VP2 coming out of setup mode on its own

[RayProudfoot]

This morning I closed down Cumulus, WeatherLink and other wx software as my station was due a clean. I pressed Done + down arrow to place it in Setup mode.

We spent the next 50 minutes cleaning the ISS but on returning to the console I noticed it had come out of Setup mode and was showing all readings. Fortunately it must have still been in setup mode when the rain buckets were cleaned as today's rainfall was zero.

Has anyone else had this problem and if so what's the solution? This is the second time it's done this.

[duke]

I thought it was just me.... I take mine down twice a year and when finished the console has always come out of Setup. Guess it takes me about an hour.

[RayProudfoot]

So it can't be anything specific to my console. Sounds like I need to raise a ticket with Davis. Pretty useless if you're cleaning the rain buckets and that's being stored in the logger.

[steve]

I seem to remember from somewhere that setup mode times out after 30 minutes with firmware 3.00 and later.

[RayProudfoot]

I've sent an email to tech support at Davis. Will let you know when they reply.

[steve]

And doesn't rainfall get recorded in setup mode anyway? Because it's handled by the ISS, and the counter keeps incrementing - the ISS doesn't know that the console is in setup mode.

[RayProudfoot]

I seem to remember from somewhere that setup mode times out after 30 minutes with firmware 3.00 and later.

Thanks Steve. Sounds like that could be it. Where can I check firmware version?

[RayProudfoot]

And doesn't rainfall get recorded in setup mode anyway? Because it's handled by the ISS, and the counter keeps incrementing - the ISS doesn't know that the console is in setup mode.

We disconnected the rain connector. Presumably that breaks the link.

[steve]

Thanks Steve. Sounds like that could be it. Where can I check firmware version?

One way is to look near the start of a Cumulus diags file, it should print the FW version. I can't remember how you do it with the console.

[steve]

We disconnected the rain connector. Presumably that breaks the link.

Yes, I believe that's the correct thing to do, stops the ISS board getting the pulses.

[steve]

I can't remember how you do it with the console.

Hold 'done' and press '+' (cursor up). Mine says 3.15.

[RayProudfoot]

Thanks Steve. Sounds like that could be it. Where can I check firmware version?

One way is to look near the start of a Cumulus diags file, it should print the FW version. I can't remember how you do it with the console.

Diags file has it... 14/07/2015 12:00:34.562 : Firmware Version: 3.12

I'll remember that for future cleans. Thanks Steve, who needs Davis!

[colinpb]

This problem first occurred after I updated the VP2 to 3.12 Jan 2013. There’s not enough time to change a DFARS fan, let alone strip and clean a VP2.

Sent Davis an email saying since 3.12 console set up time way too short for anything more than setting up. Suggested setup could be improved by using setup procedure as now followed by an additional key. This would allow console to be locked in set up mode until manually unlocked. Davis replied ,if I remember correctly, saying the change resulted from feedback, but would take my email on board. Looks like I wasted my breath because as far as I know 3.15 behaves as 3.12.

Colin

[BigOkie]

This problem first occurred after I updated the VP2 to 3.12 Jan 2013. There’s not enough time to change a DFARS fan, let alone strip and clean a VP2.

Sent Davis an email saying since 3.12 console set up time way too short for anything more than setting up. Suggested setup could be improved by using setup procedure as now followed by an additional key. This would allow console to be locked in set up mode until manually unlocked. Davis replied ,if I remember correctly, saying the change resulted from feedback, but would take my email on board. Looks like I wasted my breath because as far as I know 3.15 behaves as 3.12.

Colin

I've gotten to where now I will do my yearly maintenance in the evening, when the temperature gradients aren't so large. I can clean up my VP2 in about 30 minutes if I don't lollygag around. I will then just populate data in that matches my last set so I don't have missing data. At five minute logging, that should be more than about 12 entries or so.

[RayProudfoot]

Forewarned is forearmed. Knowing the console will exit setup mode after 30 mins means I'll just return to the house and place it back in that mode. Another 30 mins will be sufficient for a good clean.

I don't understand Davis' logic on the 30 mins limit. It's easy to take out of setup mode whereas assuming it's still in setup when cleaning the ISS has a strong possibility of introducing erroneous data into a user's records.

Still waiting to hear back from tech support.