[Wizza]

Did a bit of searching on Sandaysoft forum and found a way to test your connection to WU via a web browser. CumulusMX drops its log files into MXlogs folder under CumulusMX. In the latest log file you can find the update URL that Cumulus uses to send to WU and the responses. I could see the fail messages, and also tested the URL in a browser window.

WU Response: OK: INVALIDPASSWORDID|Password or key and/or id are incorrect

I went back to WU and did a password reset, and re-sync'd the password with CumulusMX, and WU is now receiving data.

WeatherUnderground URL for my weatherstation @ Zillmere (4034):

https://www.wunderground.com/personal-we...UEENSL1115

Rgds,
Mark R

[werk_ag]

WeatherUnderground URL for my weatherstation @ Zillmere (4034):

https://www.wunderground.com/personal-we...UEENSL1115

Hi Mark
Thank you for the WeatherDuino Pro2 logo in the WU profile.

Rgds
Werk_AG

[Wizza]

Hi Mark
Thank you for the WeatherDuino Pro2 logo in the WU profile.
Rgds
Werk_AG

No worries Werk....

[hornychz]

Hi,

Yesterday I finally mounted my new TX box for two units, although not yet finally fitted. I'd like you boasted:



Regards

[Wizza]

That looks really well thought out and put together horny. Looks like a nice enclosure as well. Nice work...

What size battery did you go with.??? I've been chatting to a friend who works in the Maritime instruments industry, and they build and maintain a lot of solar powered instruments and beacons. Given Aust weather conditions, he tells me that they design the solar system for a 10day bad weather (low solar power generation) period, and a 50% discharge on the batts. I was starting to think 20Ah SLA battery, however this new information seems to put me more up in the range of a 40Ah SLA battery, and around a 40W - 60W panel. Haven't done any further calcs yet, but starting to think that it may be more cost effective for me to simply in a new GPO next to my TX station and use a small 1.3Ah SLA battery and a charge module, like I did in my RX station (refer above). Haven't totally decided yet, and will be sure to post more info and photos when I do more outside with my TX station. Interested to hear more about your solar calcs and sizing, given your weather and part of the world.

Cheers for now..

Mark R

[hornychz]

What size battery did you go with.???

Hi Mark,

I have only temporary Pb battery 12V/10Ah in this box, but it's not finally battery. Now I have a new PWM controller prepared for this installation, but don't have yet LiFePo4 battery. So I have or will have:
- 2 pcs solar panels Poly with 20 Wp 36 cells MPPT 18 V in a serial arrangement (so it is 36 V and more) GWL/Power Solar panel
- 1 pc PWM controller (not in the TX box yet) WINCONG SL-02A-10A LiFePo4 solar power controller
- 1 pc LiFePo4 battery pack 12V/12A with internal PCM (protection and ballancer) LiFePo4 Acu.
This battery I didn't buy yet, so I'm using MPPT controller and Pb acu now ...

I'm not sure, if this configuration will be enough during the winter. But there are/will my TX1 and TX2 units in this box, their failure isn't critical for me. If that's not enough, next year will strengthen the entire configuration.

I have not very good experience with the use of only one panel 20 Wp and Pb battery 12V/7Ah. This winter, after 3 days without sun, TX0 went down ... So I bought solar controller from Tycon with posibility to charge from the grid - because it is on our roof. This solutions is quite perfect for me, but I bought solar panel 40 Wp for this box and mount it during this spring.

And - that's all from me ... ?

Regards

[hornychz]

Hi, again,

One more bad experience I have now - during building TX box I used MPPT controller for only 5A like this:
MPPT Solar Panel Charge Controller
I don't know where I bought it, but it was functional only 30 minutes (very sunny day). After this the battery has more than 17 V and "cooked". I think the current was more than 5 A, but didn't meassure it. Now the controller is broken

So - be careful. In very hot and sunny days the energy from solars can be too high!

Regards

[Wizza]

I've heard similar stories horny. Another big RED FLAG story that I heard, was regarding the lack of safety features on some of these Chinese solar controllers. Apparently the test to check for, is to remove the battery while the system is under good solar energy, and the output should turn off. Apparently there are some controllers that do not, and in fact they float the full solar voltage to the output and can destroy the electronics. This was a scenario my friend had to investigate, and this is what they found. Seems that a battery collapsed and failed, in a remote location, and as it did so the output voltage continued to climb until destruction of the load. Apparently there was an awful lot of money that they watched fail, remotely via the telemetry data and alarms. So this is a test I will be checking. Another is to check the output voltage with a scope, and look for the presence of AC. Again apparently, some of these Chinese controllers are very 'choppy' on the output. Just a couple of more comments that I have picked up and thought worth passing along.

Cheers for now..

Mark R

[Wizza]

I got my first Weather Web-cam online today, via my WeatherUnderground account:

Refer following URL @ Weather Underground:
https://www.wunderground.com/personal-we...UEENSL1115

IQUEENSL1115 WebCam
   
{click photo to enlarge}

I wanted to look out at the horizon and keep a tree or two in the field of view, to give some perspective to the image. For my first attempt, I ended up using a DLink webcam, after realising that it had a feature built-in, to FTP a photo on a regular basis (every 5 mins). The picture quality isn't great, but its a start and its got me online. Just sat it on a window sill, and aimed it up to the sky accordingly. I had a power outlet on the wall directly below, and wifi is built in, so installation was pretty quick and easy...

Also has a feature to do a reboot every morning at a set time (1:00am) which may help with stability. Experience has shown that these low cost webcams are not the most stable device, and far from commercial grade.

Will have a play with a few other cameras at work, and see if any others suitable that may provide a better result. Will be sure to let you guys know if I find something better.

Cheers for now...

Mark R

[Wizza]

DLink Weather Cam - How To

For those interested in trying a home webcam to upload to WeatherUnderground, but not sure where to start, below are the settings that I used. Maybe of inspiration or help if you decide to try this option. Just look for a camera that has FTP option, as many do. I used a DLink DCS-942L, which is an older camera that I had lying around.

Step 1 - I set the light source to "outdoor". This gave a better picture contrast, given as good as it gets with this low cost camera.
   
{click photo to enlarge}

Step 2 - Tell the camera to take a photo every 5 minutes, and how to upload it (WeatherUnderground)

   
{click photo to enlarge}

Step 3 - I set the FPS to 1 (still picture) and set the quality to "good" as a compromise between file size and quality. Set the Day/Night mode to "Always Day Mode" so that the Infrared emitter doesn't turn on at night (reflects off the glass window of the house). I also turned off the microphone in the camera.

   
{click photo to enlarge}