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SlowModem
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« on: March 10, 2009, 07:23:14 PM » |
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Steps 1 & 2: Buy a mailbox post and concrete it in the ground. OK. I don't know how good of a concreter I am, but it's in the ground, horizontal (what does one call horizontally level?), and oriented north. Time to let it set.   Greg |
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sam2004gp
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« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2009, 10:08:10 PM » |
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Keep the pics coming.  |
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SlowModem
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« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2009, 07:37:01 AM » |
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Looks good, Greg, but I thought you were going to have me over to do the job for you.  Nice DIY project!  Bruce You're more than welcome to come. Keep in mind that I'm the worlds best planner, but that nothing ever goes according to plan.  So earplugs will be required! Greg |
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SlowModem
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« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2009, 07:43:43 AM » |
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I printed out pictures of several weather stations here and took them to Lowes with me. I had trouble finding anything there that I thought would be sufficient to mount the mast to the post. (I would have had an easier time if I knew what I was doing) Anyway, this is what I got to mount the mast to the post:  I will drill three holes in the post and then run the bolts through the post then secure the mast. I will try to take pictures. Greg |
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sam2004gp
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« Reply #4 on: March 11, 2009, 07:58:03 AM » |
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That seems like a good idea.
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SlowModem
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« Reply #5 on: March 11, 2009, 09:29:06 AM » |
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3/11/09 am: I got two of them in the post and took a picture and decided I needed a coffee break. So...  I'm going to put the third one in shortly. I'm kind of disappointed. The post has a little wobble to it. I don't think it will blow over, but with a 30-foot mast, it may tilt. Maybe my hole wasn't big enough around. I need to learn more about concrete. Anyways, I'll give it a shot and keep everyone posted (ain't I punny?) Greg |
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up10ad
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« Reply #6 on: March 11, 2009, 09:38:50 AM » |
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A tip from a guy that has set a lot of horse fence posts. Make hole 2-3x diameter of post (4x4 post needs 8"-12" dia hole) Put 3" dirt in the bottom after setting post, add half a bag of quick setting concrete or post mix, add water just enough to dampen, add more mix, more water, tap with tamper or shovel handle to compress. Results may vary. The trick is DEPTH and soil/mix COMPRESSION.
Keep the pics coming!
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racenet
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« Reply #7 on: March 11, 2009, 10:59:03 AM » |
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Rick,
Oh, post mix is a wonderful thing. Never, ever used it until last year to set a flagpole. That stuff is a god send. Darned stuff sets quick!
Bob
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SlowModem
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« Reply #8 on: March 11, 2009, 04:46:17 PM » |
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WHEW! OK, I'm done.  (is anybody EVER done????) There's more pictures, but I am going to rest and maybe upload them in the morning. For now, I decided to leave the 968 rain gauge where it is, because it works ok. I tried and tried to get the temp/rh sensors from both units in the shield, but they just wouldn't fit. And, I wasn't sure if there would be any interference. I wanted to mount the shield under the rain gauge, but I just couldn't figure out the mount (without going back to Lowe's). I tried to use the "U" bolts that came with the shield to mount it to the mast, but the mast was too big. So for now I'm using wire ties (I'm glad I had a lot of them!). It's not beautiful, but it's working. Greg  By the way, that's Socks the Wander Dog in the background. He does like to wander off occasionally. |
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SlowModem
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« Reply #9 on: March 11, 2009, 04:50:03 PM » |
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Rick, that's a great tip. If I do it again, I'll do it that way.
Bruce, that's a good tip about keeping the mast from twisting. I'll have to monitor that and see if I need that. I believe that the holders are holding the mast tight enough to keep it from twisting.
There sure are some smart folks around here!
Greg
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Axelvold
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« Reply #10 on: March 11, 2009, 05:24:54 PM » |
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That's a realy great work you done there, but i'm wondering where have you placed the Anemometer?
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Lars Magnusson Axelvold / Sweden 55° 57' 41" N / 13° 6' 1" E WX Station: Davis Vantage Pro2 Plus   |
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SlowModem
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« Reply #11 on: March 11, 2009, 06:53:48 PM » |
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That's a realy great work you done there, but i'm wondering where have you placed the Anemometer?
It's on top of a 30-foot mast attached to the post. I'll upload more pictures tomorrow. |
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Axelvold
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« Reply #13 on: March 12, 2009, 07:18:08 AM » |
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how do you think the trees will affect the data from the anemometer?
you might want to double the length of the mast and secure it with wire?
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« Last Edit: March 12, 2009, 07:24:10 AM by Axelvold »
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Lars Magnusson Axelvold / Sweden 55° 57' 41" N / 13° 6' 1" E WX Station: Davis Vantage Pro2 Plus |
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sam2004gp
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« Reply #14 on: March 12, 2009, 07:23:19 AM » |
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Thats what I was thinking of also. But then sometimes, you can only do what you can do.
But there are also two Anemometers there, backup I assume?
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Axelvold
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« Reply #15 on: March 12, 2009, 07:27:32 AM » |
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I did cut down the trees that were so that they could prevent the wind.
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Lars Magnusson Axelvold / Sweden 55° 57' 41" N / 13° 6' 1" E WX Station: Davis Vantage Pro2 Plus |
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SlowModem
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« Reply #16 on: March 12, 2009, 07:36:54 AM » |
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how do you think the trees will affect the data from the anemometer?
I live in the woods and my units are wireless. So I have to find a clear place that's kind of close. I expect the wind to be a blocked somewhat. However, the topography (I live in a valley) of the area kind of blocks and (I think) directs the wind as well. But my wife likes trees. So.......... I have a WMR968 and a WS-2315. I decided that since I was putting up a tall pole, I might as well put both on there (because I don't have any more tall poles or a place to put another one). The main reason for moving my equipment was that I read all the stuff about lightning and decided that I had one big lightning rod attached to my house (plus the fact that I'm going to build a garage on that end of the house). A bonus of the present location is that it's about 4 feet higher than the previous location. A minus of the present location is that the previous location was in the shade 90% of the day, and the present location will be in the sun a lot. Maybe the next project will be solar aspirators. Oh, another thing I noticed yesterday was that the cover for the 2315 doesn't really allow for air flow. I've noticed over the past year that the values seem slower to change than the 968. I expect that to improve when I get another radiation shield for the temp/RH sensor and remove the factory cover. Another thing II: I'm going to plant some grass seed around the post today (I hope). I noticed that the setting guide recommends grass (the red clay is reflective, I think). I guess I will go into the woods and get some topsoil. Anyways, that's the latest from Euchee, TN. Greg |
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LIWeather
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« Reply #17 on: March 14, 2009, 11:46:22 AM » |
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It's on top of a 30-foot mast attached to the post. I'll upload more pictures tomorrow. What kind of mast are you using? Is the mast supported with guy wires or free standing? Looks pretty good. Seemed like a nice little project. |
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Anthony
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« Reply #18 on: March 14, 2009, 01:28:28 PM » |
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As stated. He used chain link fence rail for the mast. And has best as I can tell. There are no guy wires.
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 Thanks, Anthony WB8YUE |
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LIWeather
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« Reply #19 on: March 14, 2009, 01:39:42 PM » |
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I must have missed the chain link fence post comment, my apologies. How stable are the fence posts without guy wires? I'm curious about the wind load and stability with this set up.
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SlowModem
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« Reply #20 on: March 14, 2009, 03:54:37 PM » |
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It's on top of a 30-foot mast attached to the post. I'll upload more pictures tomorrow. What kind of mast are you using? Is the mast supported with guy wires or free standing? Looks pretty good. Seemed like a nice little project. That's a 30-foot telescoping mast I got from my Dad. He bought it back around 1965 and had a CB anetnna on it for a long time. It is free standing except for where it is attached to the mailbox post. The anemometers are the only wind resistance on it (well, except for the mast itself) so I think it should stand ok. At least I hope so. |
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« Last Edit: July 13, 2009, 02:03:17 PM by Slow Modem »
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DanS
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« Reply #21 on: March 14, 2009, 04:45:57 PM » |
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Great job Gregg! It must have been quite a challenge getting the assembled mast upright, held in place, and bolted to the mailbox post. |
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LIWeather
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« Reply #22 on: March 14, 2009, 04:50:37 PM » |
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I knew I wasnt crazy and didnt miss the mast comment. I wasnt thinking that the anemometer would catch too much wind. My thought was the mast itself like you stated would catch it. I was a little worried when I put mine up on the roof how much the mast would weigh on the chimney. I used a Radio Shack mast and it does have a little weight. The chimney wasnt as solid as I thought so it worried me that the mast may be too heavy when wind was added to the occasion. Hopefully your crafty concrete pouring keeps you up in the air  |
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George Richardson
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« Reply #23 on: March 14, 2009, 07:47:02 PM » |
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Hey Greg, "It must have been quite a challenge getting the assembled mast upright, held in place, and bolted to the mailbox post." Thats what wives are for  George |
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kray1000
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« Reply #24 on: March 14, 2009, 08:02:48 PM » |
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That's a 30-foot telescoping mast I got from my Dad. He bought it back around 1065 and had a CB anetnna on it for a long time. That's a really old mast.  But if it still works, might as well use it. |
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Kevin Ray Roanoke, VA  Wireless VP2, Stardot NetCam, ImageSalsa 2.0.12, MovieSalsa, Nexstorm, WASP2, Skymet, VWS14.01p33, WD 10.37N build 03 |
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