Author Topic: 4th WS-2902A in just over 2 years (Read 437 times)

Sao Bernardino · « **on:** December 08, 2019, 06:27:46 PM »

Hello everyone,

First time poster here. My WS-2902A is about 150 feet from the ocean, on top of my building with no obstructions in site. My 4th unit in 2 years and 3 months has just started to fail again.

All failures have been of the same nature, ex. the temp. stops transmitting, the wind stops transmitting, the solar stops transmitting etc.. Resets do not work and I have replaced 2 complete units and 1 array assembly.
Has anyone had the same issue? If so what solved your problem?
Thanks in advance for the responses.

Sao Bernardino

CW2274 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 08, 2019, 06:58:10 PM »

Well, it seems rather obvious that the salty sea spray in the air is killing your PWS, over and over...and over. To spend more money on a FIFTH one

.....lets just say time to move along to something a little more robust.

galfert · « **Reply #2 on:** December 08, 2019, 09:27:21 PM »

You could look into conformal coating and methods of application. It is important to understand this process and to do it right as there are several important factors to ensure proper protection and retention of equipment functionality. Google conformal coating and maybe even look up some YouTube videos on this technology as well as to learn about proper methods of application. Don't just buy it and do it without learning about it.

Sao Bernardino · « **Reply #3 on:** December 08, 2019, 10:00:35 PM »

Thanks for the replies. Back in the day I worked at BD and have dip coated and epoxied some PC boards. Fortunately those days are over, lol, and the amount of epoxy I would need would exceed the cost of a replacement assembly.

You would think the engineers designing these PCBs at Ambient would have thought of this before. I guess they are the same people that price Ambient's products. I am lucky that my credit card extends the manufacturers warranty by 1 year. I will be using that perk this time around while I wait until a suitable inexpensive replacement comes on the market.

CW2274 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 08, 2019, 10:52:33 PM »

Quote from: Sao Bernardino on December 08, 2019, 10:00:35 PM

I wait until a suitable inexpensive replacement comes on the market.

That's just it, there's not. If you want something that'll truly last in your environment, you're going to have to spend considerably more than Ambient money.

Mandrake · « **Reply #5 on:** December 09, 2019, 04:13:34 AM »

I agree with that last comment. All consumer electronics are price engineered to hit the market at a sweet spot.
The amount of engineering required to make something last in a salty corrosive environment is going to be quite considerable.
Its just not going to happen at a reasonable price point.

Either you figure out how to protect your kit yourself via a protective coating or start saving for some big expenditure....its the only way unfortunately!

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