Hi peeps
This is specifically aimed at MichaelPT although all help would be appreciated 
I somehow ended up at his site (impressive to say the least) and noticed that
MichaelPT has made a few of his own sensors, the solar sensor is the 1 i am interested
in as you have made it using the additional Oregon sensor…
Can you please explain to me how you get solar readings from it
Do you use the main unit to transfer the data to WD, i am a little puzzled as its a temp/hygro
sensor…?
Hi
The sensor you are talking about is the solar jar
all the work really is done by weather display, it works out
the solar radiation from a temperature differential
The sensor used is a Oregon temperature sensor with a probe
the data is just automatically transmitted back to the console then uploaded to weather display
which works out all the calculations
The actual materials used I wanted something I could use as a standard
using a laboratory flask is excellent for this as it can stand high temperatures and cooling
or you could just use a jam jar and paint the bottom black and stick the sensor inside
I hope this information is helpful to
mick
Hi and thanks for the info, I will endeavor to get the flask…
I will most certainly be back to this thread once i have the items, if not then
then certainly when it comes to configuring
Hi again
Does it matter on on the size of the flask, i have found 1 that is about 290mm in lenght
I think its a 1000ml thick wall job
Hi
Bashy
The glass flask is perfect , use a small plastic tube to mount
the end of the temperature probe inside the glass, remember to paint the plastic tube black
and seal the end of the glass to stop any moisture from getting in
mick
mick
Cheers Mick, now its just convincing the missus its a vital piece of much needed equipment pmsl…
Hi Mick
Flask is now en route
Can you please advise on any settings i will need to adjust and make in WD please?
Having this solar sensor, what benefits will i have other than telling me its sunny or not?
I heard solar sensors can tell you if its going to be foggy?
Also tell you what the UV risk is…
What can i expect from this home made job please?
Hi
it’s been a while since I set up a a solar sensor using a temperature/glass set up
since I have taken it down and replaced it with the 1 wire system , people are asking me where as the sensor gone :o
they preferred the look of it. I’m surprised I have been asked to put it back
Questions/answers I will try my best
You will need to go to the solar setting setup
he is a link with some information on how to set the settings
http://weather-watch.com/wiki/index.php/Solar_Sensor_Setup
You will need to set up a starting point keep it to 1.1 for maximum you will need a sunny day
and just this until you get 100% in your solar readings
this will take some time but the end result is worth it
There is a setting, you can use to detect fog which is in the summary image setup
The UV it does not give any information it is purely the solar you can use the solar settings
to display the weather icons (or less reigning) from the solar data
If you want to take readings for the UV you could buy a Oregon Scientific UVR 138 (Ultra-Violet)
you would have to take the readings manually I think I asked Brian some time ago if he could add to the manual input section
a way of entering the maximum UV at 12 o’clock which could be graphed
there is a small display which gives the index number for the UV
it is probably possible to convert this into a 1 wire sensor. This will be my next project
The sensor, you are building will give you the solar for the day Brian has also included a feature that you can set
to have a solar line on the graph for calibrating purposes this will give you the maximum solar reading for your
latitude and longitude
Don’t forget to paint the mounting tube black
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Hi Mick
Cheers for the in depth reply…
I have tried setting it to 1.1 but it will not let be adjust the .1, i can adjust the 1. no probs
just not the .1 
that is the same for min and max settings!
You are using the up/down buttons for the decimal window - right?
Sure am, i even tried adding the number manually it just will not let me adjust the .0
I am sure it did at 1st cause i set 0.1 for the minimum not realizing as i wanted to set
the max but now the .1 or .0 it will not will not budge
That screen doesn’t come up for me, depends on the station I guess, so I can’t try it
ok m8 no worries, hopefully someone else can shed some light on it
Here is my effort anyway, looks like a giant light bulb lol
I have enclosed the unit inside a clear plastic box and sealed it with tape
Hi
There minimum setting should be 1.1 and a starting point for the maximum. I would suggest, 9.5
maybe due to setting the minimum to .1 may of course the problem
this one may be for Brian, as it seems to be stopping you from altering the settings
I have had no problems adjusting them, but I have never adjusted. The minimum below 1.1
Sorry I cannot help you on this
mick
No problem Mick, thanks for your help anyway, Which of the readings am i
actually looking for to reach 100% under the Current Readings tab?
Theres:
Current raw reading 15.8w/m2
Current % reading 0%
Maximum radiation for lat/date 0
just so that i know for when its sunny 
Also does this screen look right to you please?
Hi
Yes, your settings look okay, you’ve done a good job of the solar sensor,
this should give you some good results I used the one I made for about 18 months
the only reason I changed it. I like messing around with electronics , this is where the 1 wire
came in
back to your question
If you can check the reading at 12 o’clock noon, you want to get 100% (clear sky with full sun )
in the current % reading
I would use the option to display the maximum solar in your graph for your longitude and latitude
this will give you an idea of what you should be getting you can also adjust it to accommodate different sky conditions
Go to Max solar time of day/time zone/Lat/Long
Near the bottom you will see a box plot Max solar line now for testing
mick
Hi Mick, thanks for the info…
What i have done this morning (due to WD not responding) is remove
WD and start again, I can now set that .0 setting Using 10.37 build 1
but, when its set to 1.1 (with full sun at 10am) it shows at 40%
now even if i up this to 1.2 it goes to 100% have you seen this before?
Its just not possible to get lower than 100% when min is at 1.1 and max at 1.2
If max is at 1.1 then i get about 40%
Please see the 1st 2 images for 1.2 setting
Second 2 images are at 1.1 setting
EDIT:
When i go back to build 15 i cannot set that 0.1 setting, must be a bug
I have tired build 10 and its fine, build 11 is not!! so, something changed in
build 11 
Also, build 15 will not register any Current reading, its always 0%
Hi
You should keep the minimum to 1.1 and only adjust the maximum. Normally, if you start off at 7.1
if the solar reading is very high you just the maximum setting to a lower reading
and increase the maximum, if you’re reading is too high
I have not experienced any of the problems you are getting possible bug
go to the bug tracker to report this to Brian he will then put it on this list to fix
mick
even at 1.2 (maximum) its 100%
Is it just me or aint that how the graph is meant to look if its working?
I have checked with both build 10 and build 15
Build 15 does not register any solar at all, you can see this on the B15 image
also you can see on the build 10 image that the solar stopped working on the graph
thats when i changed to build 15
b10
build15
