Advice for townhouse installation?

[coredump4]

Hi all,
I'm interested in getting a VP2.  However, I live in a townhouse, which automatically means I've got serious installation issues.
I'm not so worried about the temp unit, as I've got a pretty good location for it (using a radiation shield).  The anemometer is the big issue.  I have nearly zero land, so I cannot get the unit away from my dwelling.  Further, I've got another row of houses behind mine, further obstructing wind flow.  The peak of my roof is pretty high; I'm guessing 35ft (approx 11m).  I could probably get it mounted up there, but then it'd never be accessible for maintenance.  Plus, I'd need to worry about lightning suppression.

I suppose it comes down to:
1) Pay to have it mounted on the roof and accept that maintenance is not possible.
2) Mount it on my tiny, 2nd-story deck, and accept that readings are not accurate due to obstructions.
3) Don't even use the anemometer, or mount it but don't use/publish its readings.

I'd like to hear about other peoples' installations in crowded urban areas.

Thanks!

[C5250]

The only major maintenance concern is being able to change the battery when needed. And the anemometer has a 40' cable (which can be extended), which may help to minimize that issue. Virtually everyone who doesn't live on a farm out on the plains has had to except a less than ideal installation and try to make the most of their situation. It just takes some careful thought, and maybe being creative.

[dalecoy]

First question:  do you have a homeowners' association, and/or covenants, or other restrictions, on what you can do?  [If there is an association, I have a follow-up question]

Second question:  where would you like to get wind data?

2) Mount it on my tiny, 2nd-story deck, and accept that readings are not accurate due to obstructions.

Some folks have attached a rather-tall pole in the corner of their deck, to hold the anemometer.  Such a pole could be 10 or even 20 ft. long, and could be detached to allow maintenance.

[gwwilk]

I have lived in townhouses for the past 37 years, 34 of those with some sort of weather station installed.  I've always mounted them on the chimney where they are close to or are the highest point on my home.  However there have always been taller nearby points to serve as lightning rods, usually within 100 ft.  I've been extremely fortunate to have never experienced a lightning strike to any of my stations despite frequent seasonally intense thunderstorms here.  The real downside of my mounting scheme is that my fireplaces have always been for show.  I have had gas logs in my current townhome's fireplace for 20 years, but the home is well enough insulated that lighting the fireplace overheats my great room where the thermostat is also located while everywhere else gets quite chilly.  Hence no fires in the fireplace.  The chimney is at the rear of my home, so its accouterments aren't noticeable from the street, only from the commons area to the rear.

[mackbig]

I would try to get it on the roof personally. If the 40 foot cable is an option to get you there, as pointed out maintenance will be minimal, but things do go wrong now and then.   The wireless anny xmitter is an option, and protects the rest of your equipment on the off chance you have a lightning event.  But it increases the chance of needing to service, either for battery or potential comm issues.

If it turns out you cant get on the roof, and all your compoents will be clumped on the deck you might consider saving some money and just getting Vue.  Having all your vp2 components close together is essentially the same as having and all-in-one.  But if expandability is in your future, solar/uv, chance of moving to a bigger property where you might want soil or other sensors, and separately the anny, you should stick with a vp2.

Andrew

[SpartanWX]

Hi all,
I'm interested in getting a VP2.  However, I live in a townhouse, which automatically means I've got serious installation issues.
I'm not so worried about the temp unit, as I've got a pretty good location for it (using a radiation shield).  The anemometer is the big issue.  I have nearly zero land, so I cannot get the unit away from my dwelling.  Further, I've got another row of houses behind mine, further obstructing wind flow.  The peak of my roof is pretty high; I'm guessing 35ft (approx 11m).  I could probably get it mounted up there, but then it'd never be accessible for maintenance.  Plus, I'd need to worry about lightning suppression.

I suppose it comes down to:
1) Pay to have it mounted on the roof and accept that maintenance is not possible.
2) Mount it on my tiny, 2nd-story deck, and accept that readings are not accurate due to obstructions.
3) Don't even use the anemometer, or mount it but don't use/publish its readings.

I'd like to hear about other peoples' installations in crowded urban areas.

Thanks!

See my thread here:
http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=12289.msg121056#msg121056
for an easy deck mount solution.

I'm mounting the anemometer on the roof using a directTV satellite mount I scavenged and a piece of schedule 80 conduit.  It will be as close to perfect as I can get!

I'm pleased.

[nickdeck]

I live in a top-floor condo, with pretty severe restrictions on the placement of my Vue, but I guess we all put up with compromises. But while I'm sure my wind readings don't agree with the readings at a nearby airport, at least I'll know just how strong that gust was that blew over my patio furniture.