Questions about Davis VP 2 Siting

[N7XSQ]

ty-wraps rot in the sun faster than you would believe. At least they do here in Arizona. I personally would not hang anything important up with them other than as a strictly temporary installation. Here in Arizona, we cannot use PVC for anything structural, as it just wilts in the heat. The thing you have to think about with mounting your rainbucket is that if the wind makes it wobble back and forth at all, you will get false tips. It has to be mounted very solidly, and level.

Steve

[niko]

hmm...is that a regular Davis Solar Sensor?  Looks different from the bottom than mine?  do you have something else going on there?

I see you have your bracket tie-wrapped to the pole as I was going to do.  I am going to change mine to a pair or tiewraps before putting it up to help insure it stays vertically aligned.

Tie wraps???? No way, stainless U bolts sir!

Here's a better pic, hope you can see the details better. I had a Radio Shack antenna bracket but the hole/slot spacing was totally unsuitable, so I cut out the middle section and made an acrylic plate with the hole pattern for the solar, and mounted the plate to the metal bracket, then there's the piece that adapts the flat bracket to the round pole, and the U bolt. Note the U bolts are white because they have heat shrink on them to minimise damage to the powder coating on the pole, this is 0.5 miles from the Pacific, even most hardware store stainless will rust here. Oh, it's a VP1 anemometer bracket, they were white plastic not the current black stuff.

[daveq]

Niko, as you know I have a solar sensor on the way.  Just wondering what type of wire to use for the extension?  I want to have it ready when the sensor gets here.

--Dave

[niko]

4 core flat phone extension wire, the type that goes with rj11 connectors. If you have a choice get the kind that has more of a smooth, oval, cross section rather than the sharp cornered rectangular stuff, it will fit better in the gland/seal thingie on the solar.

[daveq]

Thanks, off to Lowes.  Well maybe tomorrow after work.

--Dave

[Clanger]

4 core flat phone extension wire, the type that goes with rj11 connectors. If you have a choice get the kind that has more of a smooth, oval, cross section rather than the sharp cornered rectangular stuff, it will fit better in the gland/seal thingie on the solar.

niko,
       Am i correct in thinking that you have run a completely new cable from the solar sensor to the ISS. The reason I'm asking is because I have mine all ready to go up cable and all. But as i suspect like most people it has to be a long way from the ISS. I have the little splicing kit that comes with the extra cable. Although I'm wondering if its best not to use it.

[niko]

Yes, I did, mainly because of the salt fog/coastal location. I'm very comfortable taking something like the solar sensor apart and working on it, but that's not a good solution for everyone. My second and easier choice would be to splice in a new length of wire, using the original connector to the ISS so as to ensure no crossover. A plug in joiner would be my very last choice.

[Clanger]

Thanks niko,
                   I presume that the short cable which comes with the sensor is soldered into it.

[niko]

Thanks niko,
                   I presume that the short cable which comes with the sensor is soldered into it.

Yes, it's soldered directly to the circuit board. I'm trying to find a picture.

[daveq]

I got my solar sensor a couple of days ago and took it apart as I was planning on extending the cable by soldering directly to the board.  But after taking it apart now I'm just going to splice the wires.  There is a lot of silicone on both sides of the board which I don't want to mess with.  Don't mind the soldering part but too much trouble to remove the silicone, clean the board, and then reapply.  There is also a small bag of silica inside the cover. 

I also would not use the coupler that comes with the extension wire.  Took a couple of pics when it was apart.

--Dave

[niko]

There is a lot of silicone on both sides of the board which I don't want to mess with.  Don't mind the soldering part but too much trouble to remove the silicone, clean the board, and then reapply.

That's different, mine isn't siliconed. It does have the little silica gel packet.

[Clanger]

That's alot of silicone, must have had a moisture problem in the past, i think i will splice them together.
Interestingly the kit comes with a plug to plug adaptor. But says, 'Only use in heated, dry, indoor location 

[aviva]

That's alot of silicone, must have had a moisture problem in the past, i think i will splice them together.
Interestingly the kit comes with a plug to plug adaptor. But says, 'Only use in heated, dry, indoor location 

Perhaps one could use this adaptor and cover it with the same type of silicone material (inside a shrink sleeve)?

[daveq]

Perhaps one could use this adaptor and cover it with the same type of silicone material (inside a shrink sleeve)?

How the heck did you know I did that??   

This is exactly what I did for the anemometer to ISS extension when I set up mine up two years ago.  I made the connection, filled the clamshell housing with silicone and got a large enough piece of heat shrink to cover the whole thing.  Of course the ends overhanging the housing wouldn't shrink down far enough to close so I filled them with silicone.  That was two years ago and haven't had problems but... the splice is sheltered under my roof overhang and doesn't get wet.

The wire is too short on the solar sensor to reach the overhang.  About 36" I'm guessing so I'll be splicing it and covering with heat shrink.

--Dave

[aviva]

How the heck did you know I did that??   

I can also tell the future  .