Topic: Atlas Crapped Out

[radioman61]

13 month old atlas as been working well.  This morning it now shows-40° and 1% humidity. It’s actually about 58° and raining. The rainfall stopped updating, stuck at 0.90” but it’s still raining outside. Oddly, wind speed and direction still updates normally. One month out of warranty...just my luck.

[galfert]

How much is the cost of the replacement temperature/humidity sensor?

[radioman61]

Can’t be too much.  We’ve had wind driven rain for the last 12 hours and I suspect water was forced up in to places it shouldn’t have gone.  Once this storm is over, I’ll get it down and investigate.

[Mabcmb]

Can’t be too much.  We’ve had wind driven rain for the last 12 hours and I suspect water was forced up in to places it shouldn’t have gone.  Once this storm is over, I’ll get it down and investigate.

I don't know if you have seen this thread but nincehelser did a bunch of pics on tearing down the atlas . Here's the link https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=35220.0

[radioman61]

It quit raining and the sun came out...everything returned to normal. It’s a safe bet water got in somewhere it shouldn’t have.  It’s too windy to get on the roof today but I’ll check it later this week and report what I find

[nincehelser]

It quit raining and the sun came out...everything returned to normal. It’s a safe bet water got in somewhere it shouldn’t have.  It’s too windy to get on the roof today but I’ll check it later this week and report what I find

Have you replaced the batteries lately?  About a year is when they seem to start failing.

[radioman61]

It’s due for new batteries. I use the Energizer lithium’s and always replace them in the fall.

[DoctorKnow]

If the low battery light is not on, the batteries are fine.

[radioman61]

Got up on the roof today and pulled the Atlas for service.  I could find no evidence of corrosion or water intrusion on the connectors for the top unit and the temperature/humidity sensor.  I pulled that board and it looked clean.  The screen was intact and clear as well. Just for good measure I filled the two connectors with silicone based dielectric grease before re-assembly.  I installed 4 new lithium batteries and it fired right up.  The Atlas connected to the Acurite Access right away but wouldn't connect to the display until I reset it (the HD display) and went through the setup again.  I will say the spider population was just a fraction of what I would normally see in the 5 in 1 and the ability to take things apart for general cleaning and maintenance without tools was a dream!  After 13 months in the elements the unit is holding up surprisingly well.  Based on discoloration that normally occurred with the 5 in 1, I'd say the UV stability of the Atlas is far superior in that sense. I can find no reason for the problems I experienced except that the batteries had been in service for almost 13 months. 

[MacGarage]

It’s due for new batteries. I use the Energizer lithium’s and always replace them in the fall.

I just had to replace my lithium batteries today as my Atlas died. They were installed since September 2018 so perhaps the 13-month lifespan is something common.

[radioman61]

I kept a pretty good 12 month schedule with the 5 in 1 although I’ve seen them go much longer. Weather and some health issues delayed me with the Atlas and it appears there’s not much reserve time