Author Topic: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨  (Read 1701 times)

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Offline _John C

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Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« on: October 17, 2020, 01:55:58 PM »
Anyone else have this problem ? It's less then 3 months old.
The sensor is still working, but I dont think it will last.
Ecowitt GW1000CA x2,   HP2551CA,   WH65 Outdoor 7in1 2 arm array,  WH32B Indoor Temp/Hum/Baro, WH45 Co2/PM2.5/PM10,  WH41 PM2.5,   WH57 Lightning Detector,   WH31 Temp/Hum x8,  WN34L Liquid Temp x2,  WN34S Soil Temp x1, WH51 Soil Moisture x8,   WH55 Water Leak x4,   Meteobridge (TL-WR902AC v3),   Da9L PWT x2, Home Assistant Integration

Offline Mandrake

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2020, 02:14:14 PM »
Sorry no, not seen that and mine are 1.5 years old now.
G1ZFO

Ecowitt HP2551A + WH65 Tri-Wing (Wunderground: IGUILDFO67)
Ecowitt GW1000 (Wunderground: IGUILDFO68)
Ecowitt GW1000 (Mk2) test environment driving CumulusMX on a RPi 3b
Ecowitt GW2000 (Test)
Ecowitt WS90 Wittboy - Test
Ecowitt WH51 (x6) Soil Moisture Sensor
Ecowitt WH41 PM2.5 AQM Sensor
Ecowitt WH31 (x8) Thermo/Hygro Sensor
Ecowitt WS80 Ultrasonic Anemometer (pre-prod test)
Ecowitt WH57 Lightning Sensor -test
Ecowitt WH32-EP (SHT35) + Davis 7714 Screen
Ecowitt WH45 CO2/PM2.5/PM10 -Test
Ecowitt WN34 Soil Temp Sensor -Test
Ecowitt WN34 Water Temp Sensor -Test
Ecowitt WN35 Leaf Moisture

Offline sky_watcher

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2020, 03:47:24 PM »
Anyone else have this problem ? It's less then 3 months old.
The sensor is still working, but I dont think it will last.
I have two sensors in the garden for about a year and I have not seen it. I suggest you contact your supplier for a replacement before it dies. I had a problem with another sensor and if my case is any example, they will ask a few questions to ascertain that it actually is a warranty issue and then promptly send a replacement.
“The more a man knows, the more willing he is to learn. The less a man knows, the more positive he is that he knows everything...” ― Robert G. Ingersoll

Offline _John C

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2020, 04:32:28 PM »
I got it from Ecowitt with 7 other soil sensors all of which I have no problem with. Just 1 out of 8 gone bad. I've just emailed Lucy.
Ecowitt GW1000CA x2,   HP2551CA,   WH65 Outdoor 7in1 2 arm array,  WH32B Indoor Temp/Hum/Baro, WH45 Co2/PM2.5/PM10,  WH41 PM2.5,   WH57 Lightning Detector,   WH31 Temp/Hum x8,  WN34L Liquid Temp x2,  WN34S Soil Temp x1, WH51 Soil Moisture x8,   WH55 Water Leak x4,   Meteobridge (TL-WR902AC v3),   Da9L PWT x2, Home Assistant Integration

Offline Autofill

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #4 on: October 18, 2020, 11:55:12 AM »
I bought 4 in July of 2020, and noticed one of them has some moisture in the battery compartment. I just emailed Lucy i'm sure she will take care of it.
Ecowitt WH2320-E
Ecowitt HP2551-C (SOLD - replaced with Home Assistant Fully Kiosk FireTab HD10)
Ecowitt GW1000
Ecowitt GW1100
Ecowitt WH69E
Ecowitt WH32B
Ecowitt WH57 (x3)
Ecowitt WH51 (x6)
Ecowitt WH41
Ecowitt WH41 (Honeywell-based USB/Supercap modified)
Ecowitt WH31 (x8)
Ecowitt WH55 (x4)
Ecowitt WH45
Ecowitt WN34S (x2)
Ecowitt WN35
Ecowitt Wittboy running on 12VDC  solar power

Online Rover1822

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #5 on: October 18, 2020, 01:57:28 PM »
I have 8, I have had issues with water ingress as well on 2 of them. If you look at the top cap that is a quazi bayonet cap, there is an extremely thin imbedded O-ring. Unfortunately I think it's almost useless. I did have some success by applying some plumber's silicone (comes in a tiny tub, available from most hardware stores)  directly over the O-ring (using a Q-Tip) before fastening it down. I do wish there was a more substantial O-ring there, and because of the way the cap fits, you can't really add one as mount style doesn't have the room. I have an assortment of various O-rings that will fit, but not allow the cap to close. If it were a screw  mount cap with a few mm of clearance , I would use one.
« Last Edit: October 18, 2020, 02:05:14 PM by Rover1822 »
Ambient:
  WS-2000
  PM 2.5(2)
  WH31B(2)
  WH40E
  WH31P
EcoWitt:
  GW1100
  GW1000(4)
  WH31(2)
  WH57
  WH51(12),
  WH40
  WH5360B
  WN34S
  WittBoy WS90 + GW2000
  WS90 (other one) + GW1100
Personal Sites: Weather Cam

Offline _John C

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #6 on: October 20, 2020, 05:17:00 AM »
Lucy sending me a replacement sensor  [tup]

Always a pleasure to deal with.
Ecowitt GW1000CA x2,   HP2551CA,   WH65 Outdoor 7in1 2 arm array,  WH32B Indoor Temp/Hum/Baro, WH45 Co2/PM2.5/PM10,  WH41 PM2.5,   WH57 Lightning Detector,   WH31 Temp/Hum x8,  WN34L Liquid Temp x2,  WN34S Soil Temp x1, WH51 Soil Moisture x8,   WH55 Water Leak x4,   Meteobridge (TL-WR902AC v3),   Da9L PWT x2, Home Assistant Integration

Offline Autofill

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #7 on: October 20, 2020, 06:29:33 AM »
Likewise. They wanted a picture of the water in the sensor but I didn't take one, and said it'll have to be in the spring now may/June before I can get a picture of it since the sensor is inside now, but still offered a replacement.
Ecowitt WH2320-E
Ecowitt HP2551-C (SOLD - replaced with Home Assistant Fully Kiosk FireTab HD10)
Ecowitt GW1000
Ecowitt GW1100
Ecowitt WH69E
Ecowitt WH32B
Ecowitt WH57 (x3)
Ecowitt WH51 (x6)
Ecowitt WH41
Ecowitt WH41 (Honeywell-based USB/Supercap modified)
Ecowitt WH31 (x8)
Ecowitt WH55 (x4)
Ecowitt WH45
Ecowitt WN34S (x2)
Ecowitt WN35
Ecowitt Wittboy running on 12VDC  solar power

Offline solartempest

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #8 on: October 20, 2020, 03:25:06 PM »
Just exercise caution when using greases on o-rings. The o-rings on my WH51s look like silicone, so if you use a silicone grease the gasket may swell/be damaged and not provide a good seal anymore. Lucy or the Ecowitt engineers should be able to confirm what the gasket is made out of. Personally, I prefer not to add greases as it can be messy.

In the past, for soil moisture sensors (non-Ecowitt) I have used adhesive heat shrink tubing to cover and seal the gap between the housing and battery cap as an extra precaution. The adhesive will provide a good seal against the elements and flow into any irregularly shaped housing spaces.  On those sensors, the manufacturer used a rubber seal so silicone grease would have been compatible.

For the WH51 you can slide on a small piece and gently shrink it to size with a heat gun at fairly low temperature. To remove the heat-shrink you can just carefully cut it off with a knife. You do not need to shrink down a lot, just enough that the adhesive come out of the ends a little. With lithium batteries, you won't have to do this very often at all. All three of my WH51s are in fairly sheltered locations so I haven't been very worried about the small seal on the battery cap.
« Last Edit: October 20, 2020, 03:26:58 PM by solartempest »
Ecowitt GW1000, HP2553BC, WS80, WH51x4, WH41, WH45, WH40, WH32, WH31x2, WH57x2.

Online Rover1822

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #9 on: October 20, 2020, 04:02:54 PM »
Just exercise caution when using greases on o-rings. The o-rings on my WH51s look like silicone, so if you use a silicone grease the gasket may swell/be damaged and not provide a good seal anymore. Lucy or the Ecowitt engineers should be able to confirm what the gasket is made out of. Personally, I prefer not to add greases as it can be messy.

In the past, for soil moisture sensors (non-Ecowitt) I have used adhesive heat shrink tubing to cover and seal the gap between the housing and battery cap as an extra precaution. The adhesive will provide a good seal against the elements and flow into any irregularly shaped housing spaces.  On those sensors, the manufacturer used a rubber seal so silicone grease would have been compatible.

For the WH51 you can slide on a small piece and gently shrink it to size with a heat gun at fairly low temperature. To remove the heat-shrink you can just carefully cut it off with a knife. You do not need to shrink down a lot, just enough that the adhesive come out of the ends a little. With lithium batteries, you won't have to do this very often at all. All three of my WH51s are in fairly sheltered locations so I haven't been very worried about the small seal on the battery cap.

I really do like your solution, and I may try it. As far as the grease, this is why I said plumber's silicone. That may have a different terminology in other areas. I use it routinely on the kegs I use for home brewing which have O-rings everywhere. I obviously can't vouch for the longevity of the application on these rings, but I'm trying it, deal is not to apply a ton of it, you just want to make the surface more hydrophobic.
« Last Edit: October 20, 2020, 04:04:29 PM by Rover1822 »
Ambient:
  WS-2000
  PM 2.5(2)
  WH31B(2)
  WH40E
  WH31P
EcoWitt:
  GW1100
  GW1000(4)
  WH31(2)
  WH57
  WH51(12),
  WH40
  WH5360B
  WN34S
  WittBoy WS90 + GW2000
  WS90 (other one) + GW1100
Personal Sites: Weather Cam

Offline Boognish

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #10 on: October 20, 2020, 05:01:29 PM »
I bought 5, same exact thing happened with two of them within a month or two after I got them. Both of mine had died which is how I found out.

Offline c036416

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #11 on: January 12, 2021, 08:59:15 PM »
I have recently had 3 WH51 failed due to water ingress (about 12 months old).  The point of entry looks like it's from the seal around the little clear window.  I managed to get all 3 working again by disseminating and cleaning the corrosion away and re soldering a component on the main board (1 solder joint had corroded away).  Two of the units no longer have working LED's as the led board were to far gone.  It could probably be repaired but I dont have the patience.    I would recommend covering the clear window with silicon to prevent water ingress.  From what I could see the cause of the problem was a gap in the sealant around the clear plastic cover.

FYI.  Disassembly and repairs were not overly difficult.  (if your not worried about warranty)
remove battery
remove metal ring from battery compartment and un-solder
remove 2 small screws that were under the metal ring
slide off cover tube
Then with a small flat screw driver carefully pry apart the 2 halves (They have been glued together)
Scrub away corrosion with tooth brush.
check for bad solder joints where the corrosion was
test unit before reassembly

The unit's will still work with the LED board removed.

For easy testing I used the rtl_433 software from git hub with a simple receiver on a linux host.  You could use the GW1000 but I have to many devices making testing complicated

Online Rover1822

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #12 on: June 10, 2021, 12:34:07 PM »
I know this is old, but I also wanted to give kudos to  c036416.

I just had a first gen WH51 fail, LEDs still light as normal, but no RF transmission . I went through all the normal steps, but I'm not seeing anything on my SDR either.

I pretty much followed the disassembly posted, however, of course, pretty much managed to destroy the case in the process. So, my advice only attempt as a last step, and I am bit ham handed.

After having gained access to the circuit board, cleaning it , powering it up on its own, well, no change. I'm not terribly upset by this as I have 7 now instead of 8. Also 4 more on order.

Some other notes:
In my case there was obvious water ingress in the battery compartment, also one of the top screws under the cap had rust on it. If there was a design improvement to be made, in my eyes it would be to add an O-ring , under the battery cap. There is not enough space there now to add one


 
« Last Edit: June 10, 2021, 12:40:30 PM by Rover1822 »
Ambient:
  WS-2000
  PM 2.5(2)
  WH31B(2)
  WH40E
  WH31P
EcoWitt:
  GW1100
  GW1000(4)
  WH31(2)
  WH57
  WH51(12),
  WH40
  WH5360B
  WN34S
  WittBoy WS90 + GW2000
  WS90 (other one) + GW1100
Personal Sites: Weather Cam

Offline Autofill

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #13 on: June 10, 2021, 12:43:39 PM »
2 out of 4 mine also showed water ingress. But some good news Lucy told me that they're going to release a new product at the end of this month which is supposed to solve this problem. They essentially found out that the water is coming from the bottom and not from the battery cap so they added some UV sealant on the bottom.
Ecowitt WH2320-E
Ecowitt HP2551-C (SOLD - replaced with Home Assistant Fully Kiosk FireTab HD10)
Ecowitt GW1000
Ecowitt GW1100
Ecowitt WH69E
Ecowitt WH32B
Ecowitt WH57 (x3)
Ecowitt WH51 (x6)
Ecowitt WH41
Ecowitt WH41 (Honeywell-based USB/Supercap modified)
Ecowitt WH31 (x8)
Ecowitt WH55 (x4)
Ecowitt WH45
Ecowitt WN34S (x2)
Ecowitt WN35
Ecowitt Wittboy running on 12VDC  solar power

Online Rover1822

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #14 on: June 10, 2021, 12:51:10 PM »
2 out of 4 mine also showed water ingress. But some good news Lucy told me that they're going to release a new product at the end of this month which is supposed to solve this problem. They essentially found out that the water is coming from the bottom and not from the battery cap so they added some UV sealant on the bottom.

I can't agree with their findings, it may be in addition to the top battery cap, but it's not the sole cause. The rust (just under the - ring)  and wet battery imply that in my case it came from the top. Also only one of the screws was rusted. From a manufacturing standpoint, I can see it would be easier to add the sealant where they are talking. Doing a better seal on the top battery cap would involve a design change as adding a O-ring , would require longer tabs  (or a totally different idea) on the cap that could engage with with the base. The cap is basically just a bayonet mount , and too me, is the weakest point for ingress after having taken it apart.
Ambient:
  WS-2000
  PM 2.5(2)
  WH31B(2)
  WH40E
  WH31P
EcoWitt:
  GW1100
  GW1000(4)
  WH31(2)
  WH57
  WH51(12),
  WH40
  WH5360B
  WN34S
  WittBoy WS90 + GW2000
  WS90 (other one) + GW1100
Personal Sites: Weather Cam

Online Rover1822

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #15 on: June 10, 2021, 01:14:46 PM »
There may be something I might try with the other ones. There is something we used in the lab called "parafilm" its basically an elastic wax tape.  We used to seal petri dishes with it

https://smile.amazon.com/Parafilm-Roll-250-Length-Width/dp/B005KDF3X6/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=parafilm&qid=1623344939&sr=8-5

I might try this on my others, in a smaller width If I can find it. It is form fitting if you stretch it. It probably would have to be replaced a few times, but would still allow access to the battery compartment as you replaced the tape. The thought of self fusing tape also entered my head, but that stuff is miserable to remove after a period of time. Other problem is the cap has ridges.

I might try the self fusing tape as I have some for sealing coax connections

Ambient:
  WS-2000
  PM 2.5(2)
  WH31B(2)
  WH40E
  WH31P
EcoWitt:
  GW1100
  GW1000(4)
  WH31(2)
  WH57
  WH51(12),
  WH40
  WH5360B
  WN34S
  WittBoy WS90 + GW2000
  WS90 (other one) + GW1100
Personal Sites: Weather Cam

Online Rover1822

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #16 on: June 24, 2021, 07:28:27 AM »
Well just lost another one, LED still works, but nothing being received. Water shook out of it.
This makes 2 out of the 8 from last year now non functional.
Ambient:
  WS-2000
  PM 2.5(2)
  WH31B(2)
  WH40E
  WH31P
EcoWitt:
  GW1100
  GW1000(4)
  WH31(2)
  WH57
  WH51(12),
  WH40
  WH5360B
  WN34S
  WittBoy WS90 + GW2000
  WS90 (other one) + GW1100
Personal Sites: Weather Cam

Offline Autofill

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #17 on: June 24, 2021, 11:10:19 AM »
I'm really hoping the new design will solve these issues. I have 4 and 2 have leaked, and Ecowitt told me they will send me a new replacement when the new model comes out  (as I'm hesitant to buy more without knowing if the new one is available). Lucy told me it should be available soon, but Henry has not even responded to my email about this.

Here is the new design, "UV glue has been used to seal the junction to improve the waterproof performance"

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Ecowitt WH2320-E
Ecowitt HP2551-C (SOLD - replaced with Home Assistant Fully Kiosk FireTab HD10)
Ecowitt GW1000
Ecowitt GW1100
Ecowitt WH69E
Ecowitt WH32B
Ecowitt WH57 (x3)
Ecowitt WH51 (x6)
Ecowitt WH41
Ecowitt WH41 (Honeywell-based USB/Supercap modified)
Ecowitt WH31 (x8)
Ecowitt WH55 (x4)
Ecowitt WH45
Ecowitt WN34S (x2)
Ecowitt WN35
Ecowitt Wittboy running on 12VDC  solar power

Online Rover1822

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #18 on: June 25, 2021, 08:14:38 AM »
Unlike the first unit failure, I pulled the batteries, left the compartment open, and rested the sensor upside down overnight. This morning stuck battery in and it started reporting again. :)
I have removed the battery again, and will let it dry out for a few more days before sticking back in soil. I tried this with the first unit failure, but that did not work. I might have gotten lucky this time.
Ambient:
  WS-2000
  PM 2.5(2)
  WH31B(2)
  WH40E
  WH31P
EcoWitt:
  GW1100
  GW1000(4)
  WH31(2)
  WH57
  WH51(12),
  WH40
  WH5360B
  WN34S
  WittBoy WS90 + GW2000
  WS90 (other one) + GW1100
Personal Sites: Weather Cam

Offline joe vallino

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Re: Soil Moisture sensor water ingress 🤨
« Reply #19 on: November 15, 2021, 10:27:32 AM »
I know this is an old thread, but just adding to the data here. I purchased 8 AW WH31SM soil moisture probes in Nov 2020. As of Nov 2021, 5 have failed due to water ingress, which appears to occur across the battery cap. AW has replaced them all, but you must pay for return shipping (they requested all but one be returned). Now that they are out of warranty I may try sealing the battery caps, but I don't expect any to last very long.