the Otherpower.com Discussion Board || Anemometer suggestions

Front Page - [Homebrewed Electricity-- (wind) (solar) (hydro) (steam) (controls) (storage) (mechanical)] - Classifieds - Site News
Everything - Newbies - [Remote Living-- (housing) (heat) (light) (water)] - Rants & Opinion - Diaries - Our Products

Anemometer suggestions
By PinnacleProject, Section Wind Posted on Fri Jul 18th, 2008 at 01:29:14 AM MST
Looking for an anemometer that will wirelessly log data

I would like to buy a pole mounted anemometer so that I can gather data before choosing a site for a wind turbine. I would like it to wirelessly connect to my computer so that I can gather wind data for up to a year. I have done a Google search and found quite a few that are part of weather stations. Some of them log data but I suspect they will end up logging a bunch of stuff I do not want (such as rainfall) and not enough of what I do want (wind). I think I would be best off with something that is strictly an anemometer and nothing else. Is anybody using anything they can either recommend or suggest I avoid? Thanks.

Anemometer suggestions | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 editorial)

Re: Anemometer suggestions (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by Todd a on Thu Jul 17th, 2008 at 07:48:37 PM MST
(User Info)

I purchased a unit from La Crosse through Amazon for $99 shipped. It is wireless and does connect to the computer, but it is not the best. The outdoor temp/ humidity sensor is the sending unit and the rain and wind meters connect to that sensor with wires. The unit uses batteries, so it might be worth placing it next to a window. The cables are long, so you can still place the rain and wind meters quite a ways from the temp sensor. They do include a cable if you do not want to use batteries. I do not have it high enough so the roof blocks it, but the thing I do not like mit it only updates about every 5-10 seconds and the software only updates the log once an hour. The wind meter usses a weather vain to point an propeller type wind sensor into the wind. This means turbulant wind is not read much if at all. It also has problems reading wind speed when it rains. Make sure you get a spinning cup type wind speed meter. Also make sure you are high enough and everything is perfectly level (weather vain, rain sensor...).

Re: Anemometer suggestions (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by Tritium on Fri Jul 18th, 2008 at 07:15:12 AM MST
(User Info)

Here is the one I like.

http://www.aprsworld.com/wind2/

I use old Davis anemometer's with it.

Thurmond

Re: Anemometer suggestions (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by scorman (scorman@stny.rr.com) on Fri Jul 18th, 2008 at 07:38:42 AM MST
(User Info) http://www.greenpowertalk.org/showthread.php?t=6170

I have the LaCrosse 3512.
only WS and direction, wireless to 300ft, 2 C batteries, <64 ft wire up pole
simple but cheap ( and all plastic)
currently being sold for $60:
http://www.weathershack.com/la-crosse-technology/ws-3512u.html

note that it requires RS232 for puter interface, which does work, but if you need a laptop connection, you'll have to buy a PCMCIA/RS232 card for $15

you can't beat the price, and it averages readings, so a five minute sampling will give you many days of data before having to download, hourly readings will last 2 months

software is customizable, but sub-marginal ...data file is easy to parse

Stew Corman from sunny Endicott

Re: Anemometer suggestions (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by StorminN on Fri Jul 18th, 2008 at 11:03:52 PM MST
(User Info)

I was going to ask the same sort of question... I picked up a Bios PC/TV weather station for a bargain recently, but the software is very lacking.

Does anyone know of a reasonably-priced anemometer that has software that will generate a Weibull graph? Or, is everyone parsing their own data and how?

Thanks,
-Norm.

Re: Anemometer suggestions (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by frackers (g8ecj at *nospam* gilks dot org) on Sat Jul 19th, 2008 at 04:39:39 AM MST
(User Info) http://www.gilks.org

I'm using a LaCrosse WS2350 (just replaced a lightning damaged ws2310 that lasted over 4 years) and putting the data into a database where it can be pulled out and plotted and displayed on a web page that does real-time updates every 5 minutes. The software is called cacti and runs under Windows or Linux (which is what I'm using) and is designed for plotting the state of a computer network. The software to talk to the weather station is called Open2300 and can be found here .

I've only got 3 months of data (out of the last 5 months!!) what with the nearby lightning strike taking out a couple of the remote sensors and teething problems due to a set of bad AA cells but at least as a result of the failure I now have 2 base units, one in the lounge and one connected to the computer.

Note that the WS2350 has the advantage of having a proper aeronometer rather than the turbine arrangement the WS2310 has.

Robin - Down Under (or are you Up Over)
[ Parent ]

Re: Anemometer suggestions (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by pondputz (woa2005@gmail.com) on Sat Jul 19th, 2008 at 10:11:03 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.roosterpheasant.com

http://www.inspeed.com/ This one is very durable.

Pondputz

Re: Anemometer suggestions (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by smcardle on Fri Jul 25th, 2008 at 03:55:22 AM MST
(User Info)

I was searching the net a couple of days ago and came across a site that had a home made one constructed from a bicycle computer. Seemed that the result was pretty good but I can't seem to find the article again.

Maybe somebody else has seen the article and can post the link.

Steve

Anemometer suggestions | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 editorial)

Menu

� create account
� How to use the board
� FAQs
� search the board
� Google search the board
� Old Otherpower Board

Login

Make a new account

Username:

Password:

Total Views

��101 Scoop users have viewed this posting.

Related Links

� Also by PinnacleProject

You must be a registered user to post here. It's easy and free, and the link is on the upper right side of your page.
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Postings are owned by the poster, but may be deleted or moved at the ADMIN's sole discretion. The Rest � 2003 Forcefield.
You can Email the board ADMIN here. PLEASE include the username you signed up with!