Topic: Not-from-Daivs Solar and UV sensors for VP2

[lobsterman]

Are there any solutions for adding solar and UV sensors to a VP2 w/o paying Davis' nose-bleed prices for their units?

[Mattk]

So have you done any price comparison with solar and UV sensors, that's where I would start, might change your slant on things a little?

[Bushman]

There are several low cost solar and UV  sensors but interfacing to a Davis is problematic.

[Mattk]

Well if the Davis Solar and UV are nose-bleed prices then why not simply buy a complete other brand will all these whistles right from scratch then there won't be any problematic issues?

[lobsterman]

Well if the Davis Solar and UV are nose-bleed prices then why not simply buy a complete other brand will all these whistles right from scratch then there won't be any problematic issues?

Well, because I have two VP2 units (in different locations), bought used and w/o those sensors.

[lobsterman]

There are several low cost solar and UV  sensors but interfacing to a Davis is problematic.

I have looked at some less expensive units but the interface to Davis is indeed the puzzle.

[johnd]

I have looked at some less expensive units but the interface to Davis is indeed the puzzle.

I think the Davis interface is relatively simple - it just needs sensors that can provide a 0-3v linear signal over the required irradiance or UV ranges - the exact figures are in the spec sheets. But there's probably no general standard for the maximum readings and so each manufacturer may set their own values.

The UV sensor is the more complicated of the two (because I think the raw signal from the UV sensor is quite small and needs a calibrated and built-in op amp to boost it into the 0-3v range.) A reliable UV sensor also apparently needs an extended burn-in period to settle and reputedly Davis discard quite a substantial % of each batch manufactured during this initial burn-in/calibration process.

[WiFiLogger]

Are there any solutions for adding solar and UV sensors to a VP2 w/o paying Davis' nose-bleed prices for their units?

I have ordered UV sensor in China which should feet for Davis ISS. When I will have I will inform you.
Unfortunatly, but I don't have access to any station with original sensors + we have winter with no sun. So testing this prototype will take time.
Case is other problem. For 50-100 pcs/year it is very difficult to find nice and cheap plastic case for sensor.

Solar/ambient sensor is much more difficult to make. We can try to make it using this data: Pyranometer
but it will be hard to scale it to Davis standard + UV sensor has to be working fine to start making this.

[mcrossley]

I made a solar with a simple photo diode and UV using a REYAX UVI-01. They use op amps to scale the output. They both function well enough for me with my VP2. A friend has replicated them, but he made up some tiny dedicated circuit boards rather than using strip board like me. It cost me about £25 in parts.

A very helpful senior user on the WD forum created the cct designs. Another user on there has also created his and documented it all I believe.

[broadstairs]

Some years ago a UK company called Bluewave (if I remember correctly) made a solar sensor which worked with a VP1, I actually had one for several years until it got damaged by my builders!! So they can be made and this was much cheaper than a Davis one, they also made loggers and I had one of those as well. Sadly the company no longer exists.

Stuart

[lobsterman]

I made a solar with a simple photo diode and UV using a REYAX UVI-01. They use op amps to scale the output. They both function well enough for me with my VP2. A friend has replicated them, but he made up some tiny dedicated circuit boards rather than using strip board like me. It cost me about £25 in parts.

A very helpful senior user on the WD forum created the cct designs. Another user on there has also created his and documented it all I believe.

I don't suppose your friend would contemplate selling some of those boards would he?

I looked around on the WD forum here but couldn't spot that? Link anyone?