Author Topic: Air quality sensors in winter (freezing/snow) conditions  (Read 2313 times)

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Offline beruk

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Air quality sensors in winter (freezing/snow) conditions
« on: June 28, 2020, 07:13:44 PM »
Hello,

I have an Ecowitt HP2553 station to which I’d like to add a WH41 PM2.5 outdoor sensor. But I live in Québec, Canada, where we have sub-zero C temperatures in the winter and (lots of) snow.

I have been unable to find any information on if/how air quality sensors work in these conditions (neither general info nor specific to the WH41).

Would anyone here have some knowledge or experience to share?

Thanks!

Pascal

Offline Autofill

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Re: Air quality sensors in winter (freezing/snow) conditions
« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2020, 12:52:19 AM »
I'm going through this right now. So far so good. During snow the air quality can spike a bit.
Ecowitt WH2320-E
Ecowitt HP2551-C (SOLD - replaced with Home Assistant Fully Kiosk FireTab HD10)
Ecowitt GW1000
Ecowitt GW1100
Ecowitt WH69E
Ecowitt WH32B
Ecowitt WH57 (x3)
Ecowitt WH51 (x6)
Ecowitt WH41
Ecowitt WH41 (Honeywell-based USB/Supercap modified)
Ecowitt WH31 (x8)
Ecowitt WH55 (x4)
Ecowitt WH45
Ecowitt WN34S (x2)
Ecowitt WN35
Ecowitt Wittboy running on 12VDC  solar power

Offline fkapp

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Re: Air quality sensors in winter (freezing/snow) conditions
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2020, 11:22:06 AM »
What are the temp operating specs for the wh41?
Curious as sounds like works ok in cold but wondering what minimum temperature limit is?

Offline Autofill

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Re: Air quality sensors in winter (freezing/snow) conditions
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2020, 11:42:40 AM »
So far so good except mine went offline when it hit -20oC, and came back to life when it warmed up a little. The batteries are freezing at this temperature. Works pretty well below this temperature.
Ecowitt WH2320-E
Ecowitt HP2551-C (SOLD - replaced with Home Assistant Fully Kiosk FireTab HD10)
Ecowitt GW1000
Ecowitt GW1100
Ecowitt WH69E
Ecowitt WH32B
Ecowitt WH57 (x3)
Ecowitt WH51 (x6)
Ecowitt WH41
Ecowitt WH41 (Honeywell-based USB/Supercap modified)
Ecowitt WH31 (x8)
Ecowitt WH55 (x4)
Ecowitt WH45
Ecowitt WN34S (x2)
Ecowitt WN35
Ecowitt Wittboy running on 12VDC  solar power

Offline Mandrake

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Re: Air quality sensors in winter (freezing/snow) conditions
« Reply #4 on: January 19, 2021, 04:08:47 AM »
Whilst the temperature is a constraint for battery technology you could always supplement the batteries with a more powerful solar panel such as those used by outdoor cams.
Obviously this would keep the sensor going only during daylight and not if covered in ice/snow/frost but it might help.
G1ZFO

Ecowitt HP2551A + WH65 Tri-Wing (Wunderground: IGUILDFO67)
Ecowitt GW1000 (Wunderground: IGUILDFO68)
Ecowitt GW1000 (Mk2) test environment driving CumulusMX on a RPi 3b
Ecowitt GW2000 (Test)
Ecowitt WS90 Wittboy - Test
Ecowitt WH51 (x6) Soil Moisture Sensor
Ecowitt WH41 PM2.5 AQM Sensor
Ecowitt WH31 (x8) Thermo/Hygro Sensor
Ecowitt WS80 Ultrasonic Anemometer (pre-prod test)
Ecowitt WH57 Lightning Sensor -test
Ecowitt WH32-EP (SHT35) + Davis 7714 Screen
Ecowitt WH45 CO2/PM2.5/PM10 -Test
Ecowitt WN34 Soil Temp Sensor -Test
Ecowitt WN34 Water Temp Sensor -Test
Ecowitt WN35 Leaf Moisture