Getting Ready for Winter

[hstiles]

Since winter weather will be soon upon us here in Maryland, I would like to know what is the best way to protect the rain gauge from freezing and being damaged.  I have a Oregon Scientific station.

Thanks,

[Kojack]

I have a WMR928 and have taken no measures to protect from freezing. Lowest temp since installing it has been -5C and no apparent damage. If I find that we have a really severe winter with regular temps of -12C or less and large snowfalls I might consider disconnecting it and protecting the system but the use of heaters doesn't appeal to me as they are either pads or lamps requiring power feed.
I believe they are available for the VP gauge but I haven't seen them advertised for OS

[aardvark]

Funny you should ask.. I do have a solution that works for me.  the KAP.
This is a cover (the blue thing) for the rain bucket.  It's used to cover the bucket during the winter to prevent accumulation of snow and ice.  This is  better than anything I have seen .  It goes on and off easily, yet won't blow off in the strong Iowa winter winds. 
IF you are interested contact .Chann Barnhart [channsb@execpc.com]    directly

     
 

The pictures are a few years old and my unit didn't have the retrofit kit on it yet (same wire antenna there) so I have had the opportunity of having the KAP several winters.   It hasn't fallen off or blown away ... yet... 

[Kojack]

What is the diameter of your VP bucket Aardvark? I have modified my 928 with a 168mm OD funnel. The original is about 105mmOD

[aardvark]

I don't know the diameter, it is whatever the Davis size is.

[wreckdiver]

Davis is 4 inch diameter, I do not have the metric conversion close by sorry

Chuck

[administrator]

4 inches would be 101.6mm (1 inch is 25.4mm).

[wreckdiver]

Thanks Chris,

This Yankee has yet to master the rest of the worlds measurment system. Used to know it like the back of my hand 

[daveq]

This Yankee has yet to master the rest of the worlds measurment system. Used to know it like the back of my hand

I'm with you Chuck.  I found a program called Convert at http://www.joshmadison.com/software/
Very small, very fast program and needs no install, just save it to a directory and run it.
--Dave

[zeppline]

The Davis VP2 is 6 1/2 inches OD, not 4 inches.

Joe

[wreckdiver]

opps I was thinking of the actual collector.    Sorry for the mis-information

[administrator]

The Davis VP2 is 6 1/2 inches OD, not 4 inches.

That's 165.1mm in the rest of the world

[aardvark]

and he will ship it to the rest of the world as well..

[Kojack]

I don't know the diameter, it is whatever the Davis size is.

Thanks Ardvaark. Unfortunately too small for the adapted bucket 

[MNflyer]

Quick add in. I just got done building a 2 auto light bulb heater system inside the rain system. Will be able to see how well it melts snow soon.  I took a couple of pics and more info if needed.
Later, Loren