Topic: WH32EP stuck on 99% humidity

[Ra1nman]

Hi, all has been well with the Ecowitt setup until last night the humidity progressively went to 99%, it has stayed there ever since, have power cycled the GW2000 but not yet pulled the battery on the WH32EP. Any thoughts on this, just a glitch or sensor gone bad

[Ra1nman]

Hold the phone...looks like the GW2000 power cycle has just kicked in, dropped to 95% now, is this a 'thing' or just a once only event?

[Gyvate]

how do you know it was the power cycle ?
did you check the display of the WH32-EP before power-cycling the GW2000 ?
what did it say ?
How would power-cycling a console have an impact on the sensor values transmitted ?
On the processing , yes.

[Ra1nman]

how do you know it was the power cycle ? it resolved the issue
did you check the display of the WH32-EP before power-cycling the GW2000 ? no, power cycling the GW2000 was an easy first choice. WH32EP is in a waterproof box.
what did it say ? see above
How would power-cycling a console have an impact on the sensor values transmitted ? of course it didn't but no doubt there was something sticking in the data chain.
On the processing , yes.

See answers above, so many questions

[Gyvate]

1. my WH32-EP is also inside a waterproof box - but the box has a window to to be able to read the display 
2. if the GW2000 only showed wrong readings, then the subject of the post is wrong or at least misleading - it should have been:
GW2000 doesn't show proper WH32-EP readings ...

[Ra1nman]

1. my WH32-EP is also inside a waterproof box - but the box has a window to to be able to read the display 
2. if the GW2000 only showed wrong readings, then the subject of the post is wrong or at least misleading - it should have been:
GW2000 doesn't show proper WH32-EP readings ...

I must just be lazy but also favour the IP67 rated boxes

I should know better than to bite but here goes...Subject of the post is good for me, but if a mod wants to change it (maybe - GW2000 outputs continuous 99% humidity from WH32EP sensor) then either way lighten up I say. It's only a weather station, life is too short. If we are being pedantic then I didn't know the GW2000 was causing a bottle neck until after posting the subject, maybe the WH32EP was at fault, I doubt either of us could confirm that in writing at this stage.

Anyway, for others who encounter this, try restarting the hub or display/receiver unit before going to crazy with other remedies. I searched and couldn't see another topic on this, hopefully it helps someone if it doesn't get deleted.

[Ra1nman]

Well it happened again last night so now installed the v2.2.2 firmware on GW2000, since that was waiting for update anyway. Without a restart that seemed to make no difference. Then re-registered the WH32EP with the GW2000, again, no change in humidity, still stuck on 99%. Power cycled the GW2000 and still showing 99%, since other local stations are in the region of 97% humidity I will see what happens today.

Depending on the outcome I will take a look at the WH32EP itself, also change out the lithium cells for good measure, it's only been running for just over a month so maybe there is a battery drain problem, Ecowitt.net reports normal battery but who knows. Speculation until I investigate further, looking like the WH32EP may need to be replaced though, annoying since all appeared to be working fine since early January.

It has been incredibly misty the last 24 hours here, very damp but yesterday it was clearly in the 60% range for humidity midday in my area and GW2000/WH32EP was outputting 99% until the restart, it then displayed 65%. Like the data is being stopped from the WH32EP, although temperature still works fine and changes as you would expect.

Just for reference I attached a grab of yesterdays humidity when it got stuck then went back below 99% after restarting GW2000, it seemed to climb very quickly from 73-85% in the afternoon, also a large spike from 59-69% earlier afternoon, maybe this is just normal and attributed to the relatively damp/misty conditions the last day or two. That is well above my paygrade I am not afraid to admit!

[Gyvate]

the humidity reading of the WH32-EP will depend a lot on where the probe is located.
Usually in a radiation shield, but many non- or even non-semi-professional radiation shields don't have a proper airflow - and this is not only important with solar radiation but also when the air is very misty or directly after heavy rainfalls. Often in the not so well built shields a micro mist cloud remains and the readings remain high ....
That's why I have put my WH32-EP into a Barani MeteoShield Pro ... - ever since, perfect performance

[Ra1nman]

Barani shield would be nice, mine is currently a DIY version which I am sure has been fine in mist so far, it is still showing 99% now and conditions are clear. Will need to take a look at it later today hopefully time permitting. My shield is a basic design but hopefully functional. Maybe will invest in a Barani at some stage, just seemed a waste not to use my DIY version, it took a while to build.

Link to shield images below
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=44756.0

[Gyvate]

the Barani guys have invested a lot of brains into getting an optimized airflow inside an only naturally aspirated radiation shield, and it covers all the potential pitfalls the classical approaches often run into:
- heat domes
- misty clouds
etc.
Of course, using a fan can also improve such a situation quite well - if intelligently applied

I'm not getting anything from them  - just fascinated by the intelligent and efficient solution

[Ra1nman]

The Barani shields do look great, I wish they were a bit cheaper but of course they need to cover their costs and make some money. I did think about adding a fan to mine, temperatures don't get that high in the UK but maybe it is worth considering.

Interestingly whilst I have been typing this, humidity suddenly came down from 99% to 98, then 94% and now 92% then 93% almost within a minute. I am officially confused, wonder if the GW2000 firmware v2.2.2 has addressed this issue, seems odd. No doubt it got stuck on 99% yesterday, confirmed by the large drop to mid 60% after restarting the GW2000, this morning is more of a mystery. I will monitor going forward and then investigate the WH32EP further if required.

[hiljo]

You should still check the display of the WH32, so you'll know if the GW2000 is giving wrong values or the sensor.
My guess: the value's displayed on the GW2000 are the same on the WH32. So or the sensor is broken, or it is reporting correct values because of other environmental issues (according to Gyvate).

[Ra1nman]

Thanks, yes, I will check the display, it has been fine today since this morning, I guess the test will be 'if' it hits 99% again, whether it will come down! other than firmware on the GW2000 nothing has changed so I suspect it may well occur again but I hope not

[kheller2]

How are you mounting the probe in there, and where is the WH32 itself?

[Ra1nman]

How are you mounting the probe in there, and where is the WH32 itself?

Probe is held in place with a gland inside the radiation shield, WH32 is located in an IP67 rated housing.

Gland mount similar to one shown below, image courtesy of Barani website.

[Ra1nman]

Quick update, the sensor has been to 99% humidity since this occurred last on more than one occasion without getting stuck. This was after the firmware update so potentially that may have resolved it