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bought weather machine,now need batteries
By picmacmillan, Section Remote Living Posted on Fri Jan 7th, 2005 at 02:48:12 PM MST
normal batteries ie. AA don't work well in colder temps. What will?

i bought one of those home depot weather stations just before christmas..i like the unit and if i can resolve this post, it will be a really good tool to use as one of it's functions is to tell wind speed...the problem is, that the sensor has to stay out side....The batteries don't work well in colder temperatures and they suggested to use lithium batteries.....my dilema thickens as i understand lithium batteries only work to -40 celcius....the temperature where i would like to put this thin can run -45+ celcius?.....any help would be appreciated...pickster

bought weather machine,now need batteries | 17 comments (17 topical, 0 editorial)

Re: bought weather machine,now need batteries (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by ghurd on Fri Jan 7th, 2005 at 08:09:13 AM MST
(User Info)

I don't think you will find anything better than lithium for the cold.
I bet they will be OK. -40 to -45 is not that big of a difference.
(I would be concerned for the display at those temps)
I think wind freezes at -42C anyway. ;)
G-

Re: bought weather machine,now need batteries (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by picmacmillan (rmacmill@sympatico.ca) on Fri Jan 7th, 2005 at 08:23:47 AM MST
(User Info) http:// www.frecklefarmloghomes.com

thanks ghurd for the info.... also, the display is inside the house so it won't
freeze...so, i guess i'll use lithium and see....pickster
http://www.frecklefarmloghomes.com
[ Parent ]

Re: bought weather machine,now need batteries (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by prodael on Fri Jan 7th, 2005 at 08:51:02 AM MST
(User Info) www.woodpedestals.com

I've got one of those also. I put regular batteries in mine and it seemed to work fine through -40 a few weeks ago. Although the sensor distance from the machine is only about 20 feet.

Re: bought weather machine,now need batteries (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by ghurd on Fri Jan 7th, 2005 at 09:08:01 AM MST
(User Info)

"Back in the day", when trapping furbears was still considered a good job for a 12 year old, I carried 3 flashlights. 2 in my warm coat, 1 being used. When the exposed one dimmed, it was switched for a warm one. This was at temps around 10~20'F.

So maybe the battery temp ratings are for a higher draw, and this low draw item will be OK with lithiums down to -60C?

(I killed cute animals and carried a pistol, all by my self when I was 12.
Amazing I'm not a bank robber, isn't it?)

G-

[ Parent ]

Re: bought weather machine,now need batteries (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by picmacmillan (rmacmill@sympatico.ca) on Fri Jan 7th, 2005 at 10:45:58 AM MST
(User Info) http:// www.frecklefarmloghomes.com

i just had to respond to the carrying a pistol and killing cute animals....i did(and do) the same but got the pistols when i was older....still my family has hunted for generations to sustain there families and my first cousins are still making a living from hunting...my cousin danny is a 2 time remington worlds goose calling champion and his grandfather died while out hunting...as far as i'm concerned that's the way i would like to go also...enjoying what god gave us...pickster
http://www.frecklefarmloghomes.com
[ Parent ]

Re: bought weather machine,now need batteries (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by ghurd on Fri Jan 7th, 2005 at 11:37:49 AM MST
(User Info)

Still about 80% of our red meat intake at home had antlers, not horns.
G-

[ Parent ]

Re: bought weather machine,now need batteries (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by troy on Fri Jan 7th, 2005 at 01:59:39 PM MST
(User Info)

Yup, lithiums are the best you're going to do for available battery technology in cold weather.

Yup, I like guns and I eat what I shoot. Fortunately, I have never had to shoot a burgler....

I was tempted by the whole bank robbery thing, but I decided to become a doctor instead. Go figure...

From the politically incorrect branch of the PETA organization, that's:

People for the
Eating of
Tasty
Animals

troy

[ Parent ]

Re: bought weather machine,now need batteries (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by wayne (wayne.jones@sait.ab.ca) on Fri Jan 7th, 2005 at 02:13:06 PM MST
(User Info)

Been running mine for a month now. Used regular batterys and at cold -25c I get about 2 weeks from cheap ones. Really nice unit for the price. Will source proper ones later.

Wayne

Re: bought weather machine,now need batteries (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by Dan M on Fri Jan 7th, 2005 at 02:19:31 PM MST
(User Info)

I only mention this since you brought up -40 degrees.

<<sarcasm: It's a good thing you you were specific about the scale (C as opposed to F).>>

There's a really good (or maybe really bad) reason why many products intended to be marketed in both english and metric markets use -40 degrees as the minimum temperature rating

I used to have fun with suppliers when one of their products was rated to -40 degrees (without reference to the scale) and would insist on knowing if it was F or C.

How much time and space do you think we could waste arguing over which is colder -40C or -40F?

Just having fun,

-Dan M

Re: bought weather machine,now need batteries (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by picmacmillan (rmacmill@sympatico.ca) on Fri Jan 7th, 2005 at 03:22:39 PM MST
(User Info) http:// www.frecklefarmloghomes.com

i just got that -40 thing,....let me remember from old engineering school...i do beleive -40 c or -40 f are the same.... so how did that go 9/5+c =f or 5/9+f=c?....can't remember....funny how quickly you can forget something...good thing i don't have to know kelvin and rankin too......pickster
http://www.frecklefarmloghomes.com
[ Parent ]

Re: bought weather machine,now need batteries (3.00 / 0) (#11)
by hiker (hiker.wild[at]yahoo[dot]com) on Fri Jan 7th, 2005 at 04:21:17 PM MST
(User Info)

we use standard alkaline batts up north..as long as their fresh -never had a problem
with them in the cold -70 at times...

and yes ive blown away a lot of cute little furry things--when your raised on a homestead and raise ducks and chickens and a cow or two--the wild animales always
tried to get em..so my dad gave me a 22 rifle and said have at it........

now i just carry a 357mag for back up on the trail---and shoot the little furry things with my cam....except for a moose or two....later.........

WILD IN ALASKA

Re: bought weather machine,now need batteries (3.00 / 0) (#12)
by picmacmillan (rmacmill@sympatico.ca) on Fri Jan 7th, 2005 at 05:25:38 PM MST
(User Info) http:// www.frecklefarmloghomes.com

i have to get another 357 mag...i had one a while ago but sold it to get a 45...liked my 357 though...could use 357 or 38 shells....very cool picture....i envy the veiw you have there....spectacular!....pickster
http://www.frecklefarmloghomes.com
[ Parent ]

Re: bought weather machine,now need batteries (3.00 / 0) (#13)
by Reno on Fri Jan 7th, 2005 at 05:51:15 PM MST
(User Info)

Hello Pic
I also bought one if you remember
after I went through my first set of batteries I said, 'this is no good got to fix it. What I did was i went to a surplus place and got a 2 'AA' battery holder then picked up some thin wire 16 or 18 gauge. Found some round bar and cut it to the length of the battery. Then I soldered the wire to the round bar and slipped the bars into the transmitter ran the wire through a window(its so thin it slides between frames) hooked these wires to the holder I picked up and the batteries are now inside.
Hope this helps

Re: bought weather machine,now need batteries (3.00 / 0) (#15)
by ghurd on Sat Jan 8th, 2005 at 11:42:57 AM MST
(User Info)

I recommend going to 2 'D's. Twice the cost, 8x the power.

Maybe this would be good for the cold too. It would keep 80% a lot longer.

And I thought everyone up there used .454 Cas, .480 Ruger or .500 S&W pistols.

G-

[ Parent ]

Re: bought weather machine,now need batteries (3.00 / 0) (#14)
by stm on Fri Jan 7th, 2005 at 11:59:40 PM MST
(User Info)

The batteries I've been used all loose capacity, and freeze when they are not floating at 80/100% and the temp reaches -20-40 C.

You can use very large batteries, and recharge them reguarly, or you can raise the temperature! - ppl using video cameras to shoot movies here in greenland has this problem - they can't shoot a movie with a noisy generator running, and the batteries has a very low capacity when the temp. are -20 C.

Would'nt it be possible for you to dig a hole in the ground and cover the entrance with some heavy insulating material, and use the temperature of the earth to keep the temperature from dropping below a level? - a lot of people is makeing houses below the ground because of the heat "down there". - this technique works fine for potatoes, which are damaged by frost.

There's one of the regular users of this board, which lives in a home like this - maybe he can tell exactly how deep below ground your battery should be.

You would probably need to relocate the battery, to an isolated shelter in the summer, when the average air temperature is higher than the ground.

Just my .02 cents.

/Steffen

Re: bought weather machine,now need batteries (3.00 / 0) (#16)
by picmacmillan (rmacmill@sympatico.ca) on Sat Jan 8th, 2005 at 12:01:53 PM MST
(User Info) http:// www.frecklefarmloghomes.com

the sensor with the batteries in it, is supposed to be put on an outside wall of your house....the problem is, if you move the sensor to a shady area, or a warmer area, you're not going to get an accurate weather temperature......pickster
http://www.frecklefarmloghomes.com
[ Parent ]

Re: bought weather machine,now need batteries (3.00 / 0) (#17)
by stm on Sat Jan 8th, 2005 at 01:33:08 PM MST
(User Info)

ok. - I had got the impression, that the weatherstation transmitter was located far away from the reciever.

If the reciever is located just outside your house, you would be better off using some wire for the transmitter, and then put either a wall-wart, or the battery box within the comfort of your home. - the battery would not take dammage from the weather this way. I think that any other solution would cost you much more than the additional wire.

You need - however - to take into the loss within the long wire run. You can find information about wireloss on this board.

last: I know - you bought the wireless weather station because you did'nt want wires all over your house. In this case i am pretty sure, that no matter what other solution you decide to use, that it would be very expensive compared to the cost of the wired solution.

BTW: was'nt a weatherstation supposed to be placed shaded from wind and sun? - I mean temperature is affected by both wind and sun.

Have fun!

/Steffen

[ Parent ]

bought weather machine,now need batteries | 17 comments (17 topical, 0 editorial)

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