Evapotranspiration / sunshine hours - help with new setup

[gabba]

Hi all

I'm wanting to add an sunshine hours/evapotranspiration measure to my Vue / Weather display setup. Any suggestions on where to start, and what equipment I need to do this?

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[iomkiwi]

What equipment have you got now? 

[gabba]

Davis Vantage Vue and PC

Realise I'll probably have to go with a 1-wire setup, but really have no idea how to set it up from scratch, what I'll need etc. Really just interested in knowing what everyone else has done

[iomkiwi]

I cheated - I went for the Davis that can have bits added on 

I'm sure Toko will be along soon with his cloud sensor setup.

[TokWW]

There is a Hobby Boards solar sensor that can be added in if using WD software, but I am a little unhappy with the curves produced and the broad band frequency it reads - it has a beanie hat shaped curve instead of a bell shaped one.  It may be the actual shape of the sensor and it's inbuilt curved bezel or the frequency response curve or both.  And that the device needs monthly adjustment to get the peak sun value correct through the seasons.

In the image below, you can see the rounded shape rather than the desired slightly bell shape.

I have a row of trees in the morning that block the sun until 9-10am



However, for calculation purposes, the software just trims at 100% of the curve and uses that 100% value for calcs for energy received.

Note the maximum kJ/m2 has been made about correct for zenith - comparing the yellow curve against the calculated maximum for Latitude.


As far as ease of installation goes, one has to do some handy work to set the sensor apart from its comms board and mount it in a suitable radiation diffuser such as a ping pong ball and make that water proof and mountable. I have had difficulties with my own design and although it does lend itself to adding a blue filter frequency modifier, it was time consuming to make and effect it water proof.

I will try and share photos of it from my Flikr account.  I cannot logon to it from here at work - it is blocked, but there is a project on here for my creation of the solar sensor on the top of my roof mounted webcam box.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tokweather/

The solar sensor is mounted directly on top and has now got a hemispherical polycarbonate shield over the ping pong ball with a yellow Peanut butter jar lid as a base.  Not sure of that arrgt is listed there.

[gabba]

Ok - time to think about this a bit more

was looking at one of these:

http://www.scientificsales.co.nz/weather-stations/hobbyboards/1-wire-humidity-solar.html

Is this the one you are using Tokww? Looks like there is some rj45 cable required. Anyone know if there is a limit on how long this can be?

So there is a hub that acts as a power injector, as well as a seperate power injector:
Hub:
http://www.scientificsales.co.nz/weather-stations/hobbyboards/1-wire-6-channel-hub.html

Power injector:
http://www.scientificsales.co.nz/weather-stations/hobbyboards/1-wire-power-injector.html


Given that at some point I'd also like to add a lightning detector to the setup:
http://www.scientificsales.co.nz/weather-stations/hobbyboards/1-wire-lightning-detector.html

Am I going to need the hub. or just the power injector, or none?
Also if it's RJ45 cable, how do I connect that to the PC?

[Weather Display]

for the 1 wire solar, you will need the power injector I would say
the RJ45 cable plugs into a 1 wire USB adaptor that you need to get as well

[iomkiwi]

And for the lightning detector you should think seriously about the new TOA Blitzortung network being set up 

[gabba]

TOA Blitzortung[/url] network being set up 

At 200 Euro maybe not! Lightning detection would be a fair way off - just want to future proof


Thanks WD for your reply. Anyone know where I pick up the USB adaptor from Scientific Sales don't advertise them on their site.

[Weather Display]

hobbyboards.com

[gabba]

Ok - got the Solar Radiation detector and case, serial adaptor and RJ45 / RJ11 Adaptor cable. Will get a hub next time round as I don't think they have any in stock right now. Anything else I've missed?

(Cable I'll get from DSE)

 

[TokWW]

You can easily remote power these devices with an unused charger as the boards themselves have side connectors for power injection, you don't need the hub.  check the photo of them and see the three connector strip on side - signal in there as well for additional temp sensors which I use (central port of three, not used in photo).  I have a photo somewhere...  the pic shows the power injection on the left and the extension of the solar leads to a weather protected remote position so board is protected and the device is as well but in a more prominent position.