Hardware Inventory

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So now it’s time to check out all the sensors and see what work is required there.  Here’s where things stand

Sensors

  • Barometer – works fine.  Compared the readings with a local weather station and the calibration is still good too.
  • Temperature – work fine
  • Humidity – shows up on net, but humidity value is always 100%.  After several weeks indoors it appears to be reading accurately now.  However I have a replacement Honeywell HIH-4021 humidity sensor chip ready to install on the board.  Should be an easy fix
  • Solar – shows up on net.  Not sure about the photocell.  Ordered a replacement photocell to install.  This part has a lower peak voltage than the previous photocell, so some calibration may be necessary.  The old photocell tended to cause clipping under bright sunlight, so this should be an improvement.
  • Lightning – completely dead.  Ordered a new board from Hobby Boards.
  • Anemometer – Wind speed appears to work.  Direction is intermittent (mostly not working).  Opened up the anemometer and cleaned out all the dirt and bug remains.  Helped some, but I think the best course of action is to replace it.  Ordered an ADS anemometer from Hobby Boards.  Changing anemometer brands required some software changes as well.  Nothing too difficult.  The wind speed sensor is similar to the old AAG one, but with a different formula for calculating the wind speed.  Wind direction is based on one voltage returned rather than four like the old AAG sensor.
  • Rain – seems to work fine after a good cleaning.  However I need to rewire it using an RJ45 rather than RJ11 connector.  I believe it originally came with an RJ45 and I changed it.  But I can’t remember for sure.

Hardware

  • Temp/Humidity/Solar sensor housing (homemade radiation shield) – U/V has taken it’s toll.  The plastic bowls I had used are brittle and cracking.  Need to replace them with something more U/V resistant.  The fan (a computer case fan) still works.
  • Base for rain gauge – this was homemade from a plastic lid from a laundry detergent container.  U/V has made it brittle as well.  Maybe the base for an outdoor flower pot will work as a replacement.
  • Stand and supports – PVC tubing is holding up fine.  Just want to make sure everything is secure.  May even paint it this time around to make it look a little less homemade.

Nothing that can’t be fixed.  I have parts on order, and am scouring the hardware stores for U/V resistant plastic parts.  Future posts will outline all of the fixes as I make them.