Topic: Is Ambient a low end choice?

[Kwaj]

The current design won't survive. Please send email to support@ecowitt.com for a possilbe new testing kit that might be helpful in protecting the sensor from salt and high humidity. No guarantee it will work, but it mibht be a possible solution for htis issue available from Ecowitt.

Ecowitt responded to me and said if I live near the ocean in a windy climate, They'll send me a kit for testing in 30 days. Currently it's being alpha tested on their end and waiting to complete that in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for that Henry!! Not sure how you knew about that but I really appreciate it.

[Transporterman]

I've been away so couldn't get access to find out why first my wind direction sensor, then a week or two later, the windspeed sensor died.  I'm back now and it seems that this might have been the cause. 

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I suspect that the tall satellite dish mount I was using has corroded through or sheared.  From the log on the day the wind direction sensor stuck at NW, there were gusts around 58 MPH which is windy but nothing like the station record of 89 MPH.  It's too windy and wet today to get up there and rescue it but it clearly wasn't the WS 68's fault this time!

[Transporterman]

This what the bracket looked like new in March 2018 with the first weather station. 

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I suppose 5 years isn't bad for a fairly basic bracket in these salty conditions.

[kheller2]

Perhaps a galvanized bracket would be better suited to those conditions.

[slybarman]

and/or paint it.

[Rover1822]

Without knowing where it broke, also capping the angle pipe may help as well, looks like it might become a small water trap if not, or at least not drain well and rust from the inside out. Just musing

[Transporterman]

I'll post a pic of it when I can get up there.    I think it will have snapped off at the weld where it joins the bolted flange.  I want something close because I don't want to up there drilling any more holes in my chimney stack.  I did have a plastic cap on it and did spray some oil into the tube but short of marine grade stainless steel or doubling the thickness I think it's going to be easier just to replace it every few years.   

[slybarman]

for my galvanized pole, i capped the top with a metal cap on the piece that was threaded. for the piece that was not threaded, I capped it with silver HVAC tape. then I degreased sprayed the whole thing with universal primer followed by a couple coats of spray paint. My environment is not as harsh as yours, but I would think coating the metal might help, so the salt is not attacking it directly.

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[Rover1822]

For the OP, I think the schedule 40 galvanized pipe would be a bit much to hang off a 4 bolt mount to his chimney.

Don't get me wrong, I like your mount.

For Transporterman:  I was also curious , if the chimney that the station was bolted to was in any kind of use?

[slybarman]

For the OP, I think the schedule 40 galvanized pipe would be a bit much to hang off a 4 bolt mount to his chimney.

Don't get me wrong, I like your mount.

For Transporterman:  I was also curious , if the chimney that the station was bolted to was in any kind of use?

My point wasn't for him to use galvanized, just to maybe apply some paint to help prevent the metal from being attacked by the salt air. He should be able to paint stainless as well.

[Rover1822]

I'm just using EMT conduit, and I live close to the beach (off the Chesapeake bay), so far, no issues, but, I am dying to see what the failure point was, as the unit weighs next to squat.

[slybarman]

I'm just using EMT conduit, and I live close to the beach (off the Chesapeake bay), so far, no issues, but, I am dying to see what the failure point was, as the unit weighs next to squat.

I'm off the bay as well, but I am farther north than you which is less salty.

[Transporterman]

  I was also curious , if the chimney that the station was bolted to was in any kind of use?

That aluminium chimney pot is for the boiler which heats the house.  It never seemed to cause any serious temperature discrepancies with the old station and that had the temperature sensor inside.  On the current Ecowitt station the temperature and rain sensors are separate and nearer the ground. This thread shows the original station location back in 2018 a bit more clearly  https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=32688.msg346110#msg346110

[Transporterman]

The pipe had rusted through but luckily hung on well enough to avoid the whole lot falling down the roof.  Rover had it right I think.  The cap had disappeared and the salty rain had got in.  It reminded me of rusted car exhausts I used to replace in the seventies!





 

[slybarman]

on the next one, maybe drill a hole on the underside of that bend so any water that gets in can drain out.

ETA: Also, are you getting galvanic corrosion where the fasteners meet the plate?

[Transporterman]

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[Rover1822]

I think I'd also use stainless screws in the future. Are these going into a lead type anchor?

[Transporterman]

I think I just used what came with the bracket.  Large wall plugs (plastic) I think.  Although they are rusty they haven't fared too badly.  The U clamp that came with the Ecowitt station has almost no corrosion on it at all.  Mind you, it's only been up there for 2 years compared to the bracket's 5 years.

[Rover1822]

I think I just used what came with the bracket.  Large wall plugs (plastic) I think.  Although they are rusty they haven't fared too badly.  The U clamp that came with the Ecowitt station has almost no corrosion on it at all.  Mind you, it's only been up there for 2 years compared to the bracket's 5 years.

Yeah I see they didn't fail. I would still go for some real masonry anchors, you may have to over drill the hole a  bit. Part of the concern I have, is even if the ones you used didn't fail, what I have run into is that the face rusts rusts, and future attempts to remove, may be an issue  as the Philips groove has eroded. For something like that I would use a hex bolt to a proper anchor.

You do have a few choices in the anchor department , I'd probably use a 1/4 inch wedge type anchor bolt.

[slybarman]

the corrosion on the face of the plate at the screw holes makes me think it is galvanic corrosion from the screws and plate being dissimilar metals. if you use dissimilar metals, you may want to isolate them.

[Kwaj]

I found a 8' copper pipe which seems really good to mount the Ecowitt if it ever gets here. On the other hand, stainless bicycle brake rotors don't last long here at all. This is a pic of one thats only 4 months old. I don't care about rust on the arms but brake face is awful and sounds worse. Luckily another pair of so called stainless is only $15.

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[kheller2]

Various metals in contact with each other and electricity are funny things.  Heck, the little chain in the toilet tank corrodes faster when connected with a copper wire to the handle