanks Paul.

The values got changed along the way. I have entered the correct values and the revised version of the graph should appear shortly.

Kerry

Hi Kerry,

Now it looks much better although December still seems a bit high.

Ole

More suns appearing on the B-L worldwide map
http://www.sunrecorder.net/sr-around-the-world/

Paul