Author Topic: what is this coil spring for?  (Read 1530 times)

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Offline ppavone58

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what is this coil spring for?
« on: May 21, 2020, 07:56:28 AM »
Hi, brand new to this forum.
I read quite a few posts here and decided on the Ecowitt GW1002. Setup was very easy and I'm getting data. However, looking in the box I found a coil of wire. It's not mentioned in the parts list. Does this belong somewhere?
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Offline galfert

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Re: what is this coil spring for?
« Reply #1 on: May 21, 2020, 08:23:28 AM »
You put it in the rain funnel. It is to help keep leaves and other stuff from affecting the rain gauge.
Ecowitt GW1000 | Meteobridge on Raspberry Pi
WU: KFLWINTE111  |  PWSweather: KFLWINTE111
CWOP: FW3708  |  AWEKAS: 14814
Windy: pws-f075acbe
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Offline ppavone58

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Re: what is this coil spring for?
« Reply #2 on: May 21, 2020, 08:47:08 AM »
ahh thanks

Offline Platokidd

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Re: what is this coil spring for?
« Reply #3 on: May 21, 2020, 09:06:14 AM »
Added the WH40 rain gauge to my WS-2000 and WS2902a.

In a very light rain Im thinking it too spring filter might be too restrictive.

The rain gauge on my array registered .04" of rain, the WH40 registered 0" of rain. Thinking of not using the filter spring.
Ambient
1-WS-5000 1-WS-2902A 2-WS40/RAIN 1-WH31L 
1-METEOBRIDGE 1-PM2.5 (WH41B) 3-WH31 1-SRX100LX

ECOWITT
2-HP2550 2-HP2560 2-GW2000 2-GW1100
2-WS68 1-WS80 1-WH32EP 10-WH31 1-WH40
1-HP10 2-WH45 4-WH55 5-WH51
1-WN30 1-WH41

1-DAVIS 7714
1-STRATUS
1-Fisher Barometer 1436R-22
PWS at 2 locations.
1- Storm Sensor-Zelda the dog ;)

Offline mauro63

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Re: what is this coil spring for?
« Reply #4 on: May 21, 2020, 10:12:32 AM »
Added the WH40 rain gauge to my WS-2000 and WS2902a.

In a very light rain Im thinking it too spring filter might be too restrictive.

The rain gauge on my array registered .04" of rain, the WH40 registered 0" of rain. Thinking of not using the filter spring.

there are many studies on the sieve to be used in the collection cone of a rain gauge
the primary objective is to retain leaves carried by the wind, bird droppings, parts of branches, pollen balls and everything that does not have to reach the internal measurement system, while allowing water to pass
unfortunately, however, the molecular properties of water, the phenomena of adhesion, cohesion, capillarity etc. come into play
the filter adopted by ecowitt is effective but can certainly cause in some cases an underestimation of rainfall, just observe its conformation
in weak rain conditions but with very weak ventilation (vertical precipitation) I have not noticed any worsening compared to the use without filter

Mauro

Offline djkkm

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Re: what is this coil spring for?
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2020, 12:07:05 AM »
However, looking in the box I found a coil of wire. It's not mentioned in the parts list. Does this belong somewhere?

New myself - here is the instruction sheet Lucy from Ecowitt sent me. Really quick replies to my inquiry & follow up emails -   [tup]

Devin
Ecowitt GW1000
+ WH31 + WH32 + WH40
+ WH51 + WH57 + WS68
PWSweather: KALMOBIL210
Wunderground: KALMOBIL210

Offline Jibster

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Re: what is this coil spring for?
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2022, 09:26:54 AM »
This is probably obvious to most of you WH40 users, but just in case there is someone out there committing the same error, I though I would share my recent "discovery." 

I found that the coil spring (filter), when placed correctly in the funnel, greatly improves accuracy during heavy rain. I noticed this while cleaning my WH40 after a bird used the funnel as a toilet. Anyway, while running a slow stream of water through the unit, I saw that the small steady stream of water overwhelmed the tipping cup and held it in the down position - not allowing it to reset for the next tip. When I added the spring filter, I pushed it in and it hooked the bottom of the funnel (by mistake I thought), and viola! I don't know if it is the spiral channeling though the spring or the hook slowing the drip to the cup, but immediately, I could see that the cup was tipping much more consistently.

Somehow I missed it, but the instruction manual does say to install the spring hooked to the bottom of the funnel, but as far as I am aware, it only refers to it as a filter for small debris. For two years I have just been placing the filter in the funnel just kind of sitting there (not hooked in) to catch small debris. 

 
ECOWITT GW1000 | WH32 | WS68 | WH40 | WH57
KNCRALEI888

Offline WA4OPQ

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Re: what is this coil spring for?
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2022, 10:18:09 PM »
This spring saves me a lot of time. I have two remote sites, one is an hour driving time, and for some reason the birds at one site just love to leave their poo in the rain funnel, they have learned to straddle the spikes. I used to have to make a weekly trip to clean the deposits, but now it's just monthly. It's made a huge difference for me.