Hello,
I have been out of town and didn't have a chance to reply. I recently converted to Davis VP2, but I am still running my legacy AAG/Hobby Boards One-Wire using OWW (One Wire Weather).
I don't have the solar sensor from H-B, I am planning on adding the Davis solar sensor soon. I really don't have any experience with the H-B solar sensor so I can't help with this question. I would think that you would want to have as much sun exposure to the sensor as possible and not shaded. I am planning on locating my Davis sensor in the most sunny location on my property.
You asked whether you could bypass the Temp sensor. Since all One-Wire devices are on the same net you could just remove it. Since you said that it burned out, I would completely remove it so that the damaged part isn't loading the bus.
Greg