Author Topic: Residential mount options  (Read 881 times)

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Offline stromb0li

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Residential mount options
« on: May 24, 2025, 09:13:43 AM »
While not specific to what weather station I should buy, I'm looking for recommendations on what mount to buy :P

I currently have a Davis Vantage Pro 2 and historically had been mounting it to a 4x4 post. I recently put up a fence and was wondering if I should buy a pole like this, concrete it 3-4 feet in; as it would match the fence and I could get it above the panels to try and stay more accurate: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-3-8-in-Dia-x-10-ft-6-in-17-Gauge-Galvanized-Steel-Chain-Link-Fence-Black-Top-Rail-328901BKEB/313173560

While I get that everyone is going to say put the anemometer up 10m; I don't have that luxury.  I can easily attest to 5-6 feet above the ground for the temp rain gauage and a couple more feet for the wind sensor; but I'm worrid if I use something like a flag pole, that will have way too much sway; making the wind reading severely less accurate.

Offline box

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Re: Residential mount options
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2025, 09:52:34 AM »
While not specific to what weather station I should buy, I'm looking for recommendations on what mount to buy :P

I currently have a Davis Vantage Pro 2 and historically had been mounting it to a 4x4 post. I recently put up a fence and was wondering if I should buy a pole like this, concrete it 3-4 feet in; as it would match the fence and I could get it above the panels to try and stay more accurate: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-3-8-in-Dia-x-10-ft-6-in-17-Gauge-Galvanized-Steel-Chain-Link-Fence-Black-Top-Rail-328901BKEB/313173560

While I get that everyone is going to say put the anemometer up 10m; I don't have that luxury.  I can easily attest to 5-6 feet above the ground for the temp rain gauage and a couple more feet for the wind sensor; but I'm worrid if I use something like a flag pole, that will have way too much sway; making the wind reading severely less accurate.

Another option is to mount another 4x4 post to your fence post but attach via a couple of bolts so you can take out the upper bolt and loosen the lower using it as a hinge to bring your station down for maintenance

Obviously it will depend on the fence line so you would probably need to swing down parallel to your fence line inside or outside your property depending on neighbours etc

I did something like that and then placed a tubular aluminium pole on top to get my wind sensor up to 8 metres, it did need guying, I used a tripod configuration to take up less space

Offline 92merc

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Re: Residential mount options
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2025, 11:08:01 AM »
I used top rail for my anemometer.  It goes about 12 feet above my roof peak.  Mine was simple galvanized rail.

What i did to combat sway, I filled about a foot of the lower end with closed cell dense spray foam.  I let that set up a good 24 hours.  I then filled the top rail with sand.  Left about 6 inches at the top to cap it with closed cell foam again.  Then I used some good sealing foil tape to top it off to try and prevent UV damage to the foam, keeping it hopefully sealed.

All that mass from the sand greatly reduced the swaying frequency.  And it really didn't add as much weight as you'd think.
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Offline weatherdoc

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Re: Residential mount options
« Reply #3 on: May 25, 2025, 08:31:24 AM »
I have my VP2 mounted on a 4x4 post and the wind sensors at the top of a 10-foot galvanized steel top fence post like the link to Home Depot in your post only I opted for the silver version, not black. I haven't noticed any sway in strong winds.

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