I just took delivery of my Davis VP2 6153 (wireless) and wireless transmitter for the anemometer. First impressions, which I’m sure comes to no surprise to many of you owners, impressive!!!!
Congratulations!!!
All nice and shiny, eh? Even has the "new car smell", doesn't it?
Scientific Sales did a great job of packaging and delivery and price. Relatively quick delivery considering ground from NJ to NV.
Ryan is a fantastic person to deal with...topnotch!!!
Opening the box and you can immediately see that this is no kid’s toy that you’ll find at Walmart or Home Depot. The ISS, console and anemometer scream quality. Dare I say, maybe a bit itimidating at first. The ISS alone is quite the beast in size and weight. Looks like a street lamp!
The console, in research holds some contention as being dated. Maybe so, but it appears to be designed well.
Well, you bought what is probably the best consumer-grade weather station available so you ought to get a quality unit. They are nice.
I affixed the cups to the vane and went outside to test as we had a really windy day here in Reno. I have to agree with a Poster on another thread who mentioned that it’s rather pleasing watching the cups spin and the vane rotate. To that end, I may have to find a spot, even if less than ideal, to see it or at least easy to see when I walk outside.
Make sure there is a slight bit of up and down play for the anemometer...it mentions it in the manual. Also, remember this is all plastic so any screws/bolts you might need to tighten do so gently and don't over tighten.
You'll get over the novelty of the cups spinning...to a degree...I still like to see them spinning and the wind vane following the wind direction.
There are many days that I never glance at my station, though. And, since adding the new spiked rain bucket I seldom check it out very closely. I guess the new units come with the spiked, hourglass-shaped bucket. For anybody using the older straight-sided bucket and having trouble with debris or gifts from feathered friends
*I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THE NEW SPIKED BUCKETS!!!*. I swear I have not had even a leaf in mine since I switch to the spiked version!!! My next project will be replacing the temp/hum sensor with the newer more precise one (already have it, just to big of a procrastinator
) Probably in the next couple of years I'll need to replace the solar panel door on the ISS...it's getting a bit weathered and cloudy...and the latch/clip broke off a year or so ago (but it still works well and keeps the inside dry).
Of course finding a suitable spot for the ISS suite where I can do occasional maintenance and as needed, change the battery.
Locate the unit where you will get the best weather data. Anemometer up as high as possible and as far away as possible from structures (including trees and bushes). ISS in the open as much as possible...again as far away from structures as possible and over grass...4' to 5' high would be great.
Don't worry about replacing the battery in your site selection process...it shouldn't be any more problem than walking up to the ISS, opening the solar-panel door, and replacing it. But, it will most likely be quiet a while before you need to replace that battery....I bought a couple of batteries (actually cheaper to buy several than to buy one, weird) a couple of years ago figuring I needed to replace the original. Well, those batteries are still sitting in the package and the OE battery will have been in operation for five years this coming May. I'm sure some batteries have shorter lives but most folks report very long service from them...they shared that info with me before I bought my "replacement" batteries but I *knew* I needed to replace the battery and bought them anyhow.
So far, I’m glad I went this route and look forward to firing it up. Still waiting on some mounting hardware and the bellfryboy data logger to hook into my raspberry pi that will be running Weewx.
In any event, most pleasantly surprise and off to a good start.
Unless you got a downright lemon (which I don't know if anyone's ever got one of those) you should enjoy the VP2 for years to come. I've replaced the anemometer cartridge in mine and the rain bucket for the improved one...other than that it's sat out there in the heat, cold, rain and drought and just plugged along sending data to the console and beyond. I even installed an electric fence around a garden that's between my station and house. I figured I'd get some radio interference...nope, nada, still percolating just fine.
Choose your location for best data gathering. Sometimes we have to compromise. My anemometer sits about 20' high...not the 33' suggested/recommended...but I'm comfortable with at that height and was a height that I could attain without getting overly involved in tower construction. Enjoy the trip getting it set up, that's half the fun!!!! Once set up it really maintains itself nicely with the solar panel and supercap...which reminds me...a sunny spot is a great benefit!!!!
Best wishes,
Ed