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Weather Station Hardware => Davis Instruments Weather Stations => Topic started by: xcesmess on December 30, 2009, 05:33:07 PM

Title: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: xcesmess on December 30, 2009, 05:33:07 PM
About two weeks ago I picked up a new Vantage Vue and have loved it since the first day I turned it online.  It has definitely been a step up from the WMR-968 I had before! :)

Unfortunately today it took a spill for the worst and I wanted to see if others have had the same problem.  A few days after putting the station online I noticed it was giving a 'LOW TRANSMITTER BATTERY 1' error message on the console.  We had some cloudy days and it was right before a snow storm so I just figured the dormant battery was low and needed a charge.  A good sunny day later and the message went away -- for a day.  The message inevitably came back so I gave up and just replaced the battery before the next storm came in -- this tme the message never went away.  Two weeks have passed now and the ISS finally gave up and was reporting 163 degrees outside and 100% humidity.  I went outside and the unit was off completely.  Putting a new battery into the unit, it seems to be back online and reporting fine without the 'low battery' message. 

I sent an e-mail to Davis' support but sadly never received a response (I hope that isn't the trend). 

Any anyone else experienced this?  These are supposed to be 10 year lithium batteries so I'd hate to see them go dead so quickly.  My hunch is that I might have a faulty solar panel or the ISS charging circuit is bad.

Any advice would be great!

Thanks

Kelly
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Aardvark on December 30, 2009, 05:37:03 PM
you might be right on both.  It is possible to have faulty batteries.  i have had several like that with my VP2.  I have a wireless temp station out there in the deep snow.. and the battery needed replacing. I was lucky and the replacement was good, but I have had batteries that continue to give the low battery message, even after resetting the console.  So I keep replacing until one is good.

It would be a nice thing to have, that the console or software trip something that gives the batteries voltages at the various stations. I have asked Davis for that, to be told .. that the data logger just doesn't have enough memory space to accomodate that.   

Anyway, keep monitoring your unit, and keep bothering Davis about it.   It could be something minor , but they do need to help you.  I often call them direct at times.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: xcesmess on December 30, 2009, 05:45:10 PM
Thanks for the information... I'll keep an eye on the battery and if it happens again I'll get on the horn with Davis until something is resolved.  I noticed quite a variance in temp and humidity values (much more than the +/- 1 or 2 when I got it) just sitting side by side with the console after putting a new battery in... so I could have something going south...

Thanks!

Kelly
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Aardvark on December 30, 2009, 05:49:27 PM
It could be something going bad, I hope not. 

It is a new product and I don't know how extensive or over how big of a geographical range they field test their units.  When the vantage pro models came out there were problems like this for a while.   

You just need to keep on Davis to do something.  They are a good company but I think they get bogged down at times and you need to contact them direct and talk to a technician.  Brett Lane seems to be the head honcho there in that area.  He also has a nice crew as well.  They will make it right with you, just keep bugging them .   
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: DaculaWeather on December 30, 2009, 06:03:18 PM
I've had my Vue since October and so far (knock on wood  ](*,) ), I haven't had a problem with the batteries so far.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: drew1021 on December 30, 2009, 06:29:51 PM
 Reading this post I am curious if the problems with the batteries may be due to too little sun. I hope not as my station will be in an area where in the summer when the leaves are on the trees there will be shade part of the day.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: floodcaster on December 30, 2009, 06:37:54 PM

I sent an e-mail to Davis' support but sadly never received a response (I hope that isn't the trend). 


I agree with Aardvark that a phone call works best for support, especially for something of this nature. Good luck.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Aardvark on December 30, 2009, 06:58:52 PM
watch for time zone differences and they probably are going to close early tomorrow for New Years so they can dance in the wind tunnel
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: xcesmess on December 30, 2009, 08:32:35 PM
After calibrating the unit for a couple hours I've put it back outside with a new battery... we'll see how it goes over the next couple of days.  If the trend picks up I'll be making a call :)

I'll report back my findings for all the new Vue owners out there :)

Kelly
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: xcesmess on January 04, 2010, 01:03:24 PM
Thought I'd give a little update as to the VUE battery problem...

I put a new battery in it as my previous post said but within 24 hours I had a battery message again on the console.  I gave Davis a call today and they hinted that it was a new unit so they were still 'discovering' problems but didn't have a recall for that issue yet (maybe they know?).  They want me to get some more voltage data from the battery itself by putting a new battery in, testing voltage, and then testing the voltage when the message appears.  Their idea is that the solar panel isn't operating as it should or the capacitor has gone bad.  The tech informed me that the solar panel should operate the unit independently for 15-17 hours of the day and the battery is only for night-time use... must be some powerful panels ;)

Anyway I'm off to get a new battery and call back, case # in hand, when I get the numbers they're requesting.  The good news is they said they would either replace or repair the unit since it is less than 30 days old.

Thanks!

Kelly
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on January 04, 2010, 01:36:26 PM
Thanks for keeping the forum updated on this issue.  The information is very valuable for future users.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: George Richardson on January 04, 2010, 01:45:43 PM
"The good news is they said they would either replace or repair the unit since it is less than 30 days old."

This is interesting.  I thought the Davis VP2 had a 1 year guarantee (I know mine did). Is the Vue different or have all Davis models had their guarantee shortened?

Curious

George
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: DaculaWeather on January 04, 2010, 02:17:12 PM
They might mean that if it's less than 30 days old, they'll replace it, otherwise, repair or replace if necessary.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: mackbig on January 04, 2010, 02:22:53 PM
George, thinking the same thing.  That's not just nice, I would plain expect it. 30 days, 60 days 365 days.

After what Wetterdale said about sending his in his vp2, sounds like they got a lot of Vue's on the bench right now.

Andrew
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: DaculaWeather on January 04, 2010, 03:11:30 PM
Think I'd better keep my fingers crossed about mine? So far I have no complaints and it's working like a champ.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Midnight Star 1 on January 16, 2010, 12:14:37 PM
Hello Everyone,
I just had the "LOW BATTERY TRANSMITTER 1" message on my Vantage Vue too. Got this nice unit end Oct 09
I went & got a DL123AB2U Duracell ULTRA lithim battery which crosses with the CR123, CR123A, & EL123A
Went up on my roof, replaced it with a brand new battery, reset my ISS yet it still gave the "LOW BATTERY TRANSMITTER 1"
What stopped it from displaying for my console was hitting the done button 3 times
Don't know why cause it's not in the book but so far so good
Keep in mind that it has only been ok since last night so I can only hope it stays this way
Another thing I noticed when I removed the old battery was the date on it. It read 2009 04 & the new battery says Mar 2010
The old battery is the one that came with my Vantage Vue.
I also ordered the Sanyo battery from Ambient. Don't know if it is a better battery but its not a Duracell & I am partial to Duracell from personal experience
Let me know if my solution works for you. Also, as soon as you see the "LOW BATTERY TRANSMITTER 1" message, replace the battery asap
In the manual it says this lithium backup battery last 8 months (Battery Life (3-Volt Lithium cell) 8 months without sunlight - greater than
2 years depending on solar charging) before going out so I'm looking for that much time or more. I got my Vantage Vue end of Oct 09
Sorry but I gotta tell you this also. When I got my Vantage Vue I set the tripod & ISS up & turned it on in my dinning room for one week. It was running for that time on battery power alone cause no sunlight could have reached it. Watch for that as well. Let me know what happens.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Aardvark on January 16, 2010, 12:37:05 PM
one thought...
 if the Vantage Vue console is like the VP2 or Vp1 console, after you replace the battery on one of those low station messages, the message stays until after midnight (not sure why or the logic on this).   I had that happen several times and got frustrated hiking out  in the snow and cold, depleting my cr123 battery supply and cussing a lot directed toward the battery people.

So I then called Davis Tech support and they told me that either wait until the next day or go into setup on the console and cycle through the settings and then the message would reset.

Again, not sure why but probably a big lobby of the battery union put that in .   

Now...you could be having to replace the battery because the super capacitor isn't holding the charge.  It could be defective and then the battery is running the whole operation, or it could be the solar panel or a combination.

I'd call Davis if this happens again, call their tech support line.  Have them send you a new unit in exchange for the old one. IF they balk let them know why you bought Davis and they'll come around . .They are nice people there.  They also might change out the ISS board in the unit which has the super cap or the solar panel as well.  They will make it right by you, just don't wait and let the warranty run out
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: CookevilleWeatherGuy on February 21, 2010, 07:49:21 PM
Got the very same message today.

"Low Battery Transmitter 1"

Went through the setup menu to turn it off and about 30 minutes later, it showed back up. Went to the ISS on my rooftop and nothing is blocking the Solar Panel.

Will call Davis tomorrow and see what I can find out.

Very happy with the performance of the system.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: W Thomas on February 21, 2010, 10:56:23 PM
Gosh I hope this is not going to be a trend!!
Last time I looked mine wasn't displaying that error message.
If that be the case I maybe better order a spare battery just in case!
Getting anything in a hurry around here is almost impossible.


Keep us posted as to what Davis support says if you end up having to call them.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: christophercawley on February 22, 2010, 10:51:14 AM
Hey y'all!  I'm having the same problem.  Just got off the phone with tech support and they're going to ship out a new transmitter for the ISS.  The guy said they're pretty easy to change out, and then send back the faulty transmitter.

Fingers crossed!

Have a great day everyone!

_______________________________________
Christopher Cawley
Whiteville NC

CoCoRaHS:  NC-CL-01
KNCWHITE02, DW4505 (CWOP)
CWOP:  DW4505
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: W Thomas on February 22, 2010, 04:45:17 PM
Thanks for the update!! I have my fingers crossed I don't have this problem. But if I have to have it  best to be within the warranty period :)
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: VaJim on February 22, 2010, 05:08:47 PM
...interesting.  I wonder if Davis will ask you first to replace the battery or they just send out the replacement once you report the error message?

Hey y'all!  I'm having the same problem.  Just got off the phone with tech support and they're going to ship out a new transmitter for the ISS.  The guy said they're pretty easy to change out, and then send back the faulty transmitter.

Fingers crossed!

Have a great day everyone!

_______________________________________
Christopher Cawley
Whiteville NC

CoCoRaHS:  NC-CL-01
KNCWHITE02, DW4505 (CWOP)
CWOP:  DW4505
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: christophercawley on February 23, 2010, 04:03:14 PM
Actually when I called, the technician did ask me if I tried replacing the battery (  :shock: !!) which I said, yes, I did replace the battery...but then 2-1/2 days later I get the same message -- low battery transmitter 1.  That's when he replied that "it sounds like a bad transmitter...okay, I'll ship out a new transmitter" etc., etc.  He also asked me if I was sure that the battery cover was properly installed, that the "back" end (not the thumbscrew) was actually in place (because apparently some folks weren't doing that properly).  I said that yes, everything was correct.  He didn't ask me in a condescending way or anything, but just in a way of "covering all the bases." 

I'll post an update when I get the new transmitter and we see what happens.

(I wonder if by "transmitter," he means "super capacitor"...for the solar panel...my guess is the same as the one mentioned previously, perhaps the capacitor isn't holding the charge and that during the night the thing is running on battery power alone, thus draining the bats...?)



...interesting.  I wonder if Davis will ask you first to replace the battery or they just send out the replacement once you report the error message?

Hey y'all!  I'm having the same problem.  Just got off the phone with tech support and they're going to ship out a new transmitter for the ISS.  The guy said they're pretty easy to change out, and then send back the faulty transmitter.

Fingers crossed!

Have a great day everyone!

_______________________________________
Christopher Cawley
Whiteville NC

CoCoRaHS:  NC-CL-01
KNCWHITE02, DW4505 (CWOP)
CWOP:  DW4505
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on February 23, 2010, 04:29:51 PM
It could be the supercap, of course.

When you take out the old board, look it over carefully.

Here's a picture of a supercap (not exactly like the one in the VUE, I'm sure, but similar).
http://letsmakerobots.com/files/imagecache/robot_fullpage_header/files/field_primary_image/SuperCap.jpg

If there's a bunch of "crud" around the supercap - like it leaked or something - that's probably what failed.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on February 23, 2010, 05:09:46 PM
When you take out the old board, look it over carefully.

You can't really see the supercap clearly on the Vue SIM board - the whole board is encapsulated inside its white casing in gel.

In general, although the Vue sensor specifications, wireless technology etc are very similar to the VP2, the detailed design inside the Vue ISS is quite different - there isn't much about it that maps across from the VP2 ISS. Supercaps on the Vue are effectively non-replaceable - I think the board design, encapsulation etc is intended to give the whole SIM board a long life, although no doubt there will be the very occasional exception.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: VaJim on February 23, 2010, 05:14:07 PM
...thanks for the update to the Davis phone call.  It'll be interesting to see what they actually send you and how you go about changing it out. :shock:
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on February 23, 2010, 05:54:33 PM
When you take out the old board, look it over carefully.

You can't really see the supercap clearly on the Vue SIM board - the whole board is encapsulated inside its white casing in gel.


I guess I'm going to have to buy one, just to take it apart...... #-o

Thanks for the info.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: christophercawley on February 23, 2010, 11:13:50 PM
LOL!  I'll take pics while I have it all tore apart.

I admit I was kinda surprised when he said he'd send me the part, and for me to go ahead and open it up and fix it.  But it's all good....I'm in southeast North Carolina and Davis is in California, I'd rather not take the whole thing down and ship it across the country and then wait and wait and wait......I went to a great bit of trouble with my whole setup, and then 'kissing up' to my wife for where I chose to place the whole outfit (she was somewhat less than excited to see it smack in the middle of the front yard about 7 feet up in the air  :oops:).....
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: CookevilleWeatherGuy on February 24, 2010, 07:43:00 PM
Well, the message is gone. I had planned on calling them the very next day...anyway, I'll keep an eye on it. By the way, got the WeatherLink Data Logger and Software and will install tonight! PUMPED!
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: 4wd on March 24, 2010, 07:05:30 PM
Interesting to find this thread on google - I had this low battery message for two evenings last week and was getting worried as it seemed horribly like the known Davis capacitor issue.
However it hasn't done it for a week now so not sure what to make of it.
Interestingly the day it fixed itself was very windy, have to wonder if the buffeting re-established a dodgy electrical connection somewhere.

Also must report disappointment with lack of response from Davis support by email.
You would expect some sort of automated receipt note back if they really couldn't answer your query properly right away.

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: CapeHazeWX on April 15, 2010, 05:23:39 PM
First post...and back on topic.

I am also having the "Low Battery Transmitter" issue.  Anybody else have an update on how it's being handled?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on April 16, 2010, 04:43:43 AM
I am also having the "Low Battery Transmitter" issue.  Anybody else have an update on how it's being handled?

You need to look and see if the transmitter LED on the ISS is flashing continuously or at least flashing from time to time. (It should only flash for a short time - minutes - after the button has been pressed.) If it is flashing unexpectedly then it will be contributing to short battery life and Davis will have a simple fix to suggest.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: 4wd on April 16, 2010, 09:07:00 AM
I'm not convinced it is a 'real' low battery issue so much as a problem with monitoring the condition of it.
Some reports suggest fitting a new battery does not stop the warning appearing.

First thing to try seems to be reset the console by going into the set-up sequence and press+hold 'done'.
Next maybe ensure CR123 battery is making good contact both ends, and the battery door is fully latched shut.

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on April 16, 2010, 10:30:15 AM
Certainly there can be a range of reasons as to why the low battery warning appears, which can be any of:

1. A genuine low battery (which is what at least some of the Vue reports to date have been - caused by inappropriate activation of the transmitter LED);

2. Spurious low battery warning, caused eg by bad contacts as suggested;

3. Not realising that - left to its own devices - the warning may not disappear until midnight on the day that it's triggered;
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: CapeHazeWX on April 16, 2010, 12:24:24 PM
On my third battery since 01/11/10.  Went through a series of diagnostics with Davis tech support folks.  The "old" battery is showing 2.96 volts while a brand new one is showing 2.99.  the verdict at this point is that the gold contacts on the ISS board which are visible on the INSIDE, SIDE of the battery compartment, are too close together.  Moisture due to high humidity is shorting the board out and giving a false reading. If so, that is a design flaw which needs to be remedied.  I can't imagine that holding up very long in a marine environment.  

I'm not convinced, because even during low humidty times the low battery indicator remained even when the reading was supposed to "reset" after midnight.  

The Davis solution?  Dielectric grease on the contacts in the battery compartment.  I'll give it a try and see what happens.  However, that's the last time this ISS goes on the tower without being replaced.

Tom, Ira and Edward have all been very helpful and it's kind of refreshing to be able to talk to a human in tech support.  I wish I could have stuck with one of them though.  Ira had indicated a new ISS would be sent out.  Edward decided on the Dielectric grease fix instead.

We shall see.  
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on April 16, 2010, 01:22:50 PM
...If so, that is a design flaw which needs to be remedied.  I can't imagine that holding up very long in a marine environment.  

This particular issue has already been fixed in current production I believe.

Have you looked for/noticed your ISS LED flashing?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: DaculaWeather on April 16, 2010, 02:15:50 PM
Interesting. I've had no problems with mine since I installed it.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: CapeHazeWX on April 17, 2010, 09:45:22 AM
...If so, that is a design flaw which needs to be remedied.  I can't imagine that holding up very long in a marine environment.  

This particular issue has already been fixed in current production I believe.

Have you looked for/noticed your ISS LED flashing?

Interesting.  Tom idicated that no change in design was forthcoming.  In reference to the ISS LED light flashing; No it is not flashing continuously...Only if pressed to confirm operation.  Again, the battery does not appear to actually be low in voltage as it tested out at 2.96 volts.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: RainmanWeather on April 28, 2010, 10:08:38 PM

Interesting.  Tom idicated that no change in design was forthcoming.
Maybe not a design change, but I wouldn't be surprised to open up a current production Vue and find that the grease has already been applied.

It looks like this has become an "official" fix from Davis Tech Support, just had the following passed along to me.

Applying Gel to a Vue's Battery Board
Weather Note

Davis has received a handful of reports from the field of Vantage Vue systems reporting "Low Battery on Station X". 
 
Davis engineers have determined that small amounts of water in a specific location on the Vantage Vue's battery PCBA can cause the system to turn on its green indicator LED and thereby cause a larger than normal current drain that will eventually drain the 3 volt Lithium battery (CR123).  The moisture, whether it is condensation or rain splash, must contact and short the gold programming contacts on the battery PCBA.  See Figure 1.
 
FIGURE 1
(http://i41.tinypic.com/2r4hx.jpg)

If your system is exhibiting the "low battery" message or an always on, solid green light you can easily resolve the issue by applying the gel on these contacts. 
 
How do you get this special gel?
You can order it on line here...http://www.super-lube.com/super-lube-anticorrosion-gel-tube-3oz-model-82003-p-16.htm (http://www.super-lube.com/super-lube-anticorrosion-gel-tube-3oz-model-82003-p-16.htm).
or
Contact Davis Technical Support and we'll be happy to send you a tube at no charge.
 
How to Apply this Gel
 
First dry and clean the programming contacts thoroughly. You can access these contacts through the battery door without disassembling the entire ISS.  Ensure the ISS is in a location that gets no sunshine on the solar panel then remove the battery overnight to discharge the system of power. This overnight power down is important and clears the fail state from the microprocessor. Smear the gel liberally over all four contacts. 3mm to 6mm thick (1/8" to 1/4") is appropriate  A Q-tip or syringe will work well when applying the gel.  See Figures 2 and 3   Once you have done this you can insert a new, fully charged battery and resume normal operation.
 
FIGURE 2
(http://i43.tinypic.com/1erqfb.jpg)

FIGURE 3
(http://i42.tinypic.com/10paoa8.jpg)
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on April 30, 2010, 01:28:00 AM
Not quite sure why the contacts are exposed as nothing appears to make contact with them. That being the case, would it not be better to cover them with a small amount of silicone sealant rather than grease, a more permanent fix.

Alan.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: 4wd on April 30, 2010, 05:46:53 AM
This is interesting, I have been in email contact with support and speculated it was condensation or damp ingress in fog + wind conditions causing it.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Bushman on April 30, 2010, 08:35:26 AM
Not quite sure why the contacts are exposed as nothing appears to make contact with them. That being the case, would it not be better to cover them with a small amount of silicone sealant rather than grease, a more permanent fix.

Alan.

Careful.  Some silicone sealants will damage PCBs.  Read the label.  I have to wonder why such a strange construction though.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: RainmanWeather on April 30, 2010, 08:42:15 AM
This is interesting, I have been in email contact with support and speculated it was condensation or damp ingress in fog + wind conditions causing it.
That is exactly what they are saying has been happening! and they didn't even give you credit! maybe at least a little grease? :grin:

They are very specific about what to apply so there is likely a reason, I would stick with that. and they are listed as "programming contacts".. imagine that, the possibility of firmware updates for the ISS!

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Pick on May 05, 2010, 10:12:43 AM
Got mine last November. No problems whatsoever.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: 4wd on May 05, 2010, 12:07:51 PM
Got mine last November. No problems whatsoever.
Florida isn't often cold damp and foggy for days on end though  ;)
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: W Thomas on May 05, 2010, 01:49:29 PM
Thanks for the information!  I got mine last November or December and so far it has been fine. I have some NOS "Conformal Coating" left from the old Motorola Syntor Synthesizer days that we used to coat any opening made in the factory applied sealant. Wonder if maybe it would be better to apply this over the contacts to permanently seal them as already mentioned. The dang stuff was worth a gold mine back in it's day :lol:  If I have troubles I will give that a shot and report back ...but hopefully it'll be awhile before I have troubles :lol:
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on May 06, 2010, 02:06:00 AM
I emailed Davis two weeks ago regarding this problem, but to-date no reply. I most certainly will not be phoning from the UK!  :shock:

Alan.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on May 06, 2010, 10:04:08 AM
I emailed Davis two weeks ago regarding this problem, but to-date no reply. I most certainly will not be phoning from the UK!  :shock:

Alan.

Perhaps contacting your local distributor would work?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: W Thomas on May 06, 2010, 02:31:11 PM

I emailed Davis two weeks ago regarding this problem, but to-date no reply.
Alan.

Thats sort of odd.. They have always replied quickly the few times I have had a reason for support questions.
If you get no replies from them let us know back.. I'll be happy to give em a call on your behalf or whatever like that if it'll help
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on May 07, 2010, 01:47:28 AM

I emailed Davis two weeks ago regarding this problem, but to-date no reply.
Alan.

Thats sort of odd.. They have always replied quickly the few times I have had a reason for support questions.
If you get no replies from them let us know back.. I'll be happy to give em a call on your behalf or whatever like that if it'll help


Many thanks for the offer Wayne, I'll remember that.  :grin:

Alan
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Mark / Ohio on May 08, 2010, 01:02:58 AM
Be sure to check your spam filter.  That's were I found one of their replies to me once I went looking for it.

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on May 08, 2010, 01:34:28 AM
Thanks Mark, nothing there. I have now emailed the supplier here in the UK, will wait and see what they say.

Alan.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: m77 on May 08, 2010, 07:30:42 AM
Mate I rang them from the uk, off peak it cost about 30p a minute but saved exchanging tons of emails.

Another time they agreed to ring me back at a pre arranged time convenient for me. 3pm uk time was when the guy had just clocked in for work so that was perfect.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Bushman on May 08, 2010, 11:03:48 AM
Skype.  :)  About 2 cents a minute.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: m77 on May 08, 2010, 12:29:45 PM
Not from the uk.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on May 12, 2010, 01:39:50 AM
I have now had a reply from the supplier here in the UK where I purchased my Vue, the following is copy and pasted from their email.

'Thank you for your email. There may be one of two issues with your Vantage Vue.

1. If the console was turned on after the ISS was installed it may think that the battery is low even when it is showing full voltage. Please remove the power from your console to reset it. If this is the fault the warning should go from the console.

2. The capacitor in your ISS may be failing. If this is the case the battery warning will not go from you console after a reset. If this is the case please contact us with you full invoice address for a returns reference to be generated and we will arrange for the UK Davis repair centre to replace the capacitors.'

I have carried out the reset as suggested, but no luck. #-o  I have also sent them the information requested, so will wait and see. Will report back.

Alan.

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: DanS on May 12, 2010, 04:13:43 AM
" 1. If the console was turned on after the ISS was installed it may think that the battery is low even when it is showing full voltage. Please remove the power from your console to reset it. If this is the fault the warning should go from the console. "

Am I reading this part right? It's basically saying "if the console was turned on after the ISS that it may read the ISS wrong and to correct this, remove power to the console and reapply it". By doing this it's still no different as being turned on after the ISS. (http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss324/DanS_photo_09/thinkin.gif)   (I get confused more easily as I age).

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on May 12, 2010, 05:07:07 AM
Like you Dan, I don't see that it should make that much difference. However, with the OS UV sensor they do say that it is important to start a search on the console within 15 minutes of activating the sensor.

I'm prepared to try anything if it solves the problem.

Alan.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on May 12, 2010, 06:12:36 AM
" 1. If the console was turned on after the ISS was installed it may think that the battery is low even when it is showing full voltage. Please remove the power from your console to reset it. If this is the fault the warning should go from the console. "

I've never heard this and I'm not sure it makes sense. The ISS merely broadcasts data - AFAIK it has no 2-way interaction with any listening console. So if the console was listening for a ISS signal before the ISS was able to send then it would not synchronise and would end up showing 'L'. Placing the console into setup mode and then exiting again should trigger an attempt to resynchronise and ought - I would have thought - to have reset any warning messages at this stage without any need to power cycle the console. (Power cycling won't do any harm, I'm just not sure that there's any benefit that triggering a resynchronise manually wouldn't bring more easily.)

It's always worth waiting past midnight (ie to the next day) on the day that any battery warning is triggered just to see if the warning disappears during the general reset that happens at midnight each night. Also, if there is a genuine low battery warning then of course the battery voltage ought to be measurably (ie by a multimeter) low. The question really is whether the battery warning is genuine or not. If it is genuine then that would suggest some fault in the circuitry. If not then it's only of nuisance value.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: casacota on May 12, 2010, 06:41:04 AM
Buyed a new Vue 1 month ago - the programming contacts had already protection grease (3 weeks of rain and humidity mostly around 90-100% - no problem with the battery).
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on May 12, 2010, 07:46:36 AM
John,

I have had this message now for several weeks. I have also done a number of reboots of the console, oddly it doesn't appear first thing in the morning, but about 2/3 hours after sunrise, and then it will alternate every 30 seconds with the message 'Temperature Out Max'. Everything is working fine, no lost or false data. The small antenna symbol on the console is also indicating that reception is good.

I was wondering if a smear of Petroleum Jelly on the contacts would do any harm.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Mark / Ohio on May 18, 2010, 12:49:57 AM
...I was wondering if a smear of Petroleum Jelly on the contacts would do any harm.

Your best bet would be to stay with some type of dielectric compound that is made for the purpose if you go that route.  Anything else could have conductive impurities in it.

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: m77 on May 21, 2010, 01:46:01 PM
I have just seen the dreaded battery message about transmitter 1 being low.

I put the battery in late October 2009 so it has been going a good 7 months - through a Uk winter too.

What shall i do? Start by trying a new battery?

What type?

How long do I have before it goes completely and doesn't function? Hours, days, weeks?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on May 21, 2010, 05:00:36 PM

What shall i do? Start by trying a new battery?

What type?


Yes, what you should do is what the book says to do.

First, consider finding your VUE Console manual, and looking on Page 3, where it says what to do:
"LOW BATTERY TRANSMITTER (ID#): Replace the battery in your outdoor Integrated Sensor
Suite (ISS) ..."  From that point:

Step 1:  Find the Vue ISS Manual.

Step 2:  Look on page 14 to find the type of battery.

Step 3:  Purchase a new one, see the earlier part of the manual for installation instructions.  See the earlier parts of this topic for other advice about resetting the console, etc.

Step 4:  Observe results and report them here. 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Coldfront on May 29, 2010, 03:21:30 PM
I too have just experienced the "Low battery transmitter 1" issue. It just appeared today. Both the Vue console and a pro2 console are reporting this. Are we purchasing this grease out of pocket on our own or is Davis sending it out on a complaint basis? Does this stuff ever have to be reapplied? In the heat will it liquify and run ? My unit was installed in December 2009 and has been operating flawessly until today. It seems awful strange that 4 open contacts that are gold plated would behave in such a manner especially with nothing contacting them. I'm not entirely convinced that this is the solution to this problem but am willing to give it a try If it works. I dread having to go up on the roof (hate heights) but such is life. I'm gonna check for the green light this evening and if need be pick up a new battery once I obtain the proper grase and do it all in one shot.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: 4wd on May 29, 2010, 03:27:33 PM
Oddly mine did it again today, and no way was it condensation related - humidity was low at the time this morning.
If you spot it on the console you can simply go into set up mode (but don't change anything) and then press done to exit set up mode.

This will stop it on mine so far although it probably resets itself at midnight anyway.
The point is it isn't really a problem with the battery or capacitor at all, just the monitoring of it.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on May 30, 2010, 09:18:08 AM
I too have just experienced the "Low battery transmitter 1" issue. It just appeared today. Both the Vue console and a pro2 console are reporting this. Are we purchasing this grease out of pocket on our own or is Davis sending it out on a complaint basis? Does this stuff ever have to be reapplied? In the heat will it liquify and run ? My unit was installed in December 2009 and has been operating flawessly until today. It seems awful strange that 4 open contacts that are gold plated would behave in such a manner especially with nothing contacting them. I'm not entirely convinced that this is the solution to this problem but am willing to give it a try If it works. I dread having to go up on the roof (hate heights) but such is life. I'm gonna check for the green light this evening and if need be pick up a new battery once I obtain the proper grase and do it all in one shot.

Coincidentally I installed my Vue in December 2009. Three weeks ago I removed the battery from the ISS and gave everything a clean and then replaced the original battery. To date I have had no further warnings of low battery. Maybe a clean and reset did the trick.

Alan.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Coldfront on May 31, 2010, 11:31:18 PM
Update... Removed 6 month old OEM Duracell CR123 battery (It read 3.1vdc), cleaned the 4 gold contacts and coated with Permatex Dielectric silicone grease (Purchased at an automotive parts store). I've left the battery out for overnight tonight and will reinstall tomorrow AM.

So far, with no battery, the Capacitor has continued to power the ISS for 4 hours now. I'm not sure how long the cap will hold the charge but the instructions in this forum said it was necessary for the system to go dead to restore correctly. I'm hoping that will happen sometime over the night. With sunsets here (Southern Ontario) near 9pm and nautical sunrise around 5am at this time of year, theres not a lot of time to drain the cap before the solar cell starts charging again. (I left the ISS on the pole on my roof). I may need to block the solar panel with something if the cap holds its charge overnight. 

I did note that the battery side is awful close to these contacts. They say to apply a liberal amount of grease but it does get flattened by the battery side. I'm wondering if the close proximity to these contacts in our now humid weather does cause some kind of cross circuiting on the metal clad battery jacket and thus the reason for the dielectric grease. I did catch the green light flash once and only once but I gave up watching for it after 15 minutes. I have both a Vue console and a VP2 console and both were indicating low battery on the ISS transmitter 1. So I don't think it's a console issue.  I'll post my results.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on June 01, 2010, 02:17:33 AM
Coldfront. Your report was interesting as my 6 month old battery was recording 5.9 volts, which would indicate that your Canadian winter has had a greater drain on the battery than mine hear in the UK, most odd. I can only assume that all OEM Duracell CR123 batteries hold the same charge when new. The new one I purchased as replacement (should I have needed it) read 6.2 volts.

Alan.

PS. Still waiting for a response from the Davis tech team. I did get an email from a Brett Lane at Davis on the 14th of May saying someone from their tech department would contact me.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: 4wd on June 01, 2010, 04:30:29 AM
The CR123 battery is a 3V so far as I know?
I don't think Duracell are anything special, it needs to be a Lithium type to maintain voltage in low temperatures.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on June 01, 2010, 08:50:22 AM
The CR123 battery is a 3V so far as I know?
I don't think Duracell are anything special, it needs to be a Lithium type to maintain voltage in low temperatures.

I thought the same as you (3V), but the one I bought was a, "123 Energizer Lithium Photo" which registered 5.9 volts on my multimeter, in fact I bought two and they both had the same charge.

Alan
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Bushman on June 01, 2010, 10:53:32 AM
That can't be right.  the 123A is a 2/3A cell which regardless of chemistry is 3v.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on June 01, 2010, 10:54:17 AM
The CR123 battery is a 3V so far as I know?
I don't think Duracell are anything special, it needs to be a Lithium type to maintain voltage in low temperatures.

I thought the same as you (3V), but the one I bought was a, "123 Energizer Lithium Photo" which registered 5.9 volts on my multimeter, in fact I bought two and they both had the same charge.

Alan

What did it say on the package?  What does your multimeter read, when checking a regular flashlight battery?

What size is the battery?  The 223 battery is 6V nominal.  The CR-123 is 3V.  
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Coldfront on June 01, 2010, 11:33:51 PM
Update...

We had a pretty good Thunderstorm rumble through these parts most of last evening so I did not get up on the roof to reinstall the Cr123 battery. What I did discover was the capacitor was able to maintain it's charge throughout the night and carried on through the day as the sun rose and the solar cell recharged it. I replaced the battery earlier this evening and went through the setup process (cycled through) on both the Vue and the VP2 console to erase the "Not receiving from transmitter 1" message. So far so good. I deviated from the instructions that stated that the VSS must be allowed to discharge completely before reinserting the battery. We'll find out how important this step is if the message returns in the morning.

 Alan, the Duracell that is OEM is rated for 3vdc. All the CR123 type photo batteries over here are rated the same. I googled the brand you mentioned and it too was rated for 3vdc. I'm confused as to the voltages you were obtaining. Are the photo batteries in the UK rated at a higher voltage than those in North America?

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on June 02, 2010, 08:31:22 AM
Update.

It would appear that my multimeter has had a fit.  :roll: I checked a new 1.5volt AA battery and that was registering 3.4 volts. A trip to the shops in the foreseeable future to get a new meter is on the cards.  :grin:

Alan
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: VaJim on June 10, 2010, 05:51:56 AM
..has Davis come back with a fix to this issue rather than replace the battery??  Mine is showing the 'Low Transmitter Battery' only after 4 months of operation.   :-x :???:
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on June 10, 2010, 08:31:56 AM
Despite a number of emails to Davis re this problem, I still haven't received a positive reply, a lot of waffle saying someone will be in touch. I don't rate their customer service, in my opinion not as good as Oregon UK.  However, since I removed and reinstalled the batteries and did a reset of the ISS the low battery warning hasn't returned. There is something fundamentally wrong with the Vue if so many people keep getting the same problem and it's time Davis got it sorted.

Alan
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: VaJim on June 10, 2010, 07:29:59 PM
...called Davis today.  They were fairly nice.  After checking a few things on the console, they asked me to run a volt meter on the battery (in-line and out of the unit).  I did this, nothing out of the ordinary.  Called them back and they said they will be sending me some of that electric grease.  Also sent me a nice email which outlines the problem.  It also says that they incorporated this problem into Vue's that are now being built.  Will report back later. :-|
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Coldfront on June 11, 2010, 08:15:39 AM
Well its' been a couple of weeks since I applied the dielectric grease to the gold contact pins as directed by Ira from Davis. It has worked. I have not had any reoccurances and I am still using the original 9 month old battery. We've had some heavy weather and a lot of fog so if there was ever going to be moisture formed it would have by now.

 I purchased the grease at a local auto parts store locally rather than wait for Davis to ship it North. I'm no chemist, but this stuff is eeerily similar in texture to the silicone grease I use on my swimming pool component o rings. The product I used is made by Permatex and is a dielectric silicone grease marketed as "Permatex Tune Up Grease". It's meant for sealing wire receptacles and spark plug boots in automobiles.

In Ira's email response to me he left out the discharging of the capacitor routine which is posted earlier in this thread. This was the instruction to leave the VV ISS in a dark room to discharge the capacitor which was neccessary to reset the ISS. I did not discharge the capacitor and I have not had the warning message since. All said and told the repair took less than 5 minutes which included a trek up to the roof.

My only after thought is...Does this goop ever have to be reapplied in the years ahead? As I noted in my earlier post changing the battery will flatten the grease because of it's close proximity to the gold contacts and Davis does want a healthy 1/8" to 1/4" glob of this stuff applied. Time will tell.

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: 4wd on June 11, 2010, 08:28:34 AM
I do wonder what this grease is going to be like after several weeks/months; probably will attract dust and dead insects.
So maybe need cleaning and renewing at least annually? this sounds too much trouble for what is essentially a monitoring problem rather than real (low battery) problem.You'd think it might be resolvable by firmware update - make the low battery detection less sensitive, or require the low battery sensor to be activated continuously for several days before showing a warning message.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on June 11, 2010, 09:28:01 AM
I do get the impression that there's more than one category of low battery issue depending on whether it's a genuine but premature low battery or a false warning. The latter could potentially be fixed with a firmware upgrade, but it's the former that the grease application is intended to fix. AIUI the nature of the real warning happening prematurely is that moisture shorting across on the contact pads activates the channel indicator LED, leaving it running for extended periods and this is what drags the battery down. Hence only preventing moisture forming on the pads will fix the problem.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: VaJim on June 11, 2010, 02:02:08 PM
...anybody know why the 'little green light' stays on?   :???:The one on the bottom of the unit itself.  When I mentioned that, Davis quickly reached for the grease fix.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: VaJim on June 12, 2010, 09:00:24 AM
...just a follow up to my situation.  This morning (before sunrise) I noticed the transmitter had stopped working.  Still waiting on the electric grease from Davis.  This is sounding more and more than just a moisture leak to the battery compartment.  I'm not an expert, but something similar to this happen to one of my other stations (after several years of use...not 4 months) and it was traced back to a bad capacitor that was used to charge the battery.  I'll follow the Davis instruction.  Just seems a bit more than what we may think.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on June 12, 2010, 10:04:24 AM
...anybody know why the 'little green light' stays on?   :???:The one on the bottom of the unit itself.  When I mentioned that, Davis quickly reached for the grease fix.

Quoting Page 4 and 5 of the book you presumably have:

"To verify power, wait 30 seconds
then push and release the white transmitter ID pushbutton next to the battery compartment.
The green transmitter ID LED next to the battery compartment will illuminate
when you press the pushbutton."

"When you release the pushbutton, the LED will blink once, then begin to flash
every 2.5 seconds to show transmission of a data packet. This flashing will stop
within a few minutes to conserve battery life."

Now, if the "little green light" stays on continuously, that means that the transmitter is transmitting all the time.  And when the light is on, the light is taking power from the battery, too.  That will cause the battery to run down rather quickly.

If (for example) electrical leakage across those exposed contacts signals the transmitter to be on all the time, then .....
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on June 12, 2010, 04:37:59 PM
Now, if the "little green light" stays on continuously...

I took the OP's comment to mean that the LED continued to flash continuously, not that it was in the lit state continuously. Certainly if the latter was true then there's something seriously amiss and all sorts of symptoms could result including running down the battery _very_ quickly.

But the Vue LED should not be flashing at all in normal use. Even if it's just flashing every 2.5 secs in synchrony with the brief packet transmissions (ie and is not lit continuously) then this is still sufficient to run down the battery within a matter of weeks and this is the fault state that should be prevented by the contact greasing. The LED should not flash at all in normal use unless triggered by someone pressing the channel ID button
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: VaJim on June 12, 2010, 04:42:42 PM
...yup got all that and the book too.  When I mentioned to the Davis the green light stayed constant, he said one word..."grease'. :roll:
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on June 12, 2010, 09:34:26 PM
...yup got all that and the book too.  When I mentioned to the Davis the green light stayed constant, he said one word..."grease'. :roll:

Not quite sure why you asked: "...anybody know why the 'little green light' stays on?"
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on June 13, 2010, 02:41:27 AM
...yup got all that...

But all what? Is/was your LED constantly flashing (ie briefly on and then off again every 2.5 secs) or constantly lit (ie no flashing off at all)? It's an important distinction for troubleshooting.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: VaJim on June 13, 2010, 08:20:54 AM
...yup got all that and the book too.  When I mentioned to the Davis the green light stayed constant, he said one word..."grease'. :roll:

Not quite sure why you asked: "...anybody know why the 'little green light' stays on?"

...just curious as to how many others may have this problem.  :-)...or perhaps their thoughts on why it stays on all the time?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: VaJim on June 13, 2010, 08:22:04 AM
...yup got all that...

But all what? Is/was your LED constantly flashing (ie briefly on and then off again every 2.5 secs) or constantly lit (ie no flashing off at all)? It's an important distinction for troubleshooting.


my green light (last time I checked) stays on all the time. 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on June 13, 2010, 10:24:58 AM
...yup got all that and the book too.  When I mentioned to the Davis the green light stayed constant, he said one word..."grease'. :roll:

Not quite sure why you asked: "...anybody know why the 'little green light' stays on?"

...just curious as to how many others may have this problem.  :-)...or perhaps their thoughts on why it stays on all the time?

The green transmitter ID LED next to the battery compartment will illuminate
when you press the pushbutton


The green light stays on all the time because the transmitter is transmitting all the time.

My thought is that one of these two things is the case:

1.  The pushbutton is stuck.

2.  Something (perhaps moisture on the contacts) is making the unit transmit continuously.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on June 13, 2010, 10:51:05 AM
1.  The pushbutton is stuck.

That's a good point - you've stirred a faint recollection. I have seen one or two Vue ISS units where the battery holder wasn't located quite correctly. In these units it was possible to press the button in and 'stick', ie for it not to release out immediately again against the spring.

Just releasing and then reseating the battery holder unit should be enough to correct this.

I'm still puzzled about the LED being lit continuously - the error I'm more familiar with is where the LED _flashes_ continuously, which in itself is enough to run down the battery prematurely.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on June 13, 2010, 11:40:49 AM
I'm still puzzled about the LED being lit continuously - the error I'm more familiar with is where the LED _flashes_ continuously, which in itself is enough to run down the battery prematurely.

Yeah, but that's what VaJim insists is happening.

Do we know anything about the functioning of those exposed contacts?  Perhaps some combination turns the transmitter on continuous-transmit for testing or something?

Or, what actually happens if the pushbutton is held in (i.e., stuck)?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: VaJim on June 13, 2010, 12:52:55 PM
...the button is not stuck.  As far as I can recall, the green light has been on since about 10June.  One of things Davis asked me to check was the battery, both in-line and out.  So the battery did come out while I checked it.  Yesterday I pushed the buttom and it did nothing to get the green light back to normal.  Now the transmitter only works while the sun is hitting the solar panel.  Davis says it call be fixed with the 'grease'.  We'll see.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on June 14, 2010, 01:50:46 AM
johnd.

You are very familiar with Davis stations, do you know what the exposed contacts are actually for, do they have a function?

Alan
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on June 14, 2010, 12:11:16 PM
You are very familiar with Davis stations, do you know what the exposed contacts are actually for, do they have a function?

No sorry I don't know for sure. Very likely they will be for some kind of production-line SIM configuration or testing process eg using a custom tool that can mate reliably and quickly with the set of contacts, but I don't know exactly what.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on June 14, 2010, 12:49:48 PM
You are very familiar with Davis stations, do you know what the exposed contacts are actually for, do they have a function?

No sorry I don't know for sure. Very likely they will be for some kind of production-line SIM configuration or testing process eg using a custom tool that can mate reliably and quickly with the set of contacts, but I don't know exactly what.

If there's any firmware in there, then part of the function might be to update the firmware - but I've always presumed that there isn't any updateable firmware there.  The measurement functionality is rather simple, and the transmitter algorithms are likely hardwired.

In any case, as you said, we've been told (and it's logical) that the contacts are for production-line testing.  Making sure all the sensors work properly, etc.

Inadvertant leakage across those contacts therefore could do almost anything - like keeping the transmitter turned on continuously.

It would be logical, during that testing, to turn the transmitter on for fairly-extended periods (several seconds, at least), and cycle through the frequencies, etc.  

In other words - through those contacts, the manufacturer will be able to test and control all of the functions of the device.

Inadvertant leakage across those contacts could do almost anything - including turning on the transmitter continuously.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: VaJim on June 14, 2010, 07:25:28 PM
...as I wait for the Davis grease and battery, just a couple thoughts/options came to mind.  Now I'm not an expert, but IMO there are 2 possible fixes:

1.  Make the battery compartment more water tight.

2.  Move the contacts to a different area out of the weather exposed battery compartment or put some type of cover over them.

The grease will probably get the unit back to working, but how long will it last?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on June 14, 2010, 07:47:29 PM
...as I wait for the Davis grease and battery, just a couple thoughts/options came to mind. 
...
The grease will probably get the unit back to working, but how long will it last?

If applied correctly and not disturbed, 50 years.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: VaJim on June 14, 2010, 07:56:01 PM
...as I wait for the Davis grease and battery, just a couple thoughts/options came to mind. 
...
The grease will probably get the unit back to working, but how long will it last?

If applied correctly and not disturbed, 50 years.

Thanks :shock:

That's good to know.  This is embarrassing...my Rainwise is strong, even my Lacrosse is still ticking (waiting on a new hydro sensor to correct rainfall)...but my Davis is dead in the water. :oops:
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on June 15, 2010, 01:19:10 AM
I know that Davis have denied that they will ever make any additional sensors for the Vue ie, UV, but was wondering if those contacts could be used to power any aftermarket equipment.

Alan.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on June 15, 2010, 02:56:07 AM
I know that Davis have denied that they will ever make any additional sensors for the Vue ie, UV, but was wondering if those contacts could be used to power any aftermarket equipment.

I've absolutely no way of knowing for sure, but I doubt that the Vue ISS is designed to be expandable at all. If you look at the ISS then there's no obvious place for any ancillary sensors to be mounted. Compare this with the VP2 where the mounting shelf/bracket and its mounting points designed into the rain gauge base provides space for both solar and UV sensors. And sensor connections would presumably need to go to the SIM not elsewhere, but there's no provision for any extra sensor plugs on the SIM beyond those already provided.

I would guess that Davis long-term intend to maintain a clear separation between Vue and VP2/3 (not that there's any news whatsoever about a VP3, but it will presumably happen at some point) with the Vue positioned as a non-expandable station and VP2/3 as the much more flexible/expandable option. Even if they did change their mind on Vue expandibility and allow the addition of eg solar/UV then maybe this would be done via a supplementary transmitter. Just supposing for instance that you were also allowed to attach solar/UV to the 6332 Anemometer Transmitter, whose use is already an option on the Vue and which would be a clear step forwards on the VP2. This would only require a change to Vue console firmware and not a radical overhaul to the Vue ISS design.

But I'm just musing here, based on zero hard information.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on June 15, 2010, 08:42:47 AM
Thanks John.

Alan.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on June 15, 2010, 10:11:12 AM
I know that Davis have denied that they will ever make any additional sensors for the Vue ie, UV, but was wondering if those contacts could be used to power any aftermarket equipment.

Alan.

I agree with johnd - for different reasons.  Those contacts are not designed to have anything permanently connected to them.  And given the purpose, it's likely that they are something like: Power, Ground, Data Out, and "Turn On Transmitter" - or something like that.  Just not enough pins (I think) to be intended for any "data in" purpose.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: justme2justme2 on June 15, 2010, 08:12:40 PM
I'm on my  third battery in 9 months.  Called Davis and through working with their tech I found a defective solar panel.  No problem though, Davis is shipping a new one and I just have to replace the bad one.  To check the solar cell I removed it from the unit and detached the wires  then in full sunlight checked the voltage with a vom.  Zero volts.
Hope this helps someone out there.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on June 16, 2010, 12:45:52 AM
I'm on my  third battery in 9 months.  Called Davis and through working with their tech I found a defective solar panel.  No problem though, Davis is shipping a new one and I just have to replace the bad one.  To check the solar cell I removed it from the unit and detached the wires  then in full sunlight checked the voltage with a vom.  Zero volts.
Hope this helps someone out there.

Will remember that, thanks.

Alan.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: VaJim on June 17, 2010, 07:06:34 PM
...update on my situation,,,,called Davis tonight to check on the grease and battery they were to send me.  Found out they hadn't shipped it yet. :-(  After I further explained how the green light on my unit stayed on all the time, we checked the battery (in and out) and confirmed it was dead.  I moved the unit indoors since it would only work now during the daylight.  Davis then decided to send me a new ISS.  :grin:  Once received I will send back the dead one. 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on June 18, 2010, 02:08:45 AM
...update on my situation,,,,called Davis tonight to check on the grease and battery they were to send me.  Found out they hadn't shipped it yet. :-(  After I further explained how the green light on my unit stayed on all the time, we checked the battery (in and out) and confirmed it was dead.  I moved the unit indoors since it would only work now during the daylight.  Davis then decided to send me a new ISS.  :grin:  Once received I will send back the dead one. 

You are lucky to be getting a new one. Here in the UK my supplier has refused to send me a replacement, but have only offered a repair, which I have refused due to the fact that it is only 7 months old and still under warranty. At the moment mine is working fine, but Murphy's law says that it will cause problems again the day after the warranty has expired.  :evil: I have contacted Davis on a number of occasions, but to date have had no positive reply, or offer of help. Quite frankly I find the whole scenario a joke.

Alan.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: VaJim on June 27, 2010, 08:19:35 AM
well I received the replacement Vue.  I installed it yesterday and all went well.  It seems to be working fine.  No rain yet.  I did notice that it came with the 'grease' already smeared over the contact points. :?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: CapeHazeWX on July 02, 2010, 11:33:33 PM
My unit is working fine since I completed the Davis authorized dielectric grease modification.  We'll see how long the battery lasts. 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Shell on July 04, 2010, 08:48:04 PM
I'm already on my SECOND Vue. *sigh* My first one failed - the ISS was bad - could not communicate with the console. Now, with the replacement I recieved 3 days ago (which took them 10 days to get it to me), today started getting the "low battery" message on the console...obviously the same problem as everyone is having here. My Pro2, which served me so well, through the brutal winters and rough (tornadic) springs and summers for over 10 yrs. here in St. Louis, finally wore out. It had only a single repair during all those years! I'd seen a lot about the Vue and didn't think I needed all the sensors and addons any longer that I had on the Pro2, so I bought the Vue. Since putting it up, it's been "down" more than "up" and I'm extremely unhappy about it! Davis has a great station with the Pro2 and I fully expected the Vue to be as reliable - instead I can't keep it up and running for more than 48 hrs. or so without something breaking down. Not sure if they're going to be in tomorrow but if they are, they're going to get an earfull. I'm not going to be rude - just clear about how I feel about the Vue and will ask them what they're going to do about it. I don't want a weather station I can't depend on. At this point I want to go back to the Pro2.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on July 05, 2010, 01:07:58 AM
I, too, am  still exchanging emails with Davis re the Vue battery problem. My latest email was sent yesterday (Sunday) with a link to this thread and suggested that they read every post on the subject, will keep you posted with what they say.

Alan.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Sartori on July 18, 2010, 08:42:41 AM
Got my battery low message this morning, only been installed a few months. So whats the status on this problem? Do we just keep replacing batteries till they fix it?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on July 18, 2010, 10:34:36 AM
Got my battery low message this morning, only been installed a few months. So whats the status on this problem? Do we just keep replacing batteries till they fix it?

How long is "a few months"?

What is your status with the grease?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Sartori on July 18, 2010, 01:05:12 PM
Got my battery low message this morning, only been installed a few months. So whats the status on this problem? Do we just keep replacing batteries till they fix it?

How long is "a few months"?

What is your status with the grease?

I guess its been up and running now for 3 months. I have no status on the grease:) I shouldn't have to "grease" my weather station:)
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on July 18, 2010, 01:57:10 PM
Got my battery low message this morning, only been installed a few months. So whats the status on this problem? Do we just keep replacing batteries till they fix it?

How long is "a few months"?

What is your status with the grease?

I guess its been up and running now for 3 months. I have no status on the grease:) I shouldn't have to "grease" my weather station:)

Perhaps not.  But if you had bothered to read previous postings in this thread, you would know about the grease and wouldn't have to waste other folks' time asking for the "status on this problem".  

Also, you might try answering the question that I asked you (June 17th) in  http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=8007.30
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Sartori on July 18, 2010, 04:51:58 PM
Got my battery low message this morning, only been installed a few months. So whats the status on this problem? Do we just keep replacing batteries till they fix it?

How long is "a few months"?

What is your status with the grease?

I guess its been up and running now for 3 months. I have no status on the grease:) I shouldn't have to "grease" my weather station:)

Perhaps not.  But if you had bothered to read previous postings in this thread, you would know about the grease and wouldn't have to waste other folks' time asking for the "status on this problem".  

Also, you might try answering the question that I asked you (June 17th) in  http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=8007.30

Geez dude, lighten up a little...notice the smiley faces at the end of my sentences:) I was just wondering if Davis had a better fix other then smearing grease on a circuit board. Notice the e-mail above my post and I quote:

"I, too, am  still exchanging emails with Davis re the Vue battery problem. My latest email was sent yesterday (Sunday) with a link to this thread and suggested that they read every post on the subject, will keep you posted with what they say."

If you feel I'm wasting your time don't respond to my posts!


Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on July 18, 2010, 07:26:20 PM
I noticed that the "email" you quoted was from July 5th - two weeks ago.  And the grease is an excellent fix, which avoids having to send the Vue back in for replacement.  Please let us know if it does not fix your problem.

Please be helpful to others in the future, by responding to my June 17th question about your rainfall readings,  at:  http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=8007.30
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on July 19, 2010, 02:22:18 AM
I must confess that since I did a complete power down and reset of the ISS about six weeks ago I have had no further problems, time will tell. I am reluctant at the moment to apply grease to the terminals. In my opinion this could cause it's own problems, IE attracting dust, bugs and debris.

If Davis choose to do nothing to solve "my" issue and I have a recurrence, I shall apply a small piece of insulation tape in the hope that will prevent moisture ingress, or find a none corrosive silicone sealant.

Alan
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: bbowers on July 26, 2010, 08:02:53 AM
Just wanted to report I got my Vue a few weeks ago and it came with the specialty goop on the board already. Definitely resembled hot glue, but was surely the dielectric grease.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: 54november on August 07, 2010, 10:34:45 PM
My Vantage Vue is only a few weeks old and I am getting the low transmitter battery message. Called Davis and they said it runs a diagnostic at midnight and will clear this if it's not real. It did but now a couple of days later it's back and I can't clear it. I asked if this was a known problem and he said some people have gotten the message and then tested the battery and it was at 3V. It's really irritating to pay this much (I trashed a LaCrosse due to their problems), and then go through this. I'll call again Monday before going up on the roof because I don't really think it is the battery. BTW, it's been in full sun since it went up. The manufacturing date is June 2, 2010.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: turnbuj on August 09, 2010, 09:05:36 AM
Hi, I'm new to the forum and like previous post, I have had my Vantage Vue for about 2 weeks and it's been working fine. Now I have a Low Battery message. I have two consoles and the message is on both so the problem has to be with the ISS. It's been in full sun since being installed. The weather shop told me that there had been a problem, something to do with moisture getting in somewhere but should have been solved on my model. They are sending me a new battery. To avoid too many climbs on the roof, I will wait till I get the new battery then replace it and check the voltage of the present one. It looks like I'm not alone in this problem. Will keep you all posted. - John
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: krisp on August 12, 2010, 12:26:12 PM
I have had my Vue for a little over a week now and on the second day it displayed the low battery warning. Yesterday afternoon it stopped transmitting all together, but resumed transmitting after dark. I went up and swapped out the battery this morning and the original battery read 3.00 volts. I replaced it anyway with a 3.3v-measured new battery. The sealant everyone is talking about was already applied to the programming contacts on my unit and the LED was not flashing when I was up there.

I emailed support and they suggested I open a case -- I'm waiting to see if it recurs. Disappointing to say the least, though, as I expected quality from the Davis name.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: DaculaWeather on August 12, 2010, 12:29:01 PM
It has to be a bad batch of something, I've had my Vue since October of last year without the first problem. It could just be a bad batch of batteries they're using.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: 4wd on August 12, 2010, 01:38:42 PM
It has to be a bad batch of something, I've had my Vue since October of last year without the first problem. It could just be a bad batch of batteries they're using.
It seems rather unlikely, I don't think I ever hasd a 'bad' battery in decades.
If they have been delivered bad ones they need to look into who they get them from urgently as it reflects very badly on Davis.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: DaculaWeather on August 12, 2010, 01:45:49 PM
I guess we'll know if replacing the battery makes the problem go away!  :-)
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: krisp on August 13, 2010, 03:58:36 PM
The ISS stopped transmitting again this morning and has yet to resume transmissions. The battery is a day old. There's a lot more wrong with this unit. We'll see if it comes back on it's own while I wait for Davis to reply. Most likely it's a bad batch of weather stations than a bad batch of batteries. The original was a name-brand Duracell, I doubt their quality control is low enough for this to be their problem. I replaced it with another Duracell purchased at Target, and the ISS failed less than a day later.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: DaculaWeather on August 13, 2010, 04:04:33 PM
How close is the console to the ISS?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: W Thomas on August 13, 2010, 04:34:10 PM
Kinda sounds like the old haunt of the transmitter staying on constantly and draining the battery is still circulating.
What sort of LED display are you getting on the ISS after replacing it with a fresh battery?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: grenouille59 on August 13, 2010, 05:18:23 PM
Hello, I'm french and I have the same problem as you. I await a response from Davis. My station works only on the day now. I replaced the batteries 7 times ...... I have to buy in U.S.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on August 14, 2010, 01:09:19 AM
Hello, I'm french and I have the same problem as you. I await a response from Davis. My station works only on the day now. I replaced the batteries 7 times ...... I have to buy in U.S.

Hello grenoulle59 and welcome to the forum. Perhaps it would be easier for you to purchase in the UK.

Alan
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: grenouille59 on August 14, 2010, 07:57:58 AM
Thank you, that is correct but prices are not the same!
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Cleofide on August 14, 2010, 07:12:49 PM
Thank you, that is correct but prices are not the same!

You can't get both a competitive price and a local customer service when you buy abroad... Have you contacted the seller yet? If not, start by doing this first.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: turnbuj on August 16, 2010, 03:16:54 AM
Hi, time for an update. 2 weeks in service from new and a 'Low battery transmitter 1' error. I have two consoles and both show the same. Entering 'setup' mode on the console, cycling through the options and exiting clears the alarm until the ISS sends it again. Otherwise, I think it clears at midnight. Anyway, I cleared the alarm and about 10 minutes later it came back indicating that the ISS is still reporting a low battery. I went on the roof with a meter and managed to open the battery case and poke the prods in without actually removing the battery. It read 3.17V so is clearly not dead. Prior to touching it, I watched the LED - nothing. I then removed the battery to check the contacts. Sure enough there was a liberal coating of the grease everyone has mentioned. I replaced the battery. Once back on the ground, I reset the console and so far, a week later the alarm hasn't reappeared. In conclusion, it seems to me that the CPU in the ISS 'thinks' the battery is low when it's not. Removing it and replacing it is telling the CPU that it's been changed wan actually the same battery is reinserted. All I can do is wait. If it happens again, it goes back. Will keep you posted. Those of you who have been changing batteries, try replacing the same battery. My bet is that it will have the exact same effect. Either way, the unit is faulty. Mine hasn't stopped working though. John
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: 4wd on August 16, 2010, 08:56:38 AM
Mine has shown the low battery warning maybe three times since early March when I got it.
I haven't touched the ISS at all and it has not shown the warning me for several weeks.
So doing nothing is an option as it seems almost no-one has actually discovered the batttery really is low.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: VaJim on August 16, 2010, 01:23:14 PM
...my experience....

after about 4 months my Vue gave me the low battery message.  My problem then compounded when the green transmit light stayed on constant which drained the battery.

Davis was good about it and replaced the ISS.  It came with lots of grease around the new battery.

IMHO...there is a design flaw.  The battery should not be in an area that is subject to water/moisture or have a better seal.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: krisp on August 17, 2010, 10:05:03 PM
My ISS has gone into a cycle of reporting data for a few hours then not sending data for a few hours, and it seems unrelated to the battery. They are supposedly sending me a new unit, so I'll let you all know if the new unit is problem free.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: CTBob on September 18, 2010, 01:36:58 PM
Having low battery problems as well and just applied the anti-corrosion gel as directed and replaced the battery and still get the low battery message.  Do I have to leave the battery out and wait til the next morning to recycle the unit or is there something else I need to do?  First post so I appreciate any help you can give me.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: haddoct on September 18, 2010, 01:59:50 PM
The standard life is 8 months without sun and 2 years with the panel. Replace the battery
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: CTBob on September 18, 2010, 02:35:46 PM
Failed to mention I also installed a new battery
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: 4wd on September 18, 2010, 03:01:43 PM
Failed to mention I also installed a new battery
It should self reset the warning at midnight, usually going into set up mode then out again without changing anything will clear it also.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Petergwy on September 28, 2010, 10:37:46 PM
I installed a Vantage Vue a month or so ago.  I too am now receiving a warning that the battery is low. Before I installed the unit, I put in a new battery.  My immediate problem is that I installed the unit about 30 feet up on the tower that holds my wind turbine.  To install it I rented a cherry picker at the cost of $100.  I am not inclined to spend another $100 to replace the battery.  My wife's tolerance for my interest in weather and our new wind turbine is already past its limit.  I notice that there is a comment on this topic that the unit will function on the solar panel power but wonder whether I will lose data accumulated during the darkness.

Pete
Cheyenne, Wyo

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Mark / Ohio on September 28, 2010, 11:36:14 PM
... To install it I rented a cherry picker at the cost of $100.  I am not inclined to spend another $100 to replace the battery. ...

Where there is a will there is a way.   ;)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/memmurphy/unsafeladderontruck.jpg)

I notice that there is a comment on this topic that the unit will function on the solar panel power but wonder whether I will lose data accumulated during the darkness....

You won't loose collected data but you won't be collecting new data either once the voltage drops too low for it to operate.  Once the console has collected the data it will be stored inside. 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on September 29, 2010, 02:29:32 AM
I have now resolved the problem I had with the "low battery" warning by applying the gel. However, I now have an intermittent problem with the rain gauge not working, some days it does, others it doesn't. I have been emailing a person at Davis by the name of Eric Nick, who informs me that he is unable to help because I live in the UK. He did say that he would contact Mcmurdo UK, who are the UK importers of Davis stations and they would then contact me. nothing from them at the time of posting.

I will keep everyone informed of my progress, but my gut tells me I'm not going to get very far with Mcmurdo.

It appears from this thread alone that the Vue does have issues which Davis are unable, or unwilling to resolve. I would also say that I am not impressed with Davis after-sales service here in the UK. We have read many posts on this and other forums where members have had problems with Oregon Scientific stations, but at least here in the UK OS after-sales has been, in my opinion brilliant. Even supplying replacement equipment after the warranty period.

In one of my emails I gave Eric Nick a link to this thread and suggested he read it, he made no comment!

Alan
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on September 29, 2010, 03:21:53 AM
Just for clarity, Davis operate different support schemes in different territories. To my knowledge, the US is the only territory where support is handled centrally (ie from the factory).

But in the UK, for example, the system is that front-line support is expected to be provided by the supplying dealer and this is always who users should contact in the first instance with any problem. McMurdo effectively provide more of a central repair shop in the UK for issues that cannot be answered/fixed directly by the supplying dealer (either by advice or by the provision of simple spares or swapout parts) and which have been prefiltered through the dealer. McMurdo actually do their best to be helpful but are simply not set up to deal with a large volume of direct calls from end-users.

I'm not suggesting that this support arrangement in the UK (and probably outside the US more generally, though I can only really speak for ther UK) is perfect - that's a separate debate and probably not one for this forum - but it is the scheme that Davis have allowed to evolve in these territories. Good support is certainly available in eg the UK but it's important to find out how support works in your country and, most important, choose a reputable dealer (ie one who is committed to offering  good after-sales service) to buy from in the first place.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on September 29, 2010, 03:47:51 AM
John, I take your point regarding contacting the original supplier, which I did when I first had problems with the battery message. They suggested returning the whole station including the console for repair and that they would not supply a replacement and neither could they tell me how long I would be without my station, which I felt was unreasonable and unacceptable to me, especially that I had only had my station for a couple of months, that is the reason I contacted Davis direct.

My warranty ends in December and I am determined to get these issues resolved before then.

Alan

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on September 29, 2010, 04:32:37 AM
Ah OK - so it's more a dispute about how the fault should be handled under warranty than inability to get support at all.

In general, manufacturers or their representatives of more or less any product are typically (not always I know but usually) going to want to be given the opportunity to repair a unit under warranty before replacing it. This is what happens with cars and most other consumer products - it's a standard part of (UK) consumer law. And the default Davis warranty in the UK is an RTB (ie Return To Base, at the customer's expense) warranty.

So I think that you're going to struggle to get any improvement on the initial support offer that your supplier has made, but good luck in trying.

Re the rain gauge problem and assuming that the spoon is tipping correctly and not misaligned etc, then I would just have sent out a 7345.923 battery board that's got the reed switch for the rain gauge onboard and asked you to fit it. The Vue ISS is designed so that virtually every part is potentially user replaceable. It's obviously unfamiliar the first time that you take a Vue ISS apart and clearly needs to be done with a little care. But it's quite instructive to do so and easy to get to the point where you can feel comfortable about replacing any part (given suitable instructions) with an appropriate spare in the years to come.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on September 29, 2010, 05:08:00 AM
You have hit the nail on the head. "I would just have sent out a 7345.923 battery board that's got the reed switch for the rain gauge onboard and asked you to fit it". That has not been offered yet, perhaps it will, we shall wait and see.

You also make the analogy to a car warranty. I bought a new car in June and should I have a problem during the warranty period, I know for a fact that I would get a replacement vehicle whilst mine is off the road. I also fail to understand why the supplier wanted me to return the console as well as the faulty part, which they wanted me to return at my own expense.  :shock:

I am aware that your company is a supplier of Davis equipment and I have no argument with you, but I do think that Davis customer care here in the UK is pretty poor compared with it's competitors, IE, Oregon Scientific.

Alan
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on September 29, 2010, 08:01:32 AM
I can see that you've had a specific support experience that you're unhappy with but it's inaccurate, if understandable, to extrapolate that to all Davis support. Isolated examples where users don't feel that they've received the support to which they are entitled will always exist unfortunately, but provided you choose to buy from a reputable dealer that specifically offers prompt and responsive aftersales support then the Davis support experience in the UK should generally be good.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on September 29, 2010, 08:35:40 AM
I did buy from a reputable dealer who list the following as a part of their client list.

* London Eye,
* Felixstowe Docks
* Spinnaker Tower
* and many airports and ports around the UK.

I wonder what would have happened had I imported from the US, like many other people on forums I visit.


Alan.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on September 29, 2010, 08:53:12 AM
I wonder what would have happened had I imported from the US, like many other people on forums I visit.

I suspect you would have struggled to get any UK-based support at all. You would probably be stuck in the classic no-man's land in this scenario where McMurdo won't sanction UK support for a station that they haven't imported and Davis aren't prepared to ship anything direct to you from California.

But I also suspect that this thread is starting to become boring for others so let me desist now.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on September 29, 2010, 08:59:32 AM
I wonder what would have happened had I imported from the US, like many other people on forums I visit.

I suspect you would have struggled to get any UK-based support at all. You would probably be stuck in the classic no-man's land in this scenario where McMurdo won't sanction UK support for a station that they haven't imported and Davis aren't prepared to ship anything direct to you from California.

But I also suspect that this thread is starting to become boring for others so let me desist now.

Agreed
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Maj. Infidel on September 30, 2010, 11:32:56 AM
But I also suspect that this thread is starting to become boring for others so let me desist now.

I can only speak for myself, but I've found your contributions to this thread, along with the contributions of many others, to be anything but boring.  Being in the position of one who's long contemplated finally making the leap from the novice level $90 Oregon Scientific/LaCrosse indoor/outdoor temperature station, up to something far more substantial, capable, reliable and, yes, expensive, I'm extremely appreciative of this thread. 

Reading reviews and doing research elsewhere online, I had come away with the impression that Davis Instruments was a first rate U.S. based company that stood behind its products, and that the Vantage Vue was the perfect choice for someone like myself who was considering making their first foray into 'enthusiast' level weather station equipment.  It's now clear to me that I was wrong on both counts, at least where the Vantage Vue is concerned.  That Davis has allowed some of you to twist in the wind (no pun intended :) ) for upwards of a year is unconscionable to me.  And it's not as if $300 is some inconsequential amount of money, particularly in this environment. 

Putting out a dud of a product isn't the real issue here.  That happens occasionally to the best of companies.  What's disturbing is Davis' apparent unwillingness or inability to communicate with its customers the plan of action by which these problems will be resolved.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: utjer on September 30, 2010, 12:54:33 PM
But I also suspect that this thread is starting to become boring for others so let me desist now.

I can only speak for myself, but I've found your contributions to this thread, along with the contributions of many others, to be anything but boring.  Being in the position of one who's long contemplated finally making the leap from the novice level $90 Oregon Scientific/LaCrosse indoor/outdoor temperature station, up to something far more substantial, capable, reliable and, yes, expensive, I'm extremely appreciative of this thread. 

Reading reviews and doing research elsewhere online, I had come away with the impression that Davis Instruments was a first rate U.S. based company that stood behind its products, and that the Vantage Vue was the perfect choice for someone like myself who was considering making their first foray into 'enthusiast' level weather station equipment.  It's now clear to me that I was wrong on both counts, at least where the Vantage Vue is concerned.  That Davis has allowed some of you to twist in the wind (no pun intended :) ) for upwards of a year is unconscionable to me.  And it's not as if $300 is some inconsequential amount of money, particularly in this environment. 

Putting out a dud of a product isn't the real issue here.  That happens occasionally to the best of companies.  What's disturbing is Davis' apparent unwillingness or inability to communicate with its customers the plan of action by which these problems will be resolved.

I agree with most of your post. I do have to throw out a word of caution though. Most people on here are looking for answers to problems they have. I dont know the ratio of problems posted here to actual owners but I bet it is small. Most users are not going to go to a web forum just to post that they have no issues. If things are running good then they will leave things well enought alone. I am a vue user since July. I upgraded from a la crosse system. I will tell you that my vue has been flawless. I did have a set up question that davis answered right away and correctly. So just be careful when reading everyones comments about issues, they may not be representitive of the product/company as a whole.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: DaculaWeather on September 30, 2010, 04:20:16 PM
And I will add, you hear a few complaints here about Vue's but there are substantially more that have never had any trouble, including myself. My Vue has worked flawlessly since it was purchased (one year ago oct) and has never locked up, never had the battery replaced, and always provides quality data day after day. My guess is they had a bad batch of some particular part and it happens with any product.

You will always hear from people about problems but rarely hear from those that have none.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Maj. Infidel on October 01, 2010, 12:42:29 AM
And I will add, you hear a few complaints here about Vue's but there are substantially more that have never had any trouble, including myself. My Vue has worked flawlessly since it was purchased (one year ago oct) and has never locked up, never had the battery replaced, and always provides quality data day after day. My guess is they had a bad batch of some particular part and it happens with any product.

You will always hear from people about problems but rarely hear from those that have none.

Steve, you and utjer make an excellent point, and it would be silly not to acknowledge it as such.  I certainly don't mean to give the impression that I've given up on Davis Instruments.  Far from it.  Based on my limited knowledge, it would appear as though the vast majority of their products receive very few complaints at all.  For the sake of those who have been affected by this particular set of problems though, it's difficult to overlook the fact that this thread is now nearing a year old without a definitive fix having been announced.  
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on October 01, 2010, 09:31:44 AM
... it's difficult to overlook the fact that this thread is now nearing a year old without a definitive fix having been announced.  

Where, and in what way, would you expect a fix to be announced?  And in what form would you expect that fix to be?

[Reputable companies tend to fix non-life-threatening problems silently, with new revisions to product hardware; and supply corrective measures to customers who experience the problem, through existing distribution channels]
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Maj. Infidel on October 02, 2010, 09:44:51 PM
... it's difficult to overlook the fact that this thread is now nearing a year old without a definitive fix having been announced.  

Where, and in what way, would you expect a fix to be announced?  And in what form would you expect that fix to be?

[Reputable companies tend to fix non-life-threatening problems silently, with new revisions to product hardware; and supply corrective measures to customers who experience the problem, through existing distribution channels]


To my mind, it would depend on the actual incidence of problems being experienced by Vantage Vue owners, a number which we aren't privy to.  At a minimum though, given the extended time span over which these issues have persisted, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that by now DI would have already diagnosed the true nature of the problem and announced the modifications (beyond grease) that will be made to future production units.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on October 02, 2010, 10:17:25 PM
.... and announced the modifications (beyond grease) that will be made to future production units.

Companies almost never make such announcements.  There are several good (business) reasons for that.

Davis has, in the past, made quite a number of "in production" hardware improvements, and I don't remember any of those being announced.

I'm having trouble thinking of any company (in any industry) that has announced an in-production hardware improvement.  [Excepting those companies where each hardware unit is unique and customized for the customer].

How many can you think of?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on October 03, 2010, 03:47:16 AM
In general, the incidence of faults on Vue units during their first year of production/sales has been encouragingly low. I don't have exact figures to hand but a level of 5% is probably realistic, which is actually very good for the period when a brand new design is released into the field.

The only two types of Vue fault that seem to have been reported with any frequency are - coincidentally - both low ISS battery warnings. I'm pretty sure that these two types have quite distinct causes although because the initial symptom is the same there's obviously a tendency on forums like this to confuse the two and to lump them together.

The first type is a genuine but premature low battery warning, ie when the old battery voltage is checked it's found to have been fully depleted. The incidence of this fault variant is very low - maybe 1-2% - and this is the type that can be fixed by the gel application to the contact pads. A change in production method to prevent this fault was made some 6 months or more ago, ie not long after the first reports of the problem came through and Davis had a chance to investigate the cause in faulty units.

The second and quite separate type are spurious low ISS battery warnings. When the ISS battery voltage is checked on these, the battery is still found to be in good condition and so the warning of low voltage is inaccurate. This type of fault will often clear itself along with other system resets and clear operations at midnight each night. So this type of fault is a minor operational nuisance but nothing more. I haven't seen a detailed write-up of the cause but it seems likely to me that the microcode monitoring the ISS battery is a little oversensitive on a minority of systems, which is presumably also something that can readily be fixed in production. I understand that a new console firmware update to counter this spurious low battery problem is in testing.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: 4wd on October 03, 2010, 04:52:47 AM
I understand that a new console firmware update to counter this spurious low battery problem is in testing.

Good news, I think this is the varaiation on the issue that most are experiencing.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Trocketman on October 03, 2010, 05:36:41 PM
I replaced my battery for low battery transmitter in July (purchased unit Jan. 2010) and it worked until Sept 27. Same message as before except this time it was overcast an it rained for day 1/2 and lost wind direction, speed and outside temp. The sun came out for 3 hours and then nightfall arrive and the low battery problem came back. Next day full sun all day no problem until darkness arrived. Decided time to call Davis support. They asked me to do some tests and what they decided was it is a moisture problem and are sending me logic board and battery board that is now moisture proof. Seems they have had this problem with other vue units and now they are are moisture proofing all electronic parts. Haven't received these part and hoping this is the fix considering there nothing left to replace. 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: DaculaWeather on October 03, 2010, 07:44:16 PM
It's good to know they're replacing that for you. Let us know how the replacement goes.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Sartori on October 08, 2010, 02:30:02 PM
... it's difficult to overlook the fact that this thread is now nearing a year old without a definitive fix having been announced.  

Where, and in what way, would you expect a fix to be announced?  And in what form would you expect that fix to be?

[Reputable companies tend to fix non-life-threatening problems silently, with new revisions to product hardware; and supply corrective measures to customers who experience the problem, through existing distribution channels]


To my mind, it would depend on the actual incidence of problems being experienced by Vantage Vue owners, a number which we aren't privy to.  At a minimum though, given the extended time span over which these issues have persisted, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that by now DI would have already diagnosed the true nature of the problem and announced the modifications (beyond grease) that will be made to future production units.

Very well said, thats the way my mind works too:)
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on October 08, 2010, 02:55:42 PM
... it's difficult to overlook the fact that this thread is now nearing a year old without a definitive fix having been announced.  

Where, and in what way, would you expect a fix to be announced?  And in what form would you expect that fix to be?

[Reputable companies tend to fix non-life-threatening problems silently, with new revisions to product hardware; and supply corrective measures to customers who experience the problem, through existing distribution channels]


To my mind, it would depend on the actual incidence of problems being experienced by Vantage Vue owners, a number which we aren't privy to.  At a minimum though, given the extended time span over which these issues have persisted, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that by now DI would have already diagnosed the true nature of the problem and announced the modifications (beyond grease) that will be made to future production units.

Very well said, thats the way my mind works too:)

What would many people do if Davis publicly "announced the modifications that will be made to future production units"?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Bushman on October 14, 2010, 12:09:33 PM
That continuous improvement happens all the time in electronics.  Hopefully Davis would have a reasonable upgrade for those who wanted it.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: MaverickNH on October 18, 2010, 09:42:08 AM
New twist on an old story.

Unit received 22 Oct 2009 and has been running perfectly since installation. This last week, while I was traveling, the unit appears to have gone off-line due to battery failure. On my return Friday, I saw the console indicated "Low Transmitter Battery 1" and no external data was displayed. The antenna icon was absent.

I replaced the DuraCell battery and pressed the button. No LED illumination. I cleaned the contacts with an eraser, still no LED flash. I bought a 2nd DuraCell and still no LED flash. The console was not receiving either, so it's not just a dead LED.

Any clues?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: VE3RTV on October 24, 2010, 03:21:47 PM
The first time I bought the Davis Vantage Vue I had the same problem a few days after I bought it. The LOW BATTERY TRANSMITTER  kepted coming even after I reset the unit....plus I put a brand new battery in it too and still it came up.
So I packed it back in the box it came in the sent it back to the store that I bought it from.
I got another Davis Vantage Vue to replace the first one so far no LOW BATTERY TRANSMITTER hasn't showed. If it does I will pack it back up in the box and send it back. And not bother no more.

Jim.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: CapeHazeWX on November 26, 2010, 02:05:40 PM
On my third battery since 01/11/10.  Went through a series of diagnostics with Davis tech support folks.  The "old" battery is showing 2.96 volts while a brand new one is showing 2.99.  the verdict at this point is that the gold contacts on the ISS board which are visible on the INSIDE, SIDE of the battery compartment, are too close together.  Moisture due to high humidity is shorting the board out and giving a false reading. If so, that is a design flaw which needs to be remedied.  I can't imagine that holding up very long in a marine environment.  

I'm not convinced, because even during low humidty times the low battery indicator remained even when the reading was supposed to "reset" after midnight.  

The Davis solution?  Dielectric grease on the contacts in the battery compartment.  I'll give it a try and see what happens.  However, that's the last time this ISS goes on the tower without being replaced.

Tom, Ira and Edward have all been very helpful and it's kind of refreshing to be able to talk to a human in tech support.  I wish I could have stuck with one of them though.  Ira had indicated a new ISS would be sent out.  Edward decided on the Dielectric grease fix instead.

We shall see.  
Well, I began to receive the "Low Battery " warning again on 11/23.  Not quite 7 months since applying the Davis "fix".  I am requesting a new unit.  This one is 11 months old and has a recurring issue.  An e-mail has been sent and I await their response.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: 4wd on February 16, 2011, 10:40:49 AM
My Vue will be a year old any day now, but has just started showing the Low Battery warning.
Now at a year old that's reasonable, so I got a replacement and put it in today - all seems well.
However I noticed that the green LED under the unit was on continuously before I put in the new battery and 're-set' it by pressing the button.
Could it be I only needed reset without replacing battery yet?
It seems odd if detecting low battery makes the LED stay on as an indication, since it would discharge even quicker!
The LED normally flashes very briefly when data is transmitted I think.  
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: DaculaWeather on February 16, 2011, 10:42:09 AM
Had mine a year and 4 months now... battery still good.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: HopeMaineWx on February 17, 2011, 11:13:12 AM
Bought and installed my Vue in Oct. '10. In the middle of Dec. I received the low battery transmitter warning message. Went up on the roof took the station down and tested the battery and it tested great. Nonetheless I put in a new battery and within 12 hrs the low battery warning msg went away.

Last week, the infamous message reappeared, went back to the roof, tested battery, tested great. This time I put the same battery back in, within 12hrs, the messgae was gone again.

I noticed each time that I did get the messgae my station would stop reporting at about 3 or 4am and would start backup as soon as the sun hit the station.

Im very interested to see how the dielectric grease solution works out for you FortWhite. It sounds like this might be a fairly commom problem with at least a large batch of Vue's?

I must say my last 2 large ticket purchases have been a bit frustarting with issues. My Vue works great except for this battery issue and the screen on my new 55" tv works great except when it periodically freezes up. Gotta love technology!!! LOL
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: DaculaWeather on February 17, 2011, 11:19:24 AM
What TV? I'm looking at the Samsung 55" 3D TV's
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: HopeMaineWx on February 17, 2011, 10:49:41 PM
Vizio XVT553SV, great picture, nice internet apps. Not 3-D but the next model above is. Vizio did some troubleshooting with over the phone today and asked me to try out what we did and if doesn't work they will repair or replace the tv.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: paradigm on February 27, 2011, 10:13:01 AM
In general, the incidence of faults on Vue units during their first year of production/sales has been encouragingly low. I don't have exact figures to hand but a level of 5% is probably realistic, which is actually very good for the period when a brand new design is released into the field.

The only two types of Vue fault that seem to have been reported with any frequency are - coincidentally - both low ISS battery warnings. I'm pretty sure that these two types have quite distinct causes although because the initial symptom is the same there's obviously a tendency on forums like this to confuse the two and to lump them together.

The first type is a genuine but premature low battery warning, ie when the old battery voltage is checked it's found to have been fully depleted. The incidence of this fault variant is very low - maybe 1-2% - and this is the type that can be fixed by the gel application to the contact pads. A change in production method to prevent this fault was made some 6 months or more ago, ie not long after the first reports of the problem came through and Davis had a chance to investigate the cause in faulty units.

The second and quite separate type are spurious low ISS battery warnings. When the ISS battery voltage is checked on these, the battery is still found to be in good condition and so the warning of low voltage is inaccurate. This type of fault will often clear itself along with other system resets and clear operations at midnight each night. So this type of fault is a minor operational nuisance but nothing more. I haven't seen a detailed write-up of the cause but it seems likely to me that the microcode monitoring the ISS battery is a little oversensitive on a minority of systems, which is presumably also something that can readily be fixed in production. I understand that a new console firmware update to counter this spurious low battery problem is in testing.

Well I've also been having the infamous "Low Battery Warning" on my ISS and after reading all the previous 7 pages of this thread, JohnD's Post (above) is by far the most informative.

Paraphrasing:
If you're getting the problem on a new system, the best thing to do seems to be to first check the battery voltage.  
If it's over 3 Volts then you're good and you don't need to worry too much apart from check that the green LED under the ISS isn't always flashing or is constant.  Keeping an eye on it and checking the ISS battery voltage every week or so wouldn't hurt.  
If the voltage is under 3V or the green LED is flashing/constant, then you should do a full reset on the system.  If the green LED is on or flashing after more than 5-10mins of the ISS being on, check the white sync button isn't pressed in.
One of the next best steps seems to be to apply a dielectric grease (if not already done in manufacture) to the 3 pins under the ISS battery (especially in a highly humid/wet environment).

After this, reset the ISS by removing the old ISS battery over night then replace the battery in the morning. At the same time, reset the Console by holding down the DONE/SETUP button after you power up the ISS.

Sometimes the message disappears after midnight and doesn't re-appear.  If it still appears after the above, then you really are best to talk to Davis.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Coldfront on February 27, 2011, 12:18:54 PM
 It's been 8 months since Davis suggested the grease fix and acting on it and I'm pleased to report all is well. The Vue has not faltered. I did a firmware update in December '10 for the Vue console that included a fix for low battery reporting from the ISS transmitter to check the battery strength status over a longer period of time.

I replaced the ISS battery in October '10 and lightly reapplied the grease on the pins again. The old battery strength was 2.9vdc. There were no bugs, soil etc. or apparent deterioration of the grease previously applied save for it flattening out against the battery casing.

Other than this issue the Vue has worked flawlessly for 14 months now. I do wonder what the life expectancy is for a weather station of this type. I hope to get a long life out of it as does everyone who purchases this type of apparatus.

Cheers 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Andy Thompson on February 27, 2011, 12:51:55 PM
In theory, all Davis stations should last a lifetime. They are not cheap labor or cheap price not made in china. Proudly made in the USA.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: G2003 on February 27, 2011, 01:20:01 PM
In theory, all Davis stations should last a lifetime. They are not cheap labor or cheap price not made in china. Proudly made in the USA.
They are probably assembled in the USA, but the parts most likely come from China.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Bushman on February 27, 2011, 05:18:24 PM
THis discussion has happened already - not Made in USA.  Sorry.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Andy Thompson on February 27, 2011, 05:41:54 PM
Quote
THis discussion has happened already - not Made in USA.  Sorry.
Get your facts right. My circuit board on mine says made and assembled in the USA! And thats the circuit board parts.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: DeKay on February 27, 2011, 06:09:52 PM
In theory, all Davis stations should last a lifetime. They are not cheap labor or cheap price not made in china. Proudly made in the USA.

Ummmm....
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Nvf6aanA8XE/TRlCh61FwII/AAAAAAAAAJo/8AC5pWsAhFU/s400/Wireless+Chip.jpg)
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Andy Thompson on February 27, 2011, 07:25:39 PM
I was checking the outdoor transmitter board. I do not know about the console board...
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: SLOweather on February 28, 2011, 12:04:53 PM
Eventually, the outdoor temp/hum sensor may need to be replaced, depending on your proximity to salt air. And, depending on your local rainfall, the bearing points on the tipper may wear from round to oblong, requiring a new tipper. I had that problem on an original VP. It wore just enough that the magnet in the bucket and its attraction to the reed switch created a third, level stable postion for the tipper.

 Dunno how the aluminized buckets in a VP2 will fare.

It's all maintenance...

In theory, all Davis stations should last a lifetime. They are not cheap labor or cheap price not made in china. Proudly made in the USA.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Bushman on February 28, 2011, 01:44:04 PM
I was checking the outdoor transmitter board. I do not know about the console board...

Given DeKay's photo Davis cannot legally state that they are "Made in the USA".
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: George Richardson on February 28, 2011, 02:50:36 PM
The latest Davis Catalog I have says: " Our weather stations are assembled and tested right here in Hayward, California"
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Garth Bock on February 28, 2011, 03:03:49 PM
In theory, all Davis stations should last a lifetime. They are not cheap labor or cheap price not made in china. Proudly made in the USA.

Ummmm....
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Nvf6aanA8XE/TRlCh61FwII/AAAAAAAAAJo/8AC5pWsAhFU/s400/Wireless+Chip.jpg)

Do you want a Japanese car built in Canada by Mexican labor, a European car built in India by Pakistani labor or an American car built in Japan with Taiwanese labor......or however that joke goes....
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Bushman on March 02, 2011, 06:08:46 PM
The latest Davis Catalog I have says: " Our weather stations are assembled and tested right here in Hayward, California"

Maybe - but that is NOT  "Made in the USA".  Welcome to the Marketing Department.  The short bus will be leaving for the gift shop in 5 minutes.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: CapeHazeWX on March 20, 2011, 08:21:35 PM
Bought and installed my Vue in Oct. '10. In the middle of Dec. I received the low battery transmitter warning message. Went up on the roof took the station down and tested the battery and it tested great. Nonetheless I put in a new battery and within 12 hrs the low battery warning msg went away.

Last week, the infamous message reappeared, went back to the roof, tested battery, tested great. This time I put the same battery back in, within 12hrs, the messgae was gone again.

I noticed each time that I did get the messgae my station would stop reporting at about 3 or 4am and would start backup as soon as the sun hit the station.

Im very interested to see how the dielectric grease solution works out for you FortWhite. It sounds like this might be a fairly commom problem with at least a large batch of Vue's?

I must say my last 2 large ticket purchases have been a bit frustarting with issues. My Vue works great except for this battery issue and the screen on my new 55" tv works great except when it periodically freezes up. Gotta love technology!!! LOL

They sent me some replacement parts, but I was uncomfortable installing them, and then possibly having an issue with it based upon an unqualified tech (me) messing with it.  I sent the whole ISS back to them and they replaced it.  The newer one has been fine for a couple months.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: FaxCap on March 21, 2011, 12:01:07 PM
Years ago when Zenith was a top selling TV builder their major selling point was "Hand wired".
Then it was leaked to the Press the only thing "hand wired" was the power cord.

It's amazing what companies can get away with.  :grin:

FaxCap
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: k0dmf on June 16, 2011, 05:49:24 PM
Seems like there is still an issue. I have had mine since the end of April and unit has the latest firmware and gel on the contacts. I am still getting the Low Battery message. It is definitely NOT the battery. I guess it's time to talk to Davis about it. I might just run a 3v power supply to it, since I have AC available on the tower it is installed on.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Flag on June 16, 2011, 05:55:53 PM
I might just run a 3v power supply to it, since I have AC available on the tower it is installed on.

Now that's one thing that is missing from the Vue ISS is an external power connector.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: clweb on June 16, 2011, 06:17:55 PM
I had also a "Battery low" on a sunny day. It disappeared in the evening and came back the next day.
I tested the battery: it was OK.  A little cleaning of the battery contacts, put the battery back and no problem again (was a month ago).
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: rfs1 on July 02, 2011, 07:27:16 PM
 vue is year old. been having issues with the low battery warning. Finally called Davis tech. support.  They are sending a new board.  Any suggestions for the install would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
rfs1
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dcutter1 on July 09, 2011, 06:37:24 PM
I had also a "Battery low" on a sunny day. It disappeared in the evening and came back the next day.
I tested the battery: it was OK.  A little cleaning of the battery contacts, put the battery back and no problem again (was a month ago).

My unit was new Dec 1, 2010.  I have had the "low battery on station 1" message off and on now for more than a month.  Tried replacing the battery but that did not solve the issue.  I have emailed the tech people but no help yet.  This week will be a telephone campaign to their tech dept.  Other than the low battery message the unit has run flawlessly.  Just gets the stupid message.  I replaced a 40 year old Heath Kit weather station with the Davis.  The old Heath did not have all the extras of the modern Davis but it has been on my roof for 40 years and still runs.  I will post again after I get answers from Davis.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: SlowModem on July 09, 2011, 06:45:51 PM
My unit was new Dec 1, 2010.

Is that before or after they came up with the grease fix?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Flag on July 09, 2011, 07:02:49 PM
My unit was new Dec 1, 2010.

Is that before or after they came up with the grease fix?

As far as I am concerned any new battery/s being installed should have both terminals smeared and this idea has been around way longer than the Vue.

One would hope nobody installs any battery without doing this first?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on July 09, 2011, 07:10:01 PM
My unit was new Dec 1, 2010.

Is that before or after they came up with the grease fix?

As far as I am concerned any new battery/s being installed should have both terminals smeared and this idea has been around way longer than the Vue.

One would hope nobody installs any battery without doing this first?

That's not the "grease fix" being referred to.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Flag on July 09, 2011, 08:20:43 PM
My unit was new Dec 1, 2010.

Is that before or after they came up with the grease fix?

As far as I am concerned any new battery/s being installed should have both terminals smeared and this idea has been around way longer than the Vue.

One would hope nobody installs any battery without doing this first?

That's not the "grease fix" being referred to.

Oh silly me  :-)
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: zackdog on July 09, 2011, 09:39:18 PM
Wish I had seen this earlier.  I purchased a Vantage Vue in late May of 2011.  So far it is operating flawlessly and I fully expect it to continue that way.  This is my third DI weather station.  I started with a Wizard II in late 1994.  It now records the temps. on my main floor and basement, while a Wireless Monitor II purchased in 2003 records all the outside data and the upstairs temperature.  I equipped the Monitor II with a 24 hour FARS and a rain collector heater.  It reports to CWOP and WU.  I had to replace the FARS fan after five years and am still on the original ISS battery.

I am retired and spend two to three months a year camped at some lakes in northern Colorado where I fly fish for trout.  I purchased the Vue to be able to temporarily mount it on the trailer while I am camped, in order to try and figure out how various weather changes affect the fishing.  When I am home, it is mounted within five feet of the Monitor II and I am amazed at how close the two readings are.

If I ever have to replace the Monitor II,  it will be with a Vantage Pro, not the Vue, even though I am, so far, very impressed with the Vue.

Having only had the Vue in operation for less than two months, I'm not sure I should be posting on this thread, but so be it.  I just needed to express my opinion on Davis products.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: DaculaWeather on July 10, 2011, 07:26:16 AM
Mine is STILL going strong after a year and nine months. Same battery.  :-)
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: clweb on July 11, 2011, 12:03:10 PM
I noticed that I have a "Battery failure" message only on hot (>30°C) sunny days.
The message dissapears at theevening and only comes back when the next day is hot.
Maybe some tolerance in the electronic components of the battery survey circuit.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Weerstation on July 23, 2011, 01:46:10 PM
Hi All,

I came across this thread googling LOW TRANSMITTER BATTERY 1.
Thanks for posting everyone, I learned a lot today.

I got the warning this afternoon.
I am not sure if this was a coincedence, I had not seen the warning earlier, but it appeared at the same time it started raining this afternoon. (First tick of 0.2 mm)
The day had started sunny and windy, humidity was at 65%.
So, no moisture problem.

My station is up and running since the beginning of December 2009.
I have had no problems so far.

Battery is still the same I got with the device.

I mentioned I had not seen this warning earlier and I should have because I am looking at the console a lot.
Now we had a lot of rain on Thursday July 14, very windy too.
I noticed that the rain gauge wasn't working well.
It stopped counting at 50 mm of rain although it was raining pretty steady.
It continued counting, then stopped again for some time, still raining, counting again.
Ending at 56 mm, real amount was 65 mm. (Used plain old raincollector)

I have not seen problems with the raingauge since then.

Do you guys think this was related to a low battery voltage. (There was no message Low Battery)
I have not seen any problems with transmitting other data that day.

So my guess is just to replace the battery for a new one.

What do you guys think.

TIA

btw. Can you check the battery voltage from the ISS via the diagnostic screen on the console?

ps

After running the diagnostic screen, the message was gone for a while.
I see the message is back again.
See if it will stay away after midnight.

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: 4wd on July 23, 2011, 02:57:43 PM
You probably need change the battery, it's the first thing to try anyway and they are not expensive.
Mine started to show genuine low battery warnings at about 14 months old.
I expect it would have carried on for some time longer.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: meteotrets on August 18, 2011, 05:15:17 PM


Hi all,

I have also the "low battery" issue with my european version (I live in France).
I installed it in june 2010, and no problem until two days ago.

The message has appeared on the console, and the ISS has stopped to transmit.

Yesterday, when I removed the ISS from the roof, I have noticed that the LED was blinking strangely,
and that grease is present on the gold contacts.
I have changed the battery by a new one ..
The message was still here, but the ISS has restarted to transmit data.

Today, I have upgraded the console firmware from 2.12 to 2.14.
And once again, the message was still here.

I have sent a mail at support@davisnet.com to describe my problem
but no response yet.

I'm really disappointed that ISS fails two months after the end of the warranty  :evil:

I don't know what to do more  :sad:
perhaps someone has an idea ?

Frederic
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: d_l on August 18, 2011, 08:41:18 PM
I don't know what to do more  :sad:
perhaps someone has an idea ?

Frederic

Fredric, has midnight passed since you replaced the battery.  The low battery warning should clear on consoles automatically after local time midnight.

If it hasn't, then you have a problem.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Weerstation on August 19, 2011, 02:58:08 AM

Fredric, has midnight passed since you replaced the battery.  The low battery warning should clear on consoles automatically after local time midnight.


I got the warning twice now since Juli 13th and it cleared after midnight.
No problems that I know of so far.

See post #201
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: meteotrets on August 19, 2011, 04:01:10 AM
Quote
The low battery warning should clear on consoles automatically after local time midnight.

This morning at 9AM, the message is still here.
The good news is that the ISS seems to work fine.

I will try to change the battery again with another one.
My new battery is an ENERGIZER, not a DURACELL like the original one.

Do you think the brand of the battery has an influence ?


Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Flag on August 19, 2011, 06:01:03 AM
Quote
Do you think the brand of the battery has an influence ?

No
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: MaverickNH on January 15, 2012, 08:57:11 AM
My Vue, purchased soon after release, had Low Battery problems. I got the grease from Davis, smeared it on, kept the unit in the dark for 2 days, then put it back up. It worked fine for less than a year.

I have been replacing batteries with increasing frequency. Twice in 2010 and it died again last night, when temperatures went below 0F. I don't check the unit frequently so may have missed a Low Battery warning.

This morning, up upgraded the console firmware, upgraded the CP210x driver from 6.3 to 6.5. I just popped in a new Duracell Ultra Lithium, the light blinked once green, I pressed & held the button 3sec, it remained green during press, then blinked green 3x rapidly when released. By the time I was back inside, the ISS had connected to the console.

I've read this entire thread but am not very electronics savvy - does this sound like a supercap or solar panel issue?

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: 4wd on January 15, 2012, 02:12:15 PM
It's asking a lot of a battery to perform below 0°F
Are you getting the lithium type?
I do suspect the firmware update has reduced the incidence of 'false' low battery alerts.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: MaverickNH on January 16, 2012, 06:46:53 PM
Yep - Lithium. Maybe I'll have to move to Florida where it's warmer. Hmmm...but then the hurricanes would blow my Vue away.  ;)

It's not so much the Low Battery warnings that have been my problem, it's dead batteries at increasing frequency.

It's asking a lot of a battery to perform below 0°F
Are you getting the lithium type?
I do suspect the firmware update has reduced the incidence of 'false' low battery alerts.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Scalphunter on January 16, 2012, 07:35:01 PM
I would look for something else besides cold draining yor batteries. I use Alkys in weather system at my cabin and it shows it records down to 45 below most of the times and once to 58 blow. They are strictly in an unheated enviroment. I think your solar not is not getting enough sn light to do it's job. Any shadows  across it durning yor max sun.

John
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: William Grimsley on February 19, 2012, 02:02:03 PM
Hi There,

I have the Vantage Vue and I woke up this morning to find my data had "---" in. It came back after a while and I then got that same error message "Low Battery Transmitter 1". I then went into "Setup" then "Done". It then stopped showing the message.

Hope all goes well with it.

Will

http://www.newton-poppleford-weather.co.uk
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: C5250 on February 19, 2012, 11:34:44 PM
I have the Vantage Vue and I woke up this morning to find my data had "---" in. It came back after a while and I then got that same error message "Low Battery Transmitter 1". I then went into "Setup" then "Done". It then stopped showing the message.

Your ISS battery is dead and has to be replaced. Your ISS is now just being powered via solar, going into setup on the console after the ISS gathered enough solar energy to start working again, just made the message go away until the next night that there is not enough stored energy in the supercap to last the night.

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: William Grimsley on February 20, 2012, 06:41:21 AM
Hi there,

You are right my Vue disconnected again but for less time so i think its charging up now ;)
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on February 20, 2012, 10:17:39 AM
Hi there,

You are right my Vue disconnected again but for less time so i think its charging up now ;)

The solar panel does not charge the battery.  Replace the battery. Replace the batteryReplace the battery
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Clawswipe on March 05, 2012, 07:01:47 PM
Hello all,

I also received the error "LOW BATTERY ON TRANSMITTER 1" on my Vantage Vue console this past summer. I had only had the Vantage Vue for 6 months. I replaced the battery, but the message continued to show up at times. I noticed it only occurred on hot and extremely humid days. Once the high heat and humidity was gone, the messages stopped showing up. Everything has been fine since August 2011. Guess we will see what happens this summer.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: NickelPlate on March 06, 2012, 03:27:22 PM
Add me to the list of folks who have had this problem. I bought my Vue in April of 2011 and started getting low battery messages a few months later in July, but only during the extreme heat of the day. Davis tech support had me check some things such as firmware version of the console and battery voltage of the of ISS battery while in the unit. They finally sent me a new ISS (or refurb, I couldn't tell) and since then (fingers crossed) I haven't had an issue. But the tech made it sound as though the heat related failures of the battery voltage monitoring circuitry had been not been unique to me.

NP
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: RAFU on March 12, 2012, 03:55:58 PM
I have had strange signal losses a few times since February this year, purchased Vantage Vue IP May last year. Changing battery did not work, today I sent the whole thing back to the seller (in Finland) and have asked for a warranty repair. I was quite convinced of Davis quality at the time of purchase, but now I am not so sure what the result will be.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: k0dmf on March 16, 2012, 12:20:23 AM
Update!! I had moved the Console to a different location. The problem seems to have disappeared. Could of been getting some interference from some of my Ham radio equipment, but not sure. All I know is the problem has been gone since.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Pick on June 11, 2012, 11:27:42 AM
For what it's worth I got 2 years, 6 months out of my original battery.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: arrowspace90 on June 12, 2012, 12:44:32 PM
I sure feel uneasy reading these low battery posts.  I have had my vue up on the roof since Oct/11.  It has not had a glitch.

But you can look at my photo and see that the Vue is not in an easy to reach spot for battery changes.  From up there where it is perched, the only place on my treed and sloping property to put it, it is certain death if I slip and fall.

I love my Vue and the data it collects.  It's something I have always wanted.  I wish I could get to it more easily, but if it starts having many problems with batteries, transmitters, or super caps....

Does anyone know if the VP2's are better for maintenance?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: DaculaWeather on June 12, 2012, 12:51:45 PM
They use the same scheme, whether it's the Vue or VP series. If your's has been up that long, you can expect to replace the battery in6 months to a year. Mine lasted about 2 years or so before mine was replaced.

And... if yours has lasted this long, you probably don't have one of the affected Vue's. Mine has been rock solid for at least three years now.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on June 12, 2012, 12:53:09 PM
Does anyone know if the VP2's are better for maintenance?

Yes, of course - the anemometer is a separate assembly that you mount up high while leaving the main ISS assembly close to ground level where it will both measure more accurately and be much more convenient for access. If you have a problem with the anemometer then you'll still need access, but that's only one component of the outside sensors rather than the whole thing.

But you knew that you were going to need access to your Vue ISS every 18-24 months or so to replace the battery? And keeping the rain gauge clean is another reason for needing access to the ISS - some folk are lucky and don't seem to be troubled by blockages, but not everyone.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: SlowModem on June 12, 2012, 12:55:17 PM
Does anyone know if the VP2's are better for maintenance?

One advantage of the VP2 is that you can have most of the station (the ISS) near the ground, and the anemometer up high connected with a wire (or even separate with an anemometer transmitter).  Therefore, all the maintenance is waist or chest high standing on the ground.

Warning - while you were typing a new reply has been posted. You may wish to review your post.

Well, I guess I'm late to the party!  LOL  I was typing the same response.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on June 12, 2012, 01:20:14 PM
..., but if it starts having many problems with batteries, transmitters, or super caps....

Does anyone know if the VP2's are better for maintenance?

There's a cabled version of the VP2 that doesn't have a battery or supercap in the ISS (and is cheaper than the wireless version).  Of course, you have to run a cable from outside the house to inside.  It's the "no free lunch" rule.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: arrowspace90 on June 12, 2012, 01:26:22 PM
Right.  If I have a problem every 18/24 months, I will just call the antenna install people back to do it.  It's worth $80 to not fall and die.

However, because of the street on one side and tall trees and houses on the other, my rain gauge can't be down at 6ft. where I would like to have it.  It would be "shadowed" and even less accurate.

I just would not want to be in the position of needing repeated trips up there to troubleshoot problems.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Bushman on June 12, 2012, 01:44:20 PM
Be aware that the removing the potential for the supercap to fail might be a good thing in your situation  Use external power or a wired version.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: arrowspace90 on June 12, 2012, 01:58:25 PM
Hmmmm....how about nuclear fusion? \:D/
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Jace on July 09, 2012, 02:43:49 PM
Add me to the list of battery failures.

Bought the Vue new from Amazon.co.uk, started using it 30th Jan this year. Low transmitter battery warning and battery changed for a new Duracell Ultra late March. Low transmitter battery warning and new Duracell Ultra battery change today.

The contacts have some grease on them from factory install, no idea what firmware the ISS has. The ISS is pointing South, the solar panel is not obstructed and is clean and being summer I am getting an average of 16 hours daylight a day.

Contacted Davis, but being a UK customer I'm not holding my breath. I suppose I could contact Amazon and request a replacement as it's within warrenty, but will give Davis a chance first.

John


Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: 4wd on July 09, 2012, 03:10:11 PM
I would wager it isn't a real low battery but a false sensor reading.
However since it's under warranty you may as well pursue it that way.
With mine I noticed it seemed to show the warning for short periods when it was extremely damp - as it is now.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on July 10, 2012, 02:44:52 AM
I wouldn't hold your breath for getting a new one. I had the same problem after 7 months and contacted the vendor, who said they would not replace it, but they would get it repaired and I would have to return it to them at my cost for postage. They also said that they couldn't tell me how long it would be away and no, they wouldn't loan me one whilst mine was away, which was completely unacceptable to me.

After lots of emails back and forth to Davis they did agree to send me a replacement battery compartment, which they thought was causing the problem and it did cure the issue. The replacement part was supplied by Mcmurdo, who I believe to be the UK importer for Davis products.

I wish you the best of luck with your dealings with Davis and will be very interested to see the outcome.

It's a great shame that Davis don't adopt the same attitude as Oregon Scientific to their UK clients, OS are brilliant with their after-sales service here in the UK.

As you purchased your station in January this year, it is likely that your firmware will be up to date, but it is worth checking the Davis site for the most recent updates. I have updated mine twice since December 2009.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Jace on July 11, 2012, 02:08:29 PM
Thanks gents, both occasions the batteries have failed I've had periods of warm almost hot weather followed by downpours.

A friend is searching for his multimeter, so once I get that I'll test the batteries both the one insitu in the ISS and the one i just took out. I wonder if the faulty sensor is part of the battery assembly and changing that cured Alan's problem.

I'll give it a few more days, and chase Davis up again as so far, not even a acknowledgement to my 1st email.

I've found Mcmurdo Alan and given them a email, thanks.

Will update as and when things happens.

Cheers

JC
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: ArmySlowRdr on July 11, 2012, 06:44:55 PM
So it seems Davis DOES have some of the shortcomings that OS has....    downpours cause battery issues.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Jace on July 12, 2012, 07:51:22 AM
Well got a email from Davis USA - basically bugger off nothing to do with us.  :sad:

Got a reply from McMurdo this morning, after I emailed them yesterday, =D> their customer service tech reckons it's
Quote
an indication that the software version in the transmitter module within the ISS unit is old. This will need to be updated. This repair is normally covered under warrenty

Sounds a wee bit like 4wd's idea on faulty sensor readings perhaps ?

Awaiting a returns number, looks like I'm losing the ISS for a few days  ](*,)

At least I've got a Met Office 5" rain gauge, shame I've not got any other back-up equipment.

JC



Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: bayu on July 12, 2012, 11:33:27 AM
 have the same problem, an empty battery very quickly (rapidly discharge). only able to survive for 3 days, then I put one extra solar panels to connect parallel, the battery can last four months  :lol:
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on July 12, 2012, 12:07:21 PM
have the same problem, an empty battery very quickly (rapidly discharge). only able to survive for 3 days, then I put one extra solar panels to connect parallel, the battery can last four months  :lol:

I thought you had a VP2.  Do you have a Vue, like the others in this discussion?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: P Corbett on July 19, 2012, 05:39:43 PM
Hello everyone

New member from Birmingham England here.

I have just purchased a Vantage Vue from pro data systems here in the UK but before I put it up I must say that this thread has me seriously worried before I even start!!

How common does this fault seem to be? Is there a certain batch with the same problem ? I have the 2012 version of weatherlink software and so am presuming if Davis know of these problems they might have improved on them and was wondering if this is the case or as most of you describe could it be down to pot luck?

Nice being part of this community on here it seems to be most helpful from what  I have read so far.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: killwilly on July 20, 2012, 02:02:58 AM
Hello everyone

New member from Birmingham England here.

I have just purchased a Vantage Vue from pro data systems here in the UK but before I put it up I must say that this thread has me seriously worried before I even start!!

How common does this fault seem to be? Is there a certain batch with the same problem ? I have the 2012 version of weatherlink software and so am presuming if Davis know of these problems they might have improved on them and was wondering if this is the case or as most of you describe could it be down to pot luck?

Nice being part of this community on here it seems to be most helpful from what  I have read so far.

Hello and welcome to the forum. Johnd, the proprietor of Prodata Weather Systems is a regular contributor to this forum and indeed to this thread. Perhaps he will comment on your query.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on July 20, 2012, 08:36:37 AM
Answered offline.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Jace on July 31, 2012, 02:35:04 PM
Thought I'd better update my battery problem.

I contacted JohnD at Prodata, he had not heard of a SIM F/W update for the Vue but contacted Brett Lane the Davis Technical Manager about the problem.

Apparently Davis carried out a Firmware modification for the SIM in Oct 2011, which lowered the threshold for the battery warning from 2.8v to 2.0v. This update cannot be carried out in the field, which means it's a factory update only.

My Vue had a Manufacturing date of E110412A060 which meant it was a 'E' Vue built on the 12th May 2011, and it had a SIM F/W version of 2.1.51, so it was built before the Oct 2011 upgrade.

Latest SIM F/W that JohnD has seen is Version 2.5.56

McMurdo when contacted about this told me to contact my dealer (Amazon.co.uk), when I e-mailed Davis in the USA, same response, so I did , was told I was entitled to a full refund, no quibbles. Which I did.

Bought a new station from my local dealer  - Prodata which is what I should have done in the first place.

John
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: mickopla on August 11, 2012, 06:37:37 AM
Got the dreaded LOW TRANSMITTER BATTERY 1 message this morning. Have my Vue since October 2010 and changed the battery for the first time 2 months ago. I'm wondering if it is a low battery how long would you normally get before the ISS stops transmitting??

Mike
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: 4wd on August 11, 2012, 08:27:18 AM
It should keep going for at least a month.
I wouldn't be surprised if the message goes away at the midnight reset or you could do that manually now by going into setup mode then press 'done' to exit (allow a minute or two for everything to reconnect)
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: mickopla on August 11, 2012, 11:47:13 AM
It should keep going for at least a month.
I wouldn't be surprised if the message goes away at the midnight reset or you could do that manually now by going into setup mode then press 'done' to exit (allow a minute or two for everything to reconnect)

Tried the setup and done but still have the message. If the battery is really gone at least i have some time before i need to change it. Cheers

Mike

Edit: Actually the message did clear a while after doing the set up/ done procedure and has not shown up since. Hopefully it stays that way.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: jonzeeboy on September 12, 2012, 01:23:22 PM
Thanks for keeping the forum updated on this issue.  The information is very valuable for future users.
Hi ,I'm Trevor,Mine was working great for a year then we had a strong wind guess what,Yes I got the same error?I tried about 4 battery's in it after 5 days the error would come back,So I took it off the roof and pulled it to peaces What I found was one of the wires to the sun panel were only holding on by a couple of treads of wire,I striped the wires and re-solder them back on I had no trouble since,now with battery out and I put the meter on the + and - it has full charging power to the battery.Cheers jonzeeboy
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: solman06 on June 23, 2013, 08:32:54 PM
Hello Everyone
I am a newbie to the forum. I know that this topic has not been posted to in awhile but I did not want to start a new thread. My Vantage Vue has been giving me the low battery message for awhile now. I checked the battery and the voltage is good 3.1. I also tried a new battery and voltage is good also but I keep getting the low battery message. It seems to be a nuisance thing as the console still reports all the readings. I contacted Davis suppport and they sent me a new transmitter to replace the original (something I had not seen in this thread). I installed the new transmitter and still got the low battery message so I removed the ISS battery, applied di electric grease to the gold terminals inside as per instructions in this thread. I left the battery out overnight and reinstalled the next morning and reset the ISS and the console. So far the low battery message has not returned. Has anyone had Davis send them a new transmitter for this problem? Also does anyone know how low the battery voltage has to drop in order to trigger the message if the battery is actully reaching the end of its life span. I also noticed in another thread that Davis had a firmware update to help solve this problem among other things. Is  weatherlink  software the only way to connect the Vue to a PC and download this update? If it is which software would you recommend - weatherlink USB for windows or weatherlinkIP?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Ranger4 on June 23, 2013, 11:52:12 PM
It seems that the general thought here it that the solar panel charges the battery. It doesn't as the lithium battery used is not rechargeable. The solar panel charges a capacitor which powers the unit during the night. When the capacitor discharges the battery takes over, which occurs when there are prolonged periods of cloudy weather or very low levels of sunlight. So in most sunny areas the battery will hardly be used at all. Even if the sun didn't shine at all the lithium battery is quoted as lasting for 8 months.
Hope this helps understand the units operation.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: capecove on October 04, 2013, 11:07:49 AM
Hello folks...

My birthday is approaching, and my wife just informed me that my birthday present shall be the lovely Davis Vantage Vue. Yes, I have read this thread, and I do have something to share which will potentially help some who are confused about their battery life.

THE BRAND/QUALITY/CAPACITY OF THE BATTERY DOES MATTER. There was a post somewhere back some time ago claiming that the brand or quality of battery really does not matter. Nothing can be further from the truth.

Simple explanation follows:

1) Not all battery quality is the same. Yes, many consumer battery brands are labeled differently and may have the same original manufacturer. HOWEVER, each branding company does provide their own specifications. Some battery issues are a direct result of poor QC by the manufacturer, brought about by either just poor manufacturing, or the branding company desiring to keep production costs low. This fact plays a real role in internal battery component quality and will influence battery life/functionality.

2) mAh PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE DISCUSSION. It is simple electrical science that a 1500 mAh battery will provide substantially longer life than a 1000 mAh battery (assuming the same voltage supplied and same rate of drain). In my local grocery store there are CR123 batteries that show 650 mAh capacity on the package, and these are lithium, non-rechargeable cells! In this scenario, a grocery store branded cell would provide roughly 1/3 of the service time of another high capacity brand given that each were well QC checked and fully functional.

3) As referenced above, the solar panel does not recharge the CR123, it simply powers the ISS unit and recharges a super capacitor within said ISS. The replaceable CR123 is designed to operate the ISS during periods when the solar panel/super capacitor combination cannot power the ISS alone. This would include overnight periods or potentially days with little or no direct sunlight.

When it comes to batteries, make sure the size is correct, the voltage is correct and that you are getting the best mAh per penny you possibly can get. Then, make sure you have a plan in place to maintain your weather station setup.

Hope this helps, YMMV...



Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: mike67ld on December 28, 2013, 04:19:23 PM
I've had a Vue for about 3 years now so it's presumably got the older firmware.  The ISS is easy to get at (hop out of the skylight onto the roof) so battery changes are not a big problem.  However, I got fed up of this, and as the removed battery was still around 3.1 volts on my DVM, I decided to do a test - leave the damn thing up there bleating its little 'Low Battery Transmitter 1' warning til it stopped! 

I've ignored the warning for about a year now and not lost any data yet.  It seems that the voltage trigger to send the message is set too high and therefore after only a slight amount of use, the message is triggered.  Come the warmer months I'll go up and measure the voltage in situ again.   At some point I guess I'll not get any data during the night - that'll be the time to renew the battery then! 

I hope this relieves some of the frustration.

M
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Jays200 on January 29, 2014, 08:40:51 PM
Like Mike, I've had my Vue about three years. After about 12 months the low transmitter battery warning came up so I replaced the ISS battery with a fresh one. 12 months or so later (July'ish 2013) the same message appeared. After reading about others having the same problem I decided to contact the Australian distributor www.davisinstruments.com.au for a solution. Of course, by this time, my Vue was technically out of warranty. Also, in Australia, we need to purchase locally as the transmit frequency needs to be modified locally to comply with Australian spectrum laws.

Davis (Aus) suggested I upgrade the console firmware to "correct" the low battery voltage level and apply dielectric grease to the exposed data terminals inside the battery compartment. This required purchasing the $180 logger. Updated firmware and problem persisted. Contacted Davis (Asu) once more and they sent me a new ISS main board and battery/rain sensor board. After replacement the low battery warning disappeared, however, I now got ghost rainfall figures daily even though the skies were blue :(. After numerous calls back and forth to Davis (Aust), and them to Davis (US) I recently got sent a new ISS main board with a newbattery/rain and temp/humidity sensor. The new sensors are now hard wired to the main board, instead of using the gold pin/rubber plug connection, and the ribbon cables are quite a bit shorter.

Anyway, problem seems to be fixed, although I'll let you know for sure in about a year ;). I'm now using my logger via Cumulus to upload to wunderground and all is great.

Although the solution took six months to resolve and my console was technically out of warranty, Davis (Aus) was very good and the only cost to me, apart from the logger, was the return postage on the replaced parts.

So, there is a fix, I can't tell you what it is inside the ISS main board that makes it possible, but I'm another happy Davis customer.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: MaverickNH on March 05, 2014, 02:46:50 PM
My VantageVue from 2009 has been chewing through batteries every 4-6mo months this last few years. I did the early fix with the smearing on of resistive grease near the battery and upgraded firmware back in 2009.

I finally called Davis and they said I need a new Transmitter board. $150 new with 1yr warranty or $80 refurbished with 90d warranty and send back the old board. I mentioned having read about solar panel issues here but they didn't think that was the problem. So I ordered the refurb board. Hopefully that fixes the issue. Cheaper than a new unit.

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: W3DRM on March 05, 2014, 03:28:03 PM
This is after-the-fact but, did you consider sending your entire Vantage Vue in for refurb? It is only $100 to get the whole unit checked-out and brought up to date. With a four-year old unit, that may have been the better way to go...
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: MaverickNH on March 05, 2014, 04:10:29 PM
They mentioned $150 + $50 to install and $12.50 to return, but nothing about a $100 total refurb...
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: George Richardson on March 05, 2014, 04:42:19 PM
Hey Don,

Is the $100 refurb limited to the VP2? Don't know, but it would make sense.

George
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Weather Spares on March 05, 2014, 04:48:34 PM
Slightly off-topic perhaps, but a very recent Vantage Vue ISS I had opened no longer has components that can be unplugged.

The ribbon cables which has plug ends are now replaced with circular cables and most of the internal components are now sealed in a yellow ballistics style gel (for those that watch Mythbusters). You can't get to anything on the main board as it's in a gel block.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: WXjem on March 05, 2014, 05:15:46 PM
You can also get a brand new Vantage VUE ISS for $150.00 at Scaled Instruments.  Ryan's former Archer Trading Post.  Check out his Discount Pricing List.

Sounds like Davis has leaned that moisture kills electronics, and is now encapsulating the whole ISS .  Should make for a more reliable system.  Especially here in the Pacific Northwest, where it is wet and damp 9 months out of the year.

Five years life from any ISS is pretty good.  I never had a weather system from any vendor that lasted longer than that.

Jim

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: MaverickNH on March 05, 2014, 06:15:59 PM
Slightly off-topic perhaps, but a very recent Vantage Vue ISS I had opened no longer has components that can be unplugged.

The ribbon cables which has plug ends are now replaced with circular cables and most of the internal components are now sealed in a yellow ballistics style gel (for those that watch Mythbusters). You can't get to anything on the main board as it's in a gel block.

The Technician I spoke did, in fact, say was lucky that my unit had removable components. It was a Rev1 unit, as I recall.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: MaverickNH on March 05, 2014, 06:18:20 PM

Five years life from any ISS is pretty good.  I never had a weather system from any vendor that lasted longer than that.

Jim

Then I'll count myself lucky! Surprised they haven't come out with the new and improved All-in-One for us Wx dilettantes.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: weathermedic on March 09, 2014, 09:42:47 PM
In January, the temp got down to 4 degrees one morning here. The Vue console showed the "low battery transmitter icon" and did indeed go off line until the sun came up later that morning. After midnight that day, the unit reset itself and the low battery message was gone. Got down below 10 degrees one morning last week and the same thing happened. Cleared itself at midnight. I'm guessing the low battery voltage threshold factory set on the Vue was hit when the extreme cold sapped some of the power from the lithium battery (was replaced in late September 2013). How can these units in the colder climates with frequent below zero temperatures in winter be of any use?

Jason in NYC

http://www.weatherlink.com/user/weathermedic/

http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=knybrook41
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on March 09, 2014, 09:52:57 PM
. I'm guessing the low battery voltage threshold factory set on the Vue was hit when the extreme cold sapped some of the power from the lithium battery (was replaced in late September 2013). How can these units in the colder climates with frequent below zero temperatures in winter be of any use?

First - the "low battery voltage" is a warning.  That warning doesn't turn off anything.

Second - clearly, these units are operating 24/7 in much colder climates than yours.

What's the actual current voltage of the battery that you replaced 6 months ago?  Was there snow on the solar panel when the unit went "off line"?  Is your solar panel exposed to the sun all day (as opposed to getting some shade for some of the time)? 

I would ask about the quality of the replacement battery, but that's a bit hard to determine.  There are lots of "fake" name brands out there, and sometimes batteries stay on the store shelf for many years.

At any rate, try replacing the battery and see if that helps survive the cold.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: weathermedic on March 09, 2014, 10:05:11 PM
. I'm guessing the low battery voltage threshold factory set on the Vue was hit when the extreme cold sapped some of the power from the lithium battery (was replaced in late September 2013). How can these units in the colder climates with frequent below zero temperatures in winter be of any use?

First - the "low battery voltage" is a warning.  That warning doesn't turn off anything.

Second - clearly, these units are operating 24/7 in much colder climates than yours.

What's the actual current voltage of the battery that you replaced 6 months ago?  Was there snow on the solar panel when the unit went "off line"?  Is your solar panel exposed to the sun all day (as opposed to getting some shade for some of the time)? 

I would ask about the quality of the replacement battery, but that's a bit hard to determine.  There are lots of "fake" name brands out there, and sometimes batteries stay on the store shelf for many years.

At any rate, try replacing the battery and see if that helps survive the cold.

Battery was new in the package when I put it in. Was not a "name brand" like Duracell, rather a "surefire" brand (they make tactical flashlights, so I thought that would be a good way to go). Don't remember what the voltage was when I got it and tested it on a voltmeter, but I believe it was around 3.25 volts. Solar panel is shade free all day and faces due south. Only problem is, it's up on my peaked roof, which is a bit of a pain to get to. When the weather warms up, I will go up there again and replace the battery with a Duracell or Energizer type cell.

The low battery warning message is indeed a warning, however, after that warning was displayed for a few hours (while it was dark outside) the voltage must have dropped pretty fast in the cold and it stopped gathering data (outside temp, wind speed/direction, etc) until the sun came up and hit the solar panel.
 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on March 09, 2014, 10:25:47 PM
Understood.  When you replace the battery, it will be interesting to see what the voltage is - and perhaps you will put it in your freezer for a few hours and then measure the voltage.  Different brands respond differently to cold temperatures, of course.

Of course, with the unit mounted where it is, it's possible that there's snow (or bird-whatever) on the solar panel.  But a good battery should power it without any sun for more several months.

Bottom line: the behavior that you experienced is unusual.  And many of these units are working through very cold (and dark) conditions.  So, it's a good guess that your experience is due to the battery.

Let us know what you find out, when the weather improves.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: LittletonCOwx on March 11, 2014, 12:58:03 PM

Battery was new in the package when I put it in. Was not a "name brand" like Duracell, rather a "surefire" brand (they make tactical flashlights, so I thought that would be a good way to go). Don't remember what the voltage was when I got it and tested it on a voltmeter, but I believe it was around 3.25 volts. Solar panel is shade free all day and faces due south. Only problem is, it's up on my peaked roof, which is a bit of a pain to get to. When the weather warms up, I will go up there again and replace the battery with a Duracell or Energizer type cell.

The low battery warning message is indeed a warning, however, after that warning was displayed for a few hours (while it was dark outside) the voltage must have dropped pretty fast in the cold and it stopped gathering data (outside temp, wind speed/direction, etc) until the sun came up and hit the solar panel.
 

Don't bother.  The Surefire battery is as good, and likely better, than a Duracell or Energizer.  Only others I might even recommend would be Sanyo and Battery Station's house brand.  FYI, you don't need to spend $10 or more per battery either, when you can get good ones for less than $2 each (check out my post here (http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=21787.msg209039#msg209039)).

Understood.  When you replace the battery, it will be interesting to see what the voltage is - and perhaps you will put it in your freezer for a few hours and then measure the voltage.  Different brands respond differently to cold temperatures, of course.

Of course, with the unit mounted where it is, it's possible that there's snow (or bird-whatever) on the solar panel.  But a good battery should power it without any sun for more several months.

Bottom line: the behavior that you experienced is unusual.  And many of these units are working through very cold (and dark) conditions.  So, it's a good guess that your experience is due to the battery.

Let us know what you find out, when the weather improves.

His experience IS unusual, but I disagree that it is the fault of the battery IF he used a brand new one that wasn't bad for some odd reason.  Now, if the solar panel is not providing any power to the ISS, the battery may be getting depleted, but I don't think it should happen quite so quickly either.

The Surefire 123 is the one of the best primary CR123 Lithium batteries on the market, and I say this as someone who has bought literally 3-4 hundred primary Lithium 123 batteries in the past 10 -12 years (and have personally used at least half of them).   :shock:  I won't buy anything other than Surefire, Battery Station, Sanyo, or Duracell (ordered by my opinion, based off of experience, of best down) for use in my gear based on my personal experience with cheap brands.

Primary Lithium CR123 batteries do quite well in the cold, much better than most chemistries.  I'm actually quite surprised Davis provides a Duracell cell with the new Vue units, and not some cheap off brand.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: moehoward4 on March 11, 2014, 02:29:20 PM
I don't own a Vue, but I do use the Surefire 123 batteries on my VP2 stations. Since I switched from Duracell to the Surefire, my battery changes are a lot less frequent. ~$21 for a box of 12 on ebay or Amazon and when I got the box, it was good for 10 years from when I bought them.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: LittletonCOwx on March 11, 2014, 02:45:04 PM
I don't own a Vue, but I do use the Surefire 123 batteries on my VP2 stations. Since I switched from Duracell to the Surefire, my battery changes are a lot less frequent. ~$21 for a box of 12 on ebay or Amazon and when I got the box, it was good for 10 years from when I bought them.

Careful buying the Surefire 123's on fleabay.  There ARE counterfeits out there! 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on March 11, 2014, 03:50:01 PM
His experience IS unusual, but I disagree that it is the fault of the battery IF he used a brand new one that wasn't bad for some odd reason.  Now, if the solar panel is not providing any power to the ISS, the battery may be getting depleted, but I don't think it should happen quite so quickly either.

OK, so what's your analysis of the problem?  (Low battery warning, followed by offline during extreme cold).
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: LittletonCOwx on March 11, 2014, 05:01:24 PM
His experience IS unusual, but I disagree that it is the fault of the battery IF he used a brand new one that wasn't bad for some odd reason.  Now, if the solar panel is not providing any power to the ISS, the battery may be getting depleted, but I don't think it should happen quite so quickly either.

OK, so what's your analysis of the problem?  (Low battery warning, followed by offline during extreme cold).

I didn't give one, and I wasn't really sure.   #-o  I wasn't trying to stir up anything either; your guess is as good as anything. Note the caveats in my statement (bolded this time for clarity), based on my knowledge of Lithium CR123 batteries.  So, you might well still be correct if this battery was previously used or has some kind of flaw.

One little tidbit of trivia about CR123's (and primary lithium batteries in general) - they typically have a long shelf life (~10 years), until used.  Once you start using them at all, the chemical reaction in the cell begins in earnest, and they will begin to self-discharge even without use.  So don't put one into something, use it a little, then take it out and expect it to still have useable charge 10 years later (or even 5 years later).

So, what else could be the problem in this instance?

Spit-balling: Bad contact at the battery terminals might be one guess.  Cold solder joint somewhere in the battery power circuit might be another.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on March 11, 2014, 10:16:01 PM
Understood. 

If this were just a case of "quits working when it's cold" it might be several things.  Coupled with the low battery warning - makes it more interesting.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Marty on March 12, 2014, 12:37:01 AM
I noticed  my vue needs its battery repleced once a year before winter . Roof  mounted  it gets alot of sun ..

Also had the board repleced when a bought in 2011 under warranty from davis   , been on ever since  ....

I wonder what is the lifespan of Vue ?

Marty
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Intheswamp on March 12, 2014, 11:31:17 AM
Littleton, apparently there are issues with purchasing Surefires on Amazon, also.  I just looked and it looks like the "six loose batteries in a box" or "all the batteries were taped together" scenario on more than a few instances.  Have you got a good source for the Surefires other than Amazon or eBay?  Thanks,  Ed

I don't own a Vue, but I do use the Surefire 123 batteries on my VP2 stations. Since I switched from Duracell to the Surefire, my battery changes are a lot less frequent. ~$21 for a box of 12 on ebay or Amazon and when I got the box, it was good for 10 years from when I bought them.

Careful buying the Surefire 123's on fleabay.  There ARE counterfeits out there!
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: moehoward4 on March 12, 2014, 01:32:51 PM
Ed   Look for them BOXED, usually 12/box. When I got them from Amazon, I checked all around for 'good until' dates.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: LittletonCOwx on March 12, 2014, 04:35:36 PM
Littleton, apparently there are issues with purchasing Surefires on Amazon, also.  I just looked and it looks like the "six loose batteries in a box" or "all the batteries were taped together" scenario on more than a few instances.  Have you got a good source for the Surefires other than Amazon or eBay?  Thanks,  Ed

Ed,
Battery Station (http://www.batterystation.com/cr123a.htm) is a good source, and where I usually recommend people to go.  I can't necessarily claim they're the cheapest, but they have decent prices and excellent customer service, and ship quickly.

I've been buying their house brand for everything 123-related for at least the past 6 years, and they are VERY good for the money.  I usually buy at least 50 at a time (typically more because my dad usually gets a box too), so at $1.30 a piece they're a pretty good value overall (they were $1/each for a long time).

Battery Station did a LOT of research when they spec'd these out for their private label, and most everyone thinks they're made by the same company that makes the Surefire batteries with basically the same specifications.  There has been a lot of testing done in the past over at CandlePowerForums that can be found using Google (unless that stuff was lost in their great database crash; I do not know for sure).  They're USA-made too!  Hope that helps!  -Jared.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Intheswamp on March 12, 2014, 07:02:05 PM
Thanks for the replies, ya'll.  The only thing I use the 123 battery in is in a single ISS so buying a bunch of them seems kind of overkill...but $12-$13 for a dozen versus $6-$7 a piece is a no-brainer. I guess I set up an annual-replacement schedule, eh?

Ed
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: LittletonCOwx on March 12, 2014, 07:28:53 PM
Thanks for the replies, ya'll.  The only thing I use the 123 battery in is in a single ISS so buying a bunch of them seems kind of overkill...but $12-$13 for a dozen versus $6-$7 a piece is a no-brainer. I guess I set up an annual-replacement schedule, eh?

Ed

Sounds like it is time to treat yourself to a nice, high-powered LED flashlight while you're at it!  ;) 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Intheswamp on March 13, 2014, 12:13:54 AM
Thanks for the replies, ya'll.  The only thing I use the 123 battery in is in a single ISS so buying a bunch of them seems kind of overkill...but $12-$13 for a dozen versus $6-$7 a piece is a no-brainer. I guess I set up an annual-replacement schedule, eh?

Ed

Sounds like it is time to treat yourself to a nice, high-powered LED flashlight while you're at it!  ;)

<chuckle> Maybe so!  I've tinkered with LEDs since before they started putting them in flashlights...actually modified flashlights back when to take LEDs.  Of course, the flamethrowers out there now far surpass what we tinkered with.  My son-in-law bought me a 3-LED "Cyclops" spotlight for Christmas...runs on 4 (I think it is) AA batteries.  AMAZING POWER!!!  Ah well, we'll see... :)

Ed
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Taistealaiche on May 13, 2014, 04:32:32 PM
Just to chip in here since I've just started having problems....

A few days ago, I needed to take down my Vue (bought in 2010) to replace the pole it had been on. While down, I did routine maintenance (cleaning, etc), put it back up and immediately started having battery problems.

1) Battery died within 2 days (this was the original so close on 4 years old). Replaced battery 2 days ago, battery showing low on the console this morning.

2) Noticed this morning that the green light under the ISS is on permanently.

Advice/help will be very greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on May 13, 2014, 04:53:54 PM
Perhaps the pushbutton (next to the LED) is "stuck" in the pushed position?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Taistealaiche on May 13, 2014, 05:06:47 PM
Perhaps the pushbutton (next to the LED) is "stuck" in the pushed position?
Thanks for the reply, Dale. That'll be one thing I'll check when the roof is dry enough for me to go up there. Had overnight/morning rain.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Taistealaiche on May 13, 2014, 06:00:52 PM
And I've just remembered something.... about the same time this happened, i.e. after the first time I'd put the ISS back up again, I noticed the ISS had changed its ID from 1 to 8 and I had to reconfigure the console to match it.

Off the top of my head (not really knowing what I'm talking about), it could tie in with a stuck button?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on May 13, 2014, 07:00:36 PM
And I've just remembered something.... about the same time this happened, i.e. after the first time I'd put the ISS back up again, I noticed the ISS had changed its ID from 1 to 8 and I had to reconfigure the console to match it.

Off the top of my head (not really knowing what I'm talking about), it could tie in with a stuck button?

Yes.  See pages 3-4 of the ISS manual (not that it covers exactly the situation here).  But the LED being on all the time probably indicates that the transmitter is on all the time.  That will drain the battery.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Taistealaiche on May 13, 2014, 07:19:51 PM
Thanks again, Dale. Now I've got to wait for the *beep* rain to stop so I can go up onto the roof.

Huh. And I've just this minute heard back from Davis here in NZ, who had to contact Davis USA who said to replace the transmitter (PCBA). Think I'll try other things first!
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: mickopla on June 05, 2014, 04:00:17 PM
Got the dreaded Low Transmitter error about a week ago on my near 4 year old Vue. The battery was nearly a year old so changed it to a new one yesterday. I reset the console and after a while the error returned. I reset again today and the error returned.
The ISS is still transmitting data to the console. If the battery is good will the ISS work as normal the lifetime of the battery even though the error is showing?

Reading through the thread Dielectric grease seems to fix the issue. Rather than wait for Davis to send out the grease can it be purchased either online in the UK or in an Autoshop like Halfords?

Mike

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: mike67ld on June 28, 2014, 04:52:29 AM
In reply to my own post on Dec 28 2013, I have now been on the roof and measured the battery voltage in situ - 3.15 volts.  It's been up there for over a year now happily transmitting data (and also the low battery warning) so I'm going to ignore it until it stops. 
I hope this helps put a few of your minds at ease, not having to keep changing the thing just because the trigger point for sending the message has been set too high - in my opinion anyway!
Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: mickopla on June 28, 2014, 09:34:10 AM
In reply to my own post on Dec 28 2013, I have now been on the roof and measured the battery voltage in situ - 3.15 volts.  It's been up there for over a year now happily transmitting data (and also the low battery warning) so I'm going to ignore it until it stops. 
I hope this helps put a few of your minds at ease, not having to keep changing the thing just because the trigger point for sending the message has been set too high - in my opinion anyway!
Cheers
Mike

Cheers Mike for the update. That's basically one of my concerns answered. I have the low battery warning now since early June and up to now all is ok. I did purchase the dielectric grease but haven't applied it yet. If everything keeps working ok i can live with the error message on the console.

Mike
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: valleyweather on July 28, 2014, 01:54:11 PM
I recently change my battery on my Vantuge Vue as well. The console and unit are working perfectly transmitting data, but the low battery warning remains, it has been over two weeks.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Daffypuck on August 05, 2014, 04:28:01 AM
Ive had my VV for 2 years now and it displayed the same message for a few weeks. I took out the batteries and reset it and it eventually fixed itself and I haven't, to the best of my knowledge, changed the batteries in 2 years! In my case, I think it was just a bug that resolved itself.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: maccross on August 21, 2014, 09:56:53 AM
I got my VantageVue some 4 years ago in the US and brought it back to Brazil.
It has a version 2.14 firmware and the dielectric grease.
It has been working nice till 3 months ago when it started giving the LOW TRANSMITER BATTERY warning  (again) mostly when the temperature rised.
I did see that it was losing transmitter signal (outside temperature, outside humidity, wind) early in the morning before sunrise for 2 or 3 hours. So the warning was for real.
I changed the battery (this is my second change).
It worked fine for a week, now the low battery warning rides again and no signal lost during the night.
I'm starting to think the dielectric grease got contaminated somehow (it seems to me too much dark brown).
Any thoughts? Anyone passed through this? I think I will have trouble to find this grease here.

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: arrowspace90 on September 10, 2014, 07:35:05 PM
After 3 plus years, FINALLY got the low battery transmitter message.

Paid the antenna guy handsomely to go high pitch second story and swap it out.
Message gone.  That VV has sure been a solid performer.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: pfletch101 on September 11, 2014, 10:13:12 AM
I got my VantageVue some 4 years ago in the US and brought it back to Brazil.
It has a version 2.14 firmware and the dielectric grease.
It has been working nice till 3 months ago when it started giving the LOW TRANSMITER BATTERY warning  (again) mostly when the temperature rised.
I did see that it was losing transmitter signal (outside temperature, outside humidity, wind) early in the morning before sunrise for 2 or 3 hours. So the warning was for real.
I changed the battery (this is my second change).
It worked fine for a week, now the low battery warning rides again and no signal lost during the night.
I'm starting to think the dielectric grease got contaminated somehow (it seems to me too much dark brown).
Any thoughts? Anyone passed through this? I think I will have trouble to find this grease here.

?Super-Cap failure. That will cause rapid draining of the battery.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: maccross on September 11, 2014, 01:21:28 PM
I don't think I have any "component" or battery failure. To my surprise I had no warning for over 10 days and everything seems to be working fine. Weather as been extremely dry.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: srhodes on September 21, 2014, 12:21:40 PM
In reply to my own post on Dec 28 2013, I have now been on the roof and measured the battery voltage in situ - 3.15 volts.  It's been up there for over a year now happily transmitting data (and also the low battery warning) so I'm going to ignore it until it stops. 
I hope this helps put a few of your minds at ease, not having to keep changing the thing just because the trigger point for sending the message has been set too high - in my opinion anyway!
Cheers
Mike

Cheers Mike for the update. That's basically one of my concerns answered. I have the low battery warning now since early June and up to now all is ok. I did purchase the dielectric grease but haven't applied it yet. If everything keeps working ok i can live with the error message on the console.

Mike

I bought my Vantage Vue Dec 2009. Worked flawlessly for first three years. Then occasionally would give low transmitter battery. Dec 2013 replaced battery and had no problems until august. I emailed Davis Instr tech support for help,with no quick response (10 day). Phone call is the way to go. This is what i've learned. The manual led me to believe that the battery was charged by the solar panel. This is not so. The solar panel operates the ISS when sunlight is available and it charges a "super" capacitor which operates the ISS when there is no sunlight. The battery is for low or no sunlight periods when the super capacitor is not sufficiently charged to run the system. The super cap is on the transmitter board which also has the battery on it. I was told to give them the mfr code on back of console and they would order me a transmitter board for $ 78. I installed 800 mah rechargeable batteries in my ISS and i have a charger so i am going to forgo the board and use my batteries. 8 months on a charge is no big deal. You can also buy 2000 mah batteries for cheap which should last twice as long. There are other issues with firmware and false readings and applying grease to keep moisture out of transmitter which are already covered in other strings. I live in west texas so moisture in the ISS is not a problem for me. Appreciate all the previous posts that helped get to this point. I did suggest to Davis Inst that they should forgo the not so super capacitor and just charge a battery...seems easier and cheaper to me.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on September 21, 2014, 09:30:06 PM
I did suggest to Davis Inst that they should forgo the not so super capacitor and just charge a battery...seems easier and cheaper to me.

It's not cheaper.  And that would mean relying on just two sources of power during the day, and just one at night.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: srhodes on September 23, 2014, 09:28:54 AM
I disagree. They want $ 80 plus shipping both ways and possible taxes for the transmitter board.  Which is going to be at least $90 versus using a rechargeable battery instead of a non rechargeable battery- difference in cost of $ 1- 2. The solar panel runs the ISS during almost every day except when it is extremely overcast then the Super cap or battery kicks in. My super cap died 1 1/2 years ago (only lasted 2 1/2 years)and i have been running on rechargeable battery at night and low light days ever since. I paid less than $10 to Amazon for the two pack of Ultra 800 mah rechargeable batteries. The charger cost $ 16 which I use for other batteries as well. The batteries are rated for 500 recharge cycles. They lasted 8 months in ISS per charge. So these batteries will last much longer than this ISS will be around. $26 has always been less than $ 90. And that appears to be $ 90 every two to three years.Yes, you do have to go out and change the batteries, but I service the ISS twice a year anyways so no big deal.  I do love my Vantage Vue and went on line with the data logger earlier this year. i just think the super cap is not the best way to go.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on September 23, 2014, 12:14:20 PM
I disagree. They want $ 80 plus shipping both ways and possible taxes for the transmitter board.  Which is going to be at least $90 versus using a rechargeable battery instead of a non rechargeable battery- difference in cost of $ 1- 2. The solar panel runs the ISS during almost every day except when it is extremely overcast then the Super cap or battery kicks in. My super cap died 1 1/2 years ago (only lasted 2 1/2 years)and i have been running on rechargeable battery at night and low light days ever since. I paid less than $10 to Amazon for the two pack of Ultra 800 mah rechargeable batteries. The charger cost $ 16 which I use for other batteries as well. The batteries are rated for 500 recharge cycles. They lasted 8 months in ISS per charge. So these batteries will last much longer than this ISS will be around. $26 has always been less than $ 90. And that appears to be $ 90 every two to three years.Yes, you do have to go out and change the batteries, but I service the ISS twice a year anyways so no big deal.  I do love my Vantage Vue and went on line with the data logger earlier this year. i just think the super cap is not the best way to go.

Let me see if I understand.  You are saying that Davis should do away with the 3-power-source approach, and supply two rechargeable batteries and a charger, and tell all customers to exchange the outside battery with a recharged one twice a year?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: arrowspace90 on September 23, 2014, 01:07:20 PM
If you don't have easy access to your station, that rules out the option of swapping out rechargable batteries on a regular basis.

When my supercap fails, I will upgrade to a vantage pro II, and STill have the wonderful Vue refurbished and give it to someone worthy.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: pfletch101 on September 23, 2014, 01:43:50 PM
Let me see if I understand.  You are saying that Davis should do away with the 3-power-source approach, and supply two rechargeable batteries and a charger, and tell all customers to exchange the outside battery with a recharged one twice a year?

I am not sure that you do (understand, that is)! My assumption was that srhodes was suggesting that Davis replace the Supercap and the circuitry which allows it to function as a power storage device with rechargeable batteries and the appropriate circuitry to keep them charged from the solar cell. This seems like a perfectly reasonable suggestion. If you had to use NiCads, that might not work well because of memory effect, but Lithium cells should do fine in that sort of usage, and should need replacing no more often than the present non-rechargeable backup battery. He currently has to recharge his batteries 'manually'  because the ISS has no way of keeping them charged, but I certainly didn't think that he regarded this aspect of his current situation as a particularly good thing.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: moehoward4 on September 23, 2014, 03:02:29 PM
Just as an example.....a VP2 solar panel puts out on a REAL good day ~2.3v....I don't know what a Vue solar panel puts out, but I'll bet that it is about the same, so you're not gonna recharge any battery(s) on that output. A while back in this thread, I posted how Davis recommended updating the Vue console firmware that was supposed to cure this issue......how many of you have done that? How many have followed the exact directions Davis gives for when you change the battery in the ISS? Probably not many..............
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on September 23, 2014, 03:38:55 PM
Let me see if I understand.  You are saying that Davis should do away with the 3-power-source approach, and supply two rechargeable batteries and a charger, and tell all customers to exchange the outside battery with a recharged one twice a year?

I am not sure that you do (understand, that is)! My assumption was that srhodes was suggesting that Davis replace the Supercap and the circuitry which allows it to function as a power storage device with rechargeable batteries and the appropriate circuitry to keep them charged from the solar cell.

...and perhaps a larger/different solar cell.  Which still means that there would only be two power sources.

My suggestion would be that Davis figure out how to make the supercap "inexpensively and easily replaceable". 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on September 23, 2014, 04:19:12 PM
My suggestion would be that Davis figure out how to make the supercap "inexpensively and easily replaceable".

I think the problem there is that the Davis ISS design is dominated nowadays by having continuous or soldered connections wherever conceivably possible, eg the way that the pogo plugs of the Vue v1.0 design has been replaced by a single all-in-one harness in v1.1. Their view seems to be, rightly or wrongly (but I guess they have a lot of support evidence on their side), that any breakable connection is a potential source of unreliability and so should be avoided except where it's not feasible to do otherwise eg as in a battery or a physical sensor connection on a VP2 system.

(Not saying I necessarily agree, but it seems to be the design philosophy.)
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on September 23, 2014, 04:49:41 PM
Yes, I understand.  But of course, there are available batteries with solder connections.............

(Not suggesting that, of course). 

The supercap is a rechargeable battery of course.  And it has the advantage of not insisting on a particular fixed charging voltage.   But I digress.....
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: SlowModem on September 23, 2014, 05:04:25 PM
My suggestion would be that Davis figure out how to make the supercap "inexpensively and easily replaceable".

That would mean no soldering.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on September 23, 2014, 05:26:50 PM
My suggestion would be that Davis figure out how to make the supercap "inexpensively and easily replaceable".

That would mean no soldering.

Yes.  For instance, a supercap (encapsulated) with a telephone-style connector plug.

Of course, as johnd points out, the connector would be a potential source of unreliability.  But on the Vue, the battery connector is already a potential source of unreliability.

Analysis might indicate that two potential sources of unreliability are better than one?

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: SlowModem on September 23, 2014, 09:12:23 PM
Analysis might indicate that two potential sources of unreliability are better than one?

Don't two negatives make a positive?   :roll:
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on September 23, 2014, 10:17:45 PM
Analysis might indicate that two potential sources of unreliability are better than one?

Don't two negatives make a positive?   :roll:

Exactly. 

If you're jumping from an airplane, would you rather have just your main parachute?  Or also a reserve parachute?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: jlberry on September 24, 2014, 02:34:44 PM
Same issue here. After reading Aardvark's advice, I replaced the battery and cycled through the setup menu and the message cleared. Hopefully, problem is solved for my Vantage Vue.

Quoting Aardvark:
one thought...
 if the Vantage Vue console is like the VP2 or Vp1 console, after you replace the battery on one of those low station messages, the message stays until after midnight (not sure why or the logic on this).   I had that happen several times and got frustrated hiking out  in the snow and cold, depleting my cr123 battery supply and cussing a lot directed toward the battery people.

So I then called Davis Tech support and they told me that either wait until the next day or go into setup on the console and cycle through the settings and then the message would reset.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: srhodes on September 28, 2014, 12:29:42 AM
I disagree. They want $ 80 plus shipping both ways and possible taxes for the transmitter board.  Which is going to be at least $90 versus using a rechargeable battery instead of a non rechargeable battery- difference in cost of $ 1- 2. The solar panel runs the ISS during almost every day except when it is extremely overcast then the Super cap or battery kicks in. My super cap died 1 1/2 years ago (only lasted 2 1/2 years)and i have been running on rechargeable battery at night and low light days ever since. I paid less than $10 to Amazon for the two pack of Ultra 800 mah rechargeable batteries. The charger cost $ 16 which I use for other batteries as well. The batteries are rated for 500 recharge cycles. They lasted 8 months in ISS per charge. So these batteries will last much longer than this ISS will be around. $26 has always been less than $ 90. And that appears to be $ 90 every two to three years.Yes, you do have to go out and change the batteries, but I service the ISS twice a year anyways so no big deal.  I do love my Vantage Vue and went on line with the data logger earlier this year. i just think the super cap is not the best way to go.

Let me see if I understand.  You are saying that Davis should do away with the 3-power-source approach, and supply two rechargeable batteries and a charger, and tell all customers to exchange the outside battery with a recharged one twice a year?

I guess you don't understand. I never said to do away with anything. I offered any alternative to spending $ 90 to replace the super cap (which is soldered on the transmitter board). I see no reason to spend $ 90 on an almost 5 year old ISS (how long will it last) when it will run on an inexpensive battery. A battery you already have to have in the machine anyways. If they can charge a super cap (which is an energy storage device similar to a battery) for night time/ back up use then why not make the system where it will charge a much cheaper lithium battery or multiple batteries. Maybe they should hire the Chinese dudes that make the little 3 pack of solar powered butterflies lights for $ 20 that last for two years without doing anything to them.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: srhodes on September 28, 2014, 12:40:05 AM
If you don't have easy access to your station, that rules out the option of swapping out rechargable batteries on a regular basis.

When my supercap fails, I will upgrade to a vantage pro II, and STill have the wonderful Vue refurbished and give it to someone worthy.

I think you have determined the best way out of this situation. I like the features of the PRO2 better than VV wished i had spent more $$ originally.  I would rather have placed my ISS on my roof as well so I could avoid wind disturbances but I opted for an easier to access and maintain location.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: srhodes on September 28, 2014, 12:51:25 AM
Just as an example.....a VP2 solar panel puts out on a REAL good day ~2.3v....I don't know what a Vue solar panel puts out, but I'll bet that it is about the same, so you're not gonna recharge any battery(s) on that output. A while back in this thread, I posted how Davis recommended updating the Vue console firmware that was supposed to cure this issue......how many of you have done that? How many have followed the exact directions Davis gives for when you change the battery in the ISS? Probably not many..............

I read your post on the firmware, thanks. I did upgrade mine when I installed the data logger. The VV solar cell puts out enough energy to run the unit during the day as well as charge a super cap /battery for night time use. Per Davis tech Jerry Loyd.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on September 28, 2014, 10:45:43 AM
I guess you don't understand.

1.  The supercap costs much less than either type of battery.  [$90 is for the entire "guts"]

2.  The current solar panel is not capable of recharging both the supercap and a battery.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: srhodes on September 28, 2014, 11:11:17 AM
I guess you don't understand.

1.  The supercap costs much less than either type of battery.  [$90 is for the entire "guts"]

2.  The current solar panel is not capable of recharging both the supercap and a battery.

I guess that you read just what you want and twist it to fit your argument and arguing being what you are about.  A super cap by itself is depending on which of the three types of SC's they used is most likely $ 2-4 and not only would it be cheaper than the battery A super cap is a more efficient charging and storage system than a battery. Since it appears that Davis has chosen a lesser quality SC that's life expectancy is less than the device it was installed in and the fact that it was soldered on to a circuit board and for most people not replaceable any other way than the $ 90 transmitter board exchange. So for this specific situation it would be cheaper for most people to go with a battery option. It was an observation that fit my circumstances and this is why I shared it. If it doesn't fit yours then ignore it. I never SAID nor implied that the current solar array was capable of charging a SC and a battery.  I suggested that Davis make it that way so it would would be even better situation.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on September 28, 2014, 01:42:43 PM
I understand that it fit your situation, and I'm glad you shared it. 

It will be helpful to some people.

If Davis reconsiders their design, there are several solutions that would be better in some ways.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: srhodes on September 28, 2014, 06:58:37 PM
I understand that it fit your situation, and I'm glad you shared it. 

It will be helpful to some people.

If Davis reconsiders their design, there are several solutions that would be better in some ways.
I Totally agree. Manufacturers think in terms of saving fractions of pennies and bottom line profit...and i get that. I am in business for myself, but i would not screw my customers over for a few dollars more in cost. I prefer to pay more for a more reliable product and eliminate hassles.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: morfeas2002 on October 02, 2014, 05:54:23 AM
Hello there. My friend has problems with his vue after 2 years of good work.
2 weeks ago he got the message "low battery". He changed the battery but message did not leave. After 2 days he had dashes in console but it was a cloudy day. He opened the battery hole, blew it with hair dryer and dashes left. So was the message. Today message came back, and dashes too. But it is a sunny day and it is almost mid day. ISS should work with solar panel but it does not.
Is supercup the problem or is it something else?
And if it is, is this the repair part or i am wrong?
https://www.scaledinstruments.com/?product=davis-7345-293-vue-pcba-for-battery-and-rain-reed-switch
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: mike67ld on October 06, 2014, 04:48:23 AM
In reply to my own post on Dec 28 2013, I have now been on the roof and measured the battery voltage in situ - 3.15 volts.  It's been up there for over a year now happily transmitting data (and also the low battery warning) so I'm going to ignore it until it stops. 
I hope this helps put a few of your minds at ease, not having to keep changing the thing just because the trigger point for sending the message has been set too high - in my opinion anyway!
Cheers
Mike
OK, it's stopped now.  The battery measured 1.75v so that seems fair enough.  New battery is 3.25v and I don't have the dreaded message - yet!  I've made a note of the date of this battery change so we'll see how long this one lasts, again ignoring the message until the battery dies.

Miike
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: mike67ld on October 06, 2014, 05:14:06 AM
Hello there. My friend has problems with his vue after 2 years of good work.
2 weeks ago he got the message "low battery". He changed the battery but message did not leave. After 2 days he had dashes in console but it was a cloudy day. He opened the battery hole, blew it with hair dryer and dashes left. So was the message. Today message came back, and dashes too. But it is a sunny day and it is almost mid day. ISS should work with solar panel but it does not.
Is supercup the problem or is it something else?
And if it is, is this the repair part or i am wrong?
https://www.scaledinstruments.com/?product=davis-7345-293-vue-pcba-for-battery-and-rain-reed-switch
Hi morfeas2002

From what I've read in this thread, it seems that during the day, the solar panel charges the supercap for use during night-time and the battery is there for backup.  My diagnosis is that the solar panel is not charging the supercap for one reason or another (faulty/wire off) and the ISS is running on the battery all the time, sun or no sun, and has run down.  When there is no power from anything, the ISS stops transmitting and dashes appear on the Vue.    When the battery was removed to blow out the compartment with a hair dryer, the action of sliding the battery over its contact points will have scrubbed and slightly lowered the contact resistance and also will have given the battery a few moments rest, so giving a slight (temporary) uplift in volts to set the ISS working again.  Shortly afterwards, as your friend has noticed, it stops transmitting again as the voltage drops below the minimum.  That's my theory anyway.

You could try putting a brand new battery in as an experiment and see how long that lasts.  It does seem to point to the solar panel not working though so I don't think replacing just the battery board and rain reed switch unit will cure it. 

Hope that helps.

Mike
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: GramaCindy on October 06, 2014, 06:21:04 AM
Hello everyone, I too have had issues with my VV ISS. Low battery, dashes, replaced battery, lasted two days. Now unit will not even sense new battery installed. I get NOTHING ](*,). I think from what I have been reading is that I may need some of that battery gel and maybe a super cell too. I will call Davis today to see what they can do for me. It is aprox 14 months old. ARG.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: srhodes on October 06, 2014, 10:54:26 AM
Hello there. My friend has problems with his vue after 2 years of good work.
2 weeks ago he got the message "low battery". He changed the battery but message did not leave. After 2 days he had dashes in console but it was a cloudy day. He opened the battery hole, blew it with hair dryer and dashes left. So was the message. Today message came back, and dashes too. But it is a sunny day and it is almost mid day. ISS should work with solar panel but it does not.
Is supercup the problem or is it something else?
And if it is, is this the repair part or i am wrong?
https://www.scaledinstruments.com/?product=davis-7345-293-vue-pcba-for-battery-and-rain-reed-switch
Hi morfeas2002

From what I've read in this thread, it seems that during the day, the solar panel charges the supercap for use during night-time and the battery is there for backup.  My diagnosis is that the solar panel is not charging the supercap for one reason or another (faulty/wire off) and the ISS is running on the battery all the time, sun or no sun, and has run down.  When there is no power from anything, the ISS stops transmitting and dashes appear on the Vue.    When the battery was removed to blow out the compartment with a hair dryer, the action of sliding the battery over its contact points will have scrubbed and slightly lowered the contact resistance and also will have given the battery a few moments rest, so giving a slight (temporary) uplift in volts to set the ISS working again.  Shortly afterwards, as your friend has noticed, it stops transmitting again as the voltage drops below the minimum.  That's my theory anyway.

You could try putting a brand new battery in as an experiment and see how long that lasts.  It does seem to point to the solar panel not working though so I don't think replacing just the battery board and rain reed switch unit will cure it. 

Hope that helps.

Mike
Hello there. My friend has problems with his vue after 2 years of good work.
2 weeks ago he got the message "low battery". He changed the battery but message did not leave. After 2 days he had dashes in console but it was a cloudy day. He opened the battery hole, blew it with hair dryer and dashes left. So was the message. Today message came back, and dashes too. But it is a sunny day and it is almost mid day. ISS should work with solar panel but it does not.
Is supercup the problem or is it something else?
And if it is, is this the repair part or i am wrong?
https://www.scaledinstruments.com/?product=davis-7345-293-vue-pcba-for-battery-and-rain-reed-switch
Hi morfeas2002

From what I've read in this thread, it seems that during the day, the solar panel charges the supercap for use during night-time and the battery is there for backup.  My diagnosis is that the solar panel is not charging the supercap for one reason or another (faulty/wire off) and the ISS is running on the battery all the time, sun or no sun, and has run down.  When there is no power from anything, the ISS stops transmitting and dashes appear on the Vue.    When the battery was removed to blow out the compartment with a hair dryer, the action of sliding the battery over its contact points will have scrubbed and slightly lowered the contact resistance and also will have given the battery a few moments rest, so giving a slight (temporary) uplift in volts to set the ISS working again.  Shortly afterwards, as your friend has noticed, it stops transmitting again as the voltage drops below the minimum.  That's my theory anyway.

You could try putting a brand new battery in as an experiment and see how long that lasts.  It does seem to point to the solar panel not working though so I don't think replacing just the battery board and rain reed switch unit will cure it. 

Hope that helps.

Mike


Hi morfeas2002

Mike is right on. I do suggest contacting Davis by phone and giving them your particulars. The numbers on the back of your console will be needed. Plan on waiting on hold for awhile. It took almost 9 days an email response. There are several issues with this powering system and i would talk to them first. Most of the posts on this thread worked okay during the day (mine as well). As yours has problems on a sunny day I would agree with Mike that the solar panel is not working properly. Most solar panels work on cloudy days unless it becomes almost night time dark outside. Good luck.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: morfeas2002 on October 07, 2014, 03:14:59 AM
Thanks. We will search it more. For about 6 it works normally without any stops. And the last 3 days were cloudy, with rain.
http://pylos.meteoclub.gr/
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Durman on November 18, 2014, 04:24:34 AM
I'm new to this forum but I've had a solution to the "low battery" problem for a while now...and it works very well for me. Like most people with this issue, I also went through the quick fixes of firmware update, dielectric grease and serial battery replacements...at best with very transient success.
I accepted that a dead supercap was the problem, but unlike those with access to the failed component (Pro2), those of us with Vantage Vue consoles have the main board encased in resin.
So the only solution was an external power supply. I set this up with a 5W solar panel feeding into a regulator that charges a 1.2Ah 12V battery (its very small). The battery output is fed into a dc-dc converter which reduces the output to 3V, which I feed directly to the battery terminals of the vantage vue.
All the components are housed in a 4x4" weatherproof box mounted on the same pole as the ISS (with the wiring
running through drilled holes directly into the pipe)
Costs: solar panel $9, regulator $7, DC-DC converter (buck converter) $2...all from ebay and for about $20 I have a much more robust, durable and modular solution.
Basically, the system has enough capacity to power the ISS for exponentially longer than the supercap ever could.
Its all mounted neatly and looks pretty high-tech (IMHO!) and has been working well for about 6 months now.

Hope it helps a few of you with the same issue.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Durman on November 18, 2014, 10:12:48 AM
Heres a pic of the "new & improved" Vantage Vue setup.

(http://)
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: ed2kayak on November 18, 2014, 11:04:32 AM
Looks nice, thanks for sharing
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: pfletch101 on November 18, 2014, 11:23:25 AM
It makes one wonder (as others have!) why Davis didn't adopt a similar approach. It will be interesting to see how well your power supply stands up to months or (hopefully) years of exposure to inclement weather - especially the temperature extremes, from which you can't effectively protect it.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on November 18, 2014, 12:16:50 PM
It makes one wonder (as others have!) why Davis didn't adopt a similar approach.

Durman's add-on external supply is an excellent workaround for supercap failure in the Vue.

However, (if I understand the description), it just replaces the 3-volt non-rechargeable battery with a 12-volt rechargeable battery (and converter).   And accompanying additional solar panel.

That's still just two power sources. 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: pfletch101 on November 18, 2014, 01:36:09 PM
It makes one wonder (as others have!) why Davis didn't adopt a similar approach.

Durman's add-on external supply is an excellent workaround for supercap failure in the Vue.

However, (if I understand the description), it just replaces the 3-volt non-rechargeable battery with a 12-volt rechargeable battery (and converter).   And accompanying additional solar panel.

That's still just two power sources.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think that attaching an external power supply, which is essentially what he is doing (from the point of view of the Vue), leaves the internal 3V battery available to take over if the 'external' supply fails and the Vue's PV system is not supplying power. I make that three power sources, with the rechargeable battery that replaces the cap being much easier to replace if/when it fails.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on November 18, 2014, 02:55:05 PM
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think that attaching an external power supply, which is essentially what he is doing (from the point of view of the Vue), leaves the internal 3V battery available to take over if the 'external' supply fails ...

Here's what Durman said:

...... 3V, which I feed directly to the battery terminals of the vantage vue.

I assume that Durman means that the battery is not present in the battery holder.  And that the external supply is attached to the terminals that previously held the battery.  [Clarification awaited]

Attaching an external supply directly across a non-rechargeable battery (without some sort of isolation or protection) is a "do not do that".  From Durman's obvious demonstrated knowledge, I'm rather sure that isn't news.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: pfletch101 on November 18, 2014, 02:59:04 PM
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think that attaching an external power supply, which is essentially what he is doing (from the point of view of the Vue), leaves the internal 3V battery available to take over if the 'external' supply fails ...

Here's what Durman said:

...... 3V, which I feed directly to the battery terminals of the vantage vue.

I assume that Durman means that the battery is not present in the battery holder.  And that the external supply is attached to the terminals that previously held the battery.  [Clarification awaited]

Attaching an external supply directly across a non-rechargeable battery (without some sort of isolation or protection) is a "do not do that".  From Durman's obvious demonstrated knowledge, I'm rather sure that isn't news.

I am sure that you are right. I missed that part of the description and had assumed that the Vue had an existing (built-in) external power supply connection, which would have had the necessary protection and which he was using.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Durman on November 18, 2014, 03:06:58 PM
Hi Guys, and thanks for the comments.
Dalecoy you're right...there are only 2 power sources; the supercap is dead. There isn't a battery in the battery compartment because it simply isn't necessary; its simply been moved from inside, supersized, then enclosed outside.
The Vue requires the 3V lithium cell only as a 3rd source when a functional supercap discharges completely, and this is where my external supply kicks in....I have a perpetually discharged supercap. The system is still powered by the solar panel within the ISS during daylight, and my external battery is charged during the day also (by the big 5W solar panel). At night, when the system attempts to draw power from the supercap and gets none, it switches over to the 3V (12V stepped down) battery, which feeds it happily through the night, and has more than enough capacity than the supercap could ever provide.
As a system test, I covered the ISS solar panel (the integrated little solar cell) to see if the external supply could provide adequately for its diurnal needs. It worked day after day perfectly fine, being supplied essentially from the 3V battery source only.
The number of power sources doesn't matter; the ISS just needs one good, clean, steady 24-7 supply and it will work fine. Rather quality than quantity!
Durability wise, the solar panel, buck converter and solar charge regulator are all solid-state, hardy components with good lifespan. The little lead-acid battery will need replacing in about 2-3 years, but its a cheap thing.
I mulled over the option of replacing the defective part within the ISS (the mainboard with the supercap encased in resin) but realised that I would be dealing with this problem again in the future, so decided on a more durable fix; that it works so well and at a fraction of the price is a bonus.
Hope this clarifies things a bit.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on November 18, 2014, 04:33:08 PM
Thanks for the clarification.


The number of power sources doesn't matter; the ISS just needs one good, clean, steady 24-7 supply and it will work fine. Rather quality than quantity....!

... The little lead-acid battery will need replacing in about 2-3 years, but its a cheap thing.

The number of power sources certainly does matter.  Your Vue had 3 - and when the supercap died, then there were just 2.  And one of those required frequent (costly) replacement.

So, you have fixed that problem.  And 2-3 years, when your Vue no longer works through the night, you'll replace the lead-acid battery rather than the 3-volt battery.

That's an excellent "field repair" for the supercap failure. 

I was just answering pfletch101's question about why Davis doesn't do it that way.

When the supercap is functional, it is technically the same as your add-on (equivalent to a battery charged by solar), with the benefit of the 3rd (3-volt battery) power source.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: pfletch101 on November 18, 2014, 05:47:59 PM
Thanks for the clarification.


The number of power sources doesn't matter; the ISS just needs one good, clean, steady 24-7 supply and it will work fine. Rather quality than quantity....!

... The little lead-acid battery will need replacing in about 2-3 years, but its a cheap thing.

The number of power sources certainly does matter.  Your Vue had 3 - and when the supercap died, then there were just 2.  And one of those required frequent (costly) replacement.

So, you have fixed that problem.  And 2-3 years, when your Vue no longer works through the night, you'll replace the lead-acid battery rather than the 3-volt battery.

That's an excellent "field repair" for the supercap failure. 

I was just answering pfletch101's question about why Davis doesn't do it that way.

When the supercap is functional, it is technically the same as your add-on (equivalent to a battery charged by solar), with the benefit of the 3rd (3-volt battery) power source.

I think I would be happy with Davis's approach if the supercap were 'modularized' or otherwise reasonably easily field-replaceable, or if supercap failures were vanishingly rare. The first proviso certainly isn't true, and I have the strong impression from reports here that the second isn't, either. Given that there is no reason to think that the circuitry around the supercap is likely to be less complex or more reliable than the rather similar circuitry that would be needed round a rechargeable battery, I would rather have a rechargeable battery that I can replace regularly than a supercap which requires major surgery to work around or replace if/when it fails. Indeed, I would simply substitute the supercap and necessary circuitry with a replaceable rechargeable battery and its necessary circuitry and leave the 3-Volt backup battery in the design.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on November 18, 2014, 06:00:57 PM
Agreed. 

On the other hand, my VP2 which is 9 years old has never had a supercap failure.

...and it has been "on the air" continuously (24/7) except for the time we were relocating from New Mexico to Missouri...

...because I have it connected to a UPS (battery backup system), and we have a natural-gas-powered generator with automatic start and switchover when the commercial power fails.....

......... and the VP2 is the cabled model .....   :grin:
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: srhodes on November 24, 2014, 09:35:06 AM
Thanks for the clarification.


The number of power sources doesn't matter; the ISS just needs one good, clean, steady 24-7 supply and it will work fine. Rather quality than quantity....!

... The little lead-acid battery will need replacing in about 2-3 years, but its a cheap thing.

The number of power sources certainly does matter.  Your Vue had 3 - and when the supercap died, then there were just 2.  And one of those required frequent (costly) replacement.

So, you have fixed that problem.  And 2-3 years, when your Vue no longer works through the night, you'll replace the lead-acid battery rather than the 3-volt battery.

That's an excellent "field repair" for the supercap failure. 

I was just answering pfletch101's question about why Davis doesn't do it that way.

When the supercap is functional, it is technically the same as your add-on (equivalent to a battery charged by solar), with the benefit of the 3rd (3-volt battery) power source.

I think I would be happy with Davis's approach if the supercap were 'modularized' or otherwise reasonably easily field-replaceable, or if supercap failures were vanishingly rare. The first proviso certainly isn't true, and I have the strong impression from reports here that the second isn't, either. Given that there is no reason to think that the circuitry around the supercap is likely to be less complex or more reliable than the rather similar circuitry that would be needed round a rechargeable battery, I would rather have a rechargeable battery that I can replace regularly than a supercap which requires major surgery to work around or replace if/when it fails. Indeed, I would simply substitute the supercap and necessary circuitry with a replaceable rechargeable battery and its necessary circuitry and leave the 3-Volt backup battery in the design.


Hello pfletch
Thanks for the info on the workaround for the supercap. I think we all can agree that Davis' super cap is really supercRap and the system needs a design and quality improvement. I am perfectly happy with two sources of power supply for my VV. You won't be able to convince Dalecoy of the need for any less than three sources though. I know that this is a WX forum and what i am about to say Is Heresy BUT...it is just a weather station Dalecoy and not a life support system for a hospital. Give it a rest dude!! Thanks again Pfletch for the info!!
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: EA1EF on December 07, 2014, 06:15:25 PM
recent i buy a Davis Vantage VUE (USA version) with the battery problem....

the propietary report that only on sunny conditions work the ISS and baterry goes down on few days...

the VUE ISS are deplorably (dark, vane crashed, lost screws, etc) but repair it (vane can repair with central steel insert of 2 cm and two componets glue)... finally go to source problem:

- dissamble all modules (take photos for mount) and take ISS transmitter module.

- on ISS module remove carefully the potted on supercap zone for can cut both PINS

- when supercap are isolate from PCB try to charge it (apply 3v correct pollarity) need one or two minutes charging for complete charge.. and quickly test supercap voltage (must be 2,85v fully charged)

- wait a few minutes (5 to 15 or more) repose and test voltage again...  my supercap lost in 5 minutes to 1,5v and stabilize it. (50F 2.7v supercaps remain one week from 2.7 to 2.5v)

- The bad supercap cant remobe because are potted but easyly can add other supercap outside with two drill, separate bad supercap pins and solde new supercap pins to PCB (see polarity)

my Davis vantage VUE console mark always "low battery trasnmitter" advise but you can test battery voltages from weatherlink (with datalogger) in WEATHERLINK - WINDOW - ALARM AND BATTERY STATUS -> and here say STATION BATTERY OK when console say low... (much better in WeeWX and WVIEW take reads of battery and supercap voltages and logging it)

need wait a few months for test and sure repair but by the moment station are two weeks of fine work.

www.meteocampoo.es TEAM

(http://i.imgur.com/Eyk1xKY.jpg)


 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: jake2015 on February 08, 2015, 08:09:43 PM
I own a Davis Vantage Vue 6250 and what I did for the supcap issue...  Of course, totally out of warranty...

Took the unit apart, used a dremel tool to cut the housing in half where the transmitter (easily found because of the antenna) and supcap are located.  The reason I used a dremel tool was to get the jelled circuit board out of the housing.  The circuit board is completely encased in a hard rubber type jell inside the housing.  Once I carefully cut the jell from the supercap (see EA1EF pic posted on December 07, 2014); then I cut both leads and completely removed the capacitor.  Now the Vantage Vue charging unit can charge the rechargeable CR123 battery I purchased on Amazon.  This was not only a permanent fix but should last for many years to come.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FWOJLGI/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Definitely was much cheaper to do this than purchase a new unit or a refurb from Davis.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: JohnDoe1983 on February 09, 2015, 11:58:25 AM
Jake2015

May I ask you a question.

Why did you buy a 3,7 volt battery?

In my book it says: Battery (ISS SIM).......CR123 3-Volt Lithium cell

Is there a problem using a 3.7volt ?

Thanks
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: jake2015 on February 10, 2015, 12:30:39 AM
Thank you for bringing this to my attention.  I assumed all the Li-Ion RCR123A had the protective circuit in them but as you pointed out, these do not.  I have removed it and ordered the Tenergy RCR123A 3.0V 750mAh LiFePO4 Rechargeable Battery from Amazon.  Had not have an issue "yet" with the other battery but being an Amazon Prime member, returned them.

I did find how the charging, discharging works with these batteries I ordered tonight:
 
•Rechargeable LiFePO4 RCR123A 3.0V 750mAhBattery
•Life cycle: 1000 times (Traditional Li-ion: 500 times)
•Will never explode or catch fire
•Working Voltage:3.2V and Peak Voltage: 3.6V
•Charging cut-off voltage: 3.6V
•Discharge cut-off voltage: 2.2V
•Capacity: 750 mAh

Thank you again for pointing this out!!!  Jake
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on February 10, 2015, 10:14:30 AM
There are many different brands of non-rechargeable and rechargeable "123" batteries.  They have different chemistry and different voltages. 

Most of them are labeled 3V.  But if you look closely at the manufacturers' specifications, that's not exactly correct.

As far as I know, a slightly-higher voltage won't harm the ISS. 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: JohnDoe1983 on February 10, 2015, 01:21:24 PM
Here what I found.

2 different mAh if it is LI or Li-ion

The basic 3.0 volt are a lot cheaper and easy to get in electronic store. I tried the 3.7 yesterday with no luck.

I will stick to what Davis suggest.

Do you think it will be a good idea to put some dielectric grease on the contact ? I do that to all my connections on my 4 wheelers, trailers and everything subjected to the outside.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on February 10, 2015, 01:31:03 PM
What you found was simplistic.  The real situation is far more complex - and not too important for this discussion.

Of course, Davis does not "suggest" rechargeable "123" batteries.  And, depending on your location (amount of sunlight on cloudy winter days, etc.), that might or might not compensate for a cut-off supercap.

There are lots of "hacks" for this situation.  YMMV.

Using dielectric grease won't hurt, of course.

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: ak72 on February 16, 2015, 11:29:54 AM
I bought my Vantage Vue feb 2012 and on Jan 2015 console started showing "transmitter battery low" Here in Finland there could be like 2-3 months without sun shining so backup battery is mostly used in winter. I replaced battery and  still console showed low battery, I had to wait  till next day to clear that message and now it's gone. I used multimeter to measure used battery voltage and it was 2.084 volts. Hopefully I have troublefree time with my Vantage Vue years to come  ;)
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: EA1EF on March 04, 2015, 05:38:28 PM
have any NEWS about this problem

after replace the supercap discover that problem will continue, battery drain too and data only become when solar power are active.

I test to connect four alcaline batteries, two serial two parallel and gives about 3,8v, as Vue have many space behide the plastic body it´s easy accomodate bigger batteries.

Surprise when see that now, after two days good function, when solar power left became wrong data values, when no battery no became data values and when battery became wrong data values

only when solar powered became good data values...

any idea? put alcaline batteries 3,5v directly to supercap,  connect batteries to solar imput?

(http://s16.postimg.org/nnab8b2c5/dais_vantage_vue_battery_failure.jpg)
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on March 04, 2015, 09:25:54 PM
recent i buy a Davis Vantage VUE (USA version) with the battery problem....

the propietary report that only on sunny conditions work the ISS and baterry goes down on few days...

You replaced the supercapacitor, and the problems (including rapid battery discharge) remain.

So, the problem was not the supercapacitor.  It's somewhere else in the (fairly simple) power circuitry.  Probably just something like a shorted diode or ???

Unless you want to carefully remove all of the potting, without damaging anything else, you can't find the problem. 

But of course, you understood that risk before you purchased it.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: miraculon on March 05, 2015, 09:25:59 AM
I bought my Vantage Vue feb 2012 and on Jan 2015 console started showing "transmitter battery low" Here in Finland there could be like 2-3 months without sun shining so backup battery is mostly used in winter. I replaced battery and  still console showed low battery, I had to wait  till next day to clear that message and now it's gone. I used multimeter to measure used battery voltage and it was 2.084 volts. Hopefully I have troublefree time with my Vantage Vue years to come  ;)

This sounds like normal behavior, you got about two years out of the battery. That includes 4-6 months just on the battery total during the two years of operation. I have a temperature/humidity station that I used as it originally came without the solar panel door. I had to to replace the battery after 6 months over the winter here in Michigan, USA.

I changed the door to a solar panel one, and I have not needed to replace the battery yet.

The low battery status clears at midnight on the console, so that behavior is normal.

On the battery life, I am making the assumption that the VUE ISS circuit is similar to the VP2 SIM. With the wind (and rain) measurement, the VUE ISS transmitter might be busier than my temp/hum station, draining the battery faster during your "no sun" months.

Greg H.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: arrowspace90 on April 23, 2015, 12:07:28 PM
I have read about these battery/supercap problems for a long time here.

My original battery worked great for over 2 years.  Some months ago I finally got the "low battery transmitter" warning flashing on the console.
I replaced the battery.
Last week, only about 6 months after replacing the battery, I had the "low battery transmitter" warning again.
Well, I figured it must be the supercap.
So I did what I had always planned to do.  I ordered a Vantage Pro 2 from Davis with the aspirated fan. It will arrive today.  Obviously not a cheap or fun, DIY alternative.  I didn't want to lose weather data for weeks while I sent the Vue to Davis.

I arrived back from a 4 day trip last night.  The low battery transmitter warning is no longer showing on the console.  Hmmm.
My station has to be mounted high on a 2nd floor pitched roof, so it's way better for me if it runs without attention.
I guess I will just bank the new station until I start getting the problem again.  When the new station goes in, I will send the Vue to Davis for refurbishment.  Then I don't know what I will do with it. 

Do folks have similar power problems with the VP 2?  It has 3 batteries to run the fan.  Perhaps I should consider A/C power to it?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on April 23, 2015, 01:57:28 PM
Well, I never have "low transmitter battery" problems with my cabled VP2, and the fan runs 24/7 with AC power, and the rain bucket heater runs all winter. 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: CW2274 on April 23, 2015, 02:30:15 PM
I have read about these battery/supercap problems for a long time here.

My original battery worked great for over 2 years.  Some months ago I finally got the "low battery transmitter" warning flashing on the console.
I replaced the battery.
Last week, only about 6 months after replacing the battery, I had the "low battery transmitter" warning again.
Well, I figured it must be the supercap.
So I did what I had always planned to do.  I ordered a Vantage Pro 2 from Davis with the aspirated fan. It will arrive today.  Obviously not a cheap or fun, DIY alternative.  I didn't want to lose weather data for weeks while I sent the Vue to Davis.

I arrived back from a 4 day trip last night.  The low battery transmitter warning is no longer showing on the console.  Hmmm.
My station has to be mounted high on a 2nd floor pitched roof, so it's way better for me if it runs without attention.
I guess I will just bank the new station until I start getting the problem again.  When the new station goes in, I will send the Vue to Davis for refurbishment.  Then I don't know what I will do with it. 

Do folks have similar power problems with the VP 2?  It has 3 batteries to run the fan.  Perhaps I should consider A/C power to it?
Frankly, I'd keep the VP2 ISS and use the Vue console. BTW it uses 2 batteries to run the fan should you choose to. I personally use one.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: arrowspace90 on April 23, 2015, 03:18:55 PM
I have read about these battery/supercap problems for a long time here.

My original battery worked great for over 2 years.  Some months ago I finally got the "low battery transmitter" warning flashing on the console.
I replaced the battery.
Last week, only about 6 months after replacing the battery, I had the "low battery transmitter" warning again.
Well, I figured it must be the supercap.
So I did what I had always planned to do.  I ordered a Vantage Pro 2 from Davis with the aspirated fan. It will arrive today.  Obviously not a cheap or fun, DIY alternative.  I didn't want to lose weather data for weeks while I sent the Vue to Davis.

I arrived back from a 4 day trip last night.  The low battery transmitter warning is no longer showing on the console.  Hmmm.
My station has to be mounted high on a 2nd floor pitched roof, so it's way better for me if it runs without attention.
I guess I will just bank the new station until I start getting the problem again.  When the new station goes in, I will send the Vue to Davis for refurbishment.  Then I don't know what I will do with it. 

Do folks have similar power problems with the VP 2?  It has 3 batteries to run the fan.  Perhaps I should consider A/C power to it?
Frankly, I'd keep the VP2 ISS and use the Vue console. BTW it uses 2 batteries to run the fan should you choose to. I personally use one.

Yes, why not just use the Vue console?  It works fine and is already hooked up to the computer.  If the new VP 2 transmits exactly the same way, I will certainly do that.
Still no "low battery transmitter" message.  Why would it appear for 2 days and then go away?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: arrowspace90 on April 23, 2015, 03:23:13 PM
Well, I never have "low transmitter battery" problems with my cabled VP2, and the fan runs 24/7 with AC power, and the rain bucket heater runs all winter.

Is your cabled VP 2 easy to run power to?  Did you have to install a special line to it?
Mine will be on the roof.  No power up there. 
I did lose some data this past winter on frozen precip. 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: CW2274 on April 23, 2015, 03:29:43 PM
I have read about these battery/supercap problems for a long time here.

My original battery worked great for over 2 years.  Some months ago I finally got the "low battery transmitter" warning flashing on the console.
I replaced the battery.
Last week, only about 6 months after replacing the battery, I had the "low battery transmitter" warning again.
Well, I figured it must be the supercap.
So I did what I had always planned to do.  I ordered a Vantage Pro 2 from Davis with the aspirated fan. It will arrive today.  Obviously not a cheap or fun, DIY alternative.  I didn't want to lose weather data for weeks while I sent the Vue to Davis.

I arrived back from a 4 day trip last night.  The low battery transmitter warning is no longer showing on the console.  Hmmm.
My station has to be mounted high on a 2nd floor pitched roof, so it's way better for me if it runs without attention.
I guess I will just bank the new station until I start getting the problem again.  When the new station goes in, I will send the Vue to Davis for refurbishment.  Then I don't know what I will do with it. 

Do folks have similar power problems with the VP 2?  It has 3 batteries to run the fan.  Perhaps I should consider A/C power to it?
Frankly, I'd keep the VP2 ISS and use the Vue console. BTW it uses 2 batteries to run the fan should you choose to. I personally use one.

Yes, why not just use the Vue console?  It works fine and is already hooked up to the computer.  If the new VP 2 transmits exactly the same way, I will certainly do that.
Still no "low battery transmitter" message.  Why would it appear for 2 days and then go away?
They are completely compatible (I believe, others will chime in) and you get the best of both worlds, the 24 hr. FARS and the greater flexibility of the newer Vue console. As far as the battery, perhaps it's now charged properly?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: arrowspace90 on April 23, 2015, 03:46:27 PM
I have read about these battery/supercap problems for a long time here.

My original battery worked great for over 2 years.  Some months ago I finally got the "low battery transmitter" warning flashing on the console.
I replaced the battery.
Last week, only about 6 months after replacing the battery, I had the "low battery transmitter" warning again.
Well, I figured it must be the supercap.
So I did what I had always planned to do.  I ordered a Vantage Pro 2 from Davis with the aspirated fan. It will arrive today.  Obviously not a cheap or fun, DIY alternative.  I didn't want to lose weather data for weeks while I sent the Vue to Davis.

I arrived back from a 4 day trip last night.  The low battery transmitter warning is no longer showing on the console.  Hmmm.
My station has to be mounted high on a 2nd floor pitched roof, so it's way better for me if it runs without attention.
I guess I will just bank the new station until I start getting the problem again.  When the new station goes in, I will send the Vue to Davis for refurbishment.  Then I don't know what I will do with it. 

Do folks have similar power problems with the VP 2?  It has 3 batteries to run the fan.  Perhaps I should consider A/C power to it?
Frankly, I'd keep the VP2 ISS and use the Vue console. BTW it uses 2 batteries to run the fan should you choose to. I personally use one.

I wish Ambient sold the VP 2 with the option of no console.  It comes with the package but I don't need it and could have paid less if I could opt out of it.
Yes, why not just use the Vue console?  It works fine and is already hooked up to the computer.  If the new VP 2 transmits exactly the same way, I will certainly do that.
Still no "low battery transmitter" message.  Why would it appear for 2 days and then go away?
They are completely compatible (I believe, others will chime in) and you get the best of both worlds, the 24 hr. FARS and the greater flexibility of the newer Vue console. As far as the battery, perhaps it's now charged properly?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: CW2274 on April 23, 2015, 03:57:30 PM
No reply above.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: arrowspace90 on April 23, 2015, 04:15:05 PM
I wish Ambient sold the VP 2 with the option of no console.  It comes with the package but I don't need it and could have paid less if I could opt out of it.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on April 23, 2015, 04:42:02 PM
Well, I never have "low transmitter battery" problems with my cabled VP2, and the fan runs 24/7 with AC power, and the rain bucket heater runs all winter.

Is your cabled VP 2 easy to run power to?  Did you have to install a special line to it?
Mine will be on the roof.  No power up there. 
I did lose some data this past winter on frozen precip.

"Easy" is a very undefined term.  I didn't have much trouble running wires out through the basement wall, and then underground (where necessary), and up the pole.  In a previous location, I didn't have much trouble running wires up through the wall and through the roof (with a pipe), across the roof, and up the pole.  But your mileage may vary, depending on lots of factors.

All of the wiring to the VP2 is "low voltage", so I don't need power on the roof (or outside the house).  The transformer that powers the rain bucket heater, and the one that powers the FARS, are in the basement.  With the wireless VP2, you could do the same thing (there's a DC power input connection on the board in the ISS).
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on April 23, 2015, 04:45:29 PM
As far as the battery, perhaps it's now charged properly?

Nothing charges that battery.

Arrowspace90, does that console have the latest firmware version?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: CW2274 on April 23, 2015, 05:07:43 PM
As far as the battery, perhaps it's now charged properly?

Nothing charges that battery.

Arrowspace90, does that console have the latest firmware version?
Ya, I keep forgetting that.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: arrowspace90 on April 23, 2015, 09:51:04 PM
As far as the battery, perhaps it's now charged properly?

Nothing charges that battery.

Arrowspace90, does that console have the latest firmware version?

I will check
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: W Thomas on June 24, 2015, 05:36:53 PM
Reviving this thread a little.. I took mine down today and put it on the bench at the shop. A complete dis-assembly and cleaning while looking for a cause for the humidity to drop to nearly nothing at night. I found mine had the exposed contacts and I have had the low battery issue plenty of times in the last few years..  I applied a generous amount of service grade dielectric insulating grease to the contacts and after re-assembly I have the low battery warning again.. Battery is good as I checked it before re installation. CR123 reads 3.09 vdc and the solar panel produces a little over 2vdc with a flashlight directed toward it.

At the moment the humidity is reading really close to the official sites closest to me.. Not really sure if I fixed anything and I hate those kind of fixes :oops: I doubt Davis would sell me the part or parts as neither are on their page as available ,and to fix both problems may require a sensor board and a transmitter PCB.  Probably as expensive as a new ISS LOL!

Anyone else been seeing these problems often??
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: George Richardson on June 24, 2015, 06:33:10 PM
Wayne, FWIW, when a battery gets down close to its nominal voltage, I consider it "bad" rather than still "good". A new CR123 should read close to 3.25 volts.

JMO

George
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: W Thomas on June 24, 2015, 09:28:30 PM
The battery that is in it now is less than 7 mos old. I replaced it some time back in the winter just before a big cold spell but I can't remember the exact date. Should have written it down. I'll pick up another one to be sure since I'm not sure what the threshold voltages are.

Thanks George!
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on June 24, 2015, 09:55:05 PM
It often takes "overnight" to get rid of the low battery warning.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: EA1EF on April 26, 2016, 05:48:26 PM
Post to notice thar after repair Vantage Vue as post in 331 response  in this thread, the solution (INSTALL A NEW SUPERCAP and remove the potted supercap)
Quote
.

Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
« Reply #331 on: December 07, 2014, 06:15:25 PM »
QuoteModifyRemove
recent i buy a Davis Vantage VUE (USA version) with the battery problem....

the propietary report that only on sunny conditions work the ISS and baterry goes down on few days...

the VUE ISS are deplorably (dark, vane crashed, lost screws, etc) but repair it (vane can repair with central steel insert of 2 cm and two componets glue)... finally go to source problem:

- dissamble all modules (take photos for mount) and take ISS transmitter module.

- on ISS module remove carefully the potted on supercap zone for can cut both PINS

- when supercap are isolate from PCB try to charge it (apply 3v correct pollarity) need one or two minutes charging for complete charge.. and quickly test supercap voltage (must be 2,85v fully charged)

- wait a few minutes (5 to 15 or more) repose and test voltage again...  my supercap lost in 5 minutes to 1,5v and stabilize it. (50F 2.7v supercaps remain one week from 2.7 to 2.5v)

- The bad supercap cant remobe because are potted but easyly can add other supercap outside with two drill, separate bad supercap pins and solde new supercap pins to PCB (see polarity)

my Davis vantage VUE console mark always "low battery trasnmitter" advise but you can test battery voltages from weatherlink (with datalogger) in WEATHERLINK - WINDOW - ALARM AND BATTERY STATUS -> and here say STATION BATTERY OK when console say low... (much better in WeeWX and WVIEW take reads of battery and supercap voltages and logging it)

need wait a few months for test and sure repair but by the moment station are two weeks of fine work.

www.meteocampoo.es TEAM

did not work properly, battery drain in two moths and after works only with sun power hours.

by moment I thing that only have one solution: INSTALL A WIRED POWER SUPPLY OR OVER DESIGN A SOLAR PANEL WITH BATTERY AAND REGULATOR FOR 3.0 vOLTS...
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: dalecoy on April 26, 2016, 05:56:01 PM
Post to notice thar after repair as post in 331 response  in this thread the solution (INSTALL A NEW SUPERCAP and remove the potted) did not work properly, battery drain in two moths and after works only with sun power hours

by moment I thing that only have one solution: INSTALL A WIRED POWER SUPPLY OR OVER DESIGN A SOLAR PANEL WITH BATTERY AAND REGULATOR FOR 3.0 vOLTS...

Do you really have a Vue? 

Why did you post this comment in this topic?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: EA1EF on April 27, 2016, 01:22:16 AM
Yes Sir, I have a  Davis Vantage Vue as I describe in post 331 of this theme.

I reply here because have battery failure that drain it in two monts and i m looking for any solution.

It is a evidence easy know, you only need to read this theme,

 Best regards
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Durman on April 27, 2016, 05:53:38 AM
I'm new to this forum but I've had a solution to the "low battery" problem for a while now...and it works very well for me. Like most people with this issue, I also went through the quick fixes of firmware update, dielectric grease and serial battery replacements...at best with very transient success.
I accepted that a dead supercap was the problem, but unlike those with access to the failed component (Pro2), those of us with Vantage Vue consoles have the main board encased in resin.
So the only solution was an external power supply. I set this up with a 5W solar panel feeding into a regulator that charges a 1.2Ah 12V battery (its very small). The battery output is fed into a dc-dc converter which reduces the output to 3V, which I feed directly to the battery terminals of the vantage vue.
All the components are housed in a 4x4" weatherproof box mounted on the same pole as the ISS (with the wiring
running through drilled holes directly into the pipe)
Costs: solar panel $9, regulator $7, DC-DC converter (buck converter) $2...all from ebay and for about $20 I have a much more robust, durable and modular solution.
Basically, the system has enough capacity to power the ISS for exponentially longer than the supercap ever could.
Its all mounted neatly and looks pretty high-tech (IMHO!) and has been working well for about 6 months now.

Hope it helps a few of you with the same issue.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Durman on April 27, 2016, 05:55:46 AM
...in response to the idea that an external solar panel with battery and regulator is the proper fix for the Vantage Vue power issue...
Its been done and has been working flawlessly for me for more than 2 years now.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Durman on April 27, 2016, 06:15:04 AM
 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Intheswamp on April 27, 2016, 09:03:32 AM
Nice job Durman!!!  Nice and neat!
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Durman on April 27, 2016, 12:14:18 PM
Thanks...form and function!
I just wish Davis designed the power supply a little better...3 sources of supply and it still fails. Luckily, with my "backyard" fix it works better than it ever did. Haven't seen the dreaded "low transmitter" message in over 2 years now.

The design is simple:

5W Solar panel---->12V regulator--->12V 1.2Ah battery--->Step down converter ("buck converter")--->3V regulated output---->direct connection to ISS CR123 terminals

Power supply is totally external now, and modular so individual components can be replaced; I haven't had to replace anything as yet.

Hope it helps!
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: EA1EF on April 27, 2016, 05:21:25 PM
thanks very much for share your experience, i will make any similar solution, your share aid me a lot for take a decission

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Intheswamp on April 27, 2016, 08:33:15 PM
Eduardo, Ed here...KF4KRV.  Best wishes on the project.  73
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: EA1EF on May 26, 2016, 06:11:28 PM
Thanks Ed, we have a team association  www.meteocampoo.es

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Intheswamp on May 27, 2016, 07:24:31 AM
Looks like a good group of stations.  What area of the country are those stations in?
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: EA1EF on May 27, 2016, 07:06:50 PM
here
https://www.google.es/maps/place/Campoo+-+los+Valles,+Cantabria/@43.0861881,-4.3474971,9z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0xd48e87d5ae8205f:0xae4bd6a8de8d2755!8m2!3d42.9847319!4d-4.1104449
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Intheswamp on May 29, 2016, 09:42:56 AM
Thanks Eduardo.  It appears that the Bay of Biscay influences your weather a good amount.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: nov on January 24, 2017, 12:44:52 PM
Thanks...form and function!
I just wish Davis designed the power supply a little better...3 sources of supply and it still fails. Luckily, with my "backyard" fix it works better than it ever did. Haven't seen the dreaded "low transmitter" message in over 2 years now.

The design is simple:

5W Solar panel---->12V regulator--->12V 1.2Ah battery--->Step down converter ("buck converter")--->3V regulated output---->direct connection to ISS CR123 terminals

Power supply is totally external now, and modular so individual components can be replaced; I haven't had to replace anything as yet.

Hope it helps!


Bought a second hand Davis Vantage Vue two weeks ago M model number uk version running rev3.0 firmware and have already went through three battery's getting low battery warning on the console and getting wrong temp readings -67.8c etc when the battery gets low at 2.24v.
At first i thought it was bad sensors or the test connections on the battery pcb were shorting out due to the high humidity, so i covered them in dielectric grease and the battery terminals. It was still failing after this so after reading through various posts on here that The super capacitor could be the problem.  I did test the solar panel for output and it does output some,  as long as i keep putting a new battery in the iss it works perfect for about 5 days. I am going to do what Durman has done and make my own solar powered 3v supply unit. i will post the results here in due course.   

update : sept 2017

(https://www.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/n/nov/1.jpg)

still going strong 8 months running of external solar power

a massive thanks to durman for helping me with my setup thank you .
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: websign83 on September 21, 2017, 12:29:26 PM
Thanks...form and function!
I just wish Davis designed the power supply a little better...3 sources of supply and it still fails. Luckily, with my "backyard" fix it works better than it ever did. Haven't seen the dreaded "low transmitter" message in over 2 years now.

The design is simple:

5W Solar panel---->12V regulator--->12V 1.2Ah battery--->Step down converter ("buck converter")--->3V regulated output---->direct connection to ISS CR123 terminals

Power supply is totally external now, and modular so individual components can be replaced; I haven't had to replace anything as yet.

Hope it helps!

Hi Durman can you help me to make an external power like your project?
I have a question. After the buck converter I have to use another hardware or I can connect the buck converter directly to the ISS Cr123 terminals?
Thanks :)
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: nov on September 21, 2017, 11:52:10 PM
Thanks...form and function!
I just wish Davis designed the power supply a little better...3 sources of supply and it still fails. Luckily, with my "backyard" fix it works better than it ever did. Haven't seen the dreaded "low transmitter" message in over 2 years now.

The design is simple:

5W Solar panel---->12V regulator--->12V 1.2Ah battery--->Step down converter ("buck converter")--->3V regulated output---->direct connection to ISS CR123 terminals

Power supply is totally external now, and modular so individual components can be replaced; I haven't had to replace anything as yet.

Hope it helps!

Hi Durman can you help me to make an external power like your project?
I have a question. After the buck converter I have to use another hardware or I can connect the buck converter directly to the ISS Cr123 terminals?
Thanks :)

Yes after buck goes direct to cr123 terminals
if you need any more help just ask .

my setup parts below
12v battery  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000W1V628/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
12v 5w solar panel  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00DS3DPOE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
12v solar charge controller  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N41L0GC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
buck converter set to 3v output  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00UN1JXMM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: websign83 on September 22, 2017, 10:08:10 AM
Yes after buck goes direct to cr123 terminals
if you need any more help just ask .

my setup parts below
12v battery  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000W1V628/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
12v 5w solar panel  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00DS3DPOE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
12v solar charge controller  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N41L0GC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
buck converter set to 3v output  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00UN1JXMM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thank you nov for your explanation.
I want to buy this buck converter https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B011HFSLGG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A50DZI580G3JX&psc=1 . This should be okay? is specific for 3v output...
Another question :) . I have to connect the buck converter on the load output (last two connections on the right side) of the charge regulator?

Thank you :-)

Regards from Sardinia

Bye bye :)
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: nov on September 22, 2017, 04:55:50 PM
Yes after buck goes direct to cr123 terminals
if you need any more help just ask .

my setup parts below
12v battery  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000W1V628/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
12v 5w solar panel  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00DS3DPOE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
12v solar charge controller  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N41L0GC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
buck converter set to 3v output  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00UN1JXMM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thank you nov for your explanation.
I want to buy this buck converter https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B011HFSLGG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A50DZI580G3JX&psc=1 . This should be okay? is specific for 3v output...
Another question :) . I have to connect the buck converter on the load output (last two connections on the right side) of the charge regulator?

Thank you :-)

Regards from Sardinia

Bye bye :)

Hi websign83

Yes the buck looks like it should do your job for 3 volts output.
Try make sure the buck has no led lights or one at most . you need a low power consumption buck or the buck could drain your battery faster.
 
Buck input connects to solar charge controller load output. YES.
Buck output to davis cr123 terminals.
Battery to solar charge controller.
Solar Panel to solar charge controller.


some pictures of my setup although i do not use this buck with large led lights anymore as it was to power hungry i use the small buck with one tiny led  . I have snipped the leds on the charge controller to save power also.

(https://thumb.ibb.co/fBeeUQ/IMG_6688.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fBeeUQ)  (https://thumb.ibb.co/gdVxG5/IMG_6702.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gdVxG5) (https://thumb.ibb.co/mPFKUQ/IMG_6704.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mPFKUQ)  (https://thumb.ibb.co/buLxG5/IMG_6720.jpg) (https://ibb.co/buLxG5)

Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: maccross on September 28, 2017, 11:12:19 PM

I think it can be helpful to share my experience with the "Low Battery Transmiter 1" error.
I bought a Vantage Vue weather station in 2011.
Since 2012 I noticed The Low Battery error showing sometimes mainly for no apparent reason, (some 2 or 3 times per month).
Almost all the times the error went off by its own and no data was lost during the nigths just after the error shows.
That can be checked in outside temperature/humidity graphs.
If data is lost for some hours during the night that seems to be a confirmation of real ISS low battery.

But this year begining in March I got the Low Battery warning and lost data during the nights.
Then I replaced the old battery with a new one (May 16).
But the error keept showing and data was lost during the nights with the new battery.
Even without the Low Battery error during the day my weather station was missing data for some hours during the nights.

Because of that I started thinking of replacing the battery, the transmitter, the supercap or the complete ISS.

Then as last DIY fix I decided to replace the battery with a specialy prepaired one.
At the positive battery terminal I soldered a small pointed golden pin so the contact with the positive battery hold terminal would
have a very small surface contact with a higher pressure and so a better contact quality would be achieved. ( the replaced battery
 was showing a slight oxidation at the positive terminal).
Besides that I used a very fine used sandpaper, isopropyl alcohol, and a cotton swab to clean the ISS battery holder contacts.

It has been more than two months now since that fix. The weather station has been running flawlessly since.

My conclusion is: the most fragile elements in the Vantage Vue weather station are the contacts between parts and or cables not soldered.
It seems dust, moisture, grease, polution or whatever gets in between the metalic parts and spoil the conductivity need for the proper circuit perfomance.

( I had a similar malfunction with Low Console Batteries warning: the console printed circuit golden tabs were green because of oxidation,
 the solution was wire soldering )
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Andrew MPs on April 07, 2020, 01:36:58 AM
I'm not convinced it is a 'real' low battery issue so much as a problem with monitoring the condition of it.
Some reports suggest fitting a new battery does not stop the warning appearing.

First thing to try seems to be reset the console by going into the set-up sequence and press+hold 'done'.
Next maybe ensure CR123 battery is making good contact both ends, and the battery door is fully latched shut.

Thanks you 4wd - ten years after your post your suggestion has solved a problem that has been annoying me for days. Thanks from downunder!
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Durman on July 02, 2020, 04:18:56 AM
Hi everyone...been a while since my last post but I think this will add worthy information to the Vantage Vue knowledge base.

For a brief update:
My Vantage Vue ISS suffered the inevitable fate of supercap failure and I got around repeatedly replacing the backup battery by exteriorising and modularising the entire contraption with a separate solar panel that charged a 12V battery which I then dropped to 3.3V and fed into the backup battery terminals (see previous posts). Worked well for 4 years now...until the ISS built-in solar panel failed a month ago.

So the system relied on the little solar panel to power the ISS during daylight, and the external battery to power it at night (no supercap power is available). Daylight also charged this external battery.

Problem: the external battery cannot be charging and discharging concurrently (it cannot feed the ISS while it is charging itself).

I had to find a replacement for the ISS solar panel power to allow the external battery to charge during the day and power the ISS at night.

Solution: 5V lithium power bank charged by a low voltage solar panel!

So I threw out the old solar panel (17V open circuit voltage to charge the 12V lead acid battery through a solar regulator) and installed a similar sized 6.2 V solar panel...perfect for charging a 5V lithium -ion power bank.
Since the new solar panel has so much more capacity than is needed to charge the li-ion power bank, I split the solar output to feed the ISS as well. I simply unscrewed the terminals off the ISS little solar panels and diverted the leads to receive solar power.

Well those are the basic principles of its operation; it needs a few details filled in.

1. The solar panel output varies, and goes up to about 6.8V in bright sunlight. I used a 3.3V voltage regulator to give the ISS a voltage it can safely work with.
2. I attached a 1000uF capacitor across the voltage regulator output to smooth the fluctuations in solar supply.
3. The power bank receives the solar panel power directly for charging. It has protective circuitry that allows it to accept a good range of input voltages.
4. The output from the power bank is 5V. Once again, I dropped this down to 3.3V with a voltage regulator and fed it into the CR123 battery terminals. A new CR123 battery coincidentally happens to be 3.3V
5. The ISS is designed to only use the backup battery when there is no solar power so the li-ion battery only kicks in at sunset.
6. I found that the best powerbank is the one that has no button to manually turn on; it needs to kick in automatically when the solar panel isn't feeding the ISS. Most power banks are designed to turn off when there is minimal draw from them and the ISS uses precious little power which is not enough to keep the USB output active. This is a problem esp around dawn and dusk when there is a "handover" of sorts from one source to the next; it is not a binary state of either this or that source of power so both need to be available for the ISS to choose from.
7. The system works well in the "bench test" phase of my experimentation. I'm mulling over whether I should install a supercap across the solar panel outputs to smooth AND supply the Li-ion battery as well as the ISS. Not necessary right now because it works well without this modification.
8. The voltage regulators I used are LM3940IT-3.3 in a TO220 package. These things are not very energy efficient, but since the draw through them is so low, and the voltage drop is so minimal (5V to 3,3V for one and 6.8V to 3.3V for the other) they don't dissipate any heat whatsoever.

Hope it helps!


 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Intheswamp on July 17, 2020, 08:35:59 AM
I don't have a Vue but that is a good project write-up you did!  Someone is going to appreciate the information that you've included.   Some of it may be transportable over to VP2s, too.  Good job!
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Durman on July 17, 2020, 12:29:58 PM
Thanks...finalised things on the circuit board and installed it on the pole today...works just fine.
The power bank needs to be of a "power pass through" type (allows for charging while it feeds power to the CR123 battery terminals so we get rid of the "low battery transmitter" error)(http://[img][attachment id=1 msg=410363][/attachment][attachment id=1 msg=410363][/attachment][attachment id=1 msg=410363][/attachment][attachment id=1 msg=410363][/attachment])[/img].
As a side idea...cut out a 50mm hole at the bottom of 2 plant pots and slid them down the mounting pole before installing the Vue, solar panel and circuit box...now instead of a very utilitarian looking pole, I have a garden plant feature as well!
Heres some pics.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Durman on July 17, 2020, 12:30:59 PM
 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Durman on July 17, 2020, 12:31:56 PM
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Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Durman on October 13, 2020, 02:31:40 PM
3 months down the line...

Works flawlessly!
Complete removal of the Davis power system to my extrinsic supply...all 3 components - CR123 battery, solar panel and supercap.
And looks quite nice in the spring!
 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: davidmc36 on October 13, 2020, 03:06:56 PM
Do you have a link to the Power Bank? I could use a couple of those.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Durman on October 14, 2020, 03:04:23 PM
Hi...I have a Romoss but you can just google "pass through power bank" and choose from a million hits. I suggest a small capacity one (probably with a single 2600mAh 18650 cell) so it charges quickly to full capacity.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: davidmc36 on October 14, 2020, 04:19:41 PM
Thanks for the tips. Will search that out.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: lesterb on December 19, 2020, 09:25:30 PM
Thanks Durman for your suggestions. I found your first post when gooling for Vantage Pro 2 battery problems and thought I could base mine on an 18650 battery rather than a 12v cell and then I found your later posts suggesting just that.
I currently have a 6v solar panel keeping a pair of 18650s charged and feeding a NodeMCU module which remotely monitors the temperature of my outdoor spa. I'm going to replicate that but use an adjustable step down buck converter to give 3v out and I'll probably only need 1 x 18650. It won't be long before it I break even on cost because I was having to replace CR123A's regularly.
 
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Durman on December 20, 2020, 04:40:10 AM
Glad you found the write-up helpful, Lester...have you considered a voltage regulator instead of a buck converter? 4.2 - 3.7V from an 18650 down to 3.3V for the ISS sounds perfect! Either solution will be fine though, IMHO.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: lesterb on December 20, 2020, 02:47:53 PM
Is it OK to apply more than 3v to the ISS? If so, what is the maximum?
If it will take a higher voltage an alternative is to replace the CR123A with an RCR123A (rechargeable) but then charging voltage and fully charged would be 4.2V.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: johnd on December 20, 2020, 03:55:17 PM
Davis specifically advise against using rechargeable CR123 batteries - the discharge characteristic is different and you'll be changing the battery more often.
Title: Re: Battery failures on Vantage Vue?
Post by: Durman on December 21, 2020, 08:31:41 AM
A new CR123 is 3.3V and goes down to about 2.8V before the "low battery transmitter 1" message appears. A rechargeable CR123 is a Li-ion 1S 3.7V cell that charges up to around 4.2V and deep discharges to 3.4V.
So completely different voltage characteristics despite the same form factor.

In summary, if you use a li-ion power source (rechargeable CR123 or power bank with li-ion cells, or even 18650 cells) you have to reduce the voltage to a max 3.3V.

The nice thing about a power bank is the 5V output that allows for the voltage drop which is inevitable with a DC-DC buck or a voltage regulator.