Topic: WS-1002WiFi - array is a "consumable"

[Stratocaster]

I installed an Ambient Weather Ws-1001 about 4 years ago.

After 2 years it suddenly stopped transmitting to the console. I did everything in the instructions, but no go - it was deadsville.

Meanwhile, the company 'upgraded' the WS-1001 to WS-1002. It has a different method of solar charging, but otherwise identical.

I bought the replacement, it sync'ed up no problem, and ran perfectly for another 2 years. Until it didn't.

I noticed one day last week that all parameters were normal except for outdoor temperature, which was 140.0 degrees. Over the past week, the temperature reading swings wildly, and won't come anywhere close to a normal temperature profile.

Once again I did all the suggested troubleshooting, to no avail.

I wondered, should I change my ecosystem and go with something completely different? My array is on a dock, in a salt air environment,  which I realize is rough on delicate instruments...

Anyway, I decided to stay with the existing setup. The array is $115 on the Ambient site, and I bought two this time. I will adopt the mindset of it being a consumable which I have to replace from time to time, as the salty air chews it up and spits it out.

Just posting this as information which may help another hapless soul 

[galfert]

Hmmm...well what is done is done. Yes that older generation of hardware is not as resilient as the newer Fine Offset stuff. That said even the new stuff isn't Davis quality. But they are working on it and getting much better as they have released new sensors recently and even newer ones that are soon to be released. I would say at some point it may be best to cut your losses and upgrade to some newer technology. That newer technology could be the move up to Davis or the newer Fine Offset generation of sensors. The newer Fine Offset sensors not only seem to be much better quality but they also produce much better data. For example the wind vane is dampened to produce much more consistent results, temperature and wind use newer generation digital sensors. In harsh salt air environment I've seen pictures of even Davis stations being eaten up, but they would probably still last longer.

EDIT: For anyone stumbling on this thread I would also like to add that the new Fine Offset clone stations are repairable. You don't have to toss the whole thing out. You can get separate replacement for all the sensor parts even on the all-in-one WH65 Osprey type sensor array.

[Mandrake]

I have to say that your location is probably about as bad a location for electronics as you can get.
A hot tropical location at sea level next to the sea!
By necessity the sensors are exposed to the air and they will corrode exponentially in that environment.
I doubt that even Davis will last much longer than Fine Offset in such locations.
There are specialist weather stations designed for such harsh conditions but they are expensive. As Galfert notes the newer stations and equipment released after the 1001/1002 are very much better but even these will have limited lifespans in your locale!

I think you will have to accept that in your lovely and beautiful location that you will have to assume that you will need to replace the external sensors at least every other year if you wish to stay using consumer grade weather stations.

[Stratocaster]

Thanks for the comments, guys.

Here's a funny story.

I received my 2 new arrays from Ambient. You may remember that my old array was working on all parameters except temperature, which was 140.0 or -39.9, depending on its mood. So I left it online while I waited for the new equipment.

Anyway, I took down the old one, removed the batteries and chucked it in the bin in the back yard.

Try as I might, I could not get the new array to pair with the console. Tried everything, no go. I couldn't believe it, DOA right out of the box! As I pondered how I would return it back to the US from The Bahamas, I opened the 2nd box. Surely they wouldn't both be DOA! So I went through the whole pairing procedure with the 2nd one. Nope...console still reading 140.0 degrees and the wind direction unchanged. So frustrating. I reset everything several times, to no avail.

Then suddenly.....it dawned on me.

The failed array in the garbage bin in the backyard may no longer have had batteries, but it still had a fully charged capacitor.

The old station was transmitting from the grave! 

I dug it out, discharged the capacitor, fired up the new one and it paired instantly. Station back on line 

[Mandrake]

All's well that ends well!
I guess all that Bahamian sun nearly caught you out!

Glad you are back and working well again.

[galfert]

I like that story. 

[davefr]

I'm faced with a similar environment. The Senserion chips just don't last long in a salt air environment.  However the solution is to simply replace the array with a backup and then take the one that failed and repair it. Either order the OEM temp/humidity module or buy the Sensirion daughter board for about $5 and solder it into your failed array so you have a working backup on hand for the next time.

Having a backup array is way cheaper then going Davis which may or may not last any longer.

Here's what happens in a salt air environment:
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=35467.msg363408#msg363408

https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=39027.msg401205#msg401205

[Stratocaster]

That's good to know about the daughter board, Dave. Thanks!