Author Topic: Solar powered remote WX station  (Read 2394 times)

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Offline WA4OPQ

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Solar powered remote WX station
« on: November 12, 2020, 10:19:05 PM »
Here's my latest project, a solar powered station using ham radio to link to my base station. It uses an Ambient WS-2902 array, Ecowitt GW1000, and a raspberry pi zero running WeeWx. It's currently in my back yard, hopefully next year it'll be on a hill overlooking a cornfield.
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Offline vreihen

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Re: Solar powered remote WX station
« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2020, 07:32:15 AM »
Out of curiosity, how does the VV-898 perform as an APRS transceiver?????
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Offline rlee171

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Re: Solar powered remote WX station
« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2020, 10:28:36 AM »
Very nice job!   Specs on the solar panel?
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Offline WA4OPQ

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Re: Solar powered remote WX station
« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2020, 01:11:47 PM »
Out of curiosity, how does the VV-898 perform as an APRS transceiver?????
It works quite well in a rural location. Low current draw and good sensitivity. I would not recommend it in suburban or city settings, however.

Very nice job!   Specs on the solar panel?
It's a 30W Newpowa panel. I thought it would be adequate for a station that draws 3.5 watts, but I appear to be mistaken. I am going to upgrade it to a 75 watt panel.

Offline roc121

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Re: Solar powered remote WX station
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2021, 09:58:01 AM »
This is really cool.

Offline WA4OPQ

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Re: Solar powered remote WX station
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2021, 11:22:48 AM »
Update:

I have made some modifications after testing. My previous method of burying the battery flooded so a larger battery is in a vault with good drainage. It now has a 75 watt panel and the solar controller has been moved into the cabinet.
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I have also installed a voltage and current sensor and can read five parameters through telemetry. As a test I disconnected the solar panel and found that the battery alone will run it for 5 days and 20 hours.
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« Last Edit: February 17, 2021, 11:04:56 AM by WA4OPQ »

Offline josecmorales

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Re: Solar powered remote WX station
« Reply #6 on: February 17, 2021, 08:45:50 AM »
Great setup, would you mind to explain all you can did it (a little guide how to)
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Offline davidmc36

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Re: Solar powered remote WX station
« Reply #7 on: February 17, 2021, 09:08:55 AM »
Underground battery?

Keeps it warm?

Offline josecmorales

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Re: Solar powered remote WX station
« Reply #8 on: February 17, 2021, 09:27:00 AM »
Underground battery?

Keeps it warm?

I dont think warm, maybe an stable temp.
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Offline WA4OPQ

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Re: Solar powered remote WX station
« Reply #9 on: February 17, 2021, 10:58:50 AM »
Great setup, would you mind to explain all you can did it (a little guide how to)

Thank you. It has turned out to be a much larger project than I envisioned. I am in the process of documenting all of it. I hope to have it published in QST, the journal for Amateur Radio in the US. If so I will supply a link or copy here.

As a note on the progress: My battery will power the station for almost six days, so of course Mother Nature tested me with eight cloudy days. I'm now working on a small UPS and shutdown device for the pi.

Offline WA4OPQ

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Re: Solar powered remote WX station
« Reply #10 on: February 17, 2021, 11:03:22 AM »
Underground battery?
Keeps it warm?
As mentioned before, just a bit more stable.A little less cold in the winter and not so hot in the summer. The vault lid has a provision for a security screw so it also makes it a bit more vandal proof.

Offline azchrisf

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Re: Solar powered remote WX station
« Reply #11 on: April 14, 2021, 12:42:16 PM »
Excellent setup!
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Also doing Soil and Leaf 4x
WU: KAZGLEND106 CWOP: FW1398 (F1398) Purpleair: 98793/LAZGLEND8
My setup:
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=41867.0

Offline nordos

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Re: Solar powered remote WX station
« Reply #12 on: January 21, 2024, 11:19:02 PM »
Thank you. It has turned out to be a much larger project than I envisioned. I am in the process of documenting all of it. I hope to have it published in QST, the journal for Amateur Radio in the US. If so I will supply a link or copy here.
Hello! Have you published somewhere what and how your weather station was assembled from? Please provide a link.
Ecowitt HP2560, WS90.
river Norilskaya (city Norilsk)
Ecowitt: https://www.ecowitt.net/home/share?authorize=8NN7J3
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