Author Topic: Replacement Anemometer?  (Read 7224 times)

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Offline JohnN

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Replacement Anemometer?
« on: January 11, 2013, 06:44:46 PM »
Does anyone know Ambient Weather's replacement policy as far as replacing only a single broken sensor? I looked on their website a little, and it looks like they want the whole weather station. I am just wondering if I should contact Ambient and ask for a replacement anemometer, or send the whole unit back. Does anyone have any experience with this? I'd prefer just a new anemometer, because they are currently sold out of the WS-2080. Just a note, I got this weather station for Christmas so it is within Amazon and Ambient's return window, and within warranty. If I return through Amazon, I will have to wait because they currently only have used ones. So can anyone suggest what my best option is?
www.monmouthcountyweather.comUK Met Office: 45560463
Twitter: @John_N_WxCoCoRaHS: NJ-MN-64
CWOP: E1682Davis Vantage Vue, Pro2Plus w/24 hr FARS, Ambient Weather WS-1000
PWS/WFY: SOUTHARDNJCumulusMX
Wunderground: KNJHOWEL11
                       KNJHOWEL15
LiveATC: KWRI/KNEL/New York Center
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Offline unbidden

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2013, 09:28:24 AM »
Contact them, they have great customer support.

Offline JohnN

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2013, 11:42:02 AM »
Alright, I sent them an email. Just wondering, do you have an idea of how long it takes them to respond? I know I will be waiting until at least Monday. Hopefully they will send just the anemometer, because both Amazon and Ambientweather.com are sold out of the WS-2080.
www.monmouthcountyweather.comUK Met Office: 45560463
Twitter: @John_N_WxCoCoRaHS: NJ-MN-64
CWOP: E1682Davis Vantage Vue, Pro2Plus w/24 hr FARS, Ambient Weather WS-1000
PWS/WFY: SOUTHARDNJCumulusMX
Wunderground: KNJHOWEL11
                       KNJHOWEL15
LiveATC: KWRI/KNEL/New York Center
             KMJX/KBLM/3N6/N12

Offline JohnN

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2013, 11:56:59 AM »
Never mind that last question, they already got back to me.
www.monmouthcountyweather.comUK Met Office: 45560463
Twitter: @John_N_WxCoCoRaHS: NJ-MN-64
CWOP: E1682Davis Vantage Vue, Pro2Plus w/24 hr FARS, Ambient Weather WS-1000
PWS/WFY: SOUTHARDNJCumulusMX
Wunderground: KNJHOWEL11
                       KNJHOWEL15
LiveATC: KWRI/KNEL/New York Center
             KMJX/KBLM/3N6/N12

Offline mcsquish

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #4 on: January 12, 2013, 05:10:32 PM »
What did they say?  I have the exact situation.... It's tempting to take it apart and see what the problem is.
Thanks

Offline JohnN

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #5 on: January 12, 2013, 05:19:00 PM »
Here is their exact reply:
Quote
I am sorry about this issue. There was a  small batch of remote sensors that went out that had issues we just discovered. We will send out new cups at our expense.
 
To get started please visit
 
www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html
 
Regards,
 
Ed
I assume by new cups, they mean the whole anemometer, and not just the cups (hopefully).
www.monmouthcountyweather.comUK Met Office: 45560463
Twitter: @John_N_WxCoCoRaHS: NJ-MN-64
CWOP: E1682Davis Vantage Vue, Pro2Plus w/24 hr FARS, Ambient Weather WS-1000
PWS/WFY: SOUTHARDNJCumulusMX
Wunderground: KNJHOWEL11
                       KNJHOWEL15
LiveATC: KWRI/KNEL/New York Center
             KMJX/KBLM/3N6/N12

Offline mcsquish

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #6 on: January 12, 2013, 08:21:54 PM »
Thanks John!

Offline JohnN

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2013, 01:26:50 AM »
They emailed me back, and wanted the invoice from Amazon. Once I sent that to them, they said they will ship the replacement on Monday. Doing some research, if they ship USPS I should have it on Wednesday. If they ship UPS, I should have it next Monday. I hope they use USPS.
www.monmouthcountyweather.comUK Met Office: 45560463
Twitter: @John_N_WxCoCoRaHS: NJ-MN-64
CWOP: E1682Davis Vantage Vue, Pro2Plus w/24 hr FARS, Ambient Weather WS-1000
PWS/WFY: SOUTHARDNJCumulusMX
Wunderground: KNJHOWEL11
                       KNJHOWEL15
LiveATC: KWRI/KNEL/New York Center
             KMJX/KBLM/3N6/N12

Offline unbidden

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2013, 11:00:48 AM »
They emailed me back, and wanted the invoice from Amazon. Once I sent that to them, they said they will ship the replacement on Monday. Doing some research, if they ship USPS I should have it on Wednesday. If they ship UPS, I should have it next Monday. I hope they use USPS.

Actually they do sell parts: http://www.ambientweather.com/wswestrepaan1.html

I'd give them a call rather than wait on email.

Offline JohnN

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2013, 11:42:24 AM »
It's already all taken care of. They are actually really fast responding to emails. After I sent them the invoice, they got back to me within a half hour.
www.monmouthcountyweather.comUK Met Office: 45560463
Twitter: @John_N_WxCoCoRaHS: NJ-MN-64
CWOP: E1682Davis Vantage Vue, Pro2Plus w/24 hr FARS, Ambient Weather WS-1000
PWS/WFY: SOUTHARDNJCumulusMX
Wunderground: KNJHOWEL11
                       KNJHOWEL15
LiveATC: KWRI/KNEL/New York Center
             KMJX/KBLM/3N6/N12

Offline JohnN

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2013, 10:21:01 PM »
I believe I have found the problem. It seems that the bearing that the cups are on seized up. So the bearing is press fit on the "shaft" of the anemometer, and then the cups are press fit on that. So when the bearing seized, that made the anemometer seize. I'll show pictures tomorrow. To give you an idea, here are the bearings: http://www.ebay.com/itm/10x-Premium-5x10x4-Metal-Shield-Ball-Bearing-Ceramic-Metric-Hop-Up-Heli-Car-Part-/230900063902?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c2b75e9e
« Last Edit: January 13, 2013, 10:27:03 PM by JohnN »
www.monmouthcountyweather.comUK Met Office: 45560463
Twitter: @John_N_WxCoCoRaHS: NJ-MN-64
CWOP: E1682Davis Vantage Vue, Pro2Plus w/24 hr FARS, Ambient Weather WS-1000
PWS/WFY: SOUTHARDNJCumulusMX
Wunderground: KNJHOWEL11
                       KNJHOWEL15
LiveATC: KWRI/KNEL/New York Center
             KMJX/KBLM/3N6/N12

Offline mcsquish

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #11 on: January 14, 2013, 05:51:28 PM »
Well, John, it would appear that Sunday was a good day to contact them.  I sent in my invoice and exchange form this morning and haven't heard anything back yet.  Not a big deal at all since I'm sure they get busy during the week.
I'm surprised it is just the bearing, when I spin mine it will rotate maybe 270 deg. and hits something and spin backwards...
I was waiting to take mine apart untill I heard if they want my bad one back.

Offline JohnN

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #12 on: January 14, 2013, 05:56:42 PM »
That's what mine did, and then it completely seized up. When you take the cups off, you can see that the bearing is the only thing that can cause the problem. There is nothing else that can stop it. I'll take a picture and show you.
www.monmouthcountyweather.comUK Met Office: 45560463
Twitter: @John_N_WxCoCoRaHS: NJ-MN-64
CWOP: E1682Davis Vantage Vue, Pro2Plus w/24 hr FARS, Ambient Weather WS-1000
PWS/WFY: SOUTHARDNJCumulusMX
Wunderground: KNJHOWEL11
                       KNJHOWEL15
LiveATC: KWRI/KNEL/New York Center
             KMJX/KBLM/3N6/N12

Offline JohnN

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #13 on: January 14, 2013, 06:14:37 PM »
Here's how the cups are attached. I hope you can read my notes.

anemometer by JNapoli01, on Flickr
www.monmouthcountyweather.comUK Met Office: 45560463
Twitter: @John_N_WxCoCoRaHS: NJ-MN-64
CWOP: E1682Davis Vantage Vue, Pro2Plus w/24 hr FARS, Ambient Weather WS-1000
PWS/WFY: SOUTHARDNJCumulusMX
Wunderground: KNJHOWEL11
                       KNJHOWEL15
LiveATC: KWRI/KNEL/New York Center
             KMJX/KBLM/3N6/N12

Offline JohnN

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #14 on: January 18, 2013, 04:29:27 PM »
I ordered a replacement bearing, and it came today. So I put the anemometer back together, and put the station back together. But there is still no wind speed reading. I tested* the sensor, and it seems to be functioning correctly. So now I don't know what the problem is. It could be where the anemometer plugs into the weather vane, but I don't know how to test that. The weather vane functions properly, though. They said they were going to send a replacement anemometer on last Monday, but if it doesn't come next Monday the station is going back and I will get a different one.

*- I connected its phone plug to a telephone plate, and tested for continuity while spinning it. My meter beeped, so I assume the sensor is good.
www.monmouthcountyweather.comUK Met Office: 45560463
Twitter: @John_N_WxCoCoRaHS: NJ-MN-64
CWOP: E1682Davis Vantage Vue, Pro2Plus w/24 hr FARS, Ambient Weather WS-1000
PWS/WFY: SOUTHARDNJCumulusMX
Wunderground: KNJHOWEL11
                       KNJHOWEL15
LiveATC: KWRI/KNEL/New York Center
             KMJX/KBLM/3N6/N12

Offline IHateHail

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #15 on: January 18, 2013, 05:17:16 PM »
Here's a few ideas as to what to look for...

Make sure the magnet (the little piece of metal in the wind cup is there and didn't fall out)
Also, is the reed switch oriented correctly?  If you reassembled it upside down the magnet will be pulling the reed switch apart, thus negating any signal to the transmitter.
One more thing.  The cups are pushed down pretty closely to the housing, even 1 mm could be too far apart to generate a signal if the reed switch is in correctly.
CWOP: EW2516

Offline JohnN

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #16 on: January 18, 2013, 05:35:46 PM »
I can hear it clicking as it spins, so the magnet and reed switch are working. I guess I will just have to wait for them to send the replacement.
www.monmouthcountyweather.comUK Met Office: 45560463
Twitter: @John_N_WxCoCoRaHS: NJ-MN-64
CWOP: E1682Davis Vantage Vue, Pro2Plus w/24 hr FARS, Ambient Weather WS-1000
PWS/WFY: SOUTHARDNJCumulusMX
Wunderground: KNJHOWEL11
                       KNJHOWEL15
LiveATC: KWRI/KNEL/New York Center
             KMJX/KBLM/3N6/N12

Offline mcsquish

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #17 on: January 21, 2013, 12:18:24 PM »
John, I installed my original wind meter with a new bearing and it so far is working fine.  I made sure I pushed the cups on as far as I could and I can hear the switch clicking as the cups rotate. I used a all steel bearing instead of a ceramic since I had one; hopefully it will last.
I went ahead and fixed mine since you said you have yet to receive your replacement meter; I was told that my new one would be shipped last Wed.

Offline JohnN

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #18 on: January 21, 2013, 03:15:20 PM »
I too am still waiting for my replacement anemometer, but I don't think that will fix the problem. I know the signal is getting out the anemometer, and even out of the wind vane. I think the problem is something in the thermo-hydro sensor. If my new anemometer doesn't come today (a week from when they said they would ship it) or it comes and doesn;t fix the problem, I am going to return it thru Amazon and get a Davis Vantage Vue.
www.monmouthcountyweather.comUK Met Office: 45560463
Twitter: @John_N_WxCoCoRaHS: NJ-MN-64
CWOP: E1682Davis Vantage Vue, Pro2Plus w/24 hr FARS, Ambient Weather WS-1000
PWS/WFY: SOUTHARDNJCumulusMX
Wunderground: KNJHOWEL11
                       KNJHOWEL15
LiveATC: KWRI/KNEL/New York Center
             KMJX/KBLM/3N6/N12

Offline JohnN

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #19 on: January 21, 2013, 03:28:07 PM »
UPS just got here, so I will see if it works.
www.monmouthcountyweather.comUK Met Office: 45560463
Twitter: @John_N_WxCoCoRaHS: NJ-MN-64
CWOP: E1682Davis Vantage Vue, Pro2Plus w/24 hr FARS, Ambient Weather WS-1000
PWS/WFY: SOUTHARDNJCumulusMX
Wunderground: KNJHOWEL11
                       KNJHOWEL15
LiveATC: KWRI/KNEL/New York Center
             KMJX/KBLM/3N6/N12

Offline JohnN

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Re: Replacement Anemometer?
« Reply #20 on: January 21, 2013, 03:47:20 PM »
Just put the new anemometer up, but still no wind speed reading. Must have something to do with the thermo-hydro sensor or transmitter or something. Looks like the Davis Vantage Vue is in my future now.
www.monmouthcountyweather.comUK Met Office: 45560463
Twitter: @John_N_WxCoCoRaHS: NJ-MN-64
CWOP: E1682Davis Vantage Vue, Pro2Plus w/24 hr FARS, Ambient Weather WS-1000
PWS/WFY: SOUTHARDNJCumulusMX
Wunderground: KNJHOWEL11
                       KNJHOWEL15
LiveATC: KWRI/KNEL/New York Center
             KMJX/KBLM/3N6/N12