Topic: UV / Solar readings - why buy the sensors?

[Dirigo]

I'm about to purchase a wx station ( Davis VP2 but that doesn't really matter) and to get the UV /Solar readings is a significant upgrade (about $270) - Out of ignorance, I don't know or care about those readings.  I understand there are those out there who do and would welcome the information from my station.  Please enlighten me as to the benefits and enjoyment of looking at these readings.  It's a hefty price to pay for information that at present, I don't have any interest in.  Thanks - Dana

[TNETWeather]

Its not clear where you are located, but here in the SouthWest.... Sun is a pretty big part of "weather"....

[edpnjax]

Same for Florida!!

[capeweather]

Buy them now or pay more later.

[SLOweather]

Wherever you are, evapotranspiration (ET) can't be calculated by the station or other software without the solar sensor. ET will help you (and your web site users, if you put your data on the Internet).

If you get into the hobby and start to make your own forecasts with Wxsim, the solar reading is used in daylight to estimate cloud cover.

And the UV sensor output units are in the same ones used by the NWS and the TV weather person. They are a guide for sun exposure and/or how much sunscreen to apply.

Solar units are in watt/square meter, and the output is useful for you or anyone in your area wanting to install solar panels.

The sensors are significantly more to purchase and install later, if you don't purchase them with the unit. If you can afford them now, I say buy them. If, in a few months, you find that they are not interesting to you, you could remove them and the sensor shelf, and sell them for the difference.

[Anole]

The sensors are significantly more to purchase and install later, if you don't purchase them with the unit. If you can afford them now, I say buy them. If, in a few months, you find that they are not interesting to you, you could remove them and the sensor shelf, and sell them for the difference.

As Chris says, if it's in your budget to get them now, buy them as the package. purchasing them later as an add-on costs significantly more. UV in and of itself can be a useful feature especially given your location in the Charlotte area where there can be significant variations over the seasons, unlike SWFL where we only see low UV readings at night