Topic: Difference between Watson 8686 and Ecowitt HP2551.

[djm]

I am looking to buy a new weather Station.
What is the difference between the Watson 8686 and Ecowitt HP2551.
They look very similar but a big difference in price.
Watson £189.HP2551 £249
Second question.Is the Ecowitt HP 2551 and the HP2553 the same unit apart from the ultrasonic anometer.
Thank you for any feedback.

[olicat]

Hi!

What is the difference between the Watson 8686 and Ecowitt HP2551.

Technicall there should be no difference.
Except (obviously) the color of the console. Froggit also sold the light console for a long time - at Ecowitt itself, this is black.
But as always: note the frequency of the devices permitted in your country. All components must have the same (permissible) frequency in order to communicate with one another.
With the Watson station, I cannot clearly see whether it is being delivered with 868MHz (preferred) or 433MHz.

Is the Ecowitt HP 2551 and the HP2553 the same unit apart from the ultrasonic anometer.

Yes.

Oliver

[Gyvate]

I am looking to buy a new weather Station.
What is the difference between the Watson 8686 and Ecowitt HP2551.
They look very similar but a big difference in price.
Watson £189.HP2551 £249
Second question.Is the Ecowitt HP 2551 and the HP2553 the same unit apart from the ultrasonic anometer.
Thank you for any feedback.

your questions are answered in our MUST READ thread/post:
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=40730.0
in the table, the footnotes and Console (WiFi) + sensor combinations / packages ("stations") section 

prices can vary a lot ...

[djm]

Where i live we get regular very strong winds in the winter time.Is this hardware suitable for 60/70 mph winds?Thanks.

[Gyvate]

The max gust speed my station detected was 107 km/h which comes down to 67 mph - you need to fix the outdoor array properly though.
Others in the forum also live at UK, US, CDN or AUS coasts and had higher gust speeds without losing the array or having it wind-broken afaik.

[box]

Where i live we get regular very strong winds in the winter time.Is this hardware suitable for 60/70 mph winds?Thanks.

I think the key is how you secure it

On a strong pole, rigidly attached to a strong wall, fencepost or similar, guyed if necessary to prevent swaying, and you should be fine

[whitecitadel]

I am looking at the same two options, is there any advantage/drawback to the Y wing sensor with the Watson over the straight version that Ecowitt supply with the 2551?

Price will be close this week, unless Nevada/W&S have a deal on, so could chose either but hardware seems the same apart from the console colour and the sensor array style, I read the FAQ thread in full that the Ecowitt firmware can be loaded on the Watson etc.

[Gyvate]

the only advantages of the I-shape vs. the Y-shape are of mechanical nature:
- less wind resistance
- less room for snow accumulation
- less space for birds to sit on

[whitecitadel]

Thanks @Gyvate, I wondered if the wind direction was better on one than the other, the only thing I could think of is with the I shape being underneath it could be affected by wind flow around the pole the whole thing is mounted on.

Not much Snow in the UK to worry about that as a big factor, birds however are a pain - was planning the "cable tie bird spikes" I have seen elsewhere on the forum to make it an uncomfortable perch.

I assume that maybe Ecowitt moved to the I form the Y as its easier to box and ship

[Mandrake]

That was my original thoughts and when I bought my HP2551 from Ecowitt I asked them to provide me the Y design rather than the I.
I have the bird spike kit from Ecowitt installed. Every now and then I have to go and adjust it when cleaning the rain sensor and I suspect birds still try and land on it!
As for wind I only now use that as a comparison to the WS80 which is far superior for wind measurement in my opinion.

[whitecitadel]

I had not really looked at the WS80.

I got a GW1100 and a WH31 to get started messing around waiting for best deals this week, I really want the standard display to look at in the mornings on the wall so I was looking at the 2551, it does not seem 2553 is easily avaiable here in the UK (at a sensible price anyway, weather spares have them for £££ and Ecowitt direct is risky with Brexit and taxes).

I could add WS80 and WH40 (I think that's the rain guage, not memorised everything yet), but that would leave me without a display which is much more economical to buy in a bundle.

I wish Ecowitt would add the full range to their Amazon store would make it much easier.

[Gyvate]

That was my original thoughts and when I bought my HP2551 from Ecowitt I asked them to provide me the Y design rather than the I.
I have the bird spike kit from Ecowitt installed. Every now and then I have to go and adjust it when cleaning the rain sensor and I suspect birds still try and land on it!
As for wind I only now use that as a comparison to the WS80 which is far superior for wind measurement in my opinion.

And regarding the bird spikes for the WH65 rain gauge - they are quite useful to keep them off the funnel unless it's on the fly droppings.
But that won't keep them from decorating the solar panel or the light (radiation/UV) sensors in a reading-modifying way  .
Somehow the I-shape array is less attractive to them - I've never seen one sitting on it (not a representative sample though).
It's Ecowitt and Froggit (with their WH4000SE [EW WS2320E]) who sell the I-shape array, otherwise the resellers have the Y-shape array.
I keep on speculating if the Y-shape array is the WH65 and the I-shape array is the WS69 ....

[Mandrake]

I had not really looked at the WS80.

I got a GW1100 and a WH31 to get started messing around waiting for best deals this week, I really want the standard display to look at in the mornings on the wall so I was looking at the 2551, it does not seem 2553 is easily avaiable here in the UK (at a sensible price anyway, weather spares have them for £££ and Ecowitt direct is risky with Brexit and taxes).

I could add WS80 and WH40 (I think that's the rain guage, not memorised everything yet), but that would leave me without a display which is much more economical to buy in a bundle.

I wish Ecowitt would add the full range to their Amazon store would make it much easier.

Understand the dilemma, I started with just the HP2551 in standard setup direct from Ecowitt/Fine Offset when it was first released.
If you go that way then you can add things as you go. I still use my Tri-Wing array for rain. The consoles are smart in that if you have lots of sensors then certain sensors trump others without complication for the user. So in my case with all the sensors I have in place, the only rain source I have is in the Tri-Wing so that provides the data.
I am sure the Ecowitt store will expand in the UK as its new and only came into being this summer.
That said, I have no issues in buying direct from Ecowitt in China and have not had a serious issue with customs charges yet!

[whitecitadel]

I keep on speculating if the Y-shape array is the WH65 and the I-shape array is the WS69 ....

Well Weather Spares call the I-Shape one the WS69:
https://weatherspares.co.uk/collections/sensors-additional-options/products/ecowitt-7-in-1-outdoor-sensor-array

I have not seen the Y shape referred to by part number but I assumed the sensors perform more or less the same apart from the physicla differnces discussed above.

I noticed in the pictures forum people in US often put a "perch" higher than the sensor when installed in an open field, not sure I can make that work in UK garden but I see the principle!

I will probably put some old T&K brackets I have on the back of the garage with either 2" pole i had for a sat dish in the past or probably a TV mast in 1.5" which is longer. Not ideal for cleaning but not impossible to lower if needed - prevention would be better than cleaning. I might have an antenna to mount at the top which might hinder bird landing on the I Frame at least in the middle.

Understand the dilemma, I started with just the HP2551 in standard setup direct from Ecowitt/Fine Offset when it was first released.
If you go that way then you can add things as you go. I still use my Tri-Wing array for rain. The consoles are smart in that if you have lots of sensors then certain sensors trump others without complication for the user. So in my case with all the sensors I have in place, the only rain source I have is in the Tri-Wing so that provides the data.
I am sure the Ecowitt store will expand in the UK as its new and only came into being this summer.
That said, I have no issues in buying direct from Ecowitt in China and have not had a serious issue with customs charges yet!

I saw you and others did that, I sort of went the other way as I have the GW1100, the WH31 outside for now and I forgot I also got a soil sensors as Ecowitt had some discounts on their Amazon store.

I also did some reading on WS40 vs the all-in-one sensors as I thought the stand alone might be better accuracy but much seems to be location dependant and I did not see obvious benifits - I did think about going with just the WS68 (or WS80 I had not looked at) but when you add the WH32 for the "outdoor" reading costs are more than the kits - and I do want a display.

I am sure like you I will end up with more stuff than I need/use! With the GW1100 I could always read duplciate sensors (one console one gateway) to compare readings I suppose.

I am not adverse the oveseas orders, but its a bit of a lottery at the moment with the Tax/import. Sites like Aliexpress are "collecting VAT" but the package has clearly been undervalued when sent to UK and I don't see UK gov getting that tax! Ecowitt site does not have everything in 866Mhz either, and if its on Amazon UK price is almost the same for a lot less risk and wait - hoping their might be some good deals with week...

[Weather Spares]

Hi and thanks for the mention earlier.

The Y shaped arrays are available from us, but under the alternative brand names of Ventus and GARNI. Generally the sensors read exactly the same as an I array when we compared them side by side a few months ago, the only difference we really found was the shape of the wind direction vane which is designed to protect the electronics from rain ingress.

In reference to the pole causing a discrepancy with readings, we spotted no difference. The same could be said about the Y shaped pack having a rain funnel and wind cups mounted at the same height as the wind vane causing interference.

The other advantage of the I sensor pack is that there is the battery extension pack available which doesn't exist for the Y model.

[olicat]

Hi!

The other advantage of the I sensor pack is that there is the battery extension pack available which doesn't exist for the Y model.

I have to contradict that!
My Y-sensor uses the external battery pack.  The battery cover is apparently identical to the I model.
Or there is also a special version for the Y-sensor - I had bought the BP0001 directly from Ecowitt.

Oliver

[djm]

I purchased the Watson 8686.Erected last saturday.
Its lashing down rain outside all day but the console shows no rain.
Any suggestions.

[Gyvate]

Did you open the rain gauge funnel (just to be turned) and check if the measuring spoon can operate freely ?

[djm]

Thank you.
Would you believe the strong wind had blown the funnel out off the rain collecter.Luckily i found it a distance away.
It is very loose .Just one turn.Not a good design.I will have to think of something to make it more secure.
It is now reading the rainfall.
Thanks for your help.

[Rover1822]

Turn it just a bit more, it should click.

[Gyvate]

Thank you.
Would you believe the strong wind had blown the funnel out off the rain collecter.Luckily i found it a distance away.
It is very loose .Just one turn.Not a good design.I will have to think of something to make it more secure.
It is now reading the rainfall.
Thanks for your help.

It's usually rather tight when you turn it that much/far that it snugs in with a noticeable click (unless it's a faulty part).
Maybe you turned it not far enough for the lock to engage.

[djm]

I,ll take it back down again tomorrow.
To be honest i never heard a click.I probably didnt turn it far enough.Thank You

[davidefa]

Sorry to sound dumb, but you have to align the wings ( in the funnel ) with the slots in the base and push completely down the funnel in the base before turning ( only a fraction of a turn ).
In my case I found that these wings/slots are not super symmetrical ( maybe it's just my limited ability ) but I have to try all 3 different position to find the good one ( obviously the last one ; - )

[djm]

OK Thanks David.
I will investigate that tomorrow.
Thank You

[Rover1822]

I just rotate the funnel until it drops in and rotates, as a it is overhead normally , unless I bring the whole thing down.