Sandaysoft

Not yet - we might be close to equator soon but still in the northern.

And actually all the functions of the sunrecorder is independent of either northern or southern hemisphere (maybe a software bug or two might be present).

Best regards
Ole

Very impressive Ole. I can see that at your site there was a lot of broken sunshine today.

One question to all the testers. Have you had any problems with bird poo on the sensor? We all know birds are very stupid creatures that will perch on the most unlikely of platforms. If / when I get one I'm considering how to mount the sensor to avoid making it a landing platform. Placing it several inches below the top of the pole looks favourite with the pole to the north so it doesn't cast a shadow on the sensor. Placed right on top of one would make it very attractive to birds I think.

_________________
Cheers,
Ray, Cheshire.

Hi
Oddly I've never seen a bird perching although they do on an adjacent TV aerial. A lot of people here gull-proof their chimneys and roof ridgeswith vertical wires - a couple of wires with loops at one end would be easy to clamp behind the U-bolts nuts and would do the job.

And yes - we would like some southern hemisphere testers.

Regards
Alan

Alan,

Depending on feeedback during the testing phase would you consider, if required, making some form of anti-bird contraption that would discourage birds from perching on the sensor? Many of us are useless at DIY.

I've seen pigeons perched on my anemometer arm so where there's the slightest chance of landing on something high up it seems to attract them.

I am still working out if a telescopic pole attached to the side wall of my house would be sufficient to hold the sensor without excessive swaying. As it weighs so little I can't see it being a problem. It has to be telescopic so I can clean the sensor when required.

_________________
Cheers,
Ray, Cheshire.

I have the test unit on a pole fastened to chimney about 6ft above the top. It has been there for 5 days and no signs of birds going on it. But I don't have any problem with birds on my Davis anenometer either, which is in the other corner of our lot. There are several large trees about and near the property.

Paul

_________________
Davis Vantage Pro 2 - CWOP DW3930 - WU IONTARIO226 - PWS Weather KOMOKA - AWEKAS 6890
Windows-8
Cumulus v1.9.3 b.1059
www.komokaweather.ca
www.komokaweather.com
www.komokaweather.com/weather/sunrecord ... today.html

This discussion about birds is interesting because I have a problem with a blackbird this year perching on my Davis solar sensor often. It is mounted separately from the ISS on my TV aerial pole but above the aerial, and birds (especially blackbirds) like to sing from the highest point locally to announce their territory. So for me some way to discourage birds would be a good idea, moving my sensor away from the aerial is not practical as we have no chimneys so the aerial pole is the only way to do it, I dont have a problem with the anemometer as that is below the aerial.

Stuart

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Hi
In answer to Ray's query about a flexy pole - although mine is braced with four wires about 1/3 of the way up the top end does move about in the wind but it does not seem to make much difference. I suggest a bracing wire at least in the prevailing wind direction if possible. As for birds the vertical wires seem to work well on buildings around here where gulls are a big problem (If you come to Cornwall NEVER feed the gulls - they get so bold they'll steal your chips out of the bag.)
And yes I'm sure we can provide some bird proofing with the kit if needed.

For Broadstairs solar sensor - could you make a plywood (waterproof) disc just wider than the sensor base and mount vertical wires around the edge.
Regards
Alan

Thanks for your answer Alan. Bracing with a wire might be tricky as the wall I'm hoping to mount one on faces SW and that happens to be the prevailing wind direction. But as you say it doesn't appear to make much difference to readings so I'm hopeful I can get away without one.

A bird-proofing kit would be a welcome addition especially as keeping the sensor clean is pretty important.

_________________
Cheers,
Ray, Cheshire.

Re. birds ..

BTW What is the orientation of the mount, is the flat base plate North facing ?

A simple "Crown Of Thorns" whether plastic or metal on the top cap should suffice, or perhaps a short piece of "Hedgehog" (looks like a fat bottle brush) ... Hmmm ... what about a bit of an old hair brush (Didn't think of that first because my memories of same are rather dim)

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......................Imagine, what you will KNOW tomorrow !

Hi

Couldn't reply earlier as my satellite broadband system was down while we changed the hardware for a greatly improved system.

The flat base plate faces north (in the northern hemisphere).

www.sunrecorder.net is now running with the sun charts for our first five locations with two more in the pipeline. We have covered latitudes 40°N 50°N and 60°N and should have 10°N coming soon but something around the tropic line (N or S) would be useful as would higher latitudes.
The test set-ups are still at the discounted deposit rate so now is the time to apply.

Regards
Alan

I have now got the B-L sun shine recorder fully mounted, calibrated and recording. You can see it at http://www.komokaweather.com/weather/sunrecorder/Today_10013.png or from the links at http://www.komokaweather.com. Alan and Ole have done a tremendous job on this unit and the software - bright and inquisitive minds.

I have it installed on a 10 ft pole mounted on an unused chimney but it is still a compromise, like mounting weather stations, when one is surrounded by houses and mature trees. Some pics attached:





Paul
Edit new link to Today_10013.png

_________________
Davis Vantage Pro 2 - CWOP DW3930 - WU IONTARIO226 - PWS Weather KOMOKA - AWEKAS 6890
Windows-8
Cumulus v1.9.3 b.1059
www.komokaweather.ca
www.komokaweather.com
www.komokaweather.com/weather/sunrecord ... today.html

Hi
I am now arranging with the Met Office to install a recorder at one of their sites near me.

Previously the price they wanted to charge was prohibitive but by using hourly sunshine data (rather than detailed radiation figures) for a period of a month the price has come down to something relatively affordable (still nearly £500). It looks as though I will be able to install our recorder within a few feet of their Kipp and Zonen device so the comparisons should not suffer from any distance related differences and both will have the same horizon to horizon view.
It's not the most perfect solution but will go some way to validating our method.

Regards
Alan

The sooner (both) your hard efforts can validated hopefully you can reap some rewards before 'big boys' nick all your ideas and set up production lines

I don't know how far your technology is 'original' or what protection you may have taken so far .... but they will come. If you are lucky, with a chequebook, but mostly they publish and be damned because they know you can't afford a lengthy court case. Dyson still has an army of lawyers protecting even its earlier patents

_________________

......................Imagine, what you will KNOW tomorrow !

Hi
I came across a site that gives daily totals for our local Met Office station about 10 miles away so not entirely comparable but it does show quite a similarity to our data.
(Acknowledgments to 'Weatheronline')
Regards
Alan

Alan,

One thing that occured to me the other day is what happens when it snows? Will users have to wipe the snow off the instrument before it will start recording sunshine again?

_________________
Cheers,
Ray, Cheshire.