Author Topic: RG11 connected  (Read 8352 times)

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Offline miraculon

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RG11 connected
« on: May 03, 2014, 05:22:03 PM »
I interfaced my RG11 with my Davis Temp/Hum (6382) yesterday. I changed it to "rain gauge emulation" mode (was "it's raining") and patched it into the Rain channel on the Temp/Hum.

It works well with the green LED indicating "tips". So far it is running about 2x the Davis gauge. Here is the Envoy8x output.

Quote
       Current Conditions for RC Envoy8x

                  Date: Sat, 05-03-2014
          Last Reading: 05:17:39 PM

  Inside Data                                 
    Inside Temperature:   63.5 °F
                   Bar:  29.65 in
       Inside Humidity:     54


  TX 2: RC Envoy8x/Wind_2                 
            Wind Speed:    0.0 mph
              Wind Dir:   ---- °
     Wind Speed 10 min:    0.0 mph
      Wind Gust 10 min:    0.0 mph
      Wind Dir of Gust:   ---- °
            Wind Chill:   ---- °F

  TX 3: RC Envoy8x/Vantage Pro2 ISS_3     
   Outside Temperature:   41.8 °F
      Outside Humidity:     96 %
            Wind Speed:    0.0 mph
              Wind Dir:   ---- °
     Wind Speed 10 min:    0.0 mph
      Wind Gust 10 min:    0.0 mph
      Wind Dir of Gust:   ---- °
             Dew Point:   41.0 °F
            Heat Index:   42.0 °F
            Wind Chill:   42.0 °F
            Daily Rain:   0.63 in <<<<RG11 Gauge
   Last 15 min of Rain:   0.01 in
    Last 24 hr of Rain:   0.72 in
             Rain Rate:   0.05 in/hr

  TX 4: RC Envoy8x/Wind_4                 
            Wind Speed:    0.0 mph
              Wind Dir:   ---- °
     Wind Speed 10 min:    0.0 mph
      Wind Gust 10 min:    0.0 mph
      Wind Dir of Gust:   ---- °
            Wind Chill:   ---- °F

  TX 5: RC Envoy8x/Vantage Pro2 Plus ISS_5
   Outside Temperature:   41.7 °F
      Outside Humidity:     98 %
            Wind Speed:    0.0 mph
              Wind Dir:   ---- °
     Wind Speed 10 min:    0.0 mph
      Wind Gust 10 min:    0.0 mph
      Wind Dir of Gust:   ---- °
             Dew Point:   41.0 °F
            Heat Index:   42.0 °F
                 THSWI:   41.0 °F
            Wind Chill:   42.0 °F
            Daily Rain:   0.29 in <<<<Davis Gauge
   Last 15 min of Rain:   0.01 in
    Last 24 hr of Rain:   0.37 in
             Rain Rate:   0.01 in/hr
                    UV:   ---- index
             Solar Rad:     47 W/m^2
                    ET:  0.000 in/hr


Ignore the 24 hour numbers, since I was testing it yesterday afternoon with a spritzer.

Greg


Blitzortung Stations #706 and #1682
CoCoRaHS: MI-PI-1
CWOP: CW4114 and KE8DAF-13
WU: KMIROGER7
Amateur Radio Callsign: KE8DAF

Offline DaleReid

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Re: RG11 connected
« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2014, 06:37:50 PM »
Greg,
You realize in the State of Wisconsin, you'd need a license to modify the weather.  I'd hide your spritzer if you have a similar law in your state....

ECWx.info
&
ECWx.info/t/index.php

Offline miraculon

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Re: RG11 connected
« Reply #2 on: May 14, 2014, 04:38:33 PM »
I treated the clear housing with RainX. Now, things are opposite with the RG11 counting about half of the Davis counts.

Hmmm....

Maybe I should apply for that weather modification license...

Greg



Blitzortung Stations #706 and #1682
CoCoRaHS: MI-PI-1
CWOP: CW4114 and KE8DAF-13
WU: KMIROGER7
Amateur Radio Callsign: KE8DAF

Offline iisfaq

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Re: RG11 connected
« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2014, 01:59:07 PM »
Hi

I would be interested in how you did this?

I have an RG11 - but not been using it.

Are you willing to share the details on the interface you connected up?

Chris

Offline miraculon

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Re: RG11 connected
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2014, 06:44:00 PM »
I used the rain input on a Davis Temp/Humidity station. The pinouts for the Davis rain collector are:

Quote
Input/Output Connections
Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unused
Red . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Switch terminal
Green & Yellow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Switch terminal

But this is somewhat ambiguous. I wired the NO terminals of the RG-11 to match these "RJ-11" connector terminals on a Davis SIM rain channel. Maybe using an actual Davis cable and cutting off one end might be the best bet. I had to use a slightly larger wire than the RJ-11 connector 24 gauge wire since the screw terminals on the RG-11 would not tighten on such a small wire. I soldered short wire stub to the 24 gauge and put heat shrink tubing on it.

I had some trouble at first with the RG-11 not registering counts. I found that I would get a count when I plugged in the connector. I eliminated one of the wires until I got the closure to the rain input to work correctly. Sorry, I didn't document what I did very well. The RG-11 rubber o-ring is difficult to get to seat properly, otherwise I would go and look at it for you. It was somewhat of an ordeal to get it back together properly.

The output that was in my posting is from a Davis Envoy8x, which allows multiple "ISS" units. I have the "real" ISS configured on Station #5 and the Temp/Hum station on #3. The accuracy seems to be variable compared to my CoCoRaHS and Davis gauges. Sometimes they are reasonably close other times, way off. The "RainX" treatment seemed to make an improvement.

Greg H.



Blitzortung Stations #706 and #1682
CoCoRaHS: MI-PI-1
CWOP: CW4114 and KE8DAF-13
WU: KMIROGER7
Amateur Radio Callsign: KE8DAF

Offline SLOweather

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Re: RG11 connected
« Reply #5 on: June 26, 2014, 01:13:43 AM »
I treated the clear housing with RainX. Now, things are opposite with the RG11 counting about half of the Davis counts.

2 things....

1) From the Hydreon web site...

Quote
Not as accurate as a properly maintained Tipping Bucket, but a better choice for many applications.
We do not guarantee or specify an accuracy for the RG-11, ...

2) When I got my 3rd RG-11 (?) I recall that the RainX mod required special firmware. Do you have that? Or is there a new firmware I'm not familiar with? (http://www.rainsensors.com/support.php)

Offline miraculon

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Re: RG11 connected
« Reply #6 on: June 26, 2014, 09:00:04 AM »
I treated the clear housing with RainX. Now, things are opposite with the RG11 counting about half of the Davis counts.

2 things....

1) From the Hydreon web site...

Quote
Not as accurate as a properly maintained Tipping Bucket, but a better choice for many applications.
We do not guarantee or specify an accuracy for the RG-11, ...

2) When I got my 3rd RG-11 (?) I recall that the RainX mod required special firmware. Do you have that? Or is there a new firmware I'm not familiar with? (http://www.rainsensors.com/support.php)

Mine shipped 12/7/2011 so it should have the "RainX" firmware. I am not dealing with that O-ring again so I will not be checking the sticker on the connector. :evil:

Greg H


Blitzortung Stations #706 and #1682
CoCoRaHS: MI-PI-1
CWOP: CW4114 and KE8DAF-13
WU: KMIROGER7
Amateur Radio Callsign: KE8DAF

Offline Moose Whisperer

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Re: RG11 connected
« Reply #7 on: July 19, 2014, 03:34:38 AM »
I just got one to try out from Amazon today as well. My first question - I guess I'm a bit confused; doesn't this thing come with a power supply?

Offline miraculon

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Re: RG11 connected
« Reply #8 on: July 19, 2014, 08:43:17 AM »
No, it doesn't come with a power supply. However, it is very flexible as far as power is concerned. It will run on a wide range of voltages either AC or DC.

Quote
Input Voltage 9 – 30VDC or
9 – 26 VAC
50V surge
Reverse polarity protected to 50V

I am using a "outdoor" yard light transformer to run mine. (I had to put a piece of black tape over the photo sensor to force it on all the time).

From what I have seen, it is "reasonably" accurate if there is a steady, gentle rain. If there is a downpour it will be lower than the Davis.

Have fun with the O-ring, you need about four hands to install it... :shock:

Greg H.


« Last Edit: July 19, 2014, 04:24:13 PM by miraculon »


Blitzortung Stations #706 and #1682
CoCoRaHS: MI-PI-1
CWOP: CW4114 and KE8DAF-13
WU: KMIROGER7
Amateur Radio Callsign: KE8DAF

Offline Moose Whisperer

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Re: RG11 connected
« Reply #9 on: July 19, 2014, 01:40:51 PM »
Great, thanks!

I've got a spare 24VAC outdoor lighting transformer I can now put to good use as well.

And I've been reading about the O-ring complaints as well. I'm a bit confused here too. Mine came pre-assembled with the O-ring in place and a dessicant pack inside.

Offline SLOweather

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Re: RG11 connected
« Reply #10 on: July 19, 2014, 01:58:30 PM »
Yes, but have you disassembled the unit for wiring and switch setting yet, and then tried to reassemble it? I have 3 RG11s. and it's not quite the struggle it was, but it can still be a challenge...

Great, thanks!

I've got a spare 24VAC outdoor lighting transformer I can now put to good use as well.

And I've been reading about the O-ring complaints as well. I'm a bit confused here too. Mine came pre-assembled with the O-ring in place and a dessicant pack inside.

Offline Moose Whisperer

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Re: RG11 connected
« Reply #11 on: July 19, 2014, 03:16:38 PM »
Yes, but have you disassembled the unit for wiring and switch setting yet, and then tried to reassemble it? I have 3 RG11s. and it's not quite the struggle it was, but it can still be a challenge...

Great, thanks!

I've got a spare 24VAC outdoor lighting transformer I can now put to good use as well.

And I've been reading about the O-ring complaints as well. I'm a bit confused here too. Mine came pre-assembled with the O-ring in place and a dessicant pack inside.

Yea, I'll tackle that part here in a day or two when I replace my ISS board.