Sandaysoft

OK thanks Steve.

Regarding the raw Lux figure, how does it come out of the WS console? Is it not the same value we see on Cumulus?

I was hoping that we can apply a factor to it like you have done with other sensors to make it more realsitic. EG if the value is 180,000.0 Lux as displayed on Cumulus, on a bright sunny day and we know that on such a day the max expected is [Edit] 100,000 - 130,000 [End Edit] (as per Wikipedia on Lux) we can put in the appropriate factor to correct it (in this case 0.722).

The W/M2 calc uses the Lux (I think thats right) so if we get the Lux roughly right then the W/M2 should be roughly right.

I just would like to get both figures right on Cumulus, adjusting the W/M2 factor won't fix Lux (will it?) and as I mentioned two different sensors yield vastly different Lux values which affex W/M2.

Also if attenuating the Lux sensor fixes these Fine Offset WH3081 stations then this will be invaluable for these folks to get reasonable readings (me thinks?).

You already have one for UV so Lux would complete it nicely.

Can I tempt you with a $50 AU donation

Cheers

Phil

EDIT: Here are some Lux readings taken by someone with a 3% accurate lux meter. Not sure where in the world though.

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http://www.auzhq.net/weather - using a VP2+

as promised:

WH3081 Sensor Internals (Solar / Outdoor Temp)

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http://www.auzhq.net/weather - using a VP2+

A Lux calibration factor wouldn't be hard, and certainly not worth $50 AU. But if you think it would be useful...

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Steve
Sanday Weather
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Steve,

The factor may not be worth 50 bucks but your software certainly is not to mention the support you give here.

Donation has been made. I certainly don't expect the factor capability right away - when you can fit it in will be fine.

I think it will be worth doing for reasons mentioned.

Cheers

Phil

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http://www.auzhq.net/weather - using a VP2+

Good news and Bad news.

Good bit - My attenuated system still working

Bad bit is the guy I bought off has had a negative feedback from someone saying "Part of the wether station does not work" (and its not me!). I am willing to bet on which part it is! (the surprised looking smilie is sarcasm if there are Sheldons out there)


Edit: UV / Lux module progress

56 Hrs and all is good - (convinced now its high light levels that's the issue)

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http://www.auzhq.net/weather - using a VP2+

ahh well it still isn't good enough we have to go to such lengths with these products but the fine offset crowd is a bunch of tech savvy people at heart hehe.

over 24 hours straight of operation here, beautiful readings rise to report 14/16 UV at the peak period of the day and watching it slowly crawl down as the day draws closer to an end.

A preliminary success I wish it was as simple for other people.

Just got through 3 days (56 Hrs) without a problem with the UV / Lux sensor.

I have now removed the sock on the unit and will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow.

Phil

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http://www.auzhq.net/weather - using a VP2+

3 days solid operation here now into day 4 of Operation but not concurrently

I removed the new Stevenson screen off the station and had my WH1081 stevenson screen on it yesterday as the new one was receiving it's obligatory coat of vivid white gloss which has brought readings into range with my manual Mercury thermometers which reside in a wooden screen.

UV/Solar sensor has needed 3 resets but all I have done is held down the reset button for 30 seconds then as told the down arrow on the station and its found sync every single time! very very easy procedure!

It seems to have settled in now though after being removed and taken offline I expected a few hiccups upon restart

As for the temps, they are spot on

I did the same to my WH1081 screen and found it cured the over reading issue in full sun

Great news on all fronts guys. Phil - excellent work on this, thanks very much for your efforts. If I get time before we head away camping I'll put my bad solar unit back up with some 'attenuation' on it. Funnily enough when I was running a 1-wire system it had an almost identical problem with solar sensor overload. The common solution was an opaque cover along the lines of an old milk container or pinpong ball half etc etc.
Just to clarify my dealings with FO (I see that the web site is back on line too) - I had been looking at re-selling the 3081 line here in NZ, so the sales guys were looking after me pretty well. I've had excellent communication and advice from them in general. The unit I have is pretty much a pre-sales sample (even though I had to buy it at retail from an Australian supplier from eBay), because there was no way I was going to contemplate selling them unless they were reliable and there was good factory after sales backup. I'd like to get this problem sorted and will be feeding back what we find here to my FO contact so hopefully they can get it fixed. I know they have Chinese New Year coming up so I don't expect to have much contact until later in Jan.

Cheers
Colin.

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Hi Stephen, Colin.

Thanks for the encouragement guys - Nice work on the screen Stephen, I might look at doing that when the dust settles with the light sensor.

And - Fine Offset got back to me and are very eager to help as I am to help them. Watch this space for the outcome of that. 10 out of 10 for support from them. 0 out of 10 for the eBay chap I dealt with. so I am convinced that dealing with China is better than dealing locally

Yes it failed again with the sock removed - just the once at about 8am so it survived 2 hours. So what I did (before FO emailed me unfortunately) was open up the unit again and replace a SMD resistor that's in series with the light sensor (some sort of semiconductor diode device - was expecting an LDR). I worked out that the resistor with the sensor is forming some sort of voltage divider network. Anyway when reassembled the light levels were now 25% lower. I know this because I did a before and after test with a halogen lamp at a fixed distance from sensor on a template to record relative positions.

It promptly went back in and endured continuous operation for the rest of the day.

I will post details and pictures but I will wait to see what the outcome from any assistance FO give me and my trial. They may determine my fix is either unrelated, by chance or even inappropriate.

Phil

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http://www.auzhq.net/weather - using a VP2+

just spent some time scanning through my data. Don't know if this info is of any use, but even tho my lux&uv have been dead since October or so (-- displayed) I see a couple of random occasions when Cumulus has logged the UV jump to 16 for a couple of hours and back down.

Nice chap at FO would be happy to send me a new sensor, he did however ask I check with the retailer first. Froggit.de don't do spares, they want to exchange the whole unit, so I'll contact FO again towards the end of the month...

seems like these sensors can be quite troublesome, I hope mine doesn't have any more hiccups but not holding my breath, I noticed they don't like to be spiked into a light reading but bring it on gradually its not so bad.

My routine if the dreaded dashes show is hit the down arrow key till the transmission icon shows and often that will find the transmission, if it doesn't and it remains stuck go out and hold the reset button and count to 30, come back to the console and hold the down arrow again and it usually starts working.

Worst case scenario, batteries out, solar wire out, covering over the solar panel to make sure there is no charge, wait 1 minute, re-install it all, come back to the console and hold the down arrow and it usually fires up again

Hi I have had a WS 3081 since July 2011 and initially it worked fine. Since about October I have had the same problem that others have described - the UV and lux measurements would fail. A reset of the top module would get it working again for a couple of hours before it locked up again. After reading here that it might be strong sunlight that was causing the problem it made sense given that it used to work but stopped when the sun became stronger.

I decided to block out the sensor that looked like a LDR to the left of the solar cell (ie not the white dome) Actually this appears to be the UV sensor as that figure is reading 0 now and I am still getting lux measurements. The good news is that the module has not locked up in over 24 hours of some quite bright sunlight. I will monitor it and report progress.

Another good day for me.

I received another email from Fine Offset and they have come up with a very reasonable theory as to why these are failing.

They have asked me to make a simple modification on the board which will make the solar processor behave differently under certain circumstances. I have done this to my other solar unit that does not have "my" resistor attenuation mod (factory standard) and is now in place ready for tomorrow - lets see what happens.

I wont detail specifically what has been suggested as it may not cure the problem and I don't want to upset the flow of information between FO and myself in the interests of a speedy resolution to the problem.

Fine Offset have been very responsive and more than keen to see this issue resolved. I think their approach to date has well exceeded my expectation.

I'll keep you informed of progress.

Phil

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http://www.auzhq.net/weather - using a VP2+

It's interesting that the replacement unit that FO sent me has never skipped a beat. I wonder if they had already tweeked it?

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