Topic: Heater ideas for WH40.

[wbweather25]

Hello everybody,

I want to know if there are any heater ideas that I could use for the WH40 rain gauge. I live in the Netherlands and I can't find any good heaters to place in the WH40. I don't have the WH40 yet, but winter is coming and if there would be snow, I'd really like to have it melted I can only find terrarium heating cables that are 3.5 meters long, so I'd like to know if there are smaller options. And is there a heater that I can connect to the STC-3008 thermostat?

Thank you and best regards,
WB

[davidmc36]

I used the 15 watt model for my heater build. It actually uses quite a hit of length wrapping it around. I use an Inkbird thermostat device. Works a treat.

Zoo Med Reptile Heat Cable 15 Watts, 11.5-Feet https://a.co/d/2NyGp75

https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=43129.0

Inkbird Temperature and Humidity Controller ITC-608T with Dual Stage Thermostat 12 Periods Time Stage 1800W for Mushroom Greenhouse Homebrew https://a.co/d/85e39uI

[wbweather25]

Thank you for the quick response!
I will look at it.

[Gyvate]

several rather simple DIY solutions exist:
for my solution see:
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=43129.msg439284#msg439284 (WH65/WS69 and WH40 compatible)
has been working for almost three years now - no freezing in winter - will extend it to my WH40 for this winter

[wbweather25]

several rather simple DIY solutions exist:
for my solution see:
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=43129.msg439284#msg439284 (WH65/WS69 and WH40 compatible)
has been working for almost three years now - no freezing in winter - will extend it to my WH40 for this winter

Looks like a great idea!

[wbweather25]

several rather simple DIY solutions exist:
for my solution see:
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=43129.msg439284#msg439284 (WH65/WS69 and WH40 compatible)
has been working for almost three years now - no freezing in winter - will extend it to my WH40 for this winter

Which thermostat did you use? I think I’ll use the STC-3008, but I don’t know if it can be used outside (in a waterproof box) with low temperatures.

[Gyvate]

I'm using something like this
https://www.amazon.de/Temperaturregler-Xpsirny-Temperaturschalter-Gew%C3%A4chshaus-Treibhaussaatkeimung/dp/B09NPGFMBX/ref=sr_1_12?crid=1QVXRRU25EQ2F&keywords=thermostat+steckdose&qid=1667480340&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI1LjU5IiwicXNhIjoiNS4xNSIsInFzcCI6IjQuOTEifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=thermostat%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-12
or
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0B46HW65C/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B0B46HW65C&pd_rd_w=yFUVG&content-id=amzn1.sym.289b45a0-8ca0-4af2-9c85-5b0e57eb93c5&pf_rd_p=289b45a0-8ca0-4af2-9c85-5b0e57eb93c5&pf_rd_r=9B5R2B6018TQ5FZ2VSPN&pd_rd_wg=duFbK&pd_rd_r=5dc459cc-6a51-4fcc-8697-d393abc6c6ba&s=kitchen&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw
inside a waterproof box like
https://www.amazon.de/Electraline-300175-300175-Steckdosen-Box-schwarz/dp/B0751QPFKM/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=elektrobox%2Bwasserdicht%2Baussen%2Bgro%C3%9F&qid=1667480666&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjU1IiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sr=8-8&th=1
mounted/attached to the pole of my outdoor sensor array.

The reptile heating coil (15 W) connected to the thermostat and put into the rain gauge from below, loosely wound around the wall making sure it doesn't affect the tilting mechanism. Had to drill a bigger hole for the heating coil to enter (= widened one of the water outflow holes) - and put the thermostat probe also through such a hole inside the rain gauge body.

Runs without any issue - and no humidity issue either - for 2-3 years now.

Not as sophisticated as @davidmc36 construction but works 

[wbweather25]

I'm using something like this
https://www.amazon.de/Temperaturregler-Xpsirny-Temperaturschalter-Gew%C3%A4chshaus-Treibhaussaatkeimung/dp/B09NPGFMBX/ref=sr_1_12?crid=1QVXRRU25EQ2F&keywords=thermostat+steckdose&qid=1667480340&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI1LjU5IiwicXNhIjoiNS4xNSIsInFzcCI6IjQuOTEifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=thermostat%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-12
or
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0B46HW65C/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B0B46HW65C&pd_rd_w=yFUVG&content-id=amzn1.sym.289b45a0-8ca0-4af2-9c85-5b0e57eb93c5&pf_rd_p=289b45a0-8ca0-4af2-9c85-5b0e57eb93c5&pf_rd_r=9B5R2B6018TQ5FZ2VSPN&pd_rd_wg=duFbK&pd_rd_r=5dc459cc-6a51-4fcc-8697-d393abc6c6ba&s=kitchen&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw
inside a waterproof box like
https://www.amazon.de/Electraline-300175-300175-Steckdosen-Box-schwarz/dp/B0751QPFKM/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=elektrobox%2Bwasserdicht%2Baussen%2Bgro%C3%9F&qid=1667480666&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjU1IiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sr=8-8&th=1
mounted/attached to the pole of my outdoor sensor array.

The reptile heating coil (15 W) connected to the thermostat and put into the rain gauge from below, loosely wound around the wall making sure it doesn't affect the tilting mechanism. Had to drill a bigger hole for the heating coil to enter (= widened one of the water outflow holes) - and put the thermostat probe also through such a hole inside the rain gauge body.

Runs without any issue - and no humidity issue either - for 2-3 years now.

Not as sophisticated as @davidmc36 construction but works 

I think I'll use it, thanks!

[wbweather25]

I got my Froggit HP1000SE Single Sensor yesterday, and I didn’t buy the heater stuff yet. But now snow is forecasted for Saturday, does it take much time to create a heater for the WH40/DP80?

[Gyvate]

I got my Froggit HP1000SE Single Sensor yesterday, and I didn’t buy the heater stuff yet. But now snow is forecasted for Saturday, does it take much time to create a heater for the WH40/DP80?

my solution took about one hour once all material and tools were available, maybe even less.
a more sophisticated solution like @davidmc36 will for sure take longer.

[wbweather25]

I got my Froggit HP1000SE Single Sensor yesterday, and I didn’t buy the heater stuff yet. But now snow is forecasted for Saturday, does it take much time to create a heater for the WH40/DP80?

my solution took about one hour once all material and tools were available, maybe even less.
a more sophisticated solution like @davidmc36 will for sure take longer.

And do I need to make holes into the rain gauge?

[Gyvate]

for my solution you have to drill a hole from below (widen one of the outflow holes) to get the coil inside the rain gauge body. As for the thermostat you'll have to see - again, widening one of the existing holes should suffice.

[davidmc36]

I got my Froggit HP1000SE Single Sensor yesterday, and I didn’t buy the heater stuff yet. But now snow is forecasted for Saturday, does it take much time to create a heater for the WH40/DP80?

my solution took about one hour once all material and tools were available, maybe even less.
a more sophisticated solution like @davidmc36 will for sure take longer.

And do I need to make holes into the rain gauge?

I guess one way or another you will need to poke some sort of hole into it somewhere.

Relative advantages to a hole or holes through the bottom somewhere may be that clearing out some drain opening alleviates icing issues that some have reported at the screened water drains. For whatever reason, or reasons, I never experienced any issue with the drains freezing.

The relative advantage to my choice of a hole in the side is quick-release of the cone to put the system away in the summer. It will save a lot of High Angle UV exposure and initially my coil is made inside a spike-less cone. Spikes go on for the summer. With the addition of bird feeders in the yard for post "dog parents" entertainment I will move to have spikes year round.

I was also able to do all construction to a spare cone without ever needing to disturb the ISS. Just a quick swap out of the cone and fasten the control box to the railing once ready. You could remove your cone on a sunny day and have it all ready by night-fall.

[wbweather25]

I will probably wait a few weeks, until more snow is forecasted. 1-3 cm is forecasted for Saturday, but the temperature will be around +2 degrees. So the snow is most likely to melt, and that’s why. Thanks for the ideas!