Topic: Solar sensor feeding 2 different ISS units same time

[ValentineWeather]

Any thoughts on having solar cable spliced with a 2nd cable and feeding 2 different ISS units at same time?

I'm going to try this unless I hear something different.  Max cable length is 200' per Davis manual so #1-ISS unit is 150' the other #2 only 3'.

[SLOweather]

Try it. The only thing is, the ISS powers up the sensor for a fraction of a second to get a reading, and then powers down. So you will have to  parallel all of the wires so each ISS can power it up. The unknown is if for some reason between polls, the ISS does something with the power or data line that would interfere with the other station. 

[ValentineWeather]

Try it. The only thing is, the ISS powers up the sensor for a fraction of a second to get a reading, and then powers down. So you will have to  parallel all of the wires so each ISS can power it up. The unknown is if for some reason between polls, the ISS does something with the power or data line that would interfere with the other station.

Thanks I didn't know that. I'll keep the wires parallel and report back once I get the wire. (Ordered)
 
 

[miraculon]

The success of this will depend on what the impedance of the data line is when the "other" ISS attempts to wake up the sensor. If it is low, it might look like a short. It is not likely that the two ISSs will be reading the solar sensor simultaneously. They might be "fighting" each other potentially.

Greg H.

[ValentineWeather]

Maybe I'll just skip the dual feed idea.
I relocated the solar for more sun and less tree shade. Maybe best thing is go ahead and make splice and add second pigtail with rj jack but only plug into 1 ISS at a time so they won't fight each other.
Thanks for all the info.

[graculus]

Try it. The only thing is, the ISS powers up the sensor for a fraction of a second to get a reading, and then powers down. So you will have to  parallel all of the wires so each ISS can power it up. The unknown is if for some reason between polls, the ISS does something with the power or data line that would interfere with the other station.

I think it would probably(!) be OK if you put diodes in the power lines so the reading ISS doesn't send power back to the non-reading ISS. If they both happen to read at the same instant it would be OK too. The max possible solar reading would be reduced by the diode voltage drop but at this time of year in the U.S. that's unlikely to be an issue.

[ValentineWeather]

Try it. The only thing is, the ISS powers up the sensor for a fraction of a second to get a reading, and then powers down. So you will have to  parallel all of the wires so each ISS can power it up. The unknown is if for some reason between polls, the ISS does something with the power or data line that would interfere with the other station.

I think it would probably(!) be OK if you put diodes in the power lines so the reading ISS doesn't send power back to the non-reading ISS. If they both happen to read at the same instant it would be OK too. The max possible solar reading would be reduced by the diode voltage drop but at this time of year in the U.S. that's unlikely to be an issue.

Thanks for that info.