Author Topic: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work  (Read 1120 times)

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Offline giusCB

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Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« on: September 17, 2022, 12:09:24 PM »
this is the condition of the ws80 after 13 months of work in a rural area outside the city in area where the air is clean and free from pollution. Totally yellowed plastic, cracks on the solar cell, rust on the reflective surface of the anemometer and moisture near lux sensor  :lol:  #-o





pay attention before buying  [tup]
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Offline giusCB

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #1 on: September 17, 2022, 12:12:47 PM »

in the near future I'll test a solution to prevent this crap, the ABS plastic used by ecowitt is not suitable for outdoor use. I will keep the post updated as soon as I make the mod.  [tup] [tup]
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Offline MonsterDog6

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #2 on: September 17, 2022, 01:38:45 PM »
write to ecowitt support with your photos it's under warranty here other people have had an exchange with the same problem, good luck [tup]
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Offline HaraldS

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2022, 03:04:15 PM »
Would love to know the solution you are attempting. Would like to try the same.

Offline Gyvate

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2022, 03:10:59 PM »
this is the condition of the ws80 after 13 months of work in a rural area outside the city in area where the air is clean and free from pollution. Totally yellowed plastic, cracks on the solar cell, rust on the reflective surface of the anemometer and moisture near lux sensor  :lol:  #-o





pay attention before buying  [tup]
not that I doubt your findings - but you must have either not so clean air as you may think (close to the sea ?) or got a Friday model - mine, after 2 years doesn't show any of these symptoms and it's located at the outskirts of a larger city.
same with my 3+ years old WS69 array.
And yellowish plastic alone is imho not a quality criterion.
WS2350 1.6.7, GW1000(3) 1.7.7,WH2650 WiFi (2) 1.7.7 (test/backup), GW1100 2.3.1, GW2000(3) 3.1.1, HP2551 1.9.5,5.1.5;HP3500 1.7.2,WS3800 1.2.8, WN1910 1.2.3,WN1980 1.2.3;
Ecowitt WS90(2)1.3.5/1.4.0, WS80(2)1.2.5, WS68, WS69, WH40, WH31, WH31-EP, WN30, WN34L, WN35, WH32, WH32-EP, WH32B, WH57 [Lightning], WH41 [PM2.5], WH51, WH45, WH55
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Offline DelChard

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #5 on: September 18, 2022, 06:49:08 AM »
A few comments and observations.
I'm not aware of any areas on the globe that are immune to pollution.
In the south of the UK, we ( most years ), get plagued with sand from the sahara.
We have also suffered from European birch pollen. No border controls are likely to stop that one  :lol:

The more usual occurence, being acid rain.
Acid rain is most commonly associated with nitrogen or sulphur. Apart fom industrial causes, the more recent problems of volcanic activity and worldwide wildfires will exacerbate this issue.

The corrosion on the surface conditioning mesh.
Firstly, there is no such material as "stainless" steel. The phrase was originally concocted as a marketing ploy, a more accurate description (and one used in some metal reference books), is corrosion resistant steels, with accent on the word resistant.
The mesh used will be either an austenitic or ferritic "stainless" steel. Probably the latter. In either case, they will both show evidence of corrosion given the right conditions.
An issue that I do believe is Ecowitt's responsibility is the concentration of corrosion around the silicone used to bond the mesh to the plastic.
This strongly suggests that an acidic cure silicone has been used, where a neutral cure silicone would have been a better choice.
My own WS80 exhibits some signs of corrosion, but I would expect this to remain superficial, and not detrimental to the performance.

Cracks in the solar panel.
It's always diificult to be sure from a photograph, so I will reference both my original and its replacement.
Both units show similar marks, and indeed, I inspected them closely when they were new.
In the case of my units, I believe them to be injection moulding flow lines, and should not be detrimental.

Just in case this is something you may be considering.
I would not  recommend coating the mesh with any form of protection.
The mesh appears to have been grit (dry or vapour) blasted to affect a particular surface finish.
Any change could alter its effectiveness.

Offline giusCB

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #6 on: September 18, 2022, 09:20:13 AM »
this is the condition of the ws80 after 13 months of work in a rural area outside the city in area where the air is clean and free from pollution. Totally yellowed plastic, cracks on the solar cell, rust on the reflective surface of the anemometer and moisture near lux sensor  :lol:  #-o





pay attention before buying  [tup]
not that I doubt your findings - but you must have either not so clean air as you may think (close to the sea ?) or got a Friday model - mine, after 2 years doesn't show any of these symptoms and it's located at the outskirts of a larger city.
same with my 3+ years old WS69 array.
And yellowish plastic alone is imho not a quality criterion.

this is not true, i have seen some pictures of your sensors and they have the same problem.
The plastic used is the same for everyone, please do not deny the evidence just because ecowitt gives free stations to some of you.
The whole gw1103 kit cost me around 250 euros, so not exactly cheap.
Ecowitt told me that he cannot change plastic because a big customer of his does not want, this is absolutely unbelievable and meaningless.
The ws90 for example, is made in ASA and does not seem to have this problem, even holding it in the hand shows a slightly better quality. I have a WS90 near the sea, so i'll upload photos of that to the next maintenance as well. There is nothing to hide
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Offline Gyvate

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #7 on: September 18, 2022, 10:24:37 AM »
this is not true , i have seen some pictures of your sensors and they have the same problem.*1)
The plastic used is the same for everyone, please do not deny the evidence just because ecowitt gives free stations to some of you.*2)
*1. you are welcome to visit and check yourself - and/or provide links to the pictures (as you haven't seen them in situ  8-)) - but you should also bring some fresh Mozzarella di Buffala from your neighbour region  ;)
so far my sensors (apart from some moody WH51) work flawlessly.
*2. I don't know what kind of strange mindset you have got - the only thing I ever got from EW for "free" was a GW2001 for beta testing - and there's no reason to play sweet when something is wrong.
But it has to be wrong in the first place.

Your location is +/- on the mountain range between the Adriatic Sea and the Thyrrehnic Sea - so quite likely that the air coming up the mountains contains more salt than air usually does - and sea-salt is known for its corroding effect. So it's a rather extreme location. That doesn't mean that the material couldn't be better. But as long as some rust and changed colour are only there but there's no impact on the functionality, I don't mind.

For the price of 150 USD for a WS80 I do not expect more than 5 years of maintained functionality.
However, you can't include the console/gateway and the WH40 in your calculation when you complain about the WS80 only. So it's 150 and not 250 ! Just to be fair.
WS2350 1.6.7, GW1000(3) 1.7.7,WH2650 WiFi (2) 1.7.7 (test/backup), GW1100 2.3.1, GW2000(3) 3.1.1, HP2551 1.9.5,5.1.5;HP3500 1.7.2,WS3800 1.2.8, WN1910 1.2.3,WN1980 1.2.3;
Ecowitt WS90(2)1.3.5/1.4.0, WS80(2)1.2.5, WS68, WS69, WH40, WH31, WH31-EP, WN30, WN34L, WN35, WH32, WH32-EP, WH32B, WH57 [Lightning], WH41 [PM2.5], WH51, WH45, WH55
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Offline giusCB

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2022, 11:49:50 AM »
Another example... (15 months) source: https://forum.meteonetwork.it/stazioni-meteorologiche-ecowitt-fine-offset/172415-ws80-dopo-15mesi-utilizzo.html



ecowitt told me he doesn't want to change plastic from ABS to ASA because a big customer of theirs doesn't want this . An answer that I don't understand, but this is the situation. Hope in future can change this...
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Offline slybarman

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #9 on: September 22, 2022, 12:24:13 PM »
After reading this thread I went to check on min which has been up since April or May - so around 6 months. Didn't see the level of OP's issues yet, but did discover another problem. Maybe I over-tightened the mount?

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Offline Rover1822

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #10 on: September 22, 2022, 12:30:33 PM »
Maybe? LOL
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Offline Gyvate

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #11 on: September 22, 2022, 12:40:40 PM »
After reading this thread I went to check on min which has been up since April or May - so around 6 months. Didn't see the level of OP's issues yet, but did discover another problem. Maybe I over-tightened the mount?
Amazing that it still holds ...  [-o<
WS2350 1.6.7, GW1000(3) 1.7.7,WH2650 WiFi (2) 1.7.7 (test/backup), GW1100 2.3.1, GW2000(3) 3.1.1, HP2551 1.9.5,5.1.5;HP3500 1.7.2,WS3800 1.2.8, WN1910 1.2.3,WN1980 1.2.3;
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Offline Rover1822

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #12 on: September 22, 2022, 12:43:07 PM »
Should be a warning not to use an impact wrench
 ](*,)
Ambient:
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Offline slybarman

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #13 on: September 22, 2022, 03:27:46 PM »
Kinda being a wee bit of a D about it, aren't we?

Offline Rover1822

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #14 on: September 22, 2022, 03:45:24 PM »
Only in jest. :)

I don't use that mount , and was playing off your comment "Maybe I over-tightened the mount?" , if you weren't meaning that in a humor, my bad for taking it that way  . No insult intended .

So either, it was over tightened, or the plastic bits can't take the stress of some movement.

- Rover


« Last Edit: September 22, 2022, 03:59:29 PM by Rover1822 »
Ambient:
  WS-2000
  PM 2.5(2)
  WH31B(2)
  WH40E
  WH31P
EcoWitt:
  GW1100
  GW1000(4)
  WH31(2)
  WH57
  WH51(12),
  WH40
  WH5360B
  WN34S
  WittBoy WS90 + GW2000
  WS90 (other one) + GW1100
Personal Sites: Weather Cam

Offline slybarman

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #15 on: September 22, 2022, 04:43:19 PM »
Not my first rodeo. I only used hand tools and I am generally mindful not to over-torque plastic and to tighten all fasteners evenly.

That said, I would agree that over-tightening is certainly the most obvious/likely answer.

Offline CW2274

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #16 on: September 22, 2022, 06:47:41 PM »
That said, I would agree that over-tightening is certainly the most obvious/likely answer.
Not saying you're this way, but I'm not happy till I over torque and break the object. Weird sickness I have.  :roll:

Offline mcrossley

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #17 on: September 23, 2022, 04:44:41 AM »
My WS80 mount was the same. It came like that secondhand. I repaired it but examination showed to me that the plastic moulding is way under speced for the job. The voids are far too large and too little plastic to withstand anything but the very gentlest finger tightening with a small spanner. Compared to the equivalent part from Davis it is like a push bike and truck!
Mark

Offline Mattk

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #18 on: September 23, 2022, 05:31:13 AM »
Either the plastic mount is weak or the 8mm bolts with springs are way over engineered

Offline slybarman

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #19 on: September 23, 2022, 06:55:04 AM »
Reached out to Ecowitt and they are shipping me a new one, so that is good. I will go very easy on this one.

Offline giusCB

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #20 on: September 23, 2022, 09:38:24 AM »
Reached out to Ecowitt and they are shipping me a new one, so that is good. I will go very easy on this one.
a new station ?
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Offline slybarman

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Re: Ecowitt build quality after 13 months of work
« Reply #21 on: September 23, 2022, 09:45:15 AM »
Reached out to Ecowitt and they are shipping me a new one, so that is good. I will go very easy on this one.
a new station ?

a new plastic mount.