Topic: WS-5000 outdoor array failure, repairable?

[looney2ns]

I haven't gotten it down off the roof yet, "been too hot", but was wondering if anyone has successfully repaired a dead array or found the common cause for failure. Mine went kaput after a tad over 2yrs. TERRIBLE reliability IMHO.
I've seen several reviews that mention the same problem with the array dying at around the 2yr mark.
Thanks for any suggestions.

[Rocketman]

Have you replaced the batteries etc....
Is the Temperature and humidity working ?

[looney2ns]

No on batteries, since I've not gotten it off the roof.
No data of any sorts is being transmitted.

[Gyvate]

nothing more can be advised before you can replace the batteries.
We have to see what, if anything, happens when you replace the batteries.

[caveflyer]

Yesterday evening (1/9/2025), I just had my WS-5000 sensor array fail, after 2.5 years of non-stop operation.  It stopped sending outdoor temp/humidity and wind data to the tablet display.  The display still shows rain, lightning, barometer, indoor temp/humidity (standalone sensor), and another water temp sensor.  I replaced the batteries (after ensuring the new ones were good), and applied di-electric grease to ensure a good connection.  No luck.  I removed the array from my post, and brought it inside so that it's close to the tablet, and it didn't make a difference.  I tried to re-register the array to the tablet, but no luck.  I've followed all the reset instructions that Ambient has provided me, and no luck.  They kept talking about a red LED light on the top, but I see any light (maybe there was one in the past, but I don't recall).  So, it appears to be dead, dead, dead.  However, I noticed a USB-micro port, so I plugged that into my laptop and it showed up as "STM32 Download Firmware Update" and a blue light is blinking on the top of the array.   

So, I'll ask the question:  is there a way to fix this?  (A new one is $200 and they're out of stock until the end of January.)

It seems that the blue light flashing (probably means it's ready for a firmware upgrade), means the electronics are somewhat still working (?), but nothing else I do has any effect.

Any ideas?

[Gyvate]

you can apply a firmware upgrade - take the upgrade files and instructions from our WiKi
read https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=start#ws80
and
https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=start#sensor_firmware_ws80_ws90_ws85
The firmware for a WS80 should also work for a WS-5000-array.

The blue LED should normally blink every 5 (exactly 4.75) seconds, each time it transmits data.
When you connect it with a USB data cable to a Windows PC which has the drivers installed, Windows will recognize it.
once it is in RESET mode (LED constantly blue).

BUT,
If it started blinking when you connected the USB cable, probably the batteries were dead and its super-capacitor too. The super-cap will be charged via this port (an undocumented feature).
Leave it charging until tomorrow and put it back again with new batteries.
When the LED is blinking and not just steady, your console should also receive wind, light and outdoor T/RH data again. Already now.
Then no firmware upgrade needed.

Let us know what the situation is.

[caveflyer]

Great info, many thanks!

The blue light is flashing fast -- I'd say a bit more than 2 per second.  So, I'll leave it plugged in overnight to see what happens.

If I can get it to power up and transmit tomorrow, should I still upgrade the firmware?

Thanks!!!

  -- Robert

[caveflyer]

Success!  I made sure the batteries were not installed, then unplugged the micro-USB from the unit (after being plugged in overnight).  The blue light kept blinking fast after I unplugged it.  Then I put the batteries back in.  I then pressed the reset button for 3-4 seconds (the blue light went out immediately when I pressed on the reset), but then after I released the reset button, a few seconds later a steady blue light came on, then it started a single fast blink every 5 seconds or so... and... --> drum roll <-- ... the temp and humidity info started displaying on the screen!  Yay!

I do wonder:  1)  what caused it to happen and, 2) how do I prevent it from happening again?

Many, many thanks for getting me back up and running!      

  -- Robert

[Gyvate]

I think it didn't get enough solar exposure and the super-capacitor (internal sort of battery) didn't get sufficiently charged and then the batteries were drained ...

[caveflyer]

Wellll, my WS80 has gone out again.  I replaced the batteries with new lithium batteries (checked them before I put them in)... I did this about 6 days ago.  And I used the technique of recharging the supercapacitor by leaving the USB plug plugged in overnight.  That all worked fine... until tonight.  A few hours ago, I noticed that, once again, the temp/humidity wasn't showing on the tablet.  Ugh.

So, is it possible (likely?) that the supercapacitor is failing and that the new batteries ran the WS80 for 6 days?  Or perhaps the solar panel isn't charging any longer?  I'm open to suggestions about what steps I can take to figure out the problem, and then how to resolve it.  If it is the supercapacitor, are my mediocre soldering skills up to swapping it out with a new one?  If it's the solar panel, the same question... and for both, are these parts readily available?

I could temporarily run a long extension cord to my pole and buy and plug in the external power source, I suppose.  I'll likely try that out first since it's something I can likely do quickly.

Any comments/ideas/suggestions are heartily welcome!   

  -- Robert

[Gyvate]

Wellll, my WS80 has gone out again.  I replaced the batteries with new lithium batteries (checked them before I put them in)... I did this about 6 days ago.  And I used the technique of recharging the supercapacitor by leaving the USB plug plugged in overnight.  That all worked fine... until tonight.  A few hours ago, I noticed that, once again, the temp/humidity wasn't showing on the tablet.  Ugh.

So, is it possible (likely?) that the supercapacitor is failing and that the new batteries ran the WS80 for 6 days?  Or perhaps the solar panel isn't charging any longer?  I'm open to suggestions about what steps I can take to figure out the problem, and then how to resolve it.  If it is the supercapacitor, are my mediocre soldering skills up to swapping it out with a new one?  If it's the solar panel, the same question... and for both, are these parts readily available?

I could temporarily run a long extension cord to my pole and buy and plug in the external power source, I suppose.  I'll likely try that out first since it's something I can likely do quickly.

Any comments/ideas/suggestions are heartily welcome!   

  -- Robert

when only the outdoor T/RH fails, it likely that the T/RH sensor is about to give up its ghost.
I would get me a T/RH replacement sensor (either from Ambient for $$$$, if it's time critical for you, or from Ecowitt for $$ - they are the same).
you only have to see what type of T/RH sensor you have (=how old your WS80/WS-5000-ARRAY is).
If it's type3 (blue end of an unplugable sensor, order that from either Ambient or https://shop.ecowitt.com). The solar shield of the T/RH sensor can be removed easily - it's two Philips screws which hold it fixed to the housing.
For more details, see https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=start#ws80

[caveflyer]

I swapped out the batteries first thing this morning, but it didn't help.  I tested the ones I put in 6 days ago and they are good (i.e., not drained at all).  So, I might try the "charge overnight" trick again, to see if it will last another 6 days (and repeat until I can get a new WS80).  But the WS80s are back ordered until the end of the month, so I'm SOL for now.  We've had both overcast and very sunny days, just like we've had since May 2022 when I originally bought the weather station.  It's starting to sound, to me, like the supercapacitor is not so super any longer.    But shouldn't the batteries... fresh batteries... enable the device to operate normally... at least for a few days?

<30 minutes later>  I got the WS80 down from the pole, and when I plug in the USB cable, it does not light-up blue like it did before.  So, it seems completely kaput, now.  Ugh.   

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[Rover1822]

Based on your tests, wait for a new WS80 (from Ambient right?) , as you are using an Ambient console WS-5000.

 

[Gyvate]

not necessarily completely kaputt. Remove the T/RH sensor inside radiation shield and see what that gives - if solar and wind readings come back ...

[caveflyer]

Can you please elaborate on how that is done?  The top portion -- with the solar "panel" and the blue light (when it lights) -- is the radiation shield, yes?  It looks to me like it's been molded.  How do I take it apart?  Thanks!

Never mind... I figured out what you meant, and I think this is the replacement I need:

https://shop.ecowitt.com/collections/accessories/products/sht35-temp-hygr-1

I'll take it apart tomorrow to make sure.

Thanks!

[Gyvate]

Can you please elaborate on how that is done?  The top portion -- with the solar "panel" and the blue light (when it lights) -- is the radiation shield, yes?  It looks to me like it's been molded.  How do I take it apart?  Thanks!

Never mind... I figured out what you meant, and I think this is the replacement I need:

https://shop.ecowitt.com/collections/accessories/products/sht35-temp-hygr-1

I'll take it apart tomorrow to make sure.
Thanks!

Only, if the T/RH sensor has this black plug type - if it's bluish, it's
https://shop.ecowitt.com/en-de/collections/accessories-for-ws80/products/sht35-temp-hygr
if it has a long cable only, it is this
https://shop.ecowitt.com/en-de/collections/accessories-for-ws80/products/sht30-temp-hygr-module-suitable-for-seaside-use-wh65-ws69-ws80

[caveflyer]

Yes, it's a black plug.

Last night I managed to get the blue light to come on (fast flashing), so I repeated your advice and this morning was able to get it up and running.  So I've put it back out on the pole, and hope it keeps going for another 6 days (as before).  This will give my parts time to get here, I hope.  (Or I'll repeat this as long as it takes, assuming the blue light will come back on.)

The problem I'm still having is, the cause and solution.  The batteries are fresh.  I can't tell if the solar panel is working.  So I can't know if the supercapacitor is still soaking up/delivering electricity.  But on top of all that, is replacing the temp/humid. sensor going to help?  I'm very confused about all these symptoms... they don't seem to point to one specific solution.

  -- Robert

[Gyvate]

the way I have understood it is that the internal wiring is such that a failing T/RH sensor can also impact other sensors and their readings. The blue LED is the sign of transmission. If the transmission gets blocked, it won't blink but may still have enough juice...

[Shaggy24]

Try unplugging the larger connector from the circuit board under the solar top and leaving it unplugged.  Then do a reset by inserting a small pin in the reset button.  Make sure the array has two fresh batteries. Then re-start your indoor receiver by unplugging the power supply cord and putting it back in after a minute. Does the outdoor temp and humidity now work?
   
This is what worked for mine and still does this.  If I reconnect the larger multi wire connector.  The outdoor temp and humidity stops showing on the display.  But if I disconnect it, the temp and humidity works.  So at least in my case, I'm convinced the problem is not the temp and humidity sensor.  Yours may be different.  Curious to find out...

 

[Gyvate]

Try unplugging the larger connector from the circuit board under the solar top and leaving it unplugged.  Then do a reset by inserting a small pin in the reset button.  Make sure the array has two fresh batteries. Then re-start your indoor receiver by unplugging the power supply cord and putting it back in after a minute. Does the outdoor temp and humidity now work?
   
This is what worked for mine and still does this.  If I reconnect the larger multi wire connector.  The outdoor temp and humidity stops showing on the display.  But if I disconnect it, the temp and humidity works.  So at least in my case, I'm convinced the problem is not the temp and humidity sensor.  Yours may be different.  Curious to find out...

Sorry to say that, but you must have confused the models. The WS-5000-ARRAY (WS80) does not have a hole for resetting - it works differently from the WS-2000-ARRAY (WH65). Power-cycling the console doesn't have an effect on the outdoor array either (that's a commonly propagated myth) - even though, no harm done with power-cycling except losing the max gust values of the day.
Also, the way the WS-5000-ARRAY is built and how its sensors are connected to the array mainboard (PCB) is different from the WH65. Your advice could only work with a very old WS-5000-ARRAY model which the OP doesn't have. He already confirmed  that he has a type2 array (black, pluggable T/RH sensor). For the details, have a look at our WiKi under WS80.

The description of the OP's symptoms are typical for a failing T/RH sensor - however, not to be excluded, that something is (also ?) wrong with the solar panel and the super-capacitor.
But let him first get the replacement T/RH sensor and see what it gives - it's a 10-15 USD affair ...

[Shaggy24]

Nope.  No confusing models here.  And my WS5000 was purchased 15 Mar 2022 from Ambient Weather.  Does that make it very old?  Point is,  my ws5000 only lasted until 7 Nov of 2023 when it developed the exact symptoms as caveflyer.   My solution was as described.  My WS5000 worked for another year without the large connector plugged in! And all sensors worked and displayed correctly until the "super capacitor" started failing.  I suspect that is the culprit with caveflyer's outdoor array as well.  But, we wont know until he tests the theory. 

Besides what is the harm in finding out for sure if the problem is in fact the sensor?  Only takes a moment to remove the top and unplug the one connector.  And the reset and calibrate buttons are there on the array. They are recessed and you need a pin or similar to do it but they are there.   Why advise to buy a new sensor if the old one still works?  In fact, why buy another of the same array that will almost certainly fail again in another 2 years or less?

[Gyvate]

Nope.  No confusing models here.  And my WS5000 was purchased 15 Mar 2022 from Ambient Weather.  Does that make it very old? 

yes, it makes it very old - it's a type1 hardware edition, whereas the OP has already a type2. Recent is type 3.
So, comparing type 1 with type 2 where not only the T/RH sensors changed, is +/- apples with pears.
You don't want to believe this - feel free not to believe - but it won't reflect the technical reality.

reset by inserting a small pin in the reset button

Reset and calibrate buttons are on the array, they are to be pressed.
Inserting a pin into a button doesn't make sense ...
What you probably meant to say was something like - as these buttons are rather small - use a screwdriver with a small blade to press the button.
The WH65 arrays really have a little hole where a pin or a paper clip end end are to be inserted.

[caveflyer]

I have a "RESET" pinhole.  After I charge the WS80 overnight with the USB cable, I put a paperclip in the hole to reset it.  The fast-flashing blue light goes away... and I hold the paperclip for 5 seconds or so, release it, then within a few more seconds it starts broadcasting and a slower, steady blue flashing light.

I appreciate _all_ the suggestions... now that I've got it working again, I'll hold off until (unless?) it quits again.  Last time it lasted about six days. 

Also, I have a new solar panel, and new T/RH sensor on their way, but it's going to take 3 weeks or more to get them.  Once I do get them, my plan is to  1) replace the T/RH sensor and then see how it does; then 2) replace the solar panel.  If neither of those helps resolve the problem, I'd have to assume it's the supercapacitor that is failing, and I don't think I can replace that (?).

As I am a novice, I am open to suggestions to tweaking this plan!   

  -- Robert

[Gyvate]

let's first see what the two steps ahead will give (T/RH sensor and solar panel).
Exchanging the super-cap is not too big a deal for someone who is skilled in soldering electronics.
You may find someone who is able and willing to do it - and we will be able to provide you with the characteristic of the super-cap.
But let's not sell the skin of the bear before we caught it 

[caveflyer]

So, as before, on the 6th day after I resurrected the sensor array, the WS80 failed to transmit.

I have not yet received the new t/rh sensor or the solar panel replacements, so, I decided to try Shaggy24's solution because... why not?  I went to the pole (didn't even bring it down), removed the solar panel, unplugged the larger connector, put the solar panel back on, then pressed and held the reset button for about 10 seconds... and... it worked!  I don't know why it works, but it does.  It's now run several hours without issue, but before I'm ready to say it's a "good" solution, I'll want to wait another 6+ days.  As we say here in the U.S. South:  well shut my mouth!   I don't have a clue why it would work... I've been in IT and dealt with electronics for 40+ years, and typically removing a connection will at the least stop something from working, but usually it really messes things up.  So, why this works, I have ZERO idea.  Should I send a note to Ambient hoping their engineers will take a look at this scenario?  Or, will that be a waste of time?

  -- Robert